By David Gambino | The Decatur Daily, Ala. (TNS)

Decatur was rocked to its core by the police killing of Steve Perkins on Sept. 29. Three months later, with a new year on the horizon and a still-grieving community, family members of Perkins and residents reflect on the tragedy, its aftermath, and Perkins’ legacy.

“Moving forward, we hope that Steve’s passing causes some positive change in the city,” said Steve Perkins’ brother, Nicholas Perkins. “Hopefully we can get some new laws passed, maybe some ordinances, and we hope that the new recreational center that’s being proposed to be built in Wilson Morgan Park could be named after Steve, since that was his passion — he was a gym enthusiast.”

Nicholas Perkins said he keenly felt his younger brother’s absence at Christmas when he watched his nieces open presents without their father. And then, later, the empty seat at dinner and his mother’s pained face were another reminder that Steve Perkins’ big beard wouldn’t be walking through the door. Nicholas Perkins wants the city to remember, too.

“I don’t think Steve’s death should just be looked over,” he said. “Something has to happen about this, and it needs to be for future generations to come. Some people need to look at something that’s in this city and be reminded that this came about because of Steve Perkins’ death. That new recreation center would be perfect.”

Plans for a $53 million recreation center to replace the Aquadome Recreation Center at Wilson Morgan Park are currently under development.

With everything that’s happened since Sept. 29 — the growth of the Movement for Justice, the daily (and nightly) demonstrations, the drama of the unfolding personnel and legal processes — Nicholas Perkins said his family still hasn’t had the chance to properly grieve. He and other family members, including Steve Perkins’ widow, Catrela Perkins, have remained steadfast in advocating for justice through public appearances and press conferences in extraordinarily difficult circumstances.

“I think this family is looking forward to some closure, so that we can grieve properly and mourn properly,” he said.

Catrela Perkins said she’s been trying to stay strong for her children.

“We were a family of four, now we’re a family of three,” she said. “When you go from two parents to one and you have small children — my 7-year-old doesn’t quite understand, all she knows is daddy’s not here. I still look at pictures of him and it’s like I can’t believe it. It hasn’t registered quite yet that he’s gone.”

Catrela Perkins said she has yet to meet with police Chief Todd Pinion since her husband was killed. Mayor Tab Bowling, she said, only visited her home the weekend after Perkins’ death at the urging of Black community leaders. The community stepped in, she said, where city leaders did not.

“People in the community have just come together and stepped up and been so, so supportive,” she said. “I don’t think I can say thank you enough to the community and to the supporters and the organizations.”

Wednesday morning, the day after the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency announced they completed their investigation of Perkins’ death and turned their findings over to the Morgan County District Attorney’s Office, a group of demonstrators gathered with signs in front of the county courthouse and shouted for justice.

Justin Shepherd, an outspoken friend and neighbor of Steve Perkins, was there.

“I just hope this never happens again to anybody else,” the Iraq War veteran said. “Nobody should have to go through this, you know? Looking back, I think it’s opened a lot of people’s eyes to problems in the community. I hope that we can effect positive change.”

Shepherd said it’s difficult to tell if the “problems in the community” that led to Perkins’ death are due to police culture or racism, or a combination of the two, but said that a community policing approach would solve a lot of issues.

“I remember, as a kid, playing in the street and a cop parking his car and throwing the ball around,” he said. “What I envision in community policing is that personal connection where the officers know the neighborhood and where the community feels comfortable coming up to them. Building those bonds — I think that’s really important. The city has an opportunity here to make a change and stand for what’s right.”

Shepherd was mostly mum on the state of his house, which is across the street from where Perkins was shot and was riddled with several bullets, but said he “holds out hope” that it will be repaired in the New Year.

Grass-roots activist groups such as Standing In Power, Night Shift, Underground Protest, the Huntsville Bail Fund, the Rocket City Medics and Black Lives Matter have all been involved on the ground in some capacity since Perkins was killed. Standing In Power plans to continue attending City Council meetings, organizing events and advocating for transparency from city leaders.

“When the fight is over, what do we do next?” asked Standing In Power cofounder Aneesah Saafiyah. “The overall goal is to make sure that we keep this from happening to us, so education, advocacy and being proactive, not reactive. It’s to make sure this never happens again here.”

Saafiyah said both racism and an overzealous police culture led to Perkins’ death and continue to plague the city.

“Deep-rooted racism and police abuse of Black people have always gone hand-in-hand,” she said. “The police never give us grace. They never give us second chances. For whatever reason, they have this misperceived notion that Black people are violent. We are not. Steve was at his home asleep, and they lured him out. You had Tamir Rice playing in the park, Trayvon Martin walking from a convenience store — just our daily lives are a threat to them. That’s why the community has to stay involved beyond Steve. Our lives are at stake.”

Over 30 Perkins demonstrators have been arrested and charged with minor violations, mostly disorderly conduct, since Sept. 29, according to Standing In Power. At least eight were arrested by Decatur police between Oct. 6 and Oct. 8 and charged with disorderly conduct. Video footage captured that weekend showed an officer pulling a supporter off a sidewalk, multiple officers tackling a woman in the parking lot of People’s Bank, and a woman arrested for cursing.

On Thursday, the mayor announced that effective that day no protests or demonstrations would be allowed unless organizers first obtain a parade/event permit. Applications for a permit, according to the application form, must be submitted at least 30 days before the event. A city ordinance declares that no permit will be issued for events beginning after sunset. Failure to obtain a permit from the chief of police may result in prosecution.

As Catrela Perkins helped get her daughter ready for a game on Wednesday, she reflected, in the present-tense, on her “simple life” with her husband.

“We look forward to Fridays when we get off work,” she said. “If he’s off that weekend, we’re either going out to eat with the kids or, you know, doing something with the kids whether that’s hanging out at home or maybe going bowling.”

Steve Perkins’ never-met-a-stranger personality has inspired his wife to be more outgoing, she said. She plans to honor him during a Celebration of Life weekend beginning Thursday with a parade followed by a balloon release. On Friday, Perkins supporters plan to attend his daughter’s basketball game at Decatur High School. Next Saturday, a panel of guest speakers who’ve had experience with police violence, including Michael Brown Sr., will speak at the Princess Theatre. That evening, Steve Perkins’ 40th birthday will be celebrated at an “exclusive location.” Tickets are available to the public for purchase.

“It’s going to be a great way to honor Steve Perkins and also the supporters,” Catrela Perkins said. “It’s going to be a nice, formal event in memory of Steve.”

Along with the Celebration of Life, Catrela Perkins said she’d like to see other events that have been held in Steve Perkins’ name, such as the Fit & Fun Day and community cookouts, continue well into the future.

On the heels of a difficult Christmas, Steve Perkins’ upcoming birthday and his unfulfilled dreams were on his brother’s mind. Nicholas Perkins has kept his brother’s memory close by fulfilling those dreams.

“One of the things he always talked about is that he wanted to go skydiving,” he said. “I went about a week after he passed because that’s what he wanted to do. And it was actually done free of charge by Skydive Alabama because one of the guys had met Steve in the gym.

“He said that Steve changed his life.”

— [email protected] or 256-340-2438. @DD_DavidGambino

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