Family of Man Killed Shocked Alexander Officer Had No Official Training
By: Lauren Trager, KARK 4 News
Updated: September 11, 2012
We now know the officer who shot and killed a man in Alexander did not have any state-approved training to be patrolling the streets.
But that's allowed under the law. The state requires proper training be completed within one year of taking the job.
It's that fact and so many other lingering questions that have the victim's family reeling.
"I don't understand, I don't," said Jackie Wallace, the victim's mother.
She is overcome with grief, but determined to get answers about her son's death.
"I just want to know what happened to my child and if it turns out it was something more, I want something done about it," Wallace said.
Saturday afternoon she says her son, 30-year-old Carl Wallace, was walking home along Brookwood Road in Alexander after visiting friends.
Officer Nancy Cummings told State Police she saw Wallace with a gun tucked into his waistband, which she says he then tossed into the woods.
But in the process of arresting him, Officer Cummings told police the gun she was holding fired.
Jackie Wallace says she can't believe it was all just an accident.
"How do you pat someone down with one hand, how do pat someone down holding a gun, it doesn't make sense, it does not make sense," Wallace said.
But more, she says she's shocked to learn about Officer Cummings' background.
According to state records we obtained Monday, Cummings had only been officially trained to patrol a jail, not the streets.
"Why was she on the force?" Wallace said.
"I felt comfortable with her patrolling the streets," said Alexander Police Chief Horace Walters.
Chief Walters showed us proof Cummings passed an extensive background check and had good recommendations from prior jobs as a prison and jail guard.
He'd given her his own five week training program and she was scheduled to attend the state sanctioned police academy in January.
He says he simply couldn't have sent her sooner.
"Unfortunately for a small agency, I can not afford to do that, I would have a backlog," Chief Walters said.
Continuing an internal investigation, he can't comment on the shooting specifically but says it's all very unfortunate.
"There are no winners, there are no losers," Chief Wallace said.
But Jackie Wallace disagrees.
"I lost my baby son, my grandson lost his father, my children lost their baby brother. Is that not considered a loss?," Wallace said.
Now she says she can't rest until she knows more.
"I want justice for my baby," she said.
Cummings was on paid administrative leave Monday and we could not reach her for comment.
We also learned she had her 25-year-old daughter with her at the time of the shooting.
The chief says it was an approved ride-along.
Of course, we'll keep you posted on updates.
Continuing Coverage:
But that's allowed under the law. The state requires proper training be completed within one year of taking the job.
It's that fact and so many other lingering questions that have the victim's family reeling.
"I don't understand, I don't," said Jackie Wallace, the victim's mother.
She is overcome with grief, but determined to get answers about her son's death.
"I just want to know what happened to my child and if it turns out it was something more, I want something done about it," Wallace said.
Saturday afternoon she says her son, 30-year-old Carl Wallace, was walking home along Brookwood Road in Alexander after visiting friends.
Officer Nancy Cummings told State Police she saw Wallace with a gun tucked into his waistband, which she says he then tossed into the woods.
But in the process of arresting him, Officer Cummings told police the gun she was holding fired.
Jackie Wallace says she can't believe it was all just an accident.
"How do you pat someone down with one hand, how do pat someone down holding a gun, it doesn't make sense, it does not make sense," Wallace said.
But more, she says she's shocked to learn about Officer Cummings' background.
According to state records we obtained Monday, Cummings had only been officially trained to patrol a jail, not the streets.
"Why was she on the force?" Wallace said.
"I felt comfortable with her patrolling the streets," said Alexander Police Chief Horace Walters.
Chief Walters showed us proof Cummings passed an extensive background check and had good recommendations from prior jobs as a prison and jail guard.
He'd given her his own five week training program and she was scheduled to attend the state sanctioned police academy in January.
He says he simply couldn't have sent her sooner.
"Unfortunately for a small agency, I can not afford to do that, I would have a backlog," Chief Walters said.
Continuing an internal investigation, he can't comment on the shooting specifically but says it's all very unfortunate.
"There are no winners, there are no losers," Chief Wallace said.
But Jackie Wallace disagrees.
"I lost my baby son, my grandson lost his father, my children lost their baby brother. Is that not considered a loss?," Wallace said.
Now she says she can't rest until she knows more.
"I want justice for my baby," she said.
Cummings was on paid administrative leave Monday and we could not reach her for comment.
We also learned she had her 25-year-old daughter with her at the time of the shooting.
The chief says it was an approved ride-along.
Of course, we'll keep you posted on updates.
Continuing Coverage:
Related Content:
Comments
No mention of the "gun" the victim tossed into the woods...Why? Because there wasn't one and the officer made up the story to cover hes [censored]?
fred s.
September 12, 2012 at 12:49 pm
im sorry the man was shot and killed by what the police said was an accident but please dont let this turn into another race or hate crime, the man was shot and killed and thats all that happened
lloyd b.
September 11, 2012 at 6:37 am
