Attorney General Gentner Drummond has dismissed a criminal charge against Oklahoma City Police Sergeant Joseph Gibson. The charge was initially filed by Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicky Behenna following an incident on October 27 involving Mr. Lich Vu. Drummond took over the prosecution on December 23.
"As Attorney General, I will not permit Oklahoma police officers to face criminal prosecution for conduct adhering to their training," stated Drummond. He acknowledged the devastating outcome for Mr. Vu and his family but emphasized that he did not believe Sgt. Gibson acted with criminal intent.
Drummond highlighted the challenges faced by law enforcement officers, stating, "Our law enforcement officers work under constant stress, where the most routine interactions can become life-threatening in an instant." He stressed the importance of following an officer's instructions and refraining from physical contact, noting that this applies to everyone regardless of language or cultural differences.
Despite dropping the charges, Drummond mentioned an ongoing internal investigation into Sgt. Gibson's actions. "The Oklahoma City Police Department is conducting a thorough and rigorous investigation to determine whether Sgt. Gibson violated any policies or procedures," he said.