MONROE - The two sheriff deputies involved in the fatal shooting of a homicide suspect are back to normal duty after an investigation found they were justified in using lethal force.
Deputies Cody Kanable and John Schuetz were initially placed on administrative leave immediately after the July 22 shooting of Francisco Benitez Santiago, 25. After the initial investigation, Kanable and Schuetz were placed on administrative duty, handling desk work, while the state investigated and an internal review took place, Green County Sheriff Mark Rohloff said Tuesday.
Santiago was the sole suspect in a double shooting that left one man dead and another seriously injured at a trailer park in Monroe earlier in the evening on July 22. Santiago fled the scene and was spotted a few minutes later outside an apartment building a few blocks away.
Kanable and Schuetz were among local officers who responded to the call. They both warned Santiago to stop and drop his gun, but Santiago pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it at the officers, according to witnesses at the scene.
While Santiago's gun was not loaded at the time, Green County District Attorney Gary Luhman said in his report, released Monday, that the officers were justified in their use of force and acted correctly in their attempts to apprehend the suspect. He cited witness statements and evidence included in the state Department of Justice report which was made public Friday.
Rohloff said he wasn't surprised with Luhman's determination the shooting was justified, saying statements from those on the scene and evidence were consistent throughout the investigation.
Any loss of life is traumatic on everyone - the families involved and the officers, Rohloff said. The deputies were kept informed of the process throughout the investigation and were given mental health assessments.
With the district attorney's findings, the matter is closed, Rohloff said. Both officers have returned to their duties in the patrol division. Kanable is the K-9 officer for the department.
"The deputies are doing well. They are ready to get back to work and move on," he said.
- Mary Jane Grenzow
Deputies Cody Kanable and John Schuetz were initially placed on administrative leave immediately after the July 22 shooting of Francisco Benitez Santiago, 25. After the initial investigation, Kanable and Schuetz were placed on administrative duty, handling desk work, while the state investigated and an internal review took place, Green County Sheriff Mark Rohloff said Tuesday.
Santiago was the sole suspect in a double shooting that left one man dead and another seriously injured at a trailer park in Monroe earlier in the evening on July 22. Santiago fled the scene and was spotted a few minutes later outside an apartment building a few blocks away.
Kanable and Schuetz were among local officers who responded to the call. They both warned Santiago to stop and drop his gun, but Santiago pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it at the officers, according to witnesses at the scene.
While Santiago's gun was not loaded at the time, Green County District Attorney Gary Luhman said in his report, released Monday, that the officers were justified in their use of force and acted correctly in their attempts to apprehend the suspect. He cited witness statements and evidence included in the state Department of Justice report which was made public Friday.
Rohloff said he wasn't surprised with Luhman's determination the shooting was justified, saying statements from those on the scene and evidence were consistent throughout the investigation.
Any loss of life is traumatic on everyone - the families involved and the officers, Rohloff said. The deputies were kept informed of the process throughout the investigation and were given mental health assessments.
With the district attorney's findings, the matter is closed, Rohloff said. Both officers have returned to their duties in the patrol division. Kanable is the K-9 officer for the department.
"The deputies are doing well. They are ready to get back to work and move on," he said.
- Mary Jane Grenzow