Police shoot and kill suicidal Sumner man

I think we need to give some SERIOUS thought to how all communities handle 'suicide by cop'. I think there has to be ways in at least 65% of cases (just a guess, not a statistic) to prevent this. I think much of this could be called an aid to suicide and as such is prohibited by state law:

 

"RCW 9A.36.060 Promoting a suicide attempt.

(1) A person is guilty of promoting a suicide attempt when he or she knowingly causes or aids another person to attempt suicide.      (2) Promoting a suicide attempt is a class C felony."

Here's an update the news media should be on like hotcakes, but they're not. Why? It now appears the reason why police wouldn't confirm the man in Sumner had a gun, is because he didn't. He didn't own any guns and hadn't bought one. It was a flare gun that shoots FLARES, not bullets, so the police were not in harms way... especially since they drove up in the man's yard in an armor plated, bulletproof, SWAT personnel carrier.

 

The man also claimed to have a hostage, which he didn't, and the police knew this, because the man's girlfriend was on the phone with him attempting to defuse the situation when police took the phone away from her. From what I'm hearing, the police weren't interested in defusing the situation and bringing the matter to a peaceful end. They went to the man's house and ESCALATED the situation. They threw tear gas bombs through the windows of the man's home, creating a situation where he had to come out, and unfortunately, a flare gun in his hand, which he never fired. Given the circumstance of having been exposed to teargas and stinging eyes, the man probably couldn't see too well and was probably in more of a stupor when he went outside. Who knows, maybe the man was throwing his arms up in the air to surrender when police opened fire, instead of, as was reported, that he "aimed" a gun at them. 

 

Since when is it a crime to remain inside your own home on private property if you're depressed? The only mistake this man did was to call 911, apparently while under the influence of alcohol, making statements that weren't true. It was up to the public servants to sort out the matter with the best possible outcome, not kill someone. Why the vital organ center-mass or head shot? Will an autopsy be performed to determine the exact cause of death?

 

There must be at least one good criminal attorney in Pierce County willing to help this man's family sue the City of Sumner, their police department, and every police agency and cop that participated in this tragedy for WRONGFUL DEATH and MALFEASANCE, if not manslaughter. Who gave the order to take this man out? Who is the Milton police officer who took that shot and is now on paid administrative leave? C'mon media, let's do some investigative reporting! Quit protecting these trigger-happy cops with a badge and a gun.

Target Practice - and they get paid for their darring deed. Our "heros"..

So now that everyone has rushed to judgement on this, here are a few more facts that komo didn't bother to print. After his wife called the police, he shot and killed her and their kids. Then he pointed the gun at the police. Do you still think the police were too harsh? This just shows how you can be so wrong without the facts.

Couldn't shoot him in the leg?  What's with killing people as a first option?   If they weren't sure he had a gun, why not shoot him with bean bags?

This is a ridiculous response to a threat of suicide. Two officers at the most need to respond to these calls. After helping anyone in the house get out, just *wait out* the suicidal person. If they shoot themselves, that's no worse an outcome for the suicidal person than is gotten from having a response of multiple officers. If they finally get bored, or hungry, the two officers that have been waiting can make sure the person doesn't come out firing and hurt someone else, and should be able to take the person into custody and off to at least a week long lock down mental eval.

Now, this is a twist.

Often a doctor tries to help; the patient still suicides; and then the doctor is blamed.

"suicide by cop." Well it makes sense, he was suicidal. What better way if you can't even take your own life but allow the cops to get involved? Police just gave him what he wanted.

Suicide by cop.....ugh.

Yesterday KOMO News reported that the Sheriff of Wahkiakum County, Jon Dearmore, committed suicide by shooting himself when two of his deputies responding to a 911 call placed by his wife arrived at his residence and opened the door. Dearmore was apparently depressed over on-going medical issues with a work related injury. Notice that even though Dearmore had armed himself with a gun and threatened to commit suicide, no SWAT team was called in. Just "two" deputies responded.

 

Now, switch gears and examine what happened in Sumner today. Not just one or two officers went to the despondent man’s home. MULTIPLE law enforcement agencies responded enmass, including units from Puyallup, Bonney Lake, Milton, and Orting. The cops brought with them an olive drab, militarized, armored and bulletproof SWAT vehicle, so their officers could be INSIDE and completely protected. The man inside the home was apparently "depressed" over something. What it was, nobody is saying. However, instead of using a negotiator or other non-lethal means, a Milton police officer with the SWAT team TOOK THIS MAN'S LIFE, after the man emerged from his home with a gun and "allegedly" pointed it at officers.

 

How does this wash with the truth when the officers drove up to the man’s house, safely INSIDE their armored and bullet-proof SWAT vehicle? Are we to believe the police? This is the same M.O. the press and citizenry are always given, that someone pointed a gun at them and the police opened fire. And then the officer involved in the shooting death is placed on administrative leave, while another law enforcement organization conducts an "investigation".

It's high time that a CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD conduct ALL post shooting investigations under the power of a Grand Jury. Enough of cops killing citizens whom they are sworn to protect and serve! Who's father will be killed the next time by a bunch of trigger happy cops... with the excuse that "the man pointed a gun" at them"? Did the man in Sumner fire any shots today? NO! Were any cops killed in Sumner today? NO! Get the picture?

Glad someone could help.

This is just so sad, for every one involved.

The man wanted to die but not by himself, was there a life insurance policy that he wanted his family to get? That is what it sounds like to me. The man calls 911 for help and when police get there they see what appears to be a gun and kill him. The man knew what he was doing because if there is insurance money the family has a good chance to get it now.

Andrew?