[bubberland]

This is a follow-up on the April 16, 2005 article entitled "Kin of man killed by police file suit", located here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1384972/posts.

It seems strange that the officer would be honored before all of the facts come out at trial. It may turn out that the officer is, in fact, not a hero. My questions, from the first article, include:

1. Had the deceased communicated his intent to surrender before being surrounded by the police?

2. Had the dog effectively disabled the deceased so he was no longer a threat? (Seems hard to have a finger on the trigger and point a shotgun -- requiring two hands -- with a dog tearing your leg apart).

3. Had the deceased committed a felony or was he attempting to flee?

4. Were there any witnesses whose accounts differ from those of the police? (since the deceased can no longer give his version of events).

5. Just having your finger on the trigger of a gun is not a crime. Did the deceased actually point the gun at the officers or was the gun just pointed at himself or the dog? (would not seem to merit deadly force)

[Deaf Smith]

You sound like the idiot that I had to serve on a Jury with.

Turns out, that juror was scared sh**less of guns.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Every time some scum is taken out by police, friends or family of these scum sign up on FR to bad mouth the police.

I will bet the percentage of good cops are higher than your type of work.

[glock rocks]

Just having your finger on the trigger of a gun is not a crime.

Indeed it is if you've been ordered to drop the weapon. BTW, I can hit the 9's with my weak hand at 15 feet. Are you from Riverton?

[glock rocks]

"Thomson was carrying a loaded shotgun and told surrounding deputies he had his finger on the trigger, deputies and witnesses said."

A four million dollar lawsuit. Four million dollars! Woo... cha-ching!! This may be lost on you, but when you're surrounded by deputies and a K-9, and are ordered to drop the weapon, your four million chances decrease dramatically if you tell them you've got your hand on the trigger of a loaded shotgun. Oh, BTW, Welcome to Free Republic. You care to comment?

[glock rocks]

Chad Thompson, 32, whose family said he had been drinking, was upset after learning that his brother's tour of duty was being extended, according to Sgt. Rosie Rivera, a spokeswoman for the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Thompson, a Guardsman for more than a decade, was a full-time supply staff sergeant stationed at Camp William in Riverton.

Thompson's mother-in-law called authorities just before 2 a.m. Sunday, saying her son-in-law was en route to the family residence "on a rampage" and "irate with everyone," Rivera said.

Deputies found the family safe but located Thompson's car in the area and began a search. Meanwhile, another call came in saying Thompson was at the home holding the family at gunpoint, Rivera said.

Thompson fled out a window with a loaded shotgun when deputies returned, and ran into a neighbor's yard, where he was cornered by a K-9 dog. Thompson was shot after waving the gun at the deputies, Rivera said. He died en route to a hospital.

The sheriff's department has placed at least one deputy on administrative leave while a joint investigation with the district attorney's office is conducted

source

God bless Sgt. Thompson for his service. He had a family, and lost control. Sad though it is, things turned out as they did. It appears he lost control at the wrong time.

The subsequent District Attorney's investigation cleared the deputy. The issue you raise involves the civil suit, and for you to jump in the Free Republic punchbowl and drop a serious accusation against the county sheriff's office with little more than your opinion to back it up is disappointing. I'm sure his family and Guard unit miss him. It's a sad story all around, and the outcome of the suit will be interesting. Are you from Riverton?