Jul 02, 2020

Kansas officer who fatally shot teen gets $70,000 payout

Posted Jul 02, 2020 1:00 AM
John Albers photo courtesy  McGilley Memorial Chapel
John Albers photo courtesy  McGilley Memorial Chapel

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — An Overland Park police officer who fatally shot a 17-year-old who was backing out of the family’s garage received $70,000 as part of a severance package when he agreed to resign, city officials said.

Former officer Clayton Jenison killed John Albers in January 2018 after responding to the family’s home when Albers’ friends reporting he was making suicidal comments. Police said Albers backed the minivan out of the family’s garage toward Jenison, who yelled at him to stop and then fired 13 times.

Albers parents were not home at the time.

The Johnson County District Attorney later ruled the shooting was justified because Jenison feared for his life.

In a statement Tuesday, the city of Overland Park said the compensation package and severance payment given to Jenison in exchange for his resignation were in the best interest of the community, WDAF-TV reported.

Albers’ family settled a wrongful death lawsuit against the city for $2.3 million. His mother, Sheila Albers, said Tuesday she was “disgusted” by the Jenison’s payout.