Colorado
Troopers charged in fatal shooting on unpaid leave
Posted: Oct 22, 2010 6:18 AM by Bea Karnes, News First 5
Updated: Oct 22, 2010 6:19 AM
REDLANDS, Colo. (AP) - Two Colorado State troopers facing criminal charges for a fatal shooting will be on unpaid leave while their case makes it through court.
Patrol Chief Col. James Wolfinbarger said Thursday law enforcement officers are forced to make "split-second decisions" every day and urged people not to "rush to judgment."
The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reports that a grand jury indicted troopers Ivan "Gene" Lawyer and Kirk Firko in the July shooting. The indictment says the troopers were investigating a traffic accident when they went to the home of Redlands resident Jason Kemp and kicked in his door.
Kemp was unarmed but Lawyer told the grand jury he saw a flash and thought he had been shot so he fired at Kemp.
Lawyer performed CPR on Kemp before he died.
As Seen On News 5
