Prescott police officer to resign after reenacting George Floyd murder in Minnesota classroom

The Wisconsin police officer who was banned from being a substitute teacher in Minnesota after reenacting the police killing of George Floyd in class is no longer with the department.

The Prescott City Council unanimously approved the separation agreement with Steven D. Williams earlier this week. The agreement indicates Friday will be Williams’ last day before resigning “in lieu of termination.”

Last month, Southern Washington School District says it has banned Williams While serving as a teacher at Woodbury High School, he “repeatedly made racially harmful comments,” “made sexist jokes” and “stated that police brutality is not real,” according to a letter from school officials.

RELATED: Substitute teacher at Woodbury HS who reportedly reenacted George Floyd’s murder is no longer employed‘

Teachers on Call, a private company that employs substitute staff for school districts in Minnesota, fired Williams after the incident. The company said it passes all background checks, adding that it has a “zero-tolerance policy against any violent, offensive or harmful behavior.”

Williams, who did not respond to multiple voicemails from 5 INVESTIGATES seeking comment, joined the Prescott police force in July 2022 after spending more than eight years in law enforcement positions in Montana.

it happened on administrative leave from the ministry Since October 16th.

Personnel records show Williams received a documented verbal warning after he violated Prescott Police Department policy by missing a mandatory team meeting in May. The police chief said in a letter that Williams said he “forgot to show up,” noting that this wasn’t the first time he had missed a meeting.

Records also show the officer damaged his cruiser twice in the line of duty: On Dec. 24, 2022, Williams backed into a tree in the shared parking lot, and then on Aug. 5, 2023, he tore off the radio antenna on the roof of his cruiser. while backing into a garage door.

A racially motivated complaint against Williams earlier this year was deemed “unfounded” and “unfair” by the police chief, according to a letter in his personnel file. Body-worn camera footage of the incident shows the complainant continuing to yell at Williams, but he never responded and returned to the squad car.

In his application, Williams stated that his “life experiences” gave him “the ability to sympathize with others and also be a source of information and guidance when citizens encounter unexpected problems.”