INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (December 13, 2015) – After Saturday’s police involved shooting, IMPD Chief Rick Hite sat down with Fox 59’s Jake Miller in studio to discuss his officer’s actions and the need for more mental health services in Indiana.
Police officers shot 25-year-old Christopher Goodlow Saturday morning on the city’s east side after someone called police saying he had an knife and was acting suicidal.
“What you saw was patience, but you also saw a very good use of training,” Chief Hite said. “The officer attempted to tackle the young man from behind. That didn’t work. They tased him twice. He continued to confront the officers.”
The chief added after repeated verbal commands to put the knife down, Goodlow lunged with the lethal weapon toward the officers and they were forced to shoot him.
“It’s tough. It really is for our police officers to have to go through this,” Chief Hite said. “Our job is to bring about peace and be peacemakers. That’s our job. That’s what we really want to try to do.”
Chief Hite acknowledged the impact an a event like this can have on the community.
“We have to live with this. We have to understand the impact it has on the community,” he said. “Our hearts go out to the family of the young man, because he’s my son’s age and I think about that and how I would feel in a similar circumstance.”
Goodlow’s family members told Fox 59 he suffered from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Chief Hite said this shooting highlights the need for more mental health services in Indianapolis.
“We have to have again a conversation in our community about mental health and places we can take people who have challenges,” Chief Hite said.
Goodlow was living alone at the time of the shooting and Chief Hite said that “may have not been the best remedy” for him.
