MOUNT VERNON – The Knox County Sheriff’s Office has released results of their administrative review of the April 21, 2015 jail incident involving David Dehmann and Deputy Chase Wright. The review panel included Sheriff David Shaffer, Captain Jay Sheffer, Lieutenant Penny Lamp, and Sergeant William Shaffer.
The review included a break-down of the jail video, information from the BCII investigation, Knox County Prosecutor, and the independent review. Lt. Lamp provided information concerning jail policy and procedure. Sgt. Shaffer provided information concerning self-defense tactics.
Information shared included:
- Arresting officer waited for deputies before removing Dehmann from his vehicle.
- 2 escort officers accompanied him to the search area.
- Back up officers were in place to monitor activity.
- Sgt. Hackman initially appeared to have calmed Dehmann.
- Sgt. Hackman moved toward HC1 (holding cell) and requested Dehmann to follow him.
- Dehmann appeared to initiate the interaction with Dep. Wright.
- Dehmann stops, squares off, and attempts to strike Dep. Wright in the face.
- Dep. Wright sweeps his am under Dehmann’s arm and uses a takedown.
- Dep. Wright’s response is within the procedures included in the use of force continuum. His response was consistent with Ohio corrections officer training (confirmed as part of the independent report).
Items discussed for training procedures for future situations:
- The pre-screening form (added as part of the new jail standards) under normal circumstances should be completed by the arresting officer before the inmate is removed from the vehicle.
- Officers maintain a close proximity to the arrest to quickly counter any attempt to not follow instructions or become combative.
- Use of waist chains equipped with handcuffs on arrestees that have indicators of being uncooperative/violent. This would allow limited use of their hands, yet still provide protection from swinging or punching.
- If an inmate is transported to the hospital or another outside facility after a physical altercation with an officer, the officer involved should not be involved in the transport.
- Audio installation in the search area. Could it be captured by the arresting officer’s body camera (if they are equipped)?
Continue to schedule officers (both Jail and Patrol Divisions) in the following training courses: Controlling Aggressive Behavior, Procedural Justice and Police Legitimacy, Crisis Intervention Training.
If they have not already done so, all officers will be required to successfully complete the following courses offered by the Ohio Attorney General’s eOPOTA on-line training:
Victims with Special Needs, Ethics and Professionalism, Use of Force Liability and Standards, Autism and other Disabilities, Crisis Conflict Management, Deescalating Mental Health Crisis, Officer Wellness and Law Enforcement Sexual Harassment Training.
Shaffer says Dep. Wright has resumed his duties as a jail officer.