PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact:           Lori Sitler
Phone:              (302) 577-8314
Pager:               (302) 247-1132
Date:                August 30, 2004

REPORT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ON THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE
BY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION ON JULY 12, 2004

             (Wilmington, DE):         Deputy Attorney General Eugene Hall, Director of the Fraud and Consumer Protection Division, today released a statement concerning the use of deadly force by the Delaware Department of Correction on July 12, 2004:

             “The Attorney General’s investigation of law enforcement shootings serves a special, but limited, purpose.  The Attorney General’s Office determines whether the officer’s use of deadly force constitutes a criminal act. 

             Delaware law defines the use of deadly force as justifiable if the individual using such force believes that it is necessary to protect a third person or persons from threat of death or serious physical injury.

             Based on our investigation of the events of July 12th, the Office of the Attorney General concludes that the use of deadly force by the officer was justified to protect a third party and not subject to criminal prosecution under Delaware law.”

 The full report issued by the Attorney General’s Office follows this release. - Click Here to Read

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