Law Enforcement Vets Weigh in on El Cajon Police Shooting

Two former Southern California law enforcement officials weighed in Friday night on whether protocol was followed during the El Cajon police shooting of Alfred Olango based on video evidence released by police.

Alfred Olango, 38, was shot by officers with the El Cajon Police Department (ECPD) on Tuesday in the parking lot of a shopping plaza on Broadway. His death sparked protests in the community, with many demanding police release the video evidence of the shooting.

El Cajon Police Chief Jeff Davis released the video on Friday, sparking dialogue on if the shooting was justified.

Former El Cajon Police Officer Kevin LaChapelle told NBC 7 that he viewed the video multiple times.

"The officer pretty much was following protocol," he said. "Training in the academy was pretty much like clockwork."

But Los Angles County Sheriff's Department veteran and consultant Roger Clark said he disagrees.

Clark was critical of the officer approaching Olango with gun drawn in his left hand while he says Olango backed away.

"He's trying to stay away from an officer who has a gun in hand," Clark told NBC 7. "Another thing with people who are upset, as you increase anxieties, their ability to comply decreases proportionately."

LaChapelle countered saying, "Training talks about not being afraid to unholster. Make sure you're in the ready because there are holster retention issues. There are devices on holsters built in. When you pull gun out it doesn’t slip out you have to push it forward and pull up so when you're scared or whatever or in action you could have trouble getting it out."

The video shows ECPD Officer Richard Gonsalves shadowing Olango’s movements, getting closer to him.

LaChapelle said that’s part of an officer’s training to stay focused.

However, Clark said: “If an officer has a gun in hand he should only do it if he feels there’s a credible threat. If there is, he's not going to be in the open he's going to stand in cover."

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