Louisiana State Police have reinstated Trooper Lt. John Clary, after criminal charges for withholding body-worn camera footage in the Ronald Greene case were dropped. In exchange, Clary will testify in the case against two officers.
“Someone who’s now no longer being prosecuted, who may have a firm defense to this allegation of obstruction of justice with regard to withholding, who’s being reinstated essentially because there just may not be enough evidence to support him being terminated,” said Legal analyst Franz Borghardt.
Graphic bodycam footage shows Black motorist Ronald Greene being beaten by officers in 2019. He died while in police custody.
Borghardt admits while it “looks bad” that Clary has gotten his job back he points out that it is easier to prosecute someone who destroyed evidence versus withholding it.
Greene’s mother Mona Hardin told the Associated Press she was surprised and disgusted Clary has been restored to duty. Borghardt he points out that terminating a civil employee is much different than firing someone in the private sector.
“They have to jump through certain hoops, and they have to be able to substantiate the why of firing someone,” said Borghardt. “You can’t just terminate employment with the State Police because you think somebody did something, you have to be able to prove it and if there’s just not enough evidence there, there’s just not enough evidence there.”
Master Trooper Kory York faces negligent homicide and malfeasance charges, and Union Parish Sheriff’s deputy Chris Harpin is charged with three counts of malfeasance in the Ronald Greene death.
