FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2017
Idaho Falls Police Department Contact:
Holly Cook
Public Information Officer
605 N. Capital Ave
Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402
Office: (208) 612-8655
Cell: (208) 589-3091
hcook@idahofallsidaho.gov
IFPD releases names of officers involved in shooting on January 23rd
Idaho Falls, ID – Idaho Falls Police released the names of those involved in an incident on Wednesday which ended with one man being shot by an officer. The incident lasted only 22 minutes, from the time the call came in to police to the time the man was transported to the hospital by ambulance.
Tuesday afternoon around 2:00 PM, police were dispatched to North Corner Ave. & Elm Street. The incident began with a call police receive routinely. A member of the public called in a “suspicious person,” who was later identified as 54 year old Shane McVey. Officers attempted to talk with McVey, but he fled and entered a residential apartment building. When officers attempted to apprehend him, McVey displayed a weapon. One officer fired upon the suspect. Officers immediately began performing CPR on the man until emergency medical services arrived.
At an incident briefing on Wednesday, January 24th at the Idaho Falls City Council Chambers, Chief Bryce Johnson named the person involved in the shooting. “The citizen, the person involved in the shooting, his name is Shane McVey. He is deceased. He was pronounced by medical shortly after the incident occurred,” said Johnson.
Johnson clarified and elaborated on the details of the incident as well as the process of what the public can expect next. “The original release said three officers responded. The initial response was two Idaho Falls officers… [whom] were there at the time of the shooting. Shortly after that, two additional officers arrived and then lots of officers arrived after that. Immediately after the shooting occurred, the officers on the scene started first aid lifesaving medical treatment to Mr. McVey.”
“One of the first responding officers not only serves his community, but he also serves his nation in the military as a medic and had a medic bag in his trunk. That was retrieved and he immediately gave lifesaving treatment the best he could to Mr. McVey.”
Chief Johnson personally met with the McVey family to notify them of what happened. “The family is really an incredible family. Understandably, they are grieving. They thanked the officers for responding and especially wanted to thank those officers who provided first aid as quick as they could,” Johnson said. “I told the family that as soon as we have those answers, I will go back and personally meet with them and give them all of the information.”
Johnson said the family specifically asked him to ask the public and media to respect their privacy and that they not be contacted for comment at this time.
Johnson named the various agencies involved and what their roles are. The Idaho Falls Police Department responded first to the call, which was called as a suspicious person. “What we [IFPD] do is we secure the scene, try to identify witnesses, put up the yellow crime tape and to try to secure the scene very quickly.” The Idaho Falls Fire Department responded promptly after the call from dispatch to take Mr. McVey to receive further medical treatment.
“Quite quickly, because the Idaho State Police are so quick to respond with us, we asked them if they could take the lead on the investigation along with the [Eastern Idaho Regional] Critical Incident Task Force, so they [ISP] will take the lead on that investigation. What will happen is they will complete that investigation and that investigation will be turned over to the Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorney, Mr. Clark, and he will review the investigation and he will make some sort of decision of what occurred. That comes out of his office,” explained Johnson.
“When all of that is completed, the Idaho Falls Police Department will also do an independent internal review of the incident to review all of our policy and procedures and to see what occurred. The way that process is set out is there is a Use of Force Review Board… which is made up of different officers in the department, both ranking officers and line officers, and is also comprised of two civilians that are not part of the police department. We [will] present the internal review to this Board. The Board will use that and make a recommendation to me. At the conclusion of that, I will take all of that information and make a final review for the police department.”
“As you can see, this process is as transparent as it possibly can be, it’s fair, it ensures procedural justice for everybody involved,” said Johnson. “It does take a little bit of time, though. It doesn’t get done in two or three days. It will take a little bit of time. So as I spoke with the family, I explained to them that it takes a little time and they were happy to wait that time it takes to find out all of the information.”
Johnson requested, “So what we ask for is also for the community, for you, to allow that time to pass so the investigators can get all of the information and we can get those answers out for you.”
Johnson explained that interviews needed to be completed before the disclosure of the officers involved. Those interviews were completed Friday afternoon.
The two officers involved at the time of the shooting were Sergeant Patrick McKenna and Officer Earl Laughter. Johnson said both Sergeant McKenna and Officer Laughter are on paid administrative leave until the investigation process is complete.
Sergeant McKenna has served the city of Idaho Falls in the police department for over 27 years. He has extensive experience as a patrol officer, has worked as a K9 officer, a field training officer, an investigator and holds several certifications. McKenna was standing near Officer Earl Laughter when Laughter discharged his firearm.
Officer Earl Laughter has served in the IFPD for over 4 years. He was most recently promoted in 2015, also holds police certifications, and has served in the patrol division throughout this time with the city. He has also worked as a probation officer.
The Idaho Falls Police Department will take the lead for all media and public information inquires, for all agencies involved, related to the matter.
No further information is available at this time and no further information is expected to be released until the conclusion of the investigation and the process described by Chief Johnson.
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About Idaho Falls Police Department: The Idaho Falls Police Department is united in a spirit of teamwork to be an open, courteous and community-minded organization devoted to quality public service. We are dedicated to live by values which reflect a genuine desire to care for the safety and well-being of the public we serve as well as the professionals who provide that service. In partnership with the people of Idaho Falls, the IFPD’s mission is to create an environment free from crime and the fear of crime. The core values of the Idaho Falls Police Department are: (1) Integrity (2) Honor (3) Trust (4) and Excellence. Learn more on our website.