Former Olive Branch officers Adam McHann, Asst. Chief Gentry and Major Fulwood Source: WPTY

It’s often difficult to decipher the thin ribbon of truth when cases such as the subject of this post surfaces.
A lawsuit was filed in 2003 accusing two officers with the Olive Branch, MS Police Department of excessive force and deprivation of rights.
Adam McHann, a K-9 officer, is facing charges of commanding his partner, “Marko” to attack a 17 year old boy. By all accounts, the teenager didn’t actually resist arrest, he just abandoned the vehicle he was driving and tried to escape on foot, so I suppose it could be said that he was avoiding arrest. I know - it’s subjective.
During a council meeting earlier this week, it was decided that Officer McHann would be permitted to have his position reinstated, with pay, but would remain on administrative leave. He had already pleaded guilty and then chose to rescind his plea. This rescission has led to the probability of his reinstatement. Despite his original guilty plea, (read this for more information on his February guilty plea) he maintains his innocence. As if this weren’t enough, this is not the first time McHann has been suspended. He was arrested in May, 2007 on a domestic violence charge, but was reinstated after attending anger management classes.
Here are my questions: Was Marko on administrative leave? If he was, was he reinstated too? OK…I hear the collective sighs. Consider this, then: what has McHann’s employment status been since being charged? Was a replacement found to fill the vacancy he left when he was formally charged? With city and county budgets across the country already stretched, if he was replaced, does this mean an officer who’s not been charged with a crime lose out to one who has been charged? And just what has Officer McHann been doing the past several years to earn his living and support his family?
It should be noted that two other officers, Assistant Chief Gentry and Major Fulwood, have pled guilty to charges related to this case, including attempting to cover up the incident. If McHann’s credibility was not destroyed with his plea withdrawal , it now has about as much value as an empty ice tray during an August heat wave in the south. After all, these other two officers have admitted they helped cover up a crime that McHann says never

Marko the K-9 Officer Courtesy of commercialappeal.com

happened. I’m thinking there are two former police officers who are awaiting sentencing and being forced to sit back and realize that the one who commanded his K-9 to attack this kid is not only free at this point, but collecting a salary that he’s not even having to work for. Officer McHann’s trial is set for December 1st. In the meantime, if you see Marko, the K-9 member, let me know. I’d sure like to know if he’s on paid administrative leave too.