Panel: Police shooting was justified

The Daily Inter Lake

An internal review panel has found that a Thanksgiving-morning shooting by two Kalispell Police Department officers was justified.

Officers Steve Hoover and Dave Thomason fired five shots that killed Trevor New, 28, at a home on Buffalo Square Court on Nov. 23.

Officers had been called to a domestic assault there and found New and his 15-year-old brother wrestling over a combination rifle/shotgun.

Police attempted to subdue New with a Taser, but he kept advancing, pointing the gun at them, according to police Chief Frank Garner.

He said the review panel looked at evidence before determining that the shooting was justified. The department's firearms training officer, the patrol lieutenant, and an officer at large serve on the panel.

This week, Garner, the city attorney and city manager will approve, reject or amend the finding.

An external review will be held in January when a jury of citizens will examine the shooting.

Garner said the officers involved are back on duty and "doing OK."

Police take the matter very seriously, he said.

"A man was killed," Garner said. "There is a process that needs to be honored."

He believes it is the first time a Kalispell officer has shot and killed someone.