Stockton Police Chief Praises Officers' Conduct While Awaiting Bank Robbery Investigation Findings
STOCKTON (CBS13) — Stockton Police Chief Eric Jones says three armed robbers had to be stopped in a deadly shootout that took the life of a hostage one year ago Thursday.
Stockton Bank of the West customer Misty Holt-Singh was taken hostage, and then used as a human shield, ultimately being killed by Stockton Police while she was used as a human shield by the suspects in the shootout. Two of the robbers were killed. A third faces trial, as does the man accused of driving the suspects to the bank.
The bank has since been closed and converted into a Starbucks.
The tragedy put the Stockton Police Department under the microscope as a national investigation into police actions was launched.
Jones said his officers bravely pursued the men at high speed around Stockton while taking gunfire. It ended with multiple officers firing at the getaway car.
"To the exact extent the assailants were stopped, that's what needs to be under review—how many shots were fired by each officer? Were any of these shots excessive?" he said.
The national Police Foundation is investigating officers' actions during the pursuit and shootout. Jones says the foundation routinely investigates large-scale high-profile officer-involved shootings with the goal to better law enforcement.
"They're doing the Chris Dorner case out in Los Angeles, that big event. And they're also doing a report on Ferguson," Jones said.
But he didn't wait for the report to implement new training for the officers involved in the deadly 2014 shooting.
"We have done firearms training, for example, shoot-don't shoot scenarios. We're doing actively, because we are a younger force. Because it's just important," he said.
Jones says the foundation's investigation was pushed back a year because of the grand jury criminal investigation.
Jones says despite the delay, he's prepared to implement any recommendations the foundation has.
Its investigation is is scheduled to finish next month.
