Body Cameras To Be Sued By Celina Police After Wrongful Death Settlement
The family of Robert Hensley accepted a public apology from the Celina Police Department shortly after their wrongful death lawsuit settled for $800,000 last month.
Mr. Hensley was shot by a Celina police officer on April 10, 2013, at the age of 39. The officer was investigating a report that Mr. Hensley was improperly displaying a handgun in public. The gun was later found to be unloaded.
The late Robert Hensley
But more important than any amount of money is the fact that Celina Police officers will now be required to wear body cameras that will record audio and video of all interaction that police have with the public.
The lawsuit alleged that the shooting violated Mr. Hensley’s civil rights and the City and Mr. Hensley’s family settled the lawsuit out of court after the officer was not indicted on criminal charges. Neither the City nor the former officer admits liability in the settlement.
Our firm, along with co-counsel Alphonse Gerhardstein of Cincinnati, represented the Hensley family and we were encouraged to learn of the steps that the Celina police are taking to prevent tragedies like this from happening again.
“We are pleased the Celina Police Department took seriously our demand to use body cameras from now on,” Chuck Boyk said. “It is our hope that their use will prevent other families from having to endure the same painful experience that the Hensley’s have gone through.”
