Fired Troy police officer had 5 previous issues with use of force

TROY — A Troy police officer who was fired for use of force and other city policy violations had at least five previous issues involving use of force in the department, according to the department’s police chief.

Officer Eric Kilbourne was fired after an internal investigation into an incident involving him and a person in custody on April 25.

“A handcuffed subject in custody for domestic violence and violation of a protection order was injured in the sallyport of the Troy Police Department,” Troy Police said in a statement. “Due to concerns about the incident, the City opened an internal investigation, requested an outside agency to complete a criminal investigation, and placed the officer on administrative leave.”

Following the internal investigation, Kilbourne was placed on unpaid leave until June 1, when he was fired by the city.

“Officer Kilbourne has past discipline for use of force issues which shows a pattern of similar misconduct,” Police Chief Shawn McKinney wrote in a letter to Patrick Titterington, the city’s public services and safety director. “This past discipline further supports my recommendation that Officer Kilbourne’s employment be terminated.”

Kilbourne’s previous use of force issues with the department happened in 2008, 2012, 2017 and 2010.

Ten days before the most recent use of force violation that led to his firing, Kilbourne had received a written reprimand for insubordination, public records show.

A letter notifying Kilbourne of his termination said after being offered to review the internal investigation Kilbourne declined the opportunity to review the report and videos and offered no explanation for his actions.

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