Officer suspended for excessive force had 8 commendations

FORT WORTH, Texas – A white North Texas police officer suspended without pay for 10 days after wrestling a black woman and her daughter to the ground has numerous commendations in his personnel file for actions taken in the course of his duties.

The Fort Worth Police Department released records for Officer William Martin Tuesday night in response to a request by The Associated Press under the state Public Information Act. They include eight commendations in 10 years’ service.

Martin had been suspended after the Dec. 21 incident captured on video that went viral on the internet. Jacqueline Craig and Martin had a tense conversation before he can be seen wrestling her to the ground. She was charged with resisting arrest and failure to identify a fugitive from justice.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.