A Bryan police officer who was the subject of an internal investigation following a shooting has resigned, effective immediately.
Chief Eric Buske said in a Tuesday press conference Officer William Cross resigned Monday, effective immediately.
Cross had been on paid administrative leave since the May shooting that injured two men. He was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing by a Brazos County grand jury.
One of the men, Johnnie Walton Harris, Jr., was the suspect in a disturbance to which Cross was dispatched near the intersection of Texas Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive.
Police say a struggle broke out between Harris and Cross, during which Cross fired his service weapon. Harris and a nearby construction worker were wounded. Cross was not hurt.
Cross later told police Harris tried to take his service weapon during the struggle.
An ensuing internal investigation from the Bryan Police Department concluded on Friday, July 15. Cross resigned on Monday, July 18, Buske said.
Buske said it was his intent to release the patrol car video of the incident to the public, but elected not to do so after being advised against it by the city attorney’s office.
Because Cross resigned before any formal discipline was released, civil service law prohibits the details of the police department’s internal investigation from being made available to the public.
Cross’ resignation also precludes him from seeking reinstatement through arbitration. When asked, Buske said he did not believe Cross was eligible to retire and receive benefits.
Click below to hear the full audio of Chief Eric Buske’s press conference on Tuesday, July 19.
Chief Eric Buske Press Conference, July 19