The Fullerton city manager has submitted a request to the City Council to bring in a specialist in examining law enforcement agencies following the July 5 altercation between a mentally ill homeless man and six Fullerton police officers that has sparked outrage in Orange County, according to a news report.
Kelly Thomas, 37, who had been diagnosed as schizophrenic and was homeless, died on July 10 after an altercation with Fullerton police officers who were investigating reports of a man trying to burglarize cars at the bus depot on South Pomona Ave. When officers tried to search Kelly, he fought them and suffered severe head and neck injuries. He died five days later from those injuries.
Thomas’ parents and many community members allege the police used extreme force in subduing Thomas, who has a long history of mental illness. The six officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative duty.
The FBI has been called in to investigate the incident, and Fullerton City Manager Joe Felz says he also wants approval to hire Michael Gennaco, a specialist in examining law enforcement agencies and chief attorney for the L.A. County Office of Independent Review, to conduct an internal investigation into the Fullerton Police Department’s training, use-of-force policies and methods on dealing with the mentally ill and homeless.
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