The Phoenix Police Department has cut ties with Officer Jesse Johnson following a controversial shooting incident that claimed the life of 34-year-old Ali Osman in September of last year. Johnson was found to have violated department policy during the confrontation where Osman, who was reportedly hurling rocks at police vehicles, was fatally shot, according to ABC15.

The incident, which unfolded near the intersection of 19th Avenue and Glendale Avenue, escalated quickly as Osman threw objects described to be as large as baseballs or bigger. Weighing between 2.9 ounces and 19.8 ounces, such items presented a perceived threat to the officers on the scene. While two officers discharged their weapons during the encounter, only Johnson has been dismissed. Interim Phoenix Police Chief Michael Sullivan stood by the decision, as reported by ABC15, asserting the officer's actions were "out of policy."

In the aftermath of the fatal shooting, and following an administrative investigation distinct from criminal proceedings, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell cleared the officers on the basis of there being no "reasonable likelihood of conviction" at trial, an explanation she provided to ABC15. Nevertheless, the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (PLEA) criticized the firing as "unfair," emphasizing it's unusual for the department to diverge from the Critical Incident Review Board's majority which found the force to be within policy.

The termination, a weighty verdict by the police department, was not made without "careful consideration" according to the authorities. Officer Johnson retains the option to contest his firing before the Civil Service Board. The Osman family had previously reached a $5 million settlement with the city in a civil lawsuit over Ali's death, as per 12News reports.