(VIDEO) Eureka Police Release Video and Other Media Related to Recent Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting
Screenshot of EPD body camera video of John Sieger who was killed by officers on July 23; Chief Steve Watson: “Please join me in keeping the family of Mr. Sieger and each of the involved officers, dispatchers, and their families in our collective thoughts and prayers.”
Eureka Police Department release:
The Eureka Police Department and the Humboldt County multi-agency Critical Incident
Response Team (CIRT), including investigators with the District Attorney’s Office, are
continuing to investigate the officer-involved shooting incident that resulted in the death
of John Sieger on July 23, 2020. This is an ongoing, active investigation and additional
information will be released in the future as it becomes available and authorized by law.
If anyone has further information related to this incident, they are asked to contact
Detective Corrie Watson at 707-441-4032.
The Eureka Police Department is committed to transparency and safeguarding the
community’s trust in our daily efforts to protect and serve you. As part of this
commitment, we have prepared an informational critical incident community
briefing video that includes audio from 911 calls, officer/dispatch radio transmissions,
video from officers’ body-worn cameras as well as additional information. This briefing
video is designed to expeditiously share important, relevant information with the public
about this officer-involved shooting incident. It is intended to provide significant, early
details about this tragic incident as we currently understand them. However, it does
not represent a conclusion to this investigation or a final report evaluating officers’
actions.
It is important to note we are still in the early stages of this investigation and our
understanding of the incident may change as additional evidence is collected, analyzed,
and reviewed. We also will not draw final conclusions about whether or not the actions
of the involved officers were consistent with our policies and the law until all the facts
are known and the investigation is complete.
The names of the involved officers and their roles in this incident are as follows:
Captain Patrick O’Neill was the Incident Commander. Captain O’Neill
oversees EPD’s Field Operations Division including Patrol. He arrived on scene
from home around 6:37 p.m. and assumed incident command from Sergeant
Omey. Captain O’Neill did not fire his weapon. Captain O’Neill has 26 years of
law enforcement service and has been employed with EPD since March 1995.
Captain O’Neill has had formal training in tactical communication and crisis
intervention (CIT), and he is actively involved in Humboldt County’s CIT training
program.
Sergeant Jon Omey was the patrol supervisor on scene. Sergeant Omey has
11 years of law enforcement service and has been employed with EPD since
April 2009. Sergeant Omey fired his patrol rifle during this incident. Sergeant
Omey has had formal training in de-escalation and tactical communication*, crisis
negotiation, special weapons and tactics, and crisis intervention (CIT).
Officer Patrick Bishop has over 17 1⁄2 years of law enforcement service and
has been employed by EPD since September 2007. Officer Bishop fired his
patrol rifle during this incident. Officer Bishop has had formal training in de-
escalation and tactical communication, crisis negotiation, special weapons and
tactics, and crisis intervention (CIT)
Officer Andrew Endsley has 16 years of law enforcement experience and has
been employed by EPD since July 2010. Officer Endsley fired his patrol rifle
during this incident. Officer Endsley has had formal training in crisis negotiation,
crisis intervention (CIT), and tactical communication.
Officer Brian Wilson has 3 1⁄2 years of law enforcement experience and as has
been employed by EPD since December 2016. Officer Wilson fired his handgun
during this incident. Officer Wilson has had formal training in tactical
communication.
As is standard protocol, all involved officers were placed on temporary paid
administrative leave following the incident. Following a review of the investigation based
on the best information we have currently, all 5 involved officers have been cleared to
return to full duty effective Monday, August 3rd
. Additionally, in our department’s
continued commitment to our officers’ health and wellbeing, all personnel involved in
the incident received counseling services through a licensed therapist.
In total, officers, mental health and crisis negotiation specialists attempted to negotiate
with the Mr. Sieger for nearly two hours. They used a variety of de-escalation
techniques and 3 “T” measures: Time, Talk, and Tactics, which included distance and
cover, in an attempt to manage the incident without use of force. As can be seen on
the videos included in the critical incident community briefing, the final contact with Mr.
Sieger occurred very rapidly and did not allow opportunity for dialogue with him before
he presented an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury by pointing a loaded
.40 caliber, semi-automatic Glock 22 handgun at officers.
While the critical incident community briefing video is intended to provide the public
with facts, details, and context concerning Mr. Sieger’s death as we currently understand
things, the public will have the opportunity to draw their conclusions in the coming
months. When the investigations are complete, these records including the full
investigation, findings, criminal and administrative reports, officer and witness
statements, audio and video recordings, photographs, and other related investigative and
evidentiary material will be fully disclosed to the public as authorized by SB 1421 and AB
748.
The audio/video recordings will be released in their entirety by September 6, 2020 in
accordance with AB 748. The complete records related to this investigation will be
released by no later than January 19, 2021 pursuant to SB 1421 though EPD will seek to
release them earlier if possible.
The Eureka Police Department again sends our heartfelt condolences to John Sieger’s
family with whom we’ve been in close contact. This tragic outcome was not what we
wanted and we are deeply saddened by what happened.
“While we wait for these final investigative determinations, please join me in keeping the
family of Mr. Sieger and each of the involved officers, dispatchers, and their families in
our collective thoughts and prayers. Many are hurting as a result of this tragic incident
and need our understanding and support.” ~Chief Steve Watson