[RiversEdge]

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A Syracuse police officer was reasonably in fear of his life when he shot and killed a 74-year-old man pointing what appeared to be a handgun at him in June 2019, the state attorney general’s office has found.

But Onondaga County 911 rules delayed getting crucial information to the responding police officer -- notably, that the subject appeared to have a gun -- until after the officer arrived for what had started as a medical call, the AG’s office found.

The AG’s office did not fault the 911 dispatchers themselves, but criticized the county’s dispatch rules as “problematic at best” in the June 18 shooting death of DeWayne Watkins in the 300 block of West Calthrop Avenue.

It turned out that Watkins brandished a broken BB gun, the AG’s office found.



Syracuse Police Officer David Craw had no way to know that when Watkins pointed what appeared to be a handgun at responders and then him, the AG’s office found.

Watkins was struck four times by Craw after Watkins pointed the gun and simulated what appeared to be shooting at the officer, the AG’s report found. Watkins died from his injuries.

Craw reasonably believed by Watkins’ actions that he was in danger of losing his life, the report concluded.

“Mr. Watkins death was undoubtedly tragic,” the report said. “However the OAG concludes that the use of force that resulted in this death did not constitute a crime."

The AG’s office noted that Craw may have responded differently had he arrived at the scene “armed with as much information as possible” about what he’d be confronting.

Video overlaying 911 dispatch and pole camera footage show that Craw was informed Watkins had a gun after he stepped out of his vehicle and began engaging with Watkins.



The AG’s office determined dispatchers themselves relayed information as “swiftly and accurately as possible.”

The dispatchers were not aware of the gun when they sent Craw to respond to the scene. A firefighter updating dispatchers on his status revealed the possibility of a weapon.

Dispatchers then attempted to inform Craw, but were too late -- by mere seconds.

“Of course, by that time, it was too late to be of use to P.O. Craw, who was already engaged in a shooting," the AG report said.

The video shows that dispatchers were telling the officers that Watkins had a gun at the moment Watkins was pointing the gun at the Craw and the officer was shooting him.

The AG’s office found Onondaga County 911 protocols forbid dispatchers from asking questions about why firefighters need police assistance.

In this case, the dispatcher simply asked firefighters whether this was a “priority” call.

The AG’s office found that very often means that first responders are having trouble getting into a property where someone is having a medical issue -- or they are struggling with someone who is experiencing side effects of diabetes.

Dispatchers told the AG’s office they have previously been directed not to ask first responders why they need police assistance.

That stems from a fear that first responders could be further endangered by having to reveal that information, the AG’s office found.

Dispatchers in these situations typically relay whatever information first responders volunteer without asking for more, the AG’s office said.

The AG’s office recommended dispatchers ask for a reason and give first responders discretion for how they answer.

The report concludes the encounter could have ended differently had that happened.

“The nature of the police response to a man with a pistol is qualitatively different than the police response to a man with trouble breathing who has become combative with firefighters, which is what PO Craw assumed he was responding to,” the report said.

At minimum, the report concludes, Craw would not have parked his car across from, and then faced without cover, a man who had just been pointing a pistol at firefighters.

The report notes the interaction could have cost Craw his life “had Mr. Watkins’ gun been real and his intentions sinister.”

State prosecutors took over the investigation into Watkins’ death based on a directive by Gov. Andrew Cuomo that all fatal police shootings of unarmed individuals be probed by the Attorney General.

Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick had initially sought to keep the case, noting Watkins was holding what the DA had called a “starter pistol,” but the state eventually took over after deeming that it wasn’t a true weapon.

The AG’s investigation revealed Watkins was intoxicated when he called 911 to report a breathing problem.



Toxicology reports later showed Watkins had a blood alcohol level of .17. The legal limit for driving is .08.

Watkins suffered from numerous health conditions, including COPD, a progressive lung disease.

The report does not explore the reasons for Watkins’ 911 call or his subsequent actions.

On Friday afternoon, a joint statement was issued by Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, Syracuse Police Chief Kenton Buckner and Syracuse Fire Chief Michael Monds:

"The Syracuse Police Department and Syracuse Fire Department will work with the Onondaga County Department of Emergency Communications to address the Attorney General’s recommendations. Our thoughts continue to be with all of those impacted by this tragedy.”

[el_topo]

With age doesn’t come wisdom

[kellyhound]

Watkins was intoxicated when he called 911 to report a breathing problem

and then points a gun at them. 74 year old and learned nothing during his life.

[alphawolf15]

Idiot