PA District Attorney's Association Releases Guidelines For Police-Involved Shootings

The Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association announced Tuesday that they recommend all officer-involved shootings be investigated by an independent agency. They added that the local District Attorney should release a formal report about the investigation to the public following the investigation, a news release states.

The PDAA issued the guidelines Tuesday in the wake of Gov. Tom Wolf's vetoing legislation earlier in November that would have kept the names of officers involved in shootings in the state from being released to the public. Wolf cited "openness and transparency" for his opposition to the bill.

“Officer-involved shootings are traumatic, complex, and highly publicized events,” said PDAA President and Lebanon County District Attorney David Arnold. “As prosecutors, it is our duty to ensure than any police-related shooting is thoroughly reviewed in a manner that is objective and fair for everyone involved. In making these recommendations, our goals are to help law enforcement use best practices to make good decisions, even under incredibly difficult circumstances, and help the public better understand and have greater confidence in the process.”

The guidelines are believed to be the first such statewide guidelines produced by prosecutors anywhere in the United States, the PDAA said.

The final product was the result of the PDAA's Best Practices Committee, which is chaired by local Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan.

“As we reviewed the responses to officer-involved shootings across the United States, we saw wide disparities in responses by prosecutors,” Hogan said in a statement. “Pennsylvania’s law enforcement agencies have the skills and ethics to do these investigations, but engaging an independent agency in the investigation removes any questions or negative perceptions that may come from the community. Having clear procedures based on best practices will not only improve investigations, but enhance community relationships.”

In compiling the guidelines, DA's, spoke with community groups, other prosecutors, police organizations, and law enforcement across the state.

Image courtesy PDAA.