KOAM lands interview with former Joplin police officer

KOAM has posted a story and video on its interview with former Joplin police officer Homer Knisley, who resigned last week following an investigation into an alleged beating of prisoner David Neal at the city jail:

On Wednesday, Knisley said Neal's head never hit the floor because of his slap, and the reason why Knisley hit Neal in the first place was because Neal was spitting blood.

Knisley says he was protecting other workers from Neal's spit.

"I may not be worth much to them as a police officer, but I am a person," Knisley said. "I have a wife and son who depend on me. And I absolutely refuse - I absolutely refuse - to surrender my right to protect myself because I am a police officer. I took an oath as a police officer to protect people and that's what happened. Nothing more."