(CNN) A West Virginia city has agreed to pay a former police officer $175,000 to settle a wrongful-termination lawsuit after he was fired following his decision not to shoot a distraught suspect who was holding a gun.
The lawsuit accused the Weirton Police Department of wrongfully terminating officer Stephen Mader after he chose not to shoot a 23-year-old man while responding to a domestic disturbance in 2016.
"At the end of the day, I'm happy to put this chapter of my life to bed," Mader said in a news release by the American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia.
"The events leading to my termination were unjustified and I'm pleased a joint resolution has been met. My hope is that no other person on either end of a police call has to go through this again."
The incident occurred May 6, 2016, when Mader responded to a domestic-disturbance call and found Ronald "R.J." Williams Jr. with an unloaded handgun.
victheone on February 12nd, 2018 at 19:20 UTC »
This guy is a shining example of a good cop. He analyzed the situation, concluded the guy wasn't a threat, and tried to de-escalate. He took a risk in order to try and save someone else. This is the definition of heroism.
SsurebreC on February 12nd, 2018 at 19:16 UTC »
Jesus, how often do you read a police officer do this? Williams had a gun!
Williams tried to do suicide by cop, Mader tried to de-escalate, the other officers arrived, Williams took his chance, raised his gun at officers who aren't aware of the situation, and they fired.
PixPls on February 12nd, 2018 at 18:39 UTC »
Weird twist that a police officer decides NOT to shoot, and gets in trouble. Seems like city leaders want you to shoot and then take the heat, when you do.