The Opelika police officer who shot and killed a man late Halloween night returned to work briefly, but was placed back on administrative leave after members of the community raised concerns.
Jared Greer, a three-and-a-half-year veteran of OPD, had been on administrative leave since he shot and killed Bennie Lee Tignor, 56, in front of his residence after a low-speed car chase on Oct. 31, according to OPD Capt. Shane Healey.
Greer returned to office work Monday, Nov. 30, but then was placed back on administrative leave.
Healey could not comment on why Greer was placed back on leave or comment further on the situation because the shooting is still under investigation.
Greer fired because Tignor brandished a pistol, according to OPD Chief of Police John McEachern III.
John Andrew Harris, Lee County District 5 commissioner and friend of the Tignors, said he thought it wasn't right that Greer had returned to work before the investigation had concluded.
Harris said the family was upset to hear Greer had returned to work, but "relieved" to hear he was back on leave.
"You want to be fair to both sides," Harris said. "We just asked them to be fair and wait until all the information is in."
Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller said State Rep. George Bandy, D-Opelika, came to him with concerns about Greer returning to duty.
Bandy is also a local pastor at St. James Missionary Baptist Church in Opelika.
"(Bandy) expressed that there was some concern in his community," Fuller said.
Fuller said from the meeting, they made the decision to have Greer return to administrative leave.
The Alabama Bureau of Investigation is in charge of the investigation, and they will turn the evidence over to District Attorney Robert Treese to present to a grand jury, according to Fuller.
"I would think they are close to having it all wrapped up," Fuller said.
Fuller said he hopes the grand jury hears the evidence as soon as possible. The new grand jury term begins Jan. 11. Greer will remain on administrative leave until the results from the grand jury come back.
Fuller said he is praying for everyone involved.
"There is more than one family suffering," Fuller said. "It's not been an easy thing for (Greer) or his family."
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