Officer Who Shot Jacob Blake Is Back On The Job, No Charges Have Been Filed

In March, Jacob Blake filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Officer Rusten Sheskey. He accused the officer of using “excessive and unnecessary force.”

The Wisconsin police officer who shot Jacob Blake seven times last year leaving him partially paralyzed has returned to duty. 

According to the Kenosha, Wisconsin Police Department, Officer Rusten Sheskey was acting “within policy.” In addition to being back on the job after returning from administrative leave on March 31, he won't face any internal discipline. He was placed on leave after the incident that took place nearly eight months ago. 

Officers were responding to a domestic incident and were attempting to detain Blake. There was a warrant for his arrest at the time. Blake reportedly walked to the front of his vehicle toward the driver’s side door. Sheskey then fired his gun seven times, six shots hit Blake in the back leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. 

“Although this incident has been reviewed at multiple levels, I understand that some will not be pleased with the outcome,” said Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis in a statement. “However, given the facts, it was the only lawful and appropriate decision to be made.”

After the shooting, throughout the nation, many expressed that Sheskey should be terminated and arrested. Days of protests in Kenosha followed the incident that was seen in a viral video.  

Per Complex, the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office declined to charge Sheskey, attorneys cited it would be difficult to “convince a jury that the officer wasn’t in for his life.” Sheskey’s account of the August 23 shooting reportedly noted that Blake drove a knife towards him before he fired off shots. Blake and his legal team have previously stated bystander cellphone footage of the incident shows that he was not “brandishing” a knife.

An internal investigation was conducted in addition to an investigation by an outside agency. No charges were filed. 

In March, Blake filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Sheskey. He accused the officer of using “excessive and unnecessary force.” B'Ivory LaMarr, one of Blake’s attorneys told ABC News at the time, “We believe that this lawsuit will help establish accountability.”

The complaint notes that Blake had a folding knife but he dropped it onto the floor of his vehicle as he sat down in the driver’s seat. Sheskey then fired “seven shots at point-blank range.” Blake’s children who are 5 and 8 watched from the back seat.