Lodi Police Department

Mark Helms, Chief of Police

215 W. Elm Street
Lodi, CA 95240
(209) 333-6727
www.lodi.gov/police

News Release
Subject:

Officer-Involved Shooting Findings Released

Contact:

Sergeant Michael Manetti

(209) 329-4749
mmanetti@pd.lodi.gov

Release Date/Time:

December 30, 2014, at 9:00 a.m.

Details:

The Office of San Joaquin County District Attorney James P. Willett has found that Lodi Police
Corporal Scott Bratton and Officer Adam Lockie were legally justified and acted reasonably
when they used deadly force to protect themselves against Parminder Singh Shergill, who
attacked them with an eight-inch tactical knife on January 25, 2014.
In a 26-page memorandum to Lodi Police Chief Mark Helms, Deputy District Attorney Robert
Himelblau concluded that:
Cpl. Bratton and Ofc. Lockie, individually and jointly, were reasonable in their belief
that deadly force was necessary to prevent serious injury or death to themselves or
others. Based on the totality of the circumstances, use of deadly force was
reasonable under both [Penal Code] sections 196 [justified homicide by public officers]
and 197 [justified homicide]. (p. 26).
The District Attorneys conclusion was based on the following (pp. 25-26):
In analyzing the reasonableness of the decision by LPD Cpl. Bratton and Ofc. Lockie,
individually and jointly, to use deadly force, the totality of the circumstances, including
the information that the individual officers possessed at the time of their decision, is
examined. The " 'reasonableness' of a particular use of force must be judged from the
perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with the 20/20 vision of
hindsight." (Graham, supra, 490 U.S. at 396.)
Persons with information on this or any criminal case or activity are encouraged to call Lodi Area
Crimestoppers at 209-333-6771. You may remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward.

1. Officers had information that Shergill had assaulted his mother;

2. Officers had information that Shergill might be subject to detention under [Section]
5150 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. This is not because they had information of
prior contacts but because of the information provided to them by the family and the
request to take Shergill to a mental health facility.
3. Officers were, therefore, acting lawfully in their attempt to contact Shergill
voluntarily. However, given the facts before them, officers had a reasonable and
articulable reason to detain Shergill for investigative purposes.
4. When Shergill displayed his knife, he posed an immediate threat to the officers.
Both officers exercised proper discretion in drawing their duty pistols.
5. It was clear to Cpl. Bratton, that Shergills path was taking him back to 23 Elderica
Way where the officer had just received a complaint of an assault by Shergill. This is
borne out by Cpl. Brattons dispatch to have Shergills family members barricade their
door. Cpl. Brattons initial actions at this juncture were to stop Shergill from returning
to the house where he might injure a family member with his knife.
6. Once Shergill turned towards the officers, facing Cpl. Bratton, Shergills action
elevated his threat level. Taking into consideration the statements of the three
eyewitnesses who saw this part of the confrontation, it is evident Shergill advanced
towards the officers with a raised knife. Given Shergills height and distance from the
officers, it is reasonable to believe that Shergill would have covered the distance in a
matter of seconds.
7. LPD Cpl. Bratton and Ofc. Lockie, individually and jointly, were reasonable in their
belief that Shergill posed a threat of death or great bodily injury to Cpl. Bratton and
Ofc. Lockie. Their use of deadly force to resist such an attack was reasonable and
therefore justified.
News Media Information
A PDF version of the District Attorneys full report (as well as the previously-released audio
recording and transcript of the original 911 call to the Lodi Police Department, a recording and
transcript of radio communications from the officers involved, photographs of the eight-inch
tactical knife Shergill used in the incident, and dispatch logs) can be accessed electronically on
the Police Departments Website at www.lodi.gov/police.
Chief Mark Helms will be available for media interviews on Tuesday, December 30, 2014,
between 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Members of the news media may contact (209) 333-6756 to
schedule an interview appointment.
A copy of the protocol investigation will be available for media viewing.
Persons with information on this or any criminal case or activity are encouraged to call Lodi Area
Crimestoppers at 209-333-6771. You may remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward.

Corporal Bratton and Officer Lockie are dedicated public servants who acted appropriately in
defending themselves against a potentially deadly threat when a mentally ill man suddenly
charged them with an eight-inch knife, Chief Helms said.
The protocol investigation revealed Parminder Singh Shergill had been previously diagnosed
with bipolar Schizoaffective Disorder.
Since the incident, the Lodi Police Department has provided additional mental health/crisis
intervention training for its staff, equipped each of its uniformed officers with a Taser (a lesslethal electronic control device), and is preparing to purchase body-worn cameras for its
officers.
These measures wouldnt have made a difference in this case due to the circumstances, but
today our officers are better equipped to deal with a growing number of calls involving people
suffering from serious mental illness, Helms said. Our job is to help people, and were
always looking for additional options and better resources to do that job more safely.
Its a tragedy for everybody involved. I once again express my condolences to Shergills
family for their loss. My heart also goes out to Corporal Bratton and Officer Lockie and their
families, who will carry this with them for the rest of their careers and lives. Over the past 11
months, they have shown commendable professionalism in face of the intense scrutiny, the
Chief added.
San Joaquin Officer-Involved Critical Incident Protocol
The officer-involved shooting of Parminder Singh Shergill was conducted in accordance with
the Officer-Involved Critical Incident Protocol, a formal agreement among the law enforcement
agencies of San Joaquin County. Adopted in 1994, the Protocol serves as a model or
guideline for the investigation of officer-involved critical incidents. Its goal is to help ensure
these cases are investigated thoroughly and fairly. The process has served the people of San
Joaquin County well for more than 20 years.
This case was investigated by a task force comprised of members of the Lodi Police
Department, San Joaquin County District Attorneys Investigations Unit, San Joaquin County
Sheriff-Coroners Office, and California Department of Justice.
Pursuant to the agreement, it is the responsibility of the Office of the District Attorney to review
the facts and determine what, if any, criminal charges should be filed whenever there is an
officer-involved fatality or life-threatening incident.

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Persons with information on this or any criminal case or activity are encouraged to call Lodi Area
Crimestoppers at 209-333-6771. You may remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward.