Following Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard’s acquisition of warrants for the two police officers involved in the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks, the Georgia Sheriff’s Association has released a letter accusing Howard of “grandstanding.”
The letter, which is signed by Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard, claims that the investigation and charges brought against Atlanta police officers Garrett Rolfe and Devin Brosnan were in the interest of politics.
“The Fulton County District Attorney is in the political fight of his life, and as part of his ongoing campaign strategy has chosen to hastily investigate and charge the two Atlanta police officers involved in the tragic death of Rayshard Brooks,” the letter reads.
Howard announced a murder charge against Rolfe on Wednesday, prior to the GBI finalizing their investigation on the matter.
Following the June 9 General Primary Election, Howard is heading to a runoff this fall for reelection as Fulton County District Attorney. The letter from the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association claims the warrants Howard brought against the Rolfe and Brosnan were made to secure more votes for reelection.
“Howard has trampled on the rights of Officer Garrett Rolfe and Officer Devin Brosnan and has further allowed this tragic incident to be more about his re-election than justice for the officers involved, the Atlanta Police Department and the citizens of our state,” the letter states.
Rolfe is charged in the June 12 shooting death of Rayshard Brooks, an incident which took place during a DUI stop at a Wendy’s parking lot in Atlanta. 27-year-old Brooks grabbed one of the officers’ Tasers and ran, at that time Rolfe fired his gun upon Brooks, resulting in his death.
View the full letter from the Georgia Sheriffs' Association below.
