(DOVER, Del.)- A Dover police officer who was acquitted of assault- after he was seen in dash cam video kicking a suspect, Lateef Dickerson, in the head- is resigning. The announcement was made by the mayor of Dover, Tuesday night.
In accordance with a negotiated separation from employment, Dover Police say, former Dover Police Cpl. Thomas Webster IV submitted his resignation from the Dover Police Department, and the resignation was accepted on February 23, 2016, according to Dover Police.
Cpl. Webster was found not guilty by a 12 member jury on December 8, 2015 on a charge of felony assault resulting from an arrest that occurred in August 2013 while Cpl. Webster was on duty.
After a federal judge ruled that the video regarding the arrest of Lateef Dickerson on August 24, 2013, by Officer Tom Webster was no longer considered to be confidential, the Dover Police Department has decided to release the video. Based on the incident that occurred, which is captured on this video, the Dover Police Department initiated a multi-pronged investigation into this matter.
As a result, in November 2013, the Dover Police Department placed Webster on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation and review of the case by the Delaware Attorney General's Office. In March of 2014, the Delaware Attorney General's Office took the case before a grand jury who did not return an indictment for Webster.
At that time the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Delaware reviewed the case and found that there was not a civil rights violation.
After both agencies conducted their separate investigations, the Dover Police Department completed the internal investigation on Webster finding that his actions regarding this incident were outside of Dover Police Department policy and the department took the appropriate actions.
In June 2014, Webster returned to full duty with the Dover Police Department and was reassigned to the patrol division. On May 4, 2015, the Dover Police Department learned that the Delaware Attorney General's office took this case before a second grand jury which indicted Cpl. Webster on the charge of Assault 2nd degree. Upon being notified of the indictment the Dover Police Department immediately placed Webster on leave without pay pending the outcome of the criminal case.
On May 4, 2015, Webster turned himself in and was presented to Commissioner Andrea Freud of the Kent County Superior Court where he was released on $5,000.00 unsecured bond.
Following his acquittal, the City and then Cpl. Webster entered into discussions concerning the continued employment of Cpl. Webster, according to police. Those discussions resulted in an amicable end to Cpl. Webster's employment relationship with the City, and he submitted his voluntary resignation to the Dover Police Department.
While the resignation was immediately accepted such that former officer Webster is no longer a Dover Police Officer, his official date of separation from service will be June 30, 2016, according to police.