Officer Named In Damon Atkins Lawsuit Found Dead

A Reading police officer named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit filed by a Reading man who was arrested for public preaching was found dead in her home on New Year’s Eve.

Officer Courtney P. Dupree, 28, was found dead on Dec. 31, 2023, in her Wyomissing residence. Her obituary states that “Courtney was currently employed as a police officer for Reading Police Department. She couldn’t be more proud of being a police officer, and enjoyed her job.” Dupree graduated from the Reading Police Academy in 2020. Her cause of death was not disclosed.

Dupree was involved in the arrest of Damon Atkins on June 3, 2023, in Reading, Pennsylvania. During a “Pride March and Rally” endorsed by the city’s mayor, Atkins stood across the street and began to publicly quote a Bible verse to the attendants of the homosexual pride gathering.

In less than a minute, Atkins was placed in handcuffs by Police Sergeant Bradley T. McClure, with Dupree and another female officer assisting.

The arrest was captured on film by Matthew Wear of Reading, who told The Lancaster Patriot that he had been preaching prior to Atkins’ arrival and was told to stop preaching by McClure.

Atkins was initially charged with disorderly conduct, however after reviewing video footage of the incident the Berks County District Attorney dropped the charges.

In July 2023, Atkins filed a civil lawsuit against the City of Reading, Mayor Eddie Moran, Chief of Police Richard Tornielli, and police officers Bradley T. McClure and Courtney Dupree as defendants.

This is Courtney Dupree, 28, of the Reading Police Department in Pennsylvania.
Sadly she passed away on Sunday, December 31, 2023, at her residence. Details are not publicly known and we will NOT speculate or make any assumptions. Continued…. pic.twitter.com/YDv2iEG5pN

— Team South Florida (@TmSouthFlorida) January 6, 2024