AUSTIN, Texas— A former Austin police officer who was fired for his handling of the fatal shooting of an unarmed teenager has received a settlement from the City of Austin.
City leaders reached a legal settlement with Geoffrey Freeman, who fatally shot a 17-year-old David Joseph earlier this year, to avoid an arbitration hearing set to start Monday, Dec. 5.
Freeman will receive a $35,000 payment from the city in exchange for the agreement to not file further claims.
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He will also never work for the Austin Police Department again.
Interim City Manager Elaine Hart said that while she believes the city would win the hearing, the settlement eliminates any chance that Freeman could return to the Austin Police Department.
“My hope is that we can continue the healing process,” Hart said. “I believe this settlement is in the best interests of the community and the City.”
On Feb. 8, Freeman shot David Joseph on a street in Northeast Austin. Freeman was indefinitely suspended March 21 by former Police Chief Art Acevedo. Freeman was going into arbitration to attempt to have his indefinite suspension overturned.