Eureka Police Chief Commends Officer for Defusing Encounter With Sword-Wielding Man

Information from the Facebook page of Eureka Police Chief Steve Watson:

Feature icon Eureka Police Department EPDOn Sunday, September 15th, Eureka Police Department officers responded to the report of an adult male assaulting his mother at a West Hawthorne Street home. When encountered by EPD Officer Matthew White, the suspect was armed with a 2-3 foot long sword. Officer White ordered the man to put the sword down which thankfully he did.

The suspect then began telling officers to shoot and kill him, at one point asking a sergeant to “shoot him in the forehead.” Officers will able to successfully resolve the tense situation without having to use significant or deadly force against the individual.

Officer White’s sergeant later wrote a letter of commendation to EPD’s Patrol Captain, Patrick O’Neill, commending Officer White for his crisis communication skills and his calm, patient, controlled and tactically sound response. I’ve attached a slightly redacted copy of Officer White’s memorandum of commendation to this post for your review.

EPD officers frequently encounter situations where they are dealing with determined criminal predators or persons in a mental health or other crisis. These situations can rapidly escalate and force officers to respond in a split second to a suspect’s actions. However, EPD trains its officers to, when reasonably safe and feasible, use tactical de-escalation and crisis communications techniques to defuse these kinds of situations where possible.

Well done Officer White!

Eureka Police Department Memorandum

Photo of Memorandum commending Officer White [Photo from the Facebook page of Eureka Police Chief Steve Watson]

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12 Comments
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Troyjohnson
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Troyjohnson
4 years ago

Very well done Officer White. So glad to see a positive response from media.
Kym I’m not talking about you.

North west
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North west
4 years ago
Reply to  Troyjohnson

Was that a compliment to Kym?

Lost Croat Outburst
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Lost Croat Outburst
4 years ago
Reply to  North west

That’s my question, too. I think maybe yes, a compliment, but it’s a wobbler. Oh, hell, Akismet lost me already.

Lost Coast Observatory
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Lost Coast Observatory
4 years ago
Reply to  Troyjohnson

According to the article the man put the sword down. He should get some of the congratulations. If not for the quick thinking and positive actions of the sword-weilding man, this event could have ended in tragedy. I just hope that the man with the sword gets a letter also.

Martin
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Martin
4 years ago

The sword swinging idiot needs to get a letter from a judge sending him to a mental hospital. He just wanted to die by the officer shooting him!

Hank
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Hank
4 years ago

Kudos to Officer White for his professionalism & to his Sgt for commending him.

Dan F
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Dan F
4 years ago
Reply to  Hank

Actually according to the article it was his Cheif, who commended him!!! Just FYI!!!

Willie Caos-mayham
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4 years ago
Reply to  Dan F

🕯🌳👍🏽👍🏽

chad
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chad
4 years ago

There goes Dan, correcting everybody

Spina Bifida
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Spina Bifida
4 years ago

Didn’t Indiana Jones use a calm and tactical-sound response in an encounter like this?

Anne D.
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Anne D.
4 years ago
Reply to  Spina Bifida

Lol, that was both a classic scene and a de-escalation technique technique that you don’t see so much of anymore

Joanne
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Joanne
4 years ago

Thanks to our EPD for services beyond duties. Support your police department.
God be with you.