Pubdate: Thu, 2 Apr 2009
Source: Muskegon Chronicle, The (MI)
Copyright: 2009 The Muskegon Chronicle
Contact: http://www.mlive.com/mailforms/muchronicle/letters/index.ssf
Website: http://www.mlive.com/muskegon/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1605
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Derek+Copp

INQUIRY WRAPS UP IN OFFICER'S SHOOTING OF GVSU STUDENT

GRAND RAPIDS -- State police investigators have completed their 
inquiry into the March 11 shooting of Grand Valley State University 
student Derek Copp, and sent the results to the Kalamazoo County prosecutor.

Lt. Curt Schram, who oversaw the probe following Copp being shot by 
an officer with a regional drug team, said Jeffrey Fink will review 
the case and decide whether charges are appropriate against the 
Ottawa County sheriff's deputy.

The deputy is a 12-year veteran and police have declined to identify 
him. He remains on administrative leave.

The prosecutorial review is standard practice in police shootings, as 
is the paid leave for the officer, authorities said.

Fink takes control of the case after Ottawa County Prosecutor Ron 
Frantz sought a state attorney general's petition to reassign the 
decision, since he is on the board of directors of the West Michigan 
Enforcement Team.

Copp's attorney, Fred Dilley, said they will have no comment until 
the report's details are make public.

Copp, 20, was shot once in the chest as WEMET conducted a drug search 
at his off-campus apartment. The victim's father has said his son 
raised his hands to shield his eyes from an officer's flashlight.

Police have acknowledged Copp did not have a weapon and made no 
threatening gestures toward the drug team, which found a small amount 
of marijuana in the apartment, Copp's attorney has said.

Copp spent more than a week in the hospital recovering from the 
bullet wound that fractured two ribs, hit a lung and his liver. He 
tried to return to classes at GVSU, but breathing trouble landed him 
back in the hospital last Friday.

He since has been released and returned home with his parents. 
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