Solicitor discusses Officer-involved Shooting Cases

Since her election in 2005, 10th Judicial Circuit Solicitor Chrissy Adams has worked numerous officer-involved shooting cases. In regards to the incident on July 26 in Seneca, she said, “Once the investigation is complete and a decision is made as to whether or not charges are appropriate, information regarding names, etc. would be released at that time. We will look at the entire investigation that is conducted by SLED and apply it to the law and standards associated with use of force cases in making a decision as to charges. The standard is objective. The issue is whether an objectively reasonable officer (not person) could have reasonably believed that the force employed was appropriate under the circumstances. Clearly, there are hosts of factors that play into that determination and each case is different. This is why officer-involved shootings take time to investigate.” SLED continues to investigate the death of 19-year-old Zachary Hammond of Seneca on July 26 from an officer-involved shooting in the Hardee’s parking lot on Bypass 123 in Seneca. Once SLED concludes their investigation, those findings will be presented to Adams for review.