Posted October 31, 2017 9:00 am by Comments

By Christen Smith

A county prosecutor argues the Pennsylvania State Police’s policy of investigating its own officer-involved shootings deserves an independent review. (Photo: AP)
Pennsylvania State Police wants to quell a grand jury review of the agency’s policy of investigating its own trooper-involved shootings, according to a report by the Associated Press.
Attorneys for the agency will appear in court this week to question the legal authority of the grand jury, which formed after a county prosecutor insisted the shooting death of 20-year-old Anthony Ardo earlier this year deserved an independent review.
Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli criticized state police after the agency refused to let his detectives lead the investigation into Ardo’s death on May 20 near Easton. State troopers shot and killed Ardo after he ignored commands and tried to commit suicide by lighting the fuse of an explosive device fastened around his neck.
State police defended its policy to the Associated Press over the weekend, reiterating similar sentiments expressed last month regarding the “strict guidelines and protocols” of its trooper-involved shooting investigations.
“Pennsylvania State Police is confident in the protocols it has in place to ensure each trooper-involved shooting is investigated thoroughly and transparently,” police spokesman Ryan Tarkowski said.
The grand jury determined Ardo’s shooting was justified and

Source: Guns.com

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