Phoenix Police Department plans to fire officer who fatally shot Ryan Whitaker

The Phoenix Police Department will move forward with plans to fire the officer who fatally shot 40-year-old Ryan Whitaker in the back last May, a department spokesperson confirmed to The Arizona Republic on Thursday. 

Whitaker was shot on May 21, 2020, at his Ahwatukee Foothills apartment door by Phoenix police Officer Jeff Cooke, seconds after the officer arrived to investigate a noise complaint. Whitaker had been holding a gun when he answered the door late that evening.

The shooting fueled protests last year demanding more police oversight and justice for Whitaker and others killed at the hands of police. Phoenix police in 2020 fired at 26 people, 11 of whom died. 

Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel in January announced Cooke would not face any criminal charges in connection with the fatal shooting. The department's Use of Force Board nearly two months ago also recommended designating the shooting as being "within policy," department spokesperson Sgt. Ann Justus told The Republic in an email. 

However, after "extensive review of the totality of the circumstances," Phoenix police Chief Jeri Williams notified Cooke of the department's intent to end his employment, Justus said. It's unclear when exactly Cooke was notified.

"The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association is disappointed in the decision by the Phoenix Police Department to terminate Officer Jeff Cooke due to a shooting deemed in-policy by the Department’s Use of Force Board and will support him through the appeal process," Michael "Britt" London, president of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, said in a statement.

The administrative process is still underway and Cooke, for the time being, remains on administrative leave, according to Justus. He has been employed with the department for about four years, Justus said. 

Noise complaint ends in fatal police shooting 

Cooke and his partner Officer John Ferragamo responded to Whitaker's apartment after 10 p.m. when a neighbor reported people were arguing and making a lot of noise. Whitaker's girlfriend Brandee Nees later told police they had been playing a video game. 

"Literally we were making salsa and playing Crash Bandicoot, so there may have been some screaming," she told the officer, according to body camera footage. "It wasn't domestic violence or anything."

After knocking, identifying themselves as Phoenix police and moving out of the peephole's line of sight, Whitaker answered the door with a gun in hand. Nees later explained that Whitaker was on alert after someone knocked on his apartment door in the middle of the night days earlier. 

Within seconds, Whitaker appeared to start getting on his knees and putting his hands in the air but not before Cooke fired several rounds into his back. Ferragamo pointed his firearm at Whitaker but did not shoot.

Whitaker fell to the ground in front of his apartment and was heard on body camera footage taking his last breaths. 

Whitaker's family had publicly demanded the officers involved in the shooting be fired and arrested for his death. They've also demanded the release of the full, unedited body camera footage from the night of the shooting. 

In December, the Phoenix City Council unanimously approved a $3 million payout to Whitaker's family.

Republic reporters Uriel Garcia, Lauren Castle and Emily Wilder contributed to this report.

Reach the reporter at chelsea.curtis@arizonarepublic.com or follow her on Twitter @curtis_chels. 

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