Albany County has paid $1.2 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the mother of a 39-year-old Laramie resident who was shot and killed in 2018 by a sheriff's deputy with a controversial history.
The settlement, previously confidential, was revealed as officials cited potential harm to the public to justify releasing the documents. The lawsuit stemmed from an incident where the then-Albany County Sheriff's Deputy shot the unarmed victim twice in the back during a traffic stop for a minor violation on November 4, 2018. The victim, who was grappling with mental illness, lost his life in the encounter. As part of the settlement, the county also committed to providing mental health intervention training for deputies.
The deputy, with a history marked by three fatal police shootings and past allegations of assaulting a videographer leading to his dismissal from the Las Vegas Police Department, faced no charges in the 2018 incident. The Albany County Prosecuting Attorney declined to pursue charges in 2019.
Following the incident, the woman filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit in September 2020, leading to a settlement in May 2022 after nearly two years of legal proceedings. Subsequently, Albany County sought clarity from the Second District Court in Laramie on its obligation to release the settlement agreements.
Apart from the $1.2 million settlement for the man's estate, the agreement mandated the Albany County Sheriff’s Office to make "reasonable efforts" to sustain crisis intervention training for deputies. This program aims to enhance law enforcement responses to mental health crises, potentially preventing future tragic incidents.
The released settlement documents shed light on the county's financial resolution and commitment to proactive training measures in the aftermath of a controversial and tragic event.
