Pubdate: Wed, 07 Jan 2004 Source: Ledger-Enquirer (GA) Copyright: 2004 Ledger-Enquirer Contact: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/enquirer/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/237 Author: Meg Pirnie Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/kenneth+walker MAYOR: STAY CALM, PATIENT Da Says No Reports Released Until All Criminal Litigation Is Complete Columbus Mayor Bob Poydasheffasked the community to be patient while the Georgia Bureau of Investigation finishes its investigation into the shooting death of Kenneth B. Walker. During a press conference Tuesday, the mayor said that agents are continuing their investigation and will give results to District Attorney Gray Conger. Conger then will decide whether to release the findings to the public, Poydasheff said. Conger said he has no plans to release any direct evidence in the case until all potential criminal proceedings are complete. Walker, 39, was unarmed Dec. 10 when a Muscogee County deputy sheriff fatally shot him beside Interstate 185 during the stop of a vehicle believed to be carrying armed drug dealers from Miami. Walker and three other Columbus men were pulled from the GMC Yukon. No drugs or weapons were found. "Our community is still in shock and in grief over the death of Mr. Walker, and I want to emphasize that this shock and grief is shared throughout the city," Poydasheff said. The mayor said residents and leaders are frustrated by the investigation's slow pace. "We must not let our impatience and our frustration divide our community or cause us to lose sight of our common goal," Poydasheff said. "As painful as it is for all of us, we must be patient and let them complete their work." No timetable The mayor said he had spoken with the head of the GBI, who assured him that the investigation remains a top priority for the organization. The GBI cannot give a timetable for completion, Poydasheff said, but promised work would be thorough. The mayor said he does not know of any specific problems agents have encountered during the investigation, but said problems can arise in any investigation and slow the pace. The FBI is conducting a parallel and separate inquiry, and will give its results to the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, Poydasheff said. The completion of that investigation will not affect the GBI investigation. After the GBI concludes its investigation, agents will turn all information over to Conger, the mayor said. Conger wouldn't comment on a timetable to make the results public. "Under Georgia law, it's not public until all litigation, including direct appeal, is over," he said. Conger will have two choices once the report is complete, he said. Either he can decline to pursue criminal charges or he can take the case before the grand jury to seek an indictment. He later explained that while he could release the report, he has never released evidence before potential criminal litigation. "I'm not going to do anything or say anything about it until I see it." Conger said he believes that if criminal litigation is not filed, the investigation will become public record. 'Counterproductive' Responding to questions about possible picketing in front of the Government Center next week and a boycott against city-owned properties, Poydasheff said he supported the right to free speech, but did not believe either activity would be productive. "That would be counterproductive to one Columbus, counterproductive to moving ahead, counterproductive to seeing that fair and impartial justice is done," he said. Poydasheff said he had no comments about how Sheriff Ralph Johnston has handled the investigation. The mayor has not talked to the deputy involved in the shooting and does not have authority to do so, he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin