Wilmington to pay $1.5 million to settle McDole lawsuit
The city of Wilmington has agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of Jeremy "Bam" McDole, a man in a wheelchair who was fatally shot by four police officers in September of 2015.
As part of the agreement, Wilmington police will consider a comprehensive use of force policy that will outline when force is appropriate and train officers in de-escalation procedures.
"If this isn't a piecrust promise but this is something that's going to come into being... then Jeremy would not have died in vain," said Wilmington Attorney Thomas S. Neuberger, who represents McDole's family. "And members of the minority community and poor people in Wilmington, as well as throughout the state, will enjoy enhanced protections when they encounter police."
The settlement, which needs approval from a federal judge, is not an admission of fault by the city, its officers or the police department in connection with the Sept. 23, 2015, shooting.
Read more: http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2016/12/16/jeremy-bam-mcdole-settlement-wilmington-delaware-neuberger-use-of-force/94879384/