If the cops are going to cover shit up, they're not going to make an out-of-court record of admission to a potential civil lawsuit.
I'd bet the cops already talked with the family, the family probably understood what happened, probably signaled that they were not going to peruse civil charges, and in response the Police Department is playing very nice to keep themselves out of serious legal problems. There's no question that this is a very atypical response to a police shooting by the police. It's one that they are hoping will cover their ass.
That doesn't mean that the cops weren't telling the truth about what happened. What they describe is entirely possible. But, they are definitely playing nice to stay out of trouble.
I mean, the cops admit shooting him for it.
If the cops are going to cover shit up, they're not going to make an out-of-court record of admission to a potential civil lawsuit.
I'd bet the cops already talked with the family, the family probably understood what happened, probably signaled that they were not going to peruse civil charges, and in response the Police Department is playing very nice to keep themselves out of serious legal problems. There's no question that this is a very atypical response to a police shooting by the police. It's one that they are hoping will cover their ass.
That doesn't mean that the cops weren't telling the truth about what happened. What they describe is entirely possible. But, they are definitely playing nice to stay out of trouble.