An Atlanta police officer who was handling a murder victim’s wallet when $500 in cash went missing was terminated after 2 1/2 years on the job.
Former Atlanta police officer Keisha Richburg responded to the scene of a fatal shooting on June 19. The cop’s body cam shows her handling the victim’s wallet which contained $500 in cash.
Bodycam video posted to the Atlanta Police Department’s YouTube channel shows a paramedic remove the cash from shooting victim Jamel Harris’s wallet, tucks the money loosely into the wallet, then give the wallet and the man’s cell phone to officer Richburg.
Moments later, Officer Richburg’s body cam shows her seated in her patrol unit while the rap song “A Lot” by 21 Savage blares on the squad car’s radio.
The bodycam shows the stack of cash in the wallet in her left hand (pictured). But seconds later, the cash is gone and she is shown handling the empty wallet and cell phone.
A paramedic told Harris’ widow Lanique the wallet contained $500 cash when he found it. But police later told her Harris’ wallet was empty. Lanique is pregnant with the couple’s baby and she has no insurance to bury her husband, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
After an internal instigation, Richburg was terminated from her job – but not for stealing the money, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. She was fired for not following police department policy when handling money found at a crime scene.
A police report states: “Officer Richburg transfers the victim’s wallet from her right hand to her left hand; it is readily apparent the money is no longer tucked inside the wallet.”
Police Chief Erika Shields said in a statement that Harris was “victimized twice.”
“It’s imperative the public have trust in our word and our actions,” she said. “It’s extremely disappointing to see the victim of a fatal shooting be victimized twice by the actions of one our officers.”
The District Attorney’s office will determine later whether to press charges against Richburg.
A union rep defended the former officer, saying Richburg “didn’t know” there was money in the wallet.
“They haven’t proven that she had the money or took the money,” the union rep said.
A 43-year-old man who had been arguing with Harris before the shooting was arrested and charged with his murder.
