Roy Oliver, the Texas Cop Who Killed 15-Year-Old Jordan Edwards, Was Previously Suspended for Aggressive Behavior: Report

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

As the investigation continues into the death of 15-year-old Jordan Edwards, who was shot and killed by then-Balch Springs, Texas, Police Officer Roy Oliver, more and more details are coming to light. Recently, it was discovered that the prosecutor’s office had once filed a complaint about what it called Oliver’s aggressive behavior.

According to personnel records obtained by the Associated Press, Oliver—who was fired from the Police Department following Jordan’s death—was suspended for 16 hours in December 2013 after the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office filed a complaint about his behavior while he served as a witness in a drunk driving case.

Advertisement

The records also detail periodic evaluations that noted at least one instance—on Jan. 27, 2017—when Oliver was reprimanded for being “disrespectful to a civilian on a call.” However, the evaluation also called the reprimand an “isolated incident” and encouraged Oliver to be more mindful of his leadership role within the department.

Advertisement

The complaint indicated that prosecutors had a difficult time getting Oliver to attend the trial, saying that he was angry that he had to be there. According to the complaint, Oliver used obscene language that caused an assistant district attorney to send a female intern out of the room, and even cursed during his testimony.

Advertisement

“In an email from one of the prosecutors he states you were a ‘scary person to have in our workroom,’” then-Balch Springs Police Chief Ed Morris wrote in the suspension findings, AP notes.

Morris suspended Oliver for 16 hours, which Oliver completed by giving up two sick days. Oliver also was ordered to take training courses in anger management and courtroom demeanor and testimony.

Advertisement

Heath Harris, the former first assistant district attorney under Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins, said that he did not recall that particular fallout or what courts may have been involved. However, he added that he didn’t think the earlier complaint would inhibit the office’s ability to investigate Jordan’s shooting death.

“I don’t think that it will impact this investigation at all, other than the fact that it’s something that clearly the defense will try to use,” Harris said. “But DA [Faith] Johnson has already stated that the investigation by the public integrity unit will be independent and based solely on the facts of the shooting.”

Advertisement

Prior to joining the Balch Springs Police Department in 2012, Oliver worked for almost a year as an officer with the Dalworthington Gardens Police Department as a dispatcher and a public safety officer.

A statement from officials at Dalworthington Gardens acknowledged that Oliver had received an award for “meritorious conduct” as a dispatcher and that he had no documented complaints or disciplinary action in his work as a public safety officer or dispatcher.

Advertisement

Oliver was also in the U.S. Army, rising to the rank of sergeant while serving two tours in Iraq. He earned several commendations. In addition, he served two years in the Texas National Guard Reserves through 2012, AP notes.

Jordan was killed late Saturday night after he and his two brothers and two other teenagers were attempting to leave a house party in Balch Springs. Oliver opened fire on the vehicle with a rifle, with one of the bullets shattering the front passenger-side window and striking the 15-year-old.

Advertisement

Police initially claimed that the vehicle the teens were in was backing toward officers aggressively. However, Balch Springs Police Chief Jonathan Haber later said that he “misspoke,” acknowledging that the vehicle was actually moving away from officers when Oliver opened fire.

Advertisement

Read more at Time.