By Eric King-
A Police officer who shot a former gangster in the chest “acted in line with policy” and will face no further action, according to an investigation.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said a West Midland police officer who shot Sheriff Cousin feared he was reaching for a gun and acted reasonably in shooting him. Cousins complained that the shooting was illegal and without reasonable cause. However, after investigators reviewed body-worn footage from armed officers deployed to Hereford Close in Rubery, Birmingham, they concluded the officer acted reasonably. They were acting on intelligence reports of a gun and ammunition.
Mr Cousins was confronted by officers in an alleyway with Jamael Scarlett-later jailed for drugs and armed offences. The IOPC concluded that Mr Cousins “did not immediately comply” with an officer’s command to raise his hands.
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He then “appeared to be reaching behind his back”, the report said, which led the officer to suspect he was reaching for a firearm concealed in his trousers
“In our view the officer concerned believed that there was an immediate and genuine risk posed to him, and his colleague, when he made the split-second decision to shoot,” IOPC Regional Director Derrick Campbell said. West Midlands Police said it would not be responding to the findings.
Mr Cousins, an ex-gang member turned youth worker, was unarmed when he was shot once in the chest and spent three weeks in a coma before recovering. No charges were brought against him in connection with the night of the shooting.
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IPCC said in a statement:
“A police firearm has been secured. There is early evidence to indicate a single shot was fired by one police officer,” the IPCC said.
IPCC Commissioner Derrick Campbell said: “We will be carrying out a thorough, independent investigation into this serious incident, as is appropriate when police use potentially lethal force.
“We are making contact with the man’s family and will ensure they are updated on the progress of our investigation.”
The force’s police and crime commissioner David Jamieson said: “In fact, the last time someone was shot by an officer in the West Midlands was actually 17 years ago in June 2000 and it’s been over 20 years since someone was fatally shot by a police officer.”
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