Pubdate: Tue, 31 Okt 2006
Source: Quad-City Times (IA)
Copyright: 2006 Quad-City Times
Contact:  http://www.qctimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/857
Author: Deirdre Cox Baker

REVIEW: POLICE ACTED APPROPRIATELY

An administrative review has exonerated three Rock  Island police 
officers after an early October incident  when one of them was shot 
in the ankle while running  down an alleged drug dealer, Rock Island 
Police Chief  John Wright said.

Kevin Young, 39, of Rock Island, is being held on $1.5  million bond 
at the Rock Island County Jail. He is  charged with three counts of 
attempted first-degree  murder and faces other felony charges.

Three of the officers involved in the Oct. 7 incident  were placed on 
leave while reasons for discharging  their firearms were reviewed, 
Wright said, noting the  review was standard procedure and "there 
were no  accusations of misconduct on the part of the officers  involved."

The review showed that all officers acted appropriately  and within 
department guidelines, the chief said. It  was conducted by Illinois 
State Police and the police  department's office of professional standards.

Officers Ron Waddle and Ryan Barnett have returned to  active duty. 
Officer Mike Ramirez, who was shot in the  ankle during the incident, 
has returned to light duty  until he is cleared for full duty.

Ramirez was one of four Rock Island police officers  responding to a 
911 call about suspicious activities  near 12th Street and 8th Avenue 
on Oct. 7. According to  police, the officers, all in full uniform, 
approached  the parked vehicle. One remained with the occupied 
vehicle while the three others pursued Young. When the  group reached 
13th Street, Young allegedly turned and  shot at police, hitting 
Ramirez in the right ankle. All  three officers returned fire.

The fourth officer joined in the chase as did others  from Rock 
Island police and the Rock Island County  Sheriff's Department. Young 
was apprehended a short  distance away and officers discovered a .380 
Beretta  handgun, jacket and money along the path he had fled.
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