Toledo officers learn to deal with deadly shootings - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Toledo police learn to deal with fatal shootings

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What happens after the shooting? How do Toledo police cope with killing a suspect? Two rookie Toledo police officers are still on administrative leave after one of them shot and killed a 19-year-old suspect.      

A Local counselor says when officers are involved in a shooting some officers can shrug it off and for others it could be a career ender.
     
It's what officers train for from day one when they enter the police academy possibly shooting and killing a suspect.

"We know there's going to be a sleep disturbance we know there's going to be an appetite disturbance we know there's going to be some intrusion recollection which some people call flashbacks we know you'll have an exaggerated startle response, " president of the City of Toledo employee assistance professionals, John Lewton.

John Lewton provides employee assistance for the city of Toledo and 14 other police and fire departments.
He was one of the first people called last week when officer Ben Cousino shot and killed a suspect.

Police say Darrell Parnell was caught breaking into a jeep.  When the 24 year old officer and his partner arrived  they say the suspect ran. The two officers split up trying to catch the man. Officer Cousino caught Parnell. Investigators say there was a struggle over the officers baton and Parnell allegedly beat Cousion with it , but Cousino managed to pull his gun and shot the suspect in the chest.

Lewton says any shooting can affect all law enforcement

"whenever theres an officer involved shooting everybody in the dept has that set of thoughts how would I have handled that how would I feel now after that its over how's he's doing," said Lewton.  

The officers involved in the incident are on administrative leave for three days which is normal procedure when an officer is involved in a shooting.
Lewton encourages families of any officer involved in a traumatic incident to listen to their loved one.

"..if they want to be left alone leave them alone if they don't want to be left alone hang out with them but they're having a normal response to an abnormal situation," said Lewton

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