Officer who shot Jacob Blake returns to duty

The Wisconsin police officer who faced no charges after shooting Jacob Blake last summer has returned to duty. 

Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis said in a statement posted to Twitter that Officer Rusten Sheskey returned from administrative leave as of March 31.

Miskinis said that an internal review found that Shesky acted “within policy and will not be subject to discipline.”

“Although this incident has been reviewed at multiple levels, I know that some will not be pleased with the outcome,” he said. “However, given the facts, the only lawful and appropriate decision was made.”

Media Release pic.twitter.com/wdq5QaNNyk

— Kenosha Police Dept. (@KenoshaPolice) April 13, 2021

Blake’s shooting in August sparked protests across the country, coming just months after Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, two other Black Americans, were killed by police.

Footage that went viral showed Blake being shot multiple times as officers tried to stop him from entering his vehicle.

As officers were attempting to arrest him, Blake retrieved a folding knife that was dropped, and began to walk toward the driver’s seat of the car. Sheskey grabbed Blake by his shirt and began shooting him as he attempted to get in the car.

Blake was left paralyzed after the incident.

The Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office declined to bring charges against Sheskey and the other officers involved in January.

Blake filed a federal lawsuit against Sheskey in late March alleging that the officer used excessive force with “malice, willfulness, and reckless indifference” to Blake’s rights.