Decatur community leaders react to police Lt. Joe Renshaw retirement

DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) — Decatur police Lieutenant Joe Renshaw has retired from the police department after 24 years.

Renshaw is also known as the officer whose interaction with protesters has spurred an internal investigation of police department policy.

Dozens of complaints have been lodged against Renshaw as his decision to retire without receiving a disciplinary hearing over the multiple allegations of misconduct has outraged Decatur community leaders.

Private cell phone video capturing Renshaw holding a taser to the chest of a man in handcuffs during a peaceful protest at a 3rd Friday event in April is one of the many claims of threats on that day by the officer.

“He put our lives in danger that day and he approached us and started everything,” said Catrela Perkins, the widow of Stephen Perkins who was gunned down by Decatur police at his home on September 29.

His retirement comes one month after Decatur police were summoned to testify at a gag order hearing in former officer Mac Marquette’s murder case.

Marquette is accused of killing Perkins.

Renshaw admitted to using a fake Facebook profile to comment about the case online.

Onlookers were outraged when Renshaw instructed officers to handcuff Catrela Perkins in view of Chief Todd Pinion. Ms. Perkins claims the complaints went unanswered for months, until Tuesday morning.

“There are about 30 to 40 or maybe 50 people that came up here and filed a complaint just of Renshaw,” said Perkins. “Then miraculously people who filed the complaints received calls this morning about the complaints.”

Morgan County NAACP president Rodney Gordon, who was threatened by Renshaw at the 3 ^rd Friday event, told News 19 that the actions of the police department over the past 9 months have allowed Renshaw to walk away from his job unscathed.

“Here’s a man that can do what he wants to people and walk away with a check and full benefits,” said Gordon. “For him to be an officer, a lieutenant, a man of authority, for him to even act in that manner is absurd. He should have been fired immediately.”

According to those who filed the complaints, the claim is that they have gone unanswered. Pastor Claudette Owens on Monday told the Decatur city council that the city needs improvements in its personnel practices.

“It appears there is something very subjective and selective about how citizens’ complaints are processed when it comes to citizen complaints against personnel,” Owens said.

A spokesperson for the Police Department could not comment on city employee personnel matters but did release a statement to News 19 about the retirement of Renshaw;

“Once an employee meets retirement eligibility under the Retirement System of Alabama (RSA) and submits an application for retirement that is approved by the RSA, that employee may retire.  The City has no authority in this matter, it is determined by the RSA and the Code of Alabama. After an employee leaves the employment of the City, performance evaluation measures, whether for commendations of exceptional performance and/or corrective actions or performance improvement measures become null with that employee’s exit. Regardless, the City and its departments will continue to evaluate opportunities for improvement as part of the normal course of business.”

Decatur Police Department Spokesperson

As a result of the complaints, on Monday the Decatur city council approved a contract to hire a Green Research Team for a third-party review of police department policy and conduct called by council president Jacob Ladner.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.