News Releases

Update to June 11 Officer-Involved Shooting; Media Invited to Mental Health First Aid Training

For Immediate Release: Monday, June 18, 2018

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department continue to investigate the officer-involved shooting that occurred on Monday, June 11, in Silver Spring. Detectives are continuing to process evidence and conduct interviews with witnesses and others involved in the event.

Today, the Department is releasing the following update:

• Montgomery County Police investigators and representatives from the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office are scheduled to meet on Monday, June 25, as part of the investigation of the police-involved shooting. The release of the body-worn camera video will be discussed at this meeting.
• As evidence is collected, it continues to be turned over to the Howard County State’s Attorney. This includes two videos from police body-worn cameras and a statement from an eyewitness to the shooting. Autopsy results from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, to include toxicology and injuries to the decedent, are pending and will be shared with the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office.
• Officer Badgujar, through his attorney, declined to be interviewed at this time. However, upon the completion of the criminal investigation, an internal administrative investigation will begin. The officer will be compelled to provide information to the Department for the internal investigation.

There have been a number of questions received from the community and the media regarding the training that officers receive on dealing with individuals experiencing mental health issues and/or with cognitive disabilities. During the police training academy officers receive the following training:

• An eight-hour block of instruction on Mental Health First Aid.
• De-escalation techniques.
• Effective communication strategies.
• Implicit bias.
• Scenario-based Conflict Management training that emphasizes creating distance between the officer and a potential threat.

Over the last 17 years, the Department has provided Crisis Intervention Training to over 1,100 Montgomery County Police officers and an additional 1,400 officers from other law enforcement agencies. This 40-hour class is an advanced program designed for officers who respond to 911 calls or routinely come into contact with the public.

Some of the additional questions that remain as part of this investigation include:

• What initially drew the officer’s attention to Mr. White?
• What was the basis for the officer trying to stop Mr. White?

More information will be released as it becomes available.

On Tuesday, June 19 at 5:00 p.m., the Department invites members of the media to attend a previously-scheduled Mental Health First Aid training held at the training academy. Instructors and a Public Information Officer will be present to answer questions about the training.

The Montgomery County Public Safety Training Academy is located at 8751 Snouffer School Road Gaithersburg, MD. 20879. Please RSVP to the Public Information Office at 240.773.5030 (press 4).

Links to previous releases regarding this incident:

June 12 Update: Officer Involved Shooting Investigation Continues

June 11 Officer Involved Shooting Investigated in Silver Spring

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Release ID: 18-260
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: uncategorized