CANTON, Ga. -- State officials say a former Cobb County police sergeant serving a prison sentence in connection with the boating death of his best friend will be released after serving 18 months of his sentence.
    
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that 40-year-old Kenneth Reda of Acworth will be released from prison Tuesday.
    
Reda had pleaded guilty to second-degree homicide by vessel, tampering with evidence, violating the oath of a police officer and three counts of making false statements after the April 22 drowning death of Sgt. Brent Stephens.
    
The 35-year-old Stephens, who was Reda's colleague on the SWAT unit, drowned after the boat in which they were riding clipped a pylon on Lake Allatoona. Stephens fell into the water, and his body was later recovered by a dive team.

Associated Press