Louisville, KY (WDRB) -- Jefferson County Constable David Whitlock is recovering at home after he was released from the hospital. The Kentucky Constable Association and the Louisville Metro Police Public Integrity Unit are now investigating whether Whitlock's actions at the Walmart on Raggard Road Wednesday night were justified.
Meade County Constable Chris Williams is supportive of Whitlock, even though he's helping conduct an internal investigation on his colleague. Williams says, "He was just there shopping. Loss prevention saw him and said, can you help us out, and that's where everything went down."
He says Whitlock was in plain clothes. He followed the woman out to her car, identified himself, and showed his badge. Police say she ran over his foot, and that's when he pulled out his gun, firing at least one shot, hitting her in the hand and arm. Her name has not been released, but police say she's expected to be fine.
Williams says, "I know David personally. I went to middle school with him and I grew up with him a little bit here and there, I feel he made the right decision."
He says, "She turned a single shoplifting charge into a felony when she turned her car into a weapon."
But some are questioning whether the shooting was justified. In addition to police, the Kentucky Constable Association is investigating. It has interviewed witnesses, but still needs to see surveillance video and interview the alleged shoplifter. If the association finds anything criminal, it says it will turn the case over to the State Police or Attorney General's Office.
Williams says, "You'll have 1,000 people criticize what he done, but until you are in his shoes, if a vehicle was coming after me as a law enforcement officer, I would have shot."
Constables are law enforcement officers elected by voters. It's a position required by the Kentucky constitution. They serve four-year terms. Whitlock has been on the job for seven.
Williams says, "As a peace officer, it even states in our job description if we see something happen we have the duty to act."
Police say their investigation may take awhile, just like in a police shooting.
Whitlock tells WDRB News he has some bruising and a hair line fracture on his foot. He says he's physically fine, but not emotionally. Williams says he is now on crutches.
