ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis police officer who was shot by another officer in 2017 has filed a federal lawsuit against the city, claiming its inadequate training and supervision of officers contributed to the incident.
After a police chase on June 21, 2017, a stolen car crashed in the 5900 block of Astra Avenue.
The suit stated that Green, an 11-year veteran with the department, was off duty and working on a car in his driveway when the car crashed right in front of his house.
When Green came out of his house to assist, two officers ordered him to the ground. Green complied.
The suit says that after Green showed a detective on scene his badge, the detective told the other officers that Green was with the department and directed them not to shoot Green.
Green then approached the detective to give a suspect description, holding his badge in one hand and his department-issued firearm in the other, the suit says.
That’s when a then-36-year old white officer arrived and shot Green in the arm, apparently not recognizing him.
According to the suit, the officer told Green to drop his weapon and shot him in the same instant, giving him no time to comply.
"The racial implications of how Officer Green has been treated cannot be ignored," the suit says.
The lawsuit identifies Officer Christopher Tanner as the officer who shot Green and names Tanner and the city of St. Louis as defendants.
The complaint stated: "The city of St. Louis ratified Defendant Tanner's unconstitutional conduct through its custom of unreasonable seizures and excessive force and its failure to train and supervise its officers."
The suit also states that the St. Louis Police Officer's Association raised $2,000 for Tanner but did not do anything similar for Green.
The suit says Green's arm was permanently damaged and he still can't work. And nearly two years later, it says Green's pension claim has yet to be resolved.
"It is typical for SLMPD officers injured in the line of duty to quickly have their pension claims heard and granted. However, the process for Officer Green has dragged on," the suit says.
