Death by Cop 2021-2025
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Michael D. Whitmer
Gender : Male
Age : 37
Race : White
Date : 07/27/2021
Location : Third Street
City : Nelsonville
County : Athens
State : Ohio
Agency : Hocking College Police Department Officers: Cecil Morrison
Officer(s) :Cecil Morrison
Cause of Death : ——————
Event : Killed by police during domestic violence call
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Officer Cecil Morrison responded to a report of domestic violence at an apartment on Third Street. Upon arrival, he approached Michael Whitmer's vehicle with his firearm drawn. Inside the vehicle was Whitmer’s 4-year-old son, seated in the back seat. Whitmer attempted to reverse the vehicle out of the driveway multiple times, during which his car collided with an unoccupied police cruiser. As Whitmer reversed again, Officer Morrison fired multiple shots into the vehicle, fatally wounding Whitmer. Reports indicate that Whitmer had been unarmed at the time of the shooting.
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Following the incident, Officer Morrison was charged with negligent homicide, a misdemeanor offense. He pleaded no contest to the charge and was ordered to permanently surrender his Ohio Peace Officer Training Certificate, effectively ending his law enforcement career in the state. Notably, after the shooting and before his plea, Morrison was hired by the Nelsonville Police Department; however, his law enforcement certification surrender precludes future employment as an officer in Ohio.
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In addition to the criminal proceedings, Morrison faces a civil lawsuit filed by Whitmer's family, alleging violations of Whitmer’s constitutional rights.
