SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTAX/WAND) — Police Chief Ken Scarlette had only praise for his officers after an incident at the Sangamon County Juvenile Detention Facility this past Saturday.
Springfield Police were called on Saturday night for an active shooter and hostage situation at the juvenile detention facility. When officers arrived, they found the armed suspect at the entrance to the facility. An officer fired at the suspect, striking him.
The suspect, a 17-year-old who has not been publicly identified, was taken to a hospital where he later died. A second person was treated for a gunshot wound and was treated and released.
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According to WTAX News, Chief Scarlette was impressed by his officers' actions.
“The first priority in any active shooter scenario is to stop the threat,” Scarlette told reporters Tuesday. “Our officers are trained on that. Our officers did just that upon their arrival at the scene.”
The two officers who arrived first to the scene consisted of a veteran officer and a new trainee. There was little time for the pair to put a plan together.
“Within 22 seconds of arrival, the officer encountered the suspect as he was leaving the premise,” said Scarlette. “The first officer – the veteran officer – engaged the armed suspect.”
The Illinois State Police are handling the investigation. The officers involved have been placed on restricted duty, per policy.
“I’ve been chief for twenty months,” said Scarlette. “One thing that I have hammered home with my officers is holistic wellness: physical, emotional, spiritual, financial. When we peel back this uniform, we are a human spirit that deals with life’s perils just like everyone else.”
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