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Tragedy after tragedy in the Atlanta shooting. These guys did get to plead to involuntary manslaughter and not murder.
Guilty plea threatens retired police officer's pension
By RHONDA COOK
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/01/07
A retired police officer's pension may be jeopardized by his plea last week to manslaughter and federal civil rights volations, the city attorney said Tuesday.
City Attorney Elizabeth Chandler said Gregg Junnier applied for his pension in February, after retiring late last year when he was implicated in the fatal shooting of a 92-year-old woman during a botched drug raid.
Based on almost 19 years with the Atlanta Police Department, Junnier, 40, was collecting $1,152.97 a month, which also included contributions he made to his retirement fund.
Junnier pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and three other felonies in the Nov. 21 shooting death of Kathryn Johnston. He also pleaded guilty Thursday to federal charges of violating Johnston's civil rights.
Another officer who pleaded guilty in the case, which was based on a search warrant secured with lies, Jason R. Smith, 35, has requested a refund on his contributions to the pension fund, Chandler said. Smith had only been with APD seven years and three months, short of the 10 years of service required to collect city retirement benefits, so he could only recoup the money he put into the fund. Smith also pleaded to voluntary manslaughter and five other felonies in Fulton Superior Court and to depriving Johnston of her civil rights in federal court.
Chandler said she did not know what portion of Junnier's monthly pension check was money he put aside, and she did not know how much Smith had invested.
The third officer charged in the shooting, Arthur Tesler, has not made a claim, Chandler said. Tesler — who is charged with violating of his oath, making a false statement and false imprisonment — was placed on unpaid administrative leave Monday but is still an APD employee.
Guilty plea threatens retired police officer's pension
By RHONDA COOK
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/01/07
A retired police officer's pension may be jeopardized by his plea last week to manslaughter and federal civil rights volations, the city attorney said Tuesday.
City Attorney Elizabeth Chandler said Gregg Junnier applied for his pension in February, after retiring late last year when he was implicated in the fatal shooting of a 92-year-old woman during a botched drug raid.
Based on almost 19 years with the Atlanta Police Department, Junnier, 40, was collecting $1,152.97 a month, which also included contributions he made to his retirement fund.
Junnier pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and three other felonies in the Nov. 21 shooting death of Kathryn Johnston. He also pleaded guilty Thursday to federal charges of violating Johnston's civil rights.
Another officer who pleaded guilty in the case, which was based on a search warrant secured with lies, Jason R. Smith, 35, has requested a refund on his contributions to the pension fund, Chandler said. Smith had only been with APD seven years and three months, short of the 10 years of service required to collect city retirement benefits, so he could only recoup the money he put into the fund. Smith also pleaded to voluntary manslaughter and five other felonies in Fulton Superior Court and to depriving Johnston of her civil rights in federal court.
Chandler said she did not know what portion of Junnier's monthly pension check was money he put aside, and she did not know how much Smith had invested.
The third officer charged in the shooting, Arthur Tesler, has not made a claim, Chandler said. Tesler — who is charged with violating of his oath, making a false statement and false imprisonment — was placed on unpaid administrative leave Monday but is still an APD employee.
