SOMERVILLE WILL NOT REHIRE OFFICER CHARGED WITH MURDER; MAYOR CALLS FOR RESIGNATION OF POLICE CHIEF, CITY ADMINISTRATOR

  

Dozens of protestors met in Somerville Tuesday afternoon to object to the police department’s rehiring of an officer involved in a controversial death in 2017 in Harris County, and now the hiring will not happen.

Former Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Chauna Thompson, who now goes by Chauna Sheffield, was indicted on a murder charge in the death of John Hernandez at a Houston-area Denny’s restaurant.  She was seen on video helping restrain Hernandez while her husband at the time, Terry Thompson, put him into a choke-hold.  Hernandez died after the incident.

Sheffield, who was off-duty at the time, was later fired from her job, but the charges against her were later dropped.  Her husband was convicted on a murder charge and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Before the Somerville City Council’s meeting Tuesday, Sheffield sent word to the city that she would not accept any offer the city made.  The council issued a 4-0 vote to not allow Police Chief Craig Wise to make an offer to rehire her.

According to Wise, Sheffield served about five months with the police department, but was fired about six months ago after Mayor Micheal Bradford and others in the community found out about her past.  Wise has cited difficulty in finding candidates to fill the patrol officer position that would have been filled by Sheffield, due to the pay being $15 an hour.

Members of the Hernandez family were among those in attendance of the protest, including John’s father, cousin, and children.

Bradford asked for the resignations of Wise and City Administrator Danny Segundo, adding that if they do not tender their resignations by this (Wednesday) morning, he will call a special meeting next Tuesday to have the council vote.