A San Diego police officer who killed himself Monday was in possession of his service weapons at the time of his death.
Officer David Christopher Hall was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his Linda Vista home Monday.
His colleagues with the San Diego police department responded to the property at 3334 Ashford Street just before 10 a.m. Monday after Hall's wife called to report the shooting.
Officers arrived and found Hall's body in the backyard along the side of the home. The officer, wearing a white T-shirt and shorts, was found leaning against a wall.
Hall, a 14-year veteran with the department, had recently pleaded not guilty to felony driving under the influence and hit-and-run charges in connection with a Serra Mesa traffic accident that happened while he was off-duty on Feb. 22, 2011.
He was expected in court Thursday for a pretrial hearing.
On Monday, Chief William Lansdowne said his department was very aware of the stress Hall had been under, and made every effort to help the officer.
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Lansdowne confirmed that the police wellness team had met with Hall on Sunday.
Department spokesperson Lt. Andra Brown, would not identify which weapon Hall used to kill himself but she said the department had not taken away Hall's service weapon because Hall had retained his full police powers and had been on paid administrative duty.
Lt. Brown said the police counselors had no reason to believe that Hall was suicidal.
Lt. Brown said that if Hall had given any indication he was a danger to himself or to others, the counselors would have taken steps to get him more help and remove all firearms from his home.
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