WASHINGTON (WUSA9) — DC Officer Brian Trainer, who shot and killed Terrence Sterling two and a half years ago, will appear before a D.C. Police Trial Board Wednesday morning to petition for his job.
He’s been on paid leave since shooting the unarmed black man back in September 11, 2016 and a review board recommended he be fired from the force.
Black Lives Matter DC is planning a protest outside the hearing, but many of those activists will not be get a seat in this public hearing. Space is very limited. In fact, MPD is only reserving five seats for reporters.
Black Lives Matter DC is also demanding police live stream the public hearing. Police did not respond to WUSA9’s inquiries about that.
This will be Officer Brian Trainer's first public appearance since the September 2016 shooting. He was placed on leave and is living with his parents in a Philadelphia suburb.
WUSA9’s Delia Gonçalves traveled to his hometown and spoke to many of his neighbors who said Trainer comes from a religious, service oriented family; educated at local catholic schools. Trainer’s brother is currently a volunteer firefighter in town.
Trainer moved to D.C., earned a fire arms training award in the police academy, which means he was the best in class.
Just four years into the police force, the 27-year-old officer found himself kneeling over Terrence Sterling as the unarmed black man bled to death on the street.
Police said Sterling was speeding on his motorcycle and had alcohol in his system. Trainer fired twice from his police cruiser after it cut off Sterling's motorcycle at 3rd and M Sts NW, violated police policy and turned on his body camera after the shooting.
Terrence Sterling's family found out he was killed later that day. It was Sunday and they were in church. The 31-year-old was their only son, lived at home, admired and respected at work, loved dogs and riding motorcycles.
His family was just awarded $3.5 million from the city; their civil suit asked for $50 million.
Through their lawyer the family members released a statement saying in part that they hope Trainer will be fired “so that he is never again in such a position to execute someone else's loved one."
MPD told member of Black Lives Matter that a live stream would interfere with the hearing but a recording will be made available once the board comes to its decision. That can take up to 10 days. The hearing itself is expected to last two to three days.
