Following an officer-involved shooting involving the Vancouver Police Department, the department will release a Critical Incident Video, which includes portions of video captured from department cameras
VANCOUVER – On Dec. 4, the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) was involved in a shooting during contact with a male in the loading dock area of the Safeway at 13719 SE Mill Plain Blvd. One Vancouver Police Officer discharged their duty weapon. Two Vancouver Police Officers witnessed the incident. The involved officer was placed on Critical Incident Leave, per standard protocol. All responding Vancouver Police Officers were wearing body worn cameras (BWC).
Following an officer-involved shooting involving the Vancouver Police Department, the department will release a Critical Incident Video, which includes portions of video captured from department cameras. The release of these videos is at the discretion of the Chief of Police and is separate from the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII), who is investigating the shooting.
The Vancouver Police Department is not involved in the shooting investigation. VPD will conduct an administrative investigation/review after the OII team has concluded their investigation.
The Critical Incident Video can be viewed on the Vancouver Police Department website: Critical Incident Videos -The City of Vancouver, WA
The Vancouver Police Department will not be commenting on the investigation or the content in the Critical Incident Video. Release of the video is to provide some visual context of the incident as the Vancouver Police Department understands the events to have occurred, according to the video and incident information.
The Vancouver Police Department values the sanctity of human life and the dignity of all persons, and any loss of life is tragic.
Please be aware the video contains graphic images and viewer discretion is strongly advised.
Information provided by the Vancouver Police Department.
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VPD officer involved shooting video. The video is a must for people to see for the sake of transparency. Public understanding and support is absolutely necessary. I am a retired law enforcement officer working the field for 35 years. I was involved in a shootings, but I and other officers were being shot at. This was long ago in the 1970s when the suspects were always right – regardless. We trained for self defense with emphasis on non-lethal. Firearm use was always the last resort.
After watching the videos and seeing that VPD has had five officer involved shootings this year, which is tragic, I have problem with two things on this incident. First the two officers at the scene are physically fit. The physical condition of the suspect, who resisted is unknown. It appears that the two officers were able to gain physical control of the suspect and I could hear one officer commanding the suspect to drop the gun, which, I think, was under the suspect. The video shows one officer with his pistol out and pushed at the back of the suspect. Are these officers issued tasers? That would have ended the struggle. The video was dark but the officers seem to have had control of the suspect. Then the listener could hear a gun firing. Second, why so many rounds? I think there were six to eight shots? I could not make out who fired first, if in fact the suspect fired. Again detail was difficult to see, even though the loading bay was lighted. When the sergeant arrived he asked where the gun was and one officer pointed to the gun which appeared to be a few inches from the suspects’ hand – “pointing north”. The suspect was non-responsive. The officers started first aid until the EMT arrived. The news later reported that the suspect had died of his injuries.
A state independent review will determine if lethal force was justified. I hope they publish the report for transparency.