Veteran's Family Sues Police, Counties

[David (Premo)]

The family of an Afghanistan combat veteran who was shot by a state trooper after a 14-hour standoff in 2006 has filed a $20 million wrongful death suit against the Maryland State Police and three Southern Maryland counties.

The lawsuit, filed by the wife and parents of James E. Dean, alleges that 16 individual officers, the state and St. Mary's, Charles and Calvert counties showed "malice or callous disregard" for Dean's life during the confrontation at his father's home Dec. 26, 2006.

washingtonpost.com - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines

Perhaps some individuals should have also been named, i.e. the person in command who gave the order to shoot? What say you?

[AK-74me]

Originally Posted by David

washingtonpost.com - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines

Perhaps some individuals should have also been named, i.e. the person in command who gave the order to shoot? What say you?

I support the police on this one!

Shocking some will say, I'm sure.

[David (Premo)]

So. Md Political Pundit Trevor Bothwell also chimes in on the topic:

It's incomprehensible that anyone who believes in liberty could argue with a straight face that the government and its law enforcement agents had any business whatsoever meddling in the affairs of a man who posed no threat to anyone but himself and simply wanted to be left alone.

who's your nanny?: Dean Family Files Wrongful Death Suit

And a link to St. Mary's County State's Attorney Richard Fritz's death investigation:

http://bothwell.typepad.com/whos_you...estigation.pdf

[AK-74me]

It's incomprehensible that anyone who believes in liberty could argue with a straight face that the government and its law enforcement agents had any business whatsoever meddling in the affairs of a man who posed no threat to anyone but himself and simply wanted to be left alone.

I agree with that but didn't the sister call and request police?

Then the police were shot at when they got there or has investigation revealed more than what was intially reported? I admit I am lazy and didn't read all of what was linked.

[Pandora]

I support the actions of law enforcement on this.

SWAT team/Emergency Vehicles at Brown Road/Forrest Farm subdivision

^ original thread link, which I read just to refresh my memory.

It is sad his state of mind at that time, and I surely wish he could have found the help he needly so badly. But, that didn't happen, and I feel his actions were a dramatic suicide as a result of severe depression and PTS disorder (or clump them together since they are one in the same).

[ImnoMensa]

I am with the Dean family. They had no business shooting down this man. I hope they win. I said that Months ago when they shot him and I say it again now.

[vraiblonde]

I think the cops used excessive force. And I also think the family will win their lawsuit, but maybe not the whole $20 mil.

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

Originally Posted by AK-74me

I support the police on this one!

Shocking some will say, I'm sure.

Originally Posted by Pandora

I support the actions of law enforcement on this.

SWAT team/Emergency Vehicles at Brown Road/Forrest Farm subdivision

^ original thread link, which I read just to refresh my memory.

It is sad his state of mind at that time, and I surely wish he could have found the help he needly so badly. But, that didn't happen, and I feel his actions were a dramatic suicide as a result of severe depression and PTS disorder (or clump them together since they are one in the same).

I don't. Excessive force.

"To Serve and Protect."

Where the hell did they do either?

[foodcritic]

The fact that he was a veteran is irrelevant to what happened. Once someone starts shooting out of the house imminent danger is obvious. People who suggest that the police were wrong would probably be suing the police and county if one of their loved ones was killed by a stray bullet fired by this guy. Using lethal force is justified when ANY ones life is in obvious,imminent danger, in other words the officer perceives he or someone else is in fear for their life. I think shooting out of the house qualifys here. That's not to say that it HAD to end that way, it just did. Monday morning quaterbacks will always look back and see how they could have done things differently. That does not mean the the police acted negligently if they did not do things perfect (which I dont meant to suggest). It's not a perfect world.

[Pandora]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

I think the cops used excessive force. And I also think the family will win their lawsuit, but maybe not the whole $20 mil.

I think they will win some monetary amount because they will just settle to avoid a long drawn out court case and agree that it will be nowhere near 20 mil.

Richard Fritz's death investigation report is 17 pages and I want to review that to see exactly what they are saying the police did wrong here. It took about 6 minutes for it to load for me.

http://bothwell.typepad.com/whos_you...estigation.pdf