Former officer tells his side

In one of the Joplin Globe's guest columns, former Joplin police officer Homer Knisley, who resigned last week following an investigation into a beating at the city jail, gives his side of the story:

I do not feel that my response to the continued assault by David Neal was inappropriate or excessive at all.

I used what I believe to be the least amount of force necessary to prevent any continued assaults on myself or others. It should be noted that Neal had spit blood on me numerous times while being carried into the jail, and my only response to the attacks was simply telling him to stop spitting.

However, once we made it into the jail, Neal arched his back, took a deep breath, filled his mouth with bloody spit, turned toward the jailer (who was leaning down to pick Neal up) and started to spit blood in the face of the jailer, causing the jailer to lunge backward to avoid the attack from Neal. At that time, I used the palm of my hand and redirected his face downward causing his bloody spit to hit the floor. Upon closer view of the video, you can clearly see the redirection of Neal’s face never caused his head to hit the floor. The redirection of Neal’s face was fast but far from forceful. It was the necessary amount of force at the necessary time.

Also telling is this passage:

I am not the racist monster that the media has made me out to be. I am not blessed with money or fine things, but I take great pride in three things: my God, my family and friends, and my reputation of being a fair, caring and compassionate person with the highest of integrity. Outside of those things, nothing else matters.