Nebraska This article is more than 3 years oldOmaha police chief says officers acted appropriately in shooting Black man
This article is more than 3 years oldChief says video shows two officers ‘used deadly force in accordance with policy’ when they shot Kenneth Jones, as protesters demand release of video
Omaha’s police chief said on Monday that two officers acted appropriately when a Black man was fatally shot during a traffic stop last week, because the man repeatedly failed to comply with their commands. Video of the confrontation will not be immediately released.
Police chief Todd Schmaderer said his officers followed department policy when Kenneth Jones was shot last Thursday, because Jones reached for a gun in his waistband and disregarded commands.
Schmaderer showed several photos from the traffic stop during a news conference but said the full video would not be released until after a grand jury has reviewed what happened.
“In this incident the officers faced a very difficult situation with a person with a gun who would not comply with their commands,” Schmaderer said. “My senior command staff and I are in agreement in this matter. The officer used deadly force in accordance with our policy.”
Protesters gathered outside Omaha police headquarters over the weekend to demand the release of video footage. Schmaderer said releasing the video now could taint the grand jury investigation.
The two officers have been placed on leave until the investigation is completed. Police have identified them as Dan Faulkner, 29, and Richard Martier, 31, each of whom have been with the department since 2016.
Police have said the officers pulled over the vehicle Jones was riding in after observing it stopped in the middle of the street, then driving forward several feet and stopping several times. The officers said they thought the driver might be impaired.
Schmaderer said Jones was the only person in the vehicle who did not follow officers’ commands to put their hands up. He said the officers had their guns out when they ordered everyone to raise their hands at least 14 times and ordered Jones to open his car door six times without him complying. They broke out his window and opened the door to pull him out.
“As chief, I have watched a lot of videos over the years, and this was one of the most noncompliant situations that I have seen,” Schmaderer said.
While the two officers struggled to gain control over Jones, one reached down his arm and felt a gun in his hand, Schmaderer said. Both officers backed away and drew their weapons at that point. Faulkner fired four times when Jones started to turn with the gun in his hand, Schmaderer said.
A total of one minute and seven seconds passed between the start of the traffic stop and the shooting. Officers found the .45-caliber handgun when they rolled Jones over on to his back to render aid, Schmaderer said.
Investigators determined that the driver of the vehicle was not intoxicated and Schmaderer said the driver and two other women in the car were innocent of any violations.
Schmaderer said Jones had a vial of PCP on him, but toxicology tests on him haven’t been completed yet. It could take several weeks before the results of those tests are available.
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