Texas Cop Who Lost Job Over Killing Faces More Scrutiny

William Anderson
November 11, 2019

Before former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean killed Atatiana Jefferson by shooting her through the window of her home, he was a cop who made it clear he was ready to kill if he needed to. His interview tape was obtained by NBC 5 Investigates, and it shows who he is.

In Dean’s interview tape he’s asked, "Will you be able to kill somebody if you have to," and he responds "No problem," so quickly it makes you wonder if he was hoping to do just that. He implies that his not being in his 20’s at the time will make him more responsible, but that was clearly untrue. 

To make matters worse, Dean also reveals that he has a violent past. He admits to assaulting a woman in college and tells those interviewing him that he learned to be careful about his  actions “and how they’re perceived by others.” 

NBC5 also reports: “Dean's training records note some concerns from supervisors in his first year on the job, including that he had ‘tunnel vision’ and ‘needs improvement on communicating with the public and fellow officers.’” After Atatiana’s killing, this feels like an understatement.

It’s important to keep in mind that Aaron Dean got the job and for many officers like him, punishment isn’t something they have to worry about. Though he’s faced some consequences thus far, we don’t know how things will turn out - because killing Black people is often not seen as an injustice.

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