HAMILTON — The police officer who shot a man to death last month in Ross Twp. acted appropriately, according to Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones, but the case will still go before a grand jury.

Shortly after Jones announced Tuesday the results of the investigation into the shooting death of 33-year-old Michael Snader Jr. by Ross Twp. officer Gary Vaughn, Prosecutor Mike Gmoser issued his policy.

“It is the policy of my office that whenever lethal force is used by a police officer in-the-line-of-duty resulting in death, there shall be, without exception, a review by a duly impaneled grand jury,”

Gmoser said the grand jury review should not be construed to “imply any wrongdoing” but is merely an “additional level of independent scrutiny.”

Gmoser said before he took office, former prosecutor Robin Piper, who now sits on the 12th District Court of Appeals, would determine whether or not a police shooting was justified or not. Gmoser said this is the first police-involved shooting on his watch and he felt compelled to institute the policy.

“The public should have the confidence that it’s not just one man looking at an investigation, that has a number of factors to it, including the county coroner and in this case the sheriff,” he said. “It should not be my decision. This is the decision that should be made by a grand jury in all cases, without exception.”

Shortly after 11:30 p.m. Nov. 22, Ross Twp. officers responded to an active domestic violence call at 2426 School Road in Ross Twp. Officer Gary Vaughn confronted Snader, who was armed with a “long gun” and fired multiple rounds killing Snader. At the request of Ross Twp. Police Chief Ben Kramer, the Butler County Sheriff’s Office was asked to conduct a full investigation.

Jones said his office has completed its investigation into the events and all the facts and findings of this case will be forwarded to Gmoser for his consideration to be presented to a county grand jury.

Jones said he believes the officer’s actions were appropriate under the circumstances.