By Clint Olivier
FRESNO - Just before 10 Wednesday morning, Fresno police dispatchers received a call from a man who told them he had a gun, and would use it to ‘shoot the first cop he saw.'
A few minutes later, police say he called back to tell them he was going to kill himself.
"It appears that this is a classic case of suicide by cop," Chief Jerry Dyer said.
Dyer says officers found the man within two minutes.
The chief says that's when the 38 year old pointed the gun at the officers.
"When that happens there's the potential for the officers to be confronted by a an armed suspect, and officers have to make that split-second decision," Dyer said.
Two policemen fired at and hit the man.
Dyer says they then tried to save his life with CPR, but he died.
As for the gun, the chief says it was a replica, and could not fire a bullet.
"Obviously we're concerned. We're up a little from this time last year in officer involved shootings. But it is a mistake to lump all of these circumstances into one conclusion," Ashley Swearengin said.
In 2008, there were 8 officer involved shootings, 2 of them with fatal outcomes.
Through October 28th, 2009 has seen 10 shootings, with 6 of those ending in death of the suspect.
Swearengin says the office of independent review will be up and running soon.
She says one of the first tasks for the OIR will be to review all 10 police shootings of 2009.
"I'm hopeful in the next couple of days we should have this position filled," she said.
"It seems like Fresno police go running into a situation and never take the time to evaluate," Bill Simon said.
The A.C.L.U. Fresno Chapter's Bill Simon says especially after a year like this the city has to work hard to regain the trust of the public, and he believes a working OIR will be a good start.
Simon thinks the police department could add other procedures to help them improve technique.
"And it just seems like the police department needs better training," Simon said.
Chief Dyer said he was unable to comment on the dead man's mental state, but he did say he had an extensive criminal history.
