Sentencing begins in police killing of Atatiana Jefferson

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A psychologist testified Friday that a former Texas officer who fatally shot Atatiana Jefferson through a rear window of her home had a “narcissistic personality style” that made him unsuitable for police work.

The testimony came in the sentencing phase of the trial for Aaron Dean, who was found guilty of manslaughter Thursday in a rare conviction of an officer for killing someone who was also armed with a gun. Dean, 38, faces up to 20 years in prison.

The white Fort Worth officer shot the 28-year-old Black woman while responding to a call about an open front door.

The sentencing phase is set to continue Monday morning with closing arguments.

Psychologist Kyle Clayton evaluated Dean in March 2017 after Dean applied for a job with the Fort Worth Police Department. Clayton testified that he found that Dean “was not psychologically suitable to serve as a police officer.”

"The results had suggested that he had a narcissistic personality style that would inhibit his judgment, decision-making, interpersonal abilities and would make him more likely to engage in behaviors that could put himself and others at risk,” Clayton said.

Clayton said that officers like Dean who fail an evaluation can appeal. They then go before a panel of three psychologists. If the panel unanimously agrees that someone is suitable, the candidate can be hired.

Fort Worth police declined to comment Friday on Dean's hiring.

Others who testified at the sentencing phase included a woman who attended the University of Texas at Arlington with him and reported him to campus police for touching her inappropriately.

A man who attended church with Dean, Tim Foster, testified for the defense, saying he found Dean to be “dependable, upright, noble.” Foster said Dean organized an annual...