SHOOTING REVIEW BOARD REVIEW COMPLETED REGARDING FOUAD KAADY

Press Release from: Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office

SHOOTING REVIEW BOARD REVIEW COMPLETED REGARDING FOUAD KAADY

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Shooting Review Board (SRB) has completed the review of the Fouad Kaady shooting incident and presented their findings to Sheriff Craig Roberts and Under Sheriff Charles Bowen. The SRB found that Deputy Dave Willard acted within existing rules and regulations, and according to current training. A copy of the Shooting Review Board Summary and Findings is attached to this release.

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office has taken the following steps to continue to improve our response to critical incidents:

Crisis Intervention Team training was first presented to several employees in 2005, and more participants are scheduled for the weeklong training starting in February 2006.

Sheriff's Office personnel continue to work closely with many community groups, such as NAMI, and other government agencies such as Clackamas County Mental Health, to further develop our Crisis Intervention Team training, and to implement it department wide as well as offering the training to other law enforcement agencies.

Firearms and defensive tactics instructors are continually reviewing all critical incidents and will consult regularly with subject matter experts, in order to identify ways to constantly adapt and improve in-service training.

Defensive tactics training concentrating on ground fighting techniques and vehicle extraction techniques has been recently provided to all sworn employees as part of regular ongoing required training; this type of training will better equip members to use physical control techniques that may preclude a suspect from escalating the situation to a greater use of force.

Sheriff's Command Staff are also finalizing a policy to replace the Shooting Review Board with a Critical Incident Review Board to review all incidents, which result in death or serious injury to any party. We can learn from every situation.

Sheriff Craig Roberts stated, "On behalf of the entire Clackamas County Sheriff's Office staff, I would like to again extend our condolences to the family and friends of Fouad Kaady. Everyone involved would have hoped for a different outcome."

"After a thorough and careful review, the Shooting Review Board found no violations in the following of current Sheriff's Office policies. However, we will continue to assess our policies, procedures, training and tactics to improve public safety for all citizens of Clackamas County."

"I continue my commitment to protect all citizens, especially those who are most vulnerable. Dwindling available resources for individuals who suffer from mental illness and/or drug addiction, makes this an ongoing challenge to public safety in our community. This is why it is so critical that we look at improving the system-wide response."

"Unfortunately, when these tragic events do occur they can happen in an instant, and the training our members receive is what they rely upon. I am proud of the men and women of the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office who have to face these difficult situations day in and day out. My goal is to work together with our own members, our citizens, community groups, and other agencies to do everything we reasonably can to prevent these tragic events from occurring."

Contact Info: Detective Wendi Babst
Public Information Officer
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office
Pager: 503-237-2643