South Bend Police Chief Scott Ruszkowski issued the following statement via a tweet through the South Bend Police Department's verified Twitter account:
“I can confirm that Sergeant Ryan O'Niell resigned from the South Bend Police Department effective immediately. I am in receipt of his resignation letter. I will have no further comment at this time.”
Here is the release from South Bend FOP Lodge #36:
SOUTH BEND, IN – Today, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #36 in South Bend, Indiana announced that Sgt. Ryan O’Neill will be resigning from the South Bend Indiana Police Department effective today.
“Sgt. O’Neill did his job and was forced to defend his own life from a convicted felon who was armed with an eight-inch hunting knife,” Harvey Mills, South Bend FOP President said. “We’re confident that the investigation into the shooting will determine that the action he took was justified based on the law and his training; however, job related stress, the lawsuit, national media attention, and hateful things said on social media have been difficult for O’Neill and his young family.”
Mills went on to point out that O’Neill is currently the subject of a special prosecutor investigation, a civil lawsuit, and potential departmental discipline because of this shooting.
“These fights are just too much for Sgt. O’Neill and his family to undertake right now,” Mills concluded. “Resigning will allow him to focus on these challenges, as well as assist his wife with their three children, one of whom is a newborn.”
A group that has been vocal since the shooting of Eric Logan which calls itself the "BlackTavists" issued the following statement in reaction to the announcement of O'Neill's resignation:
Today, we welcome O’Neill’s resignation as an important step, perhaps only the first, in the healing of our community and the ongoing need for change in police culture toward a zero tolerance for racial bias and racism. As the special Prosecutor’s investigation continues, we hope this sends a strong signal to other officers that unjust excessive force and lethal force will always be met with strong community reaction, complete and thorough investigation, and legal and professional consequences.
Moving forward, we await the just indictment of Ryan O’Neill in Eric Logan’s death. We look forward to working together with the City of South Bend and the community-at-large toward a bias and prejudice-free South Bend Police Department.
Pete Buttigieg issued a statement on O’Neills resignation per a spokesperson:
“Our efforts to strengthen trust between law enforcement and community members continue. We will await results of the independent criminal investigation, and apply any lessons learned to our work on the future of the Police Department and the community.”
