Mr. James
Member
Report: SWAT team shouldn’t have been used in fatal shooting
Scott McCabe, The Examiner
Jan 12, 2007 3:00 AM (8 hrs ago)
Fairfax (Virginia) - A Fairfax County police SWAT unit should not have been deployed the night an officer accidentally shot and killed a Fair Oaks man, according to a report released by the police chief.
The administrative investigation into the Jan. 24, 2006, shooting death of Salvatore J. Culosi found that the tactics used to arrest him weren’t necessary and the policies for the use of high-risk force and special units was inconsistent throughout the department, according to the 27-page report issued Thursday by Police Chief David Rohrer.
The report comes a week after Culosi’s family filed a $12 million lawsuit against the county for wrongful death. They could not be reached Thursday night.
Culosi, a 37-year-old optometrist, was reportedly shot in the chest by 17-year veteran Officer Deval V. Bullock while members of the organized crime and SWAT team were serving a warrant on felony gambling charges.
An undercover detective, investigating an illegal sports betting ring, went to Culosi’s house to allegedly collect winnings from a football bet, police said. After the detective gave the signal, two SWAT officers jumped out of an SUV, according to police. The passenger-side door struck Bullock, causing him to flinch, the report said. That’s when the gun went off.
The report said that lower-risk, less complex tactics could have been employed and recommended the creation of committee to review all incidents involving serious use of force.
“We fervently hope the conclusion of the painful investigative process into this tragic incident ... leads to understanding, trust and a stronger partnership,” Rohrer wrote in his report.
Bernard DiMuro, who is representing Salvatore Sr. and Anita Culosi, said the family welcomed the promised changes and the admission of errors and judgment, but they differed with some findings which they found implausible, such as the officer’s finger not being on the trigger before the gun went off.
Fairfax Commonwealth Attorney Robert Horan Jr. found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing and declined to prosecute. Culosi’s death was the first fatal unintentional shooting in the department’s history.
[email protected]
Examiner
*************
My understanding is that presently (and at the time of Mr. Culosi's death), the Fairfax County Police Department mustered its SWAT teams for all warrant services. That is the sole reason they were even present at Mr. Culosi's planned arrest.
What is unclear from this single news report is whether Chief Rohrer plans to alter that policy in the wake of this tragic death - or will FCPD (and, more importantly, county residents) be content to have a new oversight board review "serious" use-of-force decisions?
Scott McCabe, The Examiner
Jan 12, 2007 3:00 AM (8 hrs ago)
Fairfax (Virginia) - A Fairfax County police SWAT unit should not have been deployed the night an officer accidentally shot and killed a Fair Oaks man, according to a report released by the police chief.
The administrative investigation into the Jan. 24, 2006, shooting death of Salvatore J. Culosi found that the tactics used to arrest him weren’t necessary and the policies for the use of high-risk force and special units was inconsistent throughout the department, according to the 27-page report issued Thursday by Police Chief David Rohrer.
The report comes a week after Culosi’s family filed a $12 million lawsuit against the county for wrongful death. They could not be reached Thursday night.
Culosi, a 37-year-old optometrist, was reportedly shot in the chest by 17-year veteran Officer Deval V. Bullock while members of the organized crime and SWAT team were serving a warrant on felony gambling charges.
An undercover detective, investigating an illegal sports betting ring, went to Culosi’s house to allegedly collect winnings from a football bet, police said. After the detective gave the signal, two SWAT officers jumped out of an SUV, according to police. The passenger-side door struck Bullock, causing him to flinch, the report said. That’s when the gun went off.
The report said that lower-risk, less complex tactics could have been employed and recommended the creation of committee to review all incidents involving serious use of force.
“We fervently hope the conclusion of the painful investigative process into this tragic incident ... leads to understanding, trust and a stronger partnership,” Rohrer wrote in his report.
Bernard DiMuro, who is representing Salvatore Sr. and Anita Culosi, said the family welcomed the promised changes and the admission of errors and judgment, but they differed with some findings which they found implausible, such as the officer’s finger not being on the trigger before the gun went off.
Fairfax Commonwealth Attorney Robert Horan Jr. found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing and declined to prosecute. Culosi’s death was the first fatal unintentional shooting in the department’s history.
[email protected]
Examiner
*************
My understanding is that presently (and at the time of Mr. Culosi's death), the Fairfax County Police Department mustered its SWAT teams for all warrant services. That is the sole reason they were even present at Mr. Culosi's planned arrest.
What is unclear from this single news report is whether Chief Rohrer plans to alter that policy in the wake of this tragic death - or will FCPD (and, more importantly, county residents) be content to have a new oversight board review "serious" use-of-force decisions?
