Georgia authorities have fired five officers Monday after a lengthy investigation into a death by suicide that took place inside a Savannah Police headquarters last April.
William Harvey, 60, was being questioned on aggravated assault charges on April 3 when the officers left him unobserved and alone for several minutes in the interview room.
When they returned, Harvey was dead with apparent wounds to his neck. The GBI had ruled his death a suicide and determined he had used his shoelaces to strangle himself.
The five police officers fired this week in connection with the incident include a sergeant, a corporal, and an officer who had been exchanging “inappropriate” messages about Harvey’s suicide.
“I am devastated that Mr. William Harvey died while under the care, custody, and control of the Savannah Police Department,” Mayor Van Johnson said.
“While we cannot provide justice for the Harvey family, we can ensure accountability for the policies we did not follow and the actions we did not take.”
“I do not believe that there was malicious intent on the part of the officers involved, but the result was deadly. And for that, I believe the decision to terminate was appropriate.”
