 Nevertheless, some, including members of the city's NBA pursuit team, blamed Armstrong for a lack of leadership on the issue.In 2000, Armstrong fired Police Chief Gene Sherrard, after Sherrard, without the mayor's knowledge, had approved valor awards for two officers involved in a deadly shooting with racial overtones.The officers had been cleared of charges in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black 18-year-old, Desmond Rudolph.