DECATUR, AL- WAFF breathlessly reported earlier this week that a Decatur police officer had been placed on administrative leave, giving exactly zero information in its initial reporting on the circumstances surrounding the move by Decatur Police Chief Torry Mack.
The piece then went on to throw the officer, Malachi Compton, under the bus, citing “multiple controversial arrests over the past few years.”
The article claimed that the department “has faced issues with officers in recent years,” and cited an incident where three officers were fired in 2023 after the “alleged murder” of a man, and another officer who was arrested last month and charged with theft and financial exploitation.
In the 2023 case, only one of the three officers is facing criminal charges, former Officer Mac Marquette, who shot and killed a man outside his home while his truck was being repossessed.
Marquette has requested immunity from prosecution and was denied by the Morgan Circuit Court and the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals.
He has filed a writ of mandamus to the Alabama Supreme Court. As of now, his trial date is set for June 8, 2026.
In the case of Compton, the Decatur Police Department said on March 25, 2026, in the early evening hours, he effected a traffic stop, and the driver exited his vehicle. Despite Compton ordering him back into his vehicle, the driver refused to comply, WAFF reported after obtaining solid information about Compton's administrative leave.
At some point in time, a physical confrontation took place, and the agency said it “may have resulted in potential injuries to the driver,” who was transported to the hospital for his injuries.
After the incident, the Decatur Office of Professional Standards (OPS) was notified, and an investigation started. According to a “preliminary” assessment of the incident, some “potential policy violations” were uncovered, and the OPS has initiated a full internal investigation into the matter.
A Decatur Police Department spokesperson released the following statement:
“The Decatur Police Department is committed to discipline, accountability, and transparency in its personnel and operations. The Department owes the citizens of Decatur the high standards expected of an ethical and professional law enforcement agency serving the community. Each day, the Department strives to uphold those standards. When those standards are not met, the appropriate corrective actions will be taken, and the Department will continue its efforts to advance service excellence.”
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