Tiller’s job with Seneca to be terminated

Seneca Police chief John Covington announced today the termination of the employment of Mark Tiller from the police force, effective Friday, September 9.  Tiller has been on administrative leave with pay since last summer’s fatal shooting of a 19-year old man in the parking lot of a restaurant.  Covington said, “This is a ‘Personnel Matter’ and therefore I am unable to provide any further comment or information beyond this statement.”  The attorneys for the family of Zachary Hammond reacted by saying, “He (Hammond) was an unarmed 19-year old in the company of a young lady who was suspected of carrying $60.00 of marijuana….Many questions remained unanswered by Chief Covington and the Seneca City Council that should have been answered long ago.  One of the nagging questions for the Hammond Family was how could Lt. Tiller remain employed after Chief Covington and the City Administration saw the video of Zachary’s killing.  Today that question was answered.  For reasons not provided although speculation is abound, Chief Covington made the admirable decision to terminate Lt. Tiller’s employment.  For that we all are grateful and we want to let Chief Covington know that we appreciate his decision….”  An out of court $2.1 million settlement in March ended the civil litigation that the Hammonds had filed against Seneca.  It’s believed a federal investigation into what happened July 26, 2015 continues.