Freshman Gilbert Collar was shot dead by a University of South Alabama campus police officer, and his parents and others want answers.
At only 5’ 7” and 135 pounds, this 18-year-old was unclothed and unarmed, and his death so far seems to have been the result of either the officer’s failure to follow proper procedure or his lack of adequate training.
According to the Associated Press, authorities claim Collar had taken LSD and acted aggressively towards others before banging on the window at police headquarters. They also say the officer responded by coming out of the building with a gun drawn, not carrying any less lethal means of restraint.
By all accounts, Collar was not himself that night and was obviously suffering from some kind of adverse reaction or illness. He needed help, not lethal aggression.
Some college campuses restrict use of firearms by campus officers, and the University of South Alabama should respond to this needless killing by at least doing the same.
We, the undersigned, believe Gilbert Collar’s death was preventable.
Campus police, in particular, should be trained in how to deal with situations like the one presented by Collar’s uncharacteristic behavior. College campuses are known for drug use - both prescription and non-prescription - and both classes of drugs are notorious for causing adverse reactions that can be severe and lead to bizarre behavior in some individuals (See Breggin’s, Medication Madness).
Collar’s behavior and his nakedness certainly should have tipped off police that this was a situation involving a health issue, and the University should either have trained health personnel available to deal with such crises, or it should properly train its police force to deal with them by exhausting all non-lethal options before even considering using potentially deadly force.
Not only does it appear that the officer who shot Collar used excessive force and should have had other options available, it also seems unnecessary to have shot Collar in the chest.
Reports released on this terrible tragedy so far are leaving many unanswered questions. But one thing seems certain, either the officer who shot Collar was not following procedure, or else he was not properly trained.
It is reported that all Canadian and some US college campuses (RI public colleges) restrict use of firearms by campus police. Campus Police in Canada do not carry firearms, but are generally given other law enforcement's tools of trade - namely handcuffs, body armor, batons and pepper spray.
We request that you either properly train your officers on how to restrain ill students without using lethal force or you restrict their use of firearms.
Thank you for your time.
