OMAHA, Nebraska — Omaha’s police chief announced Wednesday that he will fire an officer who fatally shot an unarmed man while executing a no-knock warrant, a policy that has since been discontinued throughout the city.
On Aug. 28, Omaha Police Officer Adam Vail was part of a SWAT team serving a search warrant during a drug and firearms investigation when he fired the single shot that killed 37-year-old Cameron Ford, according to prosecutors. According to Vail, Ford charged at him without his hands visible.
Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine declined to charge the officer. However, Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said in a statement Wednesday that an internal review revealed Vail had broken department standards.
“During the investigation, I did not see or uncover any criminal intent on the part of Officer Vail,” Schmaderer told the media. “Nonetheless, I cannot ignore my determination that policy and procedure violations occurred.”
An Associated Press request for comment from the Omaha Police Officers Association was not immediately returned Wednesday.
Vail will have the opportunity to appeal to human resources before the termination is completed, Schmaderer stated in a press release.
Following the fatal shooting of Ford, who was Black, Omaha police suspended no-knock warrants awaiting an investigation into the practice.
In a statement released Wednesday, Mayor Jean Stothert supported Schmaderer’s decision.
“I have confidence in and support the Chief’s decision to recommend the termination of Officer Vail after the review of Omaha Police Department policies and the events on August 28th,” she told the audience. “Our community can be certain that the Omaha Police Department will always maintain the highest level of accountability.”
