Decatur Police Chief Todd Pinion announced Friday he intends to resign from his position “so healing can begin immediately” in the city.

Pinion, who has been scrutinized since the death of Steve Perkins at the hands of Decatur police, alluded to the incident in a statement released Friday night but did not directly address the incident.

“I have heard that this city cannot move forward while I remain Chief. This is only an excuse. Without a doubt, this excuse undermined our forward progress on such important things as community policing, crime prevention, officer recruitment and retention, and many of the items I shared last year in my executive plan,” the statement read.

“After much prayer and consideration, I have decided it is in the best interest of the city and my family to take away that excuse so healing can begin immediately,” the statement continued.

“In the near future, I will be stepping aside as Chief of Police,” Pinion wrote. “I will remain with the city in another position.”

After midnight on Sept. 29, 2024 a tow truck driver told police that Perkins threatened him with a gun as he tried to repossess his truck.

An hour later, security camera footage showed the tow truck return to Perkins’ house with police. No video records showed the police turn on their emergency lights, knock on Perkins’ door or otherwise announce their presence. As the tow truck driver again began repossessing the truck, Perkins ran outside shining a bright light — state investigators later said he “brandished” a handgun “equipped with a light” — and told him to drop the vehicle.

An officer, identified as Bailey Marquette, emerged from a dark corner and shouted, “Hey, hey, police, get on the ground.” Marquette shot Perkins multiple times, according to court records. Bullets also flew into a neighboring home, narrowly missing Justin Shepherd, an Army veteran who was Perkins’ friend and gym trainee.

The killing sparked protests in Decatur and demonstrators called on Pinion to resign.

In his statement issued Friday, Pinion reflected on his tenure with pride.

“Life brings many difficult decisions. I am faced with one today. I have loved serving as your Police Chief. I look back over the past three years and see a number of significant accomplishments – accomplishments I believe have made Decatur a better place to live and work,” Pinion said.

Those accomplishments, the chief said, included Decatur’s lowest crime rate in 20 years, “record amounts of drugs off the streets” and officer morale.

He said the city council helped him in achieving those goals.

Pinion had a message to his officers.

“The work you do is not easy and is often questioned. Stay committed to who you are and don’t listen to the critics, especially those who don’t understand our job,” he wrote. “What makes DPD special is its people. I know the resilience of our department, and I expect you to stay committed to this city we all protect and serve.”