Philadelphia police officer to be fired for actions related to fatal Olney hit-and-run; victim ID'd

A Philadelphia police officer will be fired for his actions connected to a hit-and-run crash that killed a man last month. Officials say that officer stopped to check on the man who was struggling in the roadway but then left that man behind. Minutes later he was struck by a vehicle and died there. It is Monday afternoon, I'm Brian Taft. And I'm Sarah Bloomquist. The big story on Action News is new information on that hit-and-run investigation. Today officials saying the officer involved will lose his job due to his actions. We also learned the identity of the victim. Action News is John Paul live where it all happened at Alney now with the latest this afternoon. John. Yeah, Brian, Sarah, I want to show you something. There is a growing memorial here at the site where he was run over. Eugene Buford is his name. And now you see there is a stuffed animal. There's also some candles there on the ground. This is right near the site where he was run over. And tonight we're learning the officer accused of leaving him in the road to die will be fired. We have a duty not to leave him in the middle of the street to allow someone to run him over. After dramatic video surfaced two weeks ago of an officer leaving a man in the street before he was hit and killed, the officer at the center of the investigation is being fired. Investigators won't identify the two-year veteran of the force, but say he didn't follow protocol and neglected his duty. My fundamental duty is to serve the community and safeguard the lives and property. I did not do that on that day. On August 27, this man, now identified as 48-year-old Eugene Buford, was stumbling down Rising Sun Avenue near the intersection of Alney Avenue just before 2 in the morning. An officer spotted him fall into the road and initially stopped to check on him, at one point even nudging Buford with his foot. But watch as he drives away, leaving the man in the road. Just minutes later, that man was run over by a hit-and-run driver. Commissioner Bethel says they don't know why Buford fell, but there was no excuse to leave him there. There was no job that would have pulled you away to leave somebody laying out in the street to allow them to get run over. The officer also never reported the incident. It wasn't until the medical examiner's office contacted the department that they pulled surveillance video and discovered what happened. And tonight, he's being fired for his conduct. I can't train compassion. I can't train empathy. Now police have talked to the hit-and-run driver. They say as this investigation continues, they'll decide whether or not to file any charges. It's going to be up to the DA whether to charge the officer or that driver. And Sarah, I want to read you something that the sister of Eugene Buford sent me. She says no justice, no peace. No one should be left in the streets. Justice for Eugene Buford. For Live Tonight in Alameda, John Paul, Channel 6 Action News. Sarah? Yeah, we'll see where this goes next. John, thank you.