Alabama cop convicted of murder for killing a man who said he was suicidal is STILL being paid $2,000 every two weeks by the police department - two months after guilty verdict

Two months after an Alabama police officer was convicted of murder for shooting and killing a man, he still remains on the department's payroll to the tune of thousands of dollars. 

Huntsville officer William 'Ben' Darby, 28, was stripped of his law enforcement certification after a jury on May 7 found him guilty of murdering Jeff Parker, a man who told police he was suicidal. 

Darby is free on bond while awaiting sentencing August 20 in Madison County Circuit Court.

Documents obtained through an open records request show that Darby remains employed by the police department and has been paid about $2,100 before taxes every two weeks since his conviction, AL.com reported Thursday.

Huntsville police officer William Darby, 28 , in May was found guilty of murder for the 2018 shooting death of Jeffrey Parker . Two months later, he is still on the department's payroll

Body camera video that was shown in court captured the moment Darby shot and killed Parker within 11 second of his arrival on the scene 

The records show Darby, since his conviction, has been on paid sick leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act, the federal law that requires employers to give workers extended time off for medical or family reasons.

An email sent to Huntsville police officers from the address of Police Chief Mark McMurray on May 20 asked officers to donate unused leave time to an unnamed employee. City officials declined to say whether the request was made for Darby. 

Despite his felony conviction, Darby has been paid about $2,100 before taxes every two weeks since his conviction

McMurray denied sending the email, saying his secretary may have sent it on behalf of the city's human resources department.

'I would never send out any email asking for donations from my office,' McMurray said.

Huntsville's police department and city council have supported Darby ever since the fatal shooting. An internal police review board cleared the officer of wrongdoing. And the city council voted to pay for Darby's criminal defense with up to $125,000 in public money.

Following Darby's conviction, McMurray and Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle released statements disputing the jury's verdict.

'While we thank the jury for their service in this difficult case, I do not believe Officer Darby is a murderer,' McMurray said. The statement continued: 'Officers are forced to make split-second decisions every day, and Officer Darby believed his life and the lives of other officers were in danger. Any situation that involves a loss of life is tragic. Our hearts go out to everyone involved.'

In 2018, officers were dispatched to Parker's home after he called 911 saying he was suicidal and had a gun. 

Two officers found Parker, who was white, sitting on a couch and holding a gun to his own head when they arrived, according to evidence presented at Darby's trial.

Parker was armed with what was later found to be a flare gun, which he held to his own head. Darby's colleague testified he did not pose a threat to police officers 

One officer, who has since quit the force, told jurors that Parker was upset but talking to her and posed no immediate threat despite being armed when Darby entered the house, ordered Parker to drop his weapon and shot him with a shotgun within 11 seconds after the man shrugged in response to his command. 

Prosecutors argued that Darby had no justifiable reason to open fire. District Attorney Rob Broussard said Darby 'had no business being a police officer.'

Darby testified that he shot Parker in defense of himself and other officers because he feared Parker might shoot them. The gun Parker had was later revealed to be a flare gun.

'An innocent man was murdered,' prosecutor Tim Gann told jurors in closing arguments. 'He called for help and he got Ben Darby.'

Defense attorney Robert Tuten called Darby 'an honorable person doing an honorable profession,' and vowed to appeal the guilty verdict.  

Just days after Darby's conviction, a Huntsville city official announced that he will continued to be paid by the police department.

'This is the normal process until formal proceedings under the City of Huntsville's personnel policies and procedures are complete,' said city spokesperson Lucy DeButy told news outlets.  

Darby, pictured during his trial, testified that he shot Parker in defense of himself and other officers because he feared Parker might shoot them 

Alabama Democratic Party executive director Wade Perry criticized the city's decision to keep Darby on its payroll. 

'He's a convicted murderer. He shouldn't get another day's pay. Fire him. And the police chief,' Perry said in a statement in May.

Darby faces a prison sentence of 20 years to life, prosecutors have said. 

A civil wrongful death lawsuit that has been filed against Darby and the City of Huntsville is scheduled to go to trial in August 2022.