Law enforcement-involved shootings
There have been seven law enforcement-involved shootings in the area in as many years. With the exception of the two most recent in 2011, each case was presented to a Clark County grand jury that found that the use of deadly force was justified.
2011: John A. Taulbee, Feb. 1. Officers opened fire after Taulbee pointed a handgun at officers during a traffic stop.
2011: Michael Ferryman, Jan. 1. Ferryman shot Deputy Suzanne Wachtel Hopper to death in an ambush outside his camper at Enon Beach. Ferryman was killed himself in an ensuing gunfight with police.
2010: None.
2009: Todd A. Williamson, Nov. 16. Williamson pulled a knife on officers and was shot to death after officers Paul Herald and Jimmy Cosby used deadly force.
2009: Donald L. White, Jan. 22. Clark County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Michael Young and Deputy Dustan Cramblett fired on White during a traffic stop after White stepped out of his vehicle and pointed a gun.
2008: Elizabeth Thompson, Oct. 4. Officer James McCutcheon opened fire after Thompson pointed a gun and refused commands to drop the weapon.
2008: Nathan L. Howard, March 5. Sgt. Robert Tate fired his weapon after Howard emerged from his vehicle and pointed a gun at officers.
2007: Oscar Lewis died after being shot by Officer Donald Bartolet as Lewis attempted to assault police.
2006: None.
2005: None.
SPRINGFIELD — After two law enforcement-involved shootings in one month, two more than in all of 2010, officials are speculating what, if anything, is behind the spike.
The use of deadly force by law enforcement is regarded as a last resort in nearly every circumstance, according to written guidelines put forth by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and Springfield Police Division:
“If the situation, as reasonably known to the officer, gives rise to probable cause to believe a suspect poses a risk of death or serious physical harm to others or (the officers),” use of deadly force is justified, according to SPD documents. “Our legitimate purpose or goal is not to kill.”
Clark County Sheriff’s Office guidelines contain similar language:
“A deputy is authorized to use deadly force to protect the deputy or others from what is reasonably believed to be an imminent threat of death or serious physical injury,” the documents read. Justification “must be limited to what reasonably appears to be the facts known or perceived by the deputy at the time.”
The incidents
Clark County Deputy Sheriff Suzanne Waughtel Hopper was the first law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty this year. Hopper was investigating a report of shots fired at Enon Beach on New Year’s Day when authorities say Michael Ferryman, 57, emerged from his camper with a shotgun and fired, killing her.
Ferryman then opened fire on responding officers, and died in the gunfight that ensued.
John A. Taulbee, 30, died earlier this week after a confrontation with police during a traffic stop.
Officers responded to a report of a bank robbery at Kroger, 2989 Derr Road, shortly after 6 p.m. Jan 31, the suspect in which was believed to have robbed a Champaign County bank earlier in the evening.
Police spotted a vehicle matching the description of the robber’s car and attempted a traffic stop on South Limestone Street, according to a police report.
Police pursued the vehicle several blocks before it stopped, at which time Taulbee reportedly emerged with a handgun and pointed it at the officers, who then opened fire.
Taulbee was taken to Miami Valley Hospital where he later died.
The possible outcome
Richard Lundman, OSU professor of sociology, who has not reviewed any official documents or records involving the Ferryman or Taulbee incidents, said that based on the information made public so far, both shootings appear justifiable.
“There’s no doubt that in either situation that police officers had legitimate grounds to fear for their own life, fear for others’ lives,” said Lundman. “Those are the grounds when police officers can use deadly force.”
Criminal investigations are underway in both cases and are expected to be handed to a Clark County grand jury in coming weeks.
Lundman said he doesn’t see a pattern behind the increase in numbers.
“These things go up, these things go down,” said Lundman. “It’s just a normal fluctuation.”
Steve Groeninger, senior director of communications for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, believes there is something behind the rise in numbers.
“There does appear to be a criminal element out there that seems more brazen or bold,” said Groeninger.
How to face that element, real or perceived, or address the violence, is uncertain.
While local law enforcement officers carry Tasers, they aren’t effective in extreme situations, Lundman said.
“It’s unfair to expect our police officers to, in the face of life-threatening danger, use anything less than a lethal response,” Lundman said.
Kelly agreed.
“When a person has a weapon, we want to meet that with the same level of force,” he said.
Incidents may be unpredictable, and for that reason, Kelly said that the best way to confront the danger is to treat every call as a potential life-threatening situation.
“Every person we come in contact with, we have to assume that they have a gun,” Kelly said.
Training is key, but so is public education, Groeninger said.
“Make the public aware,” he said. “Let them know what (officers) deal with on a daily basis.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0360 or vlough@coxohio.com.
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