Former Georgia Police Officer Sentenced To 20 Years For Killing An Unarmed Black Man

Robert Olsen, a former Dekalb County Police Officer, was sentenced to 20 years, 12 of which must be carried out in prison, in connection to the murder of a mentally ill and naked man named Anthony Hill in 2015.

According to CNN, DeKalb County Superior Court Judge LaTisha Dear Jackson delivered Robert “Chip” Olsen his sentencing. Included in his judgment, is a prohibition from working in law enforcement, possessing firearms or profiting from the case.

Reports say prosecutors asked the court for a longer sentence being, a 25-year sentence with five years probation.

Last month, a jury acquitted Olsen of the murder which took place in March 2015. However, the jury did find Olsen guilty of aggravated assault, making false statements and two counts of violation of oath. Olsen initially faced up to 35 years in prison.

The court also heard from Hill’s mother, father, and sister before sentencing.

“The decision Robert Olsen made that day changed my life forever,” his mother, Carolyn Baylor Giummo said. “It was the worst day of my life.”

She continued, “The jury may have found Mr. Robert Olsen not guilty of murder but he still killed my son. He has never taken responsibility for taking my son’s life. He’s never just said, ‘I’m sorry for killing Tony.'”

His father, Anthony Hill, Sr., told the court he felt as if he had failed as a father by not protecting his son. He also added that the defendant had not once looked him in the eye with an expression of remorse.

“I stood out in that passageway many a day just hoping to make a little bit of eye contact,” he stated. “Not one time would he look my way.”

Olsen’s wife, Catherine, also read a statement where she detailed how she’d watch her husband breakdown, claiming he recognized the pain of the family. However, Olsen never addressed the court.

Hill was killed when he went outside of his apartment naked, a neighbor called police stating he looked deranged according to the report.

Police dispatched Olsen to the scene, and “when [Hill] saw the officer, he charged, running at the officer. The officer called him to stop while stepping backward, drew his weapon and fired two shots,” then-DeKalb County Police Chief Cedric Alexander said.

According to Hill’s girlfriend, he had been struggling with his mental health and says the war veteran was having difficulting getting support from the Department of Veteran Affairs. She also said Hill stopped taking his medications shortly before his untimely death.

The prosecution claimed Olsen had not followed protocol for using force during closing statements. Assistant District Attorney Lance Cross said Olsen could have used a baton on the naked and unarmed Hill.