Video: Columbus Police Officers Disciplined

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COLUMBUS, Miss.(WCBI)–After emerging from two closed door meetings today[Friday], Columbus city leaders vote to terminate Columbus police officer Canyon Boykin’s employment with the city.

Almost Immediately after a special called meeting began, the mayor and council members shut the door to the public. When they emerged, they announced the decision. Officer Canyon Boykin, one of three officers involved in the fatal shooting of Ricky Ball a Columbus man turned in a letter of resignation. That letter was not well received by his superiors.

“The council voted to terminate effective immediately. Well, terminate or fired is the same thing. Yes sir, anyway you want to say it. The other two officers, officer Yolanda Young and officer Johnny Branch were suspended for 30 days, 6 months probation and remedial training before returning to work,” said Mayor Robert Smith/Columbus.

Ball was shot and killed following a traffic stop and “struggle” with police two weeks ago. Police Chief Tony Carlton and Mayor Robert Smith are now talking, and Carlton told of abiding by departmental policies.

“Well we certainly have policies in place and it needs to be not only here, but all over that everyone goes by them. And certainly we’re going to enforce those policies. Any time anyone has done wrong. They are there for those corrective measures,” said Chief Tony Carlton/Columbus.

Carlton spoke of hopes of there being a better relationship between the police and citizens they protect.

“We’ve been transparent, that we don’t have any hidden agendas. And we want to work close with the public and I want them to be able to come to me and speak to me , whenever they want to and feel comfortable about it,” said Tony Carlton.

“We have contacted , the chief has already contacted the FBI, and the FBI we have asked them to handle our internal investigation,” said Mayor Robert Smith.