Posted on March 6, 2015

Three St. Louis Police Officers Removed from Duty amid Allegations of Criminal Conduct

Christine Byers, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 4, 2015

A city police officer badly wounded in an off-duty shootout last year is among three officers who have been removed from duty as part of a criminal and internal investigation, the Post-Dispatch has learned.

The officers are Don McGhee, Keith Major and Durand Brassfield, according to police sources.

The department opened internal and criminal investigations months ago after it became aware of allegations that the officers may be involved in criminal activity that included assisting drug dealers, the sources say.

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In the statement, Chief Sam Dotson said, “The department will continue to be vigorous in efforts to root out officers whose actions compromise the integrity of the organization. We hold our officers to a high standard and expect them to abide by the very same laws they are sworn to uphold.”

McGhee was critically injured Dec. 19 after he pulled up to the curb in the 3800 block of North 25th Street and began to get out of a truck. A car drove alongside him and someone opened fire.

McGhee returned fire, killing Terrell Beasley, 28, of the 4000 block of Cleveland Avenue, officials said. Beasley’s body was found a few hours later in a burning vehicle along the 700 block of Thrush Avenune in the Baden neighborhood.

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No motive for the attack was made public, but the sources said they believed McGhee was targeted.

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Don McGhee and Keith Major

Don McGhee and Keith Major