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MESQUITE (WBAP/KLIF News) – A former Mesquite police officer who was fired for a use of force violation and indicted on charges related to a shooting is appealing his termination.
Derick Wiley was indicted by a Dallas County grand jury on Wednesday on a charge of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.
The charges stem from an incident November 8th, when the victim, Lyndo Jones, was shot twice in the back after police responded to a call about a possible car burglary before confirming that the truck belonged to him.
Mesquite Police Chief Charles Cato said he’s confident that the internal investigation was handled properly.
“The facts are documented in a suspension document that at some point will become public record but since he’s appealing I don’t want to discuss what we said in there,” he said.
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Cato said the way the investigation was handled should reflect the department’s commitment to justice.
“The men and women of the Mesquite Police Department are committed to providing the very best public service possible in all circumstances to all people and that procedural justice will be followed,” he said.
The department said it has technology and people in place to make sure that it holds officers accountable for their actions.
“There’s nothing they can do that won’t be seen. If there is anything to hide…it will be brought out. We want to be transparent in the process to maintain the public trust,” he said.
Cato said the same procedures that got Wiley into trouble for his alleged actions can protect officers who don’t break the rules.
If Wiley wins his appeal, he could get his job back.
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