Chief Pennington outlines how law enforcement agencies can effectively manage officer-involved shootings to reduce tensions and prevent violent protests. He discusses an officer-involved shooting in Freeport, Texas where the police department prioritized transparency, respecting victims' families, and listening to community concerns. By quickly sharing accurate information and focusing on de-escalation, the department was able to "defuse the bomb" and avoid unrest over the shooting.

1. Dan Pennington
Chief of Police
Freeport Police Department

3.  Many cities around the country are like powder kegs
because of their community’s (particularly minority’s)
distrust of law enforcement.
 In this volatile “minefield”, an OIS (or other
controversial use of force encounter) can serve as the
spark that lights the fuse to an explosive situation.
 Among these lit bombs, some can explode into a riot
while others are defused and become harmless. Why?
RIOT ----------------?--------------- DEFUSED

4.  An answer may lie in how the agency handles
the aftermath of the OIS. The management
approach can have a significant impact on how the
public and media will view the use of that deadly
force and subsequently respond.
 Proposition - The more effective an agency handles
the wake of an OIS, the more likely the shooting will
be viewed by the public as justified/necessary thus
averting violent protests (vice versa).
 So what makes an approach effective?
 An examination of the handling of an OIS in
Freeport, TX may provide some insight.

5.  On January 7th, 2015 at 8AM the suspect (African-
American male) began threatening his estranged
girlfriend via her cell phone.
 Three hours later, the suspect arrived at the victim’s
residence where she and three teenage children
were.
 The suspect tried entering but the front door was
locked so he forced it open and went inside.
 A 9-1-1 call was then made by the victim’s on-scene
15-year-old son.
 As a result, two officers responded to the residence.

6.  Upon the officers’ arrival, they entered the residence
and encountered the suspect in a small bedroom
along with victim.
 The victim was laying on her back in bed and the
suspect was sitting on its far corner with his back to
the officers who were standing at the doorway of the
bedroom.
 Moments later, the suspect pulled out a handgun,
pointed it at the victim , and refused to obey the
officers’ commands to drop it.
 At that time, the officer standing closest to the suspect
fired several rounds killing him.

7.  After investigators finished quickly processing the crime
scene, it was released and vacated by police personnel.
 A short time later a well-known Houston area community
activist (Quanell X) arrived at the cleared crime scene.
 Quanell X has a contentious history with law enforcement.
He has frequently been in the middle of controversial law
enforcement or racially charged incidents.
 Quanell X had been summoned to the scene by family
members and protestors. While en route, he was told
inflammatory and inaccurate accounts regarding the OIS.
 However upon his arrival, he did his own investigation &
later spoke with the police chief. Collectively he discovered
the true story of how the OIS occurred and what led to it.
 Quanell X then gave the following explanation to a large
crowd of protestors gathered outside the police station.

11.  Keys to defusing the bomb
 Dignity/Respect – ensured law enforcement actions
were sensitive, courteous, & fair.
 Voice – quickly met with the deceased’s family and
activist in order to listen to them. Shared some
shooting details with both, explained the OIS process,
expressed our condolences, and offered assistance.
 Transparency/Neutrality – publically shared as much
information as quickly as possible through various
sources. The information sharing continued for days.
Minimized “No Comment” statements.
 Strategic & Measured Response – focused police
actions on de-escalating tensions and protecting
everyone’s rights. This was our primary focus.

12.  The impact on law enforcement as to how the OIS in
Ferguson was handled and its results were profound.
 The mismanagement of the event and the subsequent riots was a
turning point for police nationwide.
 Just like Columbine caused law enforcement across the country to
revamp its response to active shooter situations, Ferguson has
forced police officials to consider changing their handling of OISs,
particularly those involving minorities.
 Law enforcement needs to recognize this paradigm shift
and adopt a new post-Ferguson OIS management
approach.
 The lessons learned in the Freeport OIS can serve as one
example for a way forward for other agencies.
 Don’t become the next Ferguson, defuse that bomb!