Vallejo cop who killed 22-year-old San Francisco man had three prior shootings as a policeman

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Source: The Mercury News


By DAVID DEBOLT | [e-mail], NATE GARTRELL | [e-mail] and JOHN GLIDDEN | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: June 8, 2020 at 7:11 a.m. | UPDATED: June 8, 2020 at 7:24 a.m.

The Vallejo police officer who shot and killed 22-year-old Sean Monterrosa in the early morning hours of June 2 has been identified by multiple law enforcement sources as a longtime cop who has fired his duty weapon on three previous occasions since 2015.

The officer, Jarrett Tonn, shot and killed Monterrosa a little after 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, after reportedly mistaking a hammer in Monterrosa’s sweatshirt pocket for a gun. Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams said Wednesday the officer fired through the windshield of his own patrol car at Monterrosa; he fired a total of five shots, but police have not said how many times Monterrosa was struck.

Tuesday’s shooting marks the fourth time in five years that Tonn has fired his gun at a person while on duty, including two shootings within six weeks in 2017, and a shooting in 2015 where he fired 18 times. None of the three prior shootings resulted in a death; internal investigations cleared Tonn of wrongdoing each time.



Read more: https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/06/08/exclusive-vallejo-officer-who-killed-sf-man-had-three-prior-shootings-as-a-policeman-2/

[samsingh]

1. very upsetting

[johndaly]

2. A hammer

is not a handgun. Cops should be required to be able to see the difference instead of moving to threat mode immediately. A cool head keeps things calm and under control. Most cops are unfit because they freak out. "Help the Police/REPORT BAD COPS!!!"
RIP Mr. Monterrosa. Investigate. Prosecute. Remove.

[louzke9]

5. NO, MOST COPS ARE TRAINED.....

to react instantaneously IF they believe their lives are in danger. They are taught in training that any hesitation even for a few seconds could cost them their lives. SCOTUS ruled further that perception of a threat is justifiable enough in the use of lethal force vs. that there WAS NO threat. https://www.vox.com/identities/2016/8/13/17938226/police-shootings-killings-law-legal-standard-garner-graham-connor

[louzke9]

3. It should be....

Because police have immense power backed by law when it comes to using lethal force. Until people realize this and demand reforms, these incidents will keep occurring. Even SCOTUS ruled that cops can use lethal force to stop "suspects" from fleeing on foot or in a vehicle, if the police believe the suspect poses a danger to the immediate community. Often these laws are SO BROAD, they cover/protect most police actions in any setting. Even when officers are arrested, charged with a crime, at trial, most cops are acquitted because they use these laws as a defense, i.e. I was fulfilling my lawful, legal duties as prescribed by law. In this instance, the cops were called to a crime in progress, looting. This gave the police a preconceived mindset. The young man had a hammer in his pocket. Police thought if was a weapon, so they fired in self defense. How many MILLIONS of times have we heard this? Well this is a red flag to DA's who think, not going to touch this case because at trial the police are usually acquitted. In this case however, it will be difficult for Tonn to launch a defense.....he was in the safety of his car, there was no immediate threat and Tonn should have waited for back up. He panicked took extreme lethal force which was not proportional to the situation. And why don't police have bullet proof windshields!

[BadGimp]

4. "a shooting in 2015 where he fired 18 times"

That's a lot of bullets.

[marble falls]

9. AND not hit anything? He a panic stricken man with a gun.

[greenjar_01]

6. Modern police training is a catastrophe

They are trained in some weird aggressive counter-insurgency, not in policing.

Maybe that's what they or the people in power think they should be trained in, but it is a world historical social disaster. We are falling back into feudalism, and damn fast.

[lagomorph777]

7. Quite a hobby.

Bastard needs to go away for the rest of his worthless life.

[generalbetrayus]

8. And he fired five shots to kill his victim this time.

"In 2015, Tonn was one of two officers identified as shooting and wounding Gerald Brown, 23, after he allegedly rammed a police vehicle with a car in 2015. Following the shooting, a Critical Incident Board of Review cleared Tonn and Officer Gary Jones in the incident.
The incident began when officers attempted to pull over Brown, who was driving a stolen vehicle. After a short pursuit, Brown allegedly backed up his car into the officers’ cruiser as the pair were exiting the car. The officers fired a total of 19 shots — 18 by Tonn, and one by Jones — in two seconds. Brown was struck by the gunfire but survived and was booked into jail."

[Coventina]

10. FTP & ACAB