National Police Foundation Released its Independent Review of Josiah Lawson Case
A photo of David Josiah Lawson at his memorial service. [Image provided by Humboldt State University]
The National Police Foundation (NPF) has completed its independent review of the Arcata Police Department’s (APD) response to the homicide of David Josiah Lawson and released its final report.
“The NPF review and analysis took a considerable amount of time, and the recommendations contained in the report will draw new attention to this unresolved case and assist the Police Department with implementing changes that will continue to serve our community well into the future,” said Arcata Mayor Michael Winkler of the report.
“It was important to us, and to our community, that this report be released in full. The purpose of this analysis is to identify current best practices in policing to strengthen the service we provide. Transparency is crucial to maintain building relationships between community members and our Police Department and for making continuous improvements,” said Arcata City Manager Karen Diemer of the report’s release.
The 65-page report focuses on the first 72 hours of the Arcata Police Department’s investigation of the homicide and several months following. This report contains 36 recommendations for the Police Department to implement.
Recommendations suggested by the NPF review team include making improvements to police training, organizational leadership, planning, supervision and to include contingencies for responding to large-scale incidents. While acknowledging that first responders should initially focus on life saving efforts as occurred in this incident, the review team also identified issues and areas for the APD to improve upon, such as utilizing additional management oversight for preliminary and ongoing investigations of violent crimes.
The review team noted that 22 public safety members from multiple agencies throughout the region responded to Arcata to assist the APD during the initial response to this incident. The NPF is a proponent of collaboration and encouraged the City’s regional public safety partners to continue to work together on cases that require significant resources. This type of response provides the base for enhanced coordination in the future.
Following the time period reviewed by the NPF, the City hired out-of-area career homicide detectives to review and build the investigative case submitted to the District Attorney in November 2018, and in February 2019, a Criminal Grand Jury declined to indict any individual based on their review of the case.
This case remains an open investigation for the Arcata Police Department which is committed to solving the case, bringing justice and holding those responsible accountable.
Anyone with information regarding the murder of David Josiah Lawson is encouraged to call the APD’s 24-hour confidential tip-line at (707) 825-2590 or the APD Dispatch Center at (707) 822-2424.
PDF of the Independent Review of the Police Response to the Homicide of David Josiah Lawson
Earlier Stories about David Josiah Lawson:
- 19-Year-Old HSU Student Dies After Stabbing in Arcata Early This Morning
- 23-Year-Old McKinleyville Resident Arrested in Connection with HSU Student’s Stabbing Death
- HSU Offers Students Who Witnessed Stabbing Death Amnesty for Breaking School Rules; Asks Cooperation With Police
- Arcata Police Not Releasing Photo of Suspect in Stabbing Death for Now
- APD Received Anonymous Email About Fatal Stabbing; Pleads With Writer to Come Forward
- Celebration of the Life of Stabbing Victim Will be Held at Humboldt State University Today; Racial Bias Alleged to Have Led to Death
- Hundreds Mourn Slain HSU Student at Thursday Vigil
- Uncle of Fatal Stabbing Suspect Writes Letter to the Editor Urging Community Re-examine Public Statements Made in the Case
- Family of Arcata Stabbing Suspect Claims the Real Killer Has Not Been Caught (Includes Timeline of Events as Presented in Public Statements by Those at the Party)
- HSU and Arcata Police Issue Statements Following Release of Kyle Zoellner in the Stabbing Death of David Josiah Lawson
- District Attorney’s Office Issues Statement as Defendant in Racially Charged Case Released
- Family of Kyle Zoellner Who Was Released Today in Stabbing Death Issues Statement to Family and Friends of Victim
- Justice for Josiah Gathering Keeps Arcata Lively Tonight; Another Protest Called for Tomorrow
- Letter to the Community of Arcata from Kyle Zoellner’s Uncle
- Chanting “‘Justice for Josiah,’ Protesters Gather at the Courthouse
- Family Announces $10,000 Reward for Information Leading to Conviction of Killer of David Josiah Lawson
- APD Chief and Victim’s Mother Offer Updates on the Stabbing Death of David Josiah Lawson
- Letter From Family Member Questions Testimony of Witnesses in Hearing About Kyle Zoellner’s Possible Role in the Death of David Josiah Lawson
- ‘Reckless Statements’ Were Made by Tom Parker, and Lawson Attorney, Shelley Mack, Writes Uncle of Kyle Zoellner in Letter to the Editor
- Protestors Take Over Arcata City Council Meeting Demanding Justice for Josiah
- A Deeper Look at Last Thursday’s Disruption of the Arcata City Council by Protesters Demanding That Tom Parker Be Asked Back to Help in the Josiah Lawson Case
- Mother of Josiah Lawson Claims DNA on Knife Identifies her Son’s ‘Murderer’, Calls for Justice
- Grand Jury ‘Declines’ to Indict Anyone for Stabbing Death of David Josiah Lawson
- Arcata Police Say They Will ‘Work to Identify the Suspect who Murdered David Josiah Lawson’ After Grand Jury Declines to Indict Anyone
- APD Requests Public’s Help Identifying Potential Witnesses in Stabbing Death of David Josiah Lawson
- Zoellner’s DNA on Knife Used to Kill Her Son, Says Mother of David Josiah Lawson in Open Letter
- DA’s Office Responds to Letter From Mother of Slain HSU Student
- Who Killed Josiah? A Documentary About Humboldt County and Racism
- California Attorney General’s Office Declines to Take Up Case of David Josiah Lawson
- National Police Foundation Released its Independent Review of Josiah Lawson Case
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Lawson’s girlfriend was stabbed twice in the arm, something that is seldom brought up anymore. I will never believe she didn’t see who did it. Adrenaline is heavy, but getting stabbed twice, you’re going to notice, and you’re going to take a quick look around. So.. that leads me to believe she’s covering something up. Considering that, and the self-defense note that Kyle maybe could have died from internal bleeding he got beat so bad, maybe they broke a rib and it punctured an organ, who knows? That happens all the time from severe beatings. So even if it was him – it’s hard to say it wasn’t justified in his frame of mind of fearing for his life in the moment, and rightly so. Therefore, we just need to drop this like the courts did.
CHANGE MY MIND
is there any possibility that one of those females stabbed him on accident attempting to stab the other man?Ive seen that happen
Ren (Davids girlfriend) was involved in a fight with Kyle’s girlfriend and her friends (who had also used bear mace).
Her injuries could have come from then, easily.
Then there is the DNA evidence on murder knife:
72% David Lawson
26% Kyle Zoellner
That’s a statement from a Grand Juror:
https://kymkemp.com/2019/10/23/who-killed-josiah-the-video/
[@ 23:45-24:00]
And also, a friend of Kyle’s girlfriend testified that a knife was missing out of the knife-bag that Kyle had in his car (that was allowed to be driven home before investigating).
We’re they though? Easily yes, but that’s not how her story goes. If she was stabbed well before Josiah, as you suggest, I’m sure she would have noticed much before he was killed and mentioned it
.
Who’s DNA is the other 2% ? Kyle’s DNA would have been all over Josiah from how much he was bleeding so that’s not proof of anything.
From my memory the brand of knife found was not the same as Kyle’s set and the missing knife was found in the back sleeve of the case.
If we remember correctly this particular case was more about a moment in social times than the case itself. Right in the middle of the black lives matter movement. Little ole Humboldt was feeling left out of the social engineering movement. This is more about the local media’s deranged obbsession to explode the national agenda that was being pushed in that moment of time. All over their loss of political power. Completely disgusting and flat out fake. Period.
There were 2 separate claims of missing knives.
One claim by police that there were only 2 knives in the bag was disproved in prelim. The 3rd small knife was in a pocket that the police did not know about. So in prelim the 3rd knife was present.
However, Kyle’s girlfriends told police that there were only 3 knives in the bag, ” theres supposed to be 4″.
She knew the bag better than the police who had it in their custody for investigation, apparently.
The point of it being a specific match to other knives in his bag is moot. I have 3 different brands of knives in my knife bag.
It was a Henckels found at the crime scene, a high end knife that is very common in commercial kitchens. It is less common in HSU rental party-houses I’m assuming.
The retired FBI investigator found similar knives at Kyle’s employers, contradicting what controversial statements were made by Kyle’s boss during the prelim.
The questions posed to Kyle’s employer were weak. I want to know how often he inspected his employees knife bags.
I worked 3 years in a kitchen and my boss never inspected my knife bag. It was MY bag.
I don’t think Ren was “stabbed”, and whatever cuts she had, there is no way to assume it was the same knife that was used to kill David. (I would have to go look around for details on her wounds, but I dont have time)
Kyle’s girlfriend was out of control that night, drunk and accusatory to many whom she thought had stolen her phone. Her and her friends brought the bear mace on, who knows what else they had in their pockets during their fights.
Henckels makes some good blades, but they also make cheap ones. This 3 piece set is $10. 99 at Walmart :
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Henckels-International-Solution-3-pc-Starter-Knife-Set/357474721
Henckels makes great knives.
They also make a more affordable type for home use. You linked to those. There are 2 tell tale marks.
All you need to know is if there are 1human figure or 2 pictures on the knife.
Your link is the cheap 1 figure brand of Henckels.
The restaurant grade has 2 figures and are more expensive.
The type used to kill David? 2 figures.
Woopsie Ullr, look:
Henckels makes great knives.
They also make a more affordable type for home use. You linked to those. There are 2 tell tale marks.
All you need to know is if there is 1 human figure or 2 figures pictured on the knife.
Your link is the cheap 1 figure brand of Henckels.
The restaurant grade has 2 figures and are more expensive. ( Also they call themselves Henckels-Zuellig for distinction)
The type used to kill David?
2 figures, the restaurant grade knife.
Ok. You can get one on Amazon for $30. It could have easily have been a thrift store purchase or hand-me-down… I know I have enough quality blades to hand sets to each of my kids. My point is that the knife evidence is not enough on its own and it doesn’t seem like there is a known chain of custody.
And the DNA evidence only shows that the knife was most likely in the fight but it doesn’t show who was wielding it.
Are you saying David stabbed himself twice?
Then David’s friends were lucky enough to pin it on the guy who happens to keep a knife bag in his car?
And that same knife bag just happened to be missing a knife from it, coincidentally but unrelated?
I’m saying exactly what I wrote. You’re making stuff up, again.
I asked for your logic.
If 2 peoples dna is on the knife, and 1 of those people are dead, what’s your logic of saying you “don’t know who wielded it”?
Kyle did have a knife bag in the car that was missing a knife.
Your implying I made stuff up because you aren’t familiar with the facts or dont know what a question mark implies.
There were at least 3 sources of DNA on the knife per your information.
And I gave you my logic. You’re trying to make the data fit your theory.
What?
What 3rd DNA?
72%+26%=98%
To whom did the other 2% belong?
And it isn’t inconsequential. If the stabbing was initiated by a 3rd party while both Zoellner was bleeding and Lawson subsequently began bleeding the majority of DNA on the blade would be theirs.
Scroll down or follow this link to below.
For more space.
https://kymkemp.com/2020/02/20/national-police-foundation-released-its-independent-review-of-josiah-lawson-case/#comment-974423
Correction:
Kyle’s knife is the cheaper of the two Henckels brand, with one figure.
Yes, I can even fact check myself.
It doesn’t take away from these points:
Everyone at the scene accused Kyle of stabbing David.
The police car camera footage has his arresting officer stating such, as Kyle was put into the back of the car in handcuffs.
Kyle had a knife bag near the crime scene.
His knife bag was missing a knife, according to Kyle’s girlfriends friend Jackie Gleason (I’m using memory on the name, it may be wrong).
The knife found at the crime scene had Kyle and David’s DNA.
David is dead from multiple stab wounds.
A privately hired former FBI agent found similar knives at Kyle’s workplace.
The workplace then closed.
The police never investigated the workplace.
Wow! Small town cops really screwed this up. No justice for either side. The buffoon chief Chapman should hire on with fortuna, he could be bff with Downey, who steals from the dead. #classless fortuna
I still say in a fight between a black man and a white man multiple people had to record the fight on cell phones. Come on show the footage no mater who it indicates did the stabbing friend or foe. His mother needs and deserves to have closure.
Ullr,
Regarding 98%, I know math, thank you.
I will spend some time explaining how I see it.
First, the quote is by a grand juror and his memory or statement of percentage may be off slightly, or it may not be.
Second, if his statement is accurate, why would you assume 2% means one more person?
It was a kitchen knife, used at a party for murder, then thrown to the ground.
The 2%, if accurate, could easily be 3 more people or 50. Or inconclusive. Thinking it belongs to only one other person is likely a wrong assumption.
Next, being that neither of us are DNA experts, I think we should be ok with using the stated numbers as probably important, at the least.
Lastly, the knifes DNA for me is not even half the evidence against Kyle, but adds to the rest of what is pointing to Kyle’s guilt.
As I said, “There were at least 3 sources of DNA on the knife per your information.” The key words are “at least” with regards to number of sources.
The questions I raised about the knife, without corroborating evidence, are enough to raise doubt on the proof of guilt, and that is all that is needed for acquittal.
Okeedokee
Really? That’s it?
Well we disagree about the logical conclusions to this case, I can’t volunteer too much time on it.
Okee dokee
According to what the police had said the the news The knife missing from the bag was a paring knife. Much smaller than the murder wepon. Also where did this DNA evidence on the knife matching come from as far as I have seen that has only been released by his mother who wouldn’t have had actual axcess to the info.