The Snyder Police Department officer involved in a fatal shooting earlier this month has been cleared to return to work.
Whitney Merket, a seven-year department veteran, had been placed on administrative leave shortly after fatally shooting Morgan Shane West following an altercation in the 3600 block of Jacksboro Ave. on the evening of Feb. 7.
Merket returning to duty does not mean she has been cleared of any potential criminal liability in the incident — a Texas Rangers’ investigation of the shooting continues and the results of that probe will be handed to Scurry County District Attorney Ben Smith for presentation to the grand jury.
“All this means is that, administratively, (Merket) has been cleared to return to duty,” Police Chief Brian Haggard said.
Merket had been dispatched to the 3600 block of Jacksboro Ave. shortly after 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7 in response to a suspicious person call. After arriving at the scene, she made contact with West and an altercation began, according to information released by Snyder Police Department.
During the altercation, Merket fired her weapon, fatally wounding West.