BARTOW COUNTY, Ga. — Channel 2 Action News is digging into the personnel file of the Euharlee police officer who allegedly shot and killed a 17-year-old boy when he answered the door.
Under "Meet Our Officers" on the Euharlee Police Department's website, Cpl. Beth Gatny is the only one of nine not shown. The department took her picture down while she remains on administrative leave after she fatally shot aspiring Marine 17-year-old Christopher Roupe.
Euharlee police say Roupe was pointing a gun at their officer on Feb. 14 when they knocked on the door to serve a probation warrant for the teen’s father. But Roupes’ attorney says family members told him the teen was holding a Nintendo Wii controller.
Lucie went to Gatny's home to get her side of the story on the shooting. While he was there, she shut all the blinds and didn't answer the door.
The GBI won't comment on the evidence recovered at the shooting scene. Lucie did spot Roupe's father at the home Tuesday, but he pulled away as soon as Channel 2 crews pulled up. Neighbors say Gatny patrolled the area at least twice a week.
“She was a good person. She comes through, talked to the kids and gave stickers,” said neighbor Tia Howard.
Lucie pulled Gatny's police officer standards and training paperwork and found she voluntarily resigned from the Bartow County Sheriff's Office, but it says she was terminated by the Acworth Police department after 10 years on the force. According to a letter from the Acworth Police Department, Gatny was terminated due to exhausting her Family and Medical Leave entitlement.
It also shows she didn’t work for a year before getting hired in June by the Euharlee Police Department. Since 1999, Gatny has had more than 28 hours of training just on the use of deadly force.
Lucie called Euharlee’s police chief Tuesday, but he wasn't available to talk.
Channel 2 Action News learned Gatny termination from the Acworth Police department was due to medical reasons.
WSBTV
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