Dover police officer acquitted in assault case resigns

Jessica Bies | The News Journal

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The Dover police officer charged with felony assault last May – and later found not guilty – has submitted his resignation to the Dover Police Department.

The case against Cpl. Thomas Webster IV, who was charged with the felony assault charge after kicking a black man in the head, represented in Delaware the growing nationwide tension over the relationship between police and black communities. That tension has engulfed the country following several high-profile cases where young black men were killed by police officers.

After he was acquitted of the assault charges in December, Webster was on track to return to active duty. He had been on administrative leave after he was charged, but went back on the Police Department's payroll at the end of December with his $68,398 annual salary – he was also given back pay for the months that he was on leave.

He had been moving toward rejoining the department, which meant taking a psychological evaluation – a requirement for any officer who has used deadly force that resulted in injury or death before he is able to return to work – and recertification training.

Residents and activists, however, had fought his reinstatement. In December, they addressed the City Council and told its members that letting him back on the force would endanger the hard-won level trust between the police department and the city's residents.

According to a statement released Tuesday by the Dover Police Department, in accordance with a negotiated separation from employment, Webster's resignation was accepted on Tuesday.

Following his acquittal, the city and Webster entered into discussions concerning the corporal's continued employment, according to the statement. Those discussions resulted in what the police department says is "an amicable end" to Webster's employment with the city. The Police Department said in the statement Webster submitted his resignation voluntarily.

While the resignation was immediately accepted – meaning that Webster is no longer a Dover police officer – his official date of separation from service will be June 30, according to the statement.

Watch video of Dover police officer kicking suspect Watch video of a Dover police officer kicking a suspect during an arrest. WARNING: This video may be disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.

Saranac Hale Spencer contributed to this story.