Officer admits to fabricating shooting

A police who last month said he had been shot during a pursuit in the 19th District admitted yesterday that he made up the shooting.

Sgt. Robert Ralston, 46, of Walton Park said he was shot by a black male April 5. The subsequent investigation did not turn up a suspect who fit Ralston’s description, and many inconsistencies — including the lack of shell casings — led authorities to question the claim.

Ralston now says he made up the story, and shot himself. He told officers he was shot by a black male “to be consistent with the environment he was in,” Commissioner Charles Ramsey told the Associated Press. It’s unclear why Ralston shot himself.

Ralston has been suspended with intent to dismiss, but will not face criminal charges in exchange for his confession.