Chief Putney Speaks Out About DA’s Decision

CHARLOTTE, NC– “We have a lot of healing to do, a lot of people are hurting, we have at least two families that have been devastated,” said CMPD Chief Kerr Putney.

Chief Kerr Putney says his focus is on moving forward since District Attorney Andrew Murray announced he will not charge Officer Brentley Vinson in the shooting death of Keith Scott. Putney says he has spoken to officer vinson in the last 24 hours and says the officer is still dealing with what happened.

“Nobody puts on this uniform and comes to work any day of the week expecting to take a life, that’s not what we’re here for that’s not what we’re about,” said Putney.

After Scott’s death in September protesters criticized Putney for not immediately releasing body cam video of the shooting.   Putney says he stands by what the DA calls responsible transparency.

“I’m not going to hamper an investigation I’m not going to adversely impact the prosecutions’ building of a case I’ll take my licks for doing so but I think it’s the right thing to do and I stand by that decision,” said Putney.

Protesters again took to the streets of Uptown Wednesday night upset that Officer Vinson’s not being charged. Four people were arrested. Putney calls the protest a success because it showed protesters can exercise their first amendment rights without violence in the streets.

“As long as people aren’t looting, rioting and assaulting our officers and other people we’re going to allow for them to have that expression,” said Putney.

Putney says once the internal investigation into Scott’s shooting is complete, then he can talk about Officer Vinson returning to work.