Salvatore Culosi

Dr. Salvatore J. Culosi (December 17, 1968 – January 24, 2006) was an optometrist who lived in Fairfax, VA. He was shot and killed on January 24, 2006, during a SWAT raid. The officer, Deval V. Bullock, shot Culosi who was not "challenging him, trying to escape or suspected of being armed." [Tom Jackman, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/24/AR2006112401308.html "Va. Officer Might Be Suspended For Fatality"] , "Washington Post", November 25, 2006] The officer was later suspended for three weeks. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/19/AR2007011901464.html "A Tragedy of Errors"] , "Washington Post", November 25, 2006] .

Information Regarding the Case

On January 24, 2006, Dr. Savatore J. Culosi was being served with a search warrant for alleged illegal sports gambling.

Officer Bullock has had no previous disciplinary record in his seventeen-year history with the Fairfax County Police Department.

Controversies

The officer responsible for the shooting received three weeks unpaid suspension. In a letter to the editor, the parents of Dr. Culosi believe the punishment is too lenient. [Letter to The Editor [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/01/AR2006120101484.html] ] Fairfax police officers believe the punishment goes "far beyond what is typically imposed for an accidental shooting." [Tom Jackman, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/24/AR2006112401308.html "Va. Officer Might Be Suspended For Fatality"] , "Washington Post", November 25, 2006]

Controversy was sparked by what some believed excessive force for a non-violent crime. Fairfax County police does not use SWAT for enforcement of most warrants. Only in cases of felonies or where violence may be likely.

Related Information

* [http://www.emergency.com/swat0797.htm Steve Macko, "SWAT: Is it being used too much?", Emergency Response and Research Institute, July 15, 1997]
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/24/AR2006112401308.html Tom Jackman, "Va. Officer Might Be Suspended For Fatality", Washington Post, November 25, 2006]
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/19/AR2007011901464.html "A Tragedy of Errors", Washington Post, November 25, 2006]
* [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,193652,00.html Radley Balko, "In Virginia, the Death Penalty for Gambling", Fox News, May 1, 2006]
* [http://www.justiceforsal.com/ "Website set up by parents"]
* [http://www.legacy.com/WashingtonPost/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=16483658 "Online Obituary"]

References