COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Franklin County Sheriff's deputy who shot and killed Casey Goodson Jr. is leaving the office to go on disability retirement, according to Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin.
The sheriff's office said Deputy Jason Meade's retirement takes effect on July 2.
"Law Enforcement disability decisions are governed by state law and made by the pension system," Baldwin said. "As sheriff, I have no control or input over what the pension system decides with this or any other disability case."
Mark Collins, Meade's attorney, said he has no comment because this is a labor case, not the criminal case.
Sean Walton, the attorney for Goodson's family, stated while it was disappointing Baldwin did not terminate Meade on his own, the retirement brings a small sense of relief for the family.
"His sudden retirement shows that he understands that he is soon to be held accountable for his actions, and for Casey's family and for this entire community that day cannot come soon enough," Walton said.
"For the past six months Jason Meade has been on paid administrative leave, he's been receiving a salary and he's been employed by Franklin County and by the county's taxpayers and so a termination would be a sense of accountability because he would not be able to receive a pension or retire in good standing.”
10TV reached out to OPERS, who handles Meade's pension. OPERS would not go on camera, but would take our questions; when asked if Meade would be able to return to work if he is receiving a disability benefit, we were told: "only upon termination of the benefit."
Meade, a 17-year veteran of the sheriff's office, was working with a U.S. Marshals Office fugitive task force on Dec. 4, 2020.
The task force had just finished an unsuccessful search for a fugitive when Goodson allegedly drove by and waved a gun at Meade.
Meade confronted Goodson outside his vehicle in front of a residence. A witness said Meade commanded Goodson to drop his gun. When he didn't, Meade shot him.
Goodson's family said he was shot while walking into his home carrying food.
He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
According to the Franklin County Coroner’s Office, Goodson was shot six times - five times in his back and once in his buttocks.
The Columbus Division of Police, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office are investigating Goodson's death.