The City of Smyrna Police Department has suspended an officer with pay pending the conclusion of an internal investigation. The suspension follows an arrest made by the Cobb County Police Department over the weekend.
At approximately 1:25 p.m. Saturday, Cobb officers were dispatched to the Powder Springs home of Smyrna Police Officer Darryl L. Whitfield.
About two hours later, Whitfield was arrested and charged with misdemeanors including simple assault, simple battery, third degree cruelty to children (allowing a child to witness family violence), and obstructing or hindering persons making emergency telephone call, said Smyrna police spokesman Michael Smith.
Whitfield was held at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center on $11,220 bail and has since bonded out of jail.
Smith said the Smyrna Police Department is conducting its own internal investigation of Whitfield, who has been a member of the department for eight years and worked in the patrol division.
I have lived in Smyrna for over 20 years and had a run in with this officer during a marathon in Smyrna. He was blocking the entrance in and out of our neighborhood, and wouldn't allow any of us in or out. He became rather irate whenI attempted to gain access to my home, pulled me over and began screaming at me until another officer showed up and told me I could pass. One neighbor even threatened to call Max Bacon because this Mr Darryl Whitfield appeared to have a bit of trouble controlling his emotions. I've seen him around Smyrna, and frankly found him to be amusing. Total Napolean symdrome. Little man with a big gun. I hope this gets him out of Smyrna for good. Good riddance, meh
You’re in a violent and abusive relationship if your partner: uses physical force in a way that injures or endangers you humiliates or yells at you criticizes you and puts you down treats you so badly that you’re embarrassed for your friends or family to see ignores or puts down your opinions or accomplishments blames you for their own abusive behavior sees you as property or a sex object rather than as a person acts excessively jealous and possessive controls where you go or what you do keeps you from seeing your friends or family limits your access to money, the phone, or the car constantly checks up on you The domestic abuse helpline for men and women is 1-888-743-5754.
Then you go on to discuss things that are circumstantial. Leave legal discussions up to the court and jury, please. I'm not saying he's innocent or guilty, but you don't know the facts. Furthermore, I imagine his family would appreciate you staying out of their business.
If he's found guilty then "NO". Send him to Lithonia for a desk job! (he'd be fortunate to get that), then let him face a judge! If he is in fact, mostly innocent, he would regain most of the public's trust/respect and should return to full duty. Of course he'd be under scrutiny, but that's "par for the course". ------ Domestic violence is a serious issue everywhere. Even "small events" will eventually escalate into larger events if permitted to progress. Do nothing IS a permit for things to progress.
http://mdjonline.com/bookmark/20945689-Smyrna-officer-facing-domestic-violence-charges
And anyone with children has probably commited 3rd degree child cruelty simply by arguing in front of or even near them. It's a tack on charge for any other DV charge. Yes, i'm a police officer and have seen Many cases turn out to be opposite of what it appeared.
I know it all to well that it takes TWO to tango, so to speak. Just because she wasn't arrested doesn't mean she's not guilty of a crime either or at minimum she could have added fuel to the fire.
I'm of the opinion that cops often look the other way when fellow officers commit a crime , call it "professional courtesy ". But if they arrested one of their own. Then I would assume there was so much evidence that they simply couldn't look the other way.
it says: “Accused did grab said victim by her hair and did force her to the ground,” the warrant states. Accused did punch said victim in her left arm, left torso and left thigh. Said accused then did place one hand around said victim’s neck and strangled her until their Juvenile son entered the room and begged said accused to stop.” The child-cruelty charge stems from the boy witnessing the violence against his mother, according to the warrant. According to an arrest warrant for Darryl Whitfield, police were called to his home on Sweet Springs Drive at 1 p.m. Saturday. Whitfield’s wife told police he had threatened to kill her and then himself, and threatened to kill their son if his wife would not go into a bedroom with Whitfield.