REVIEW BOARD CLEARS OFFICERS IN DEATH OF DRUG SUSPECT

A police review group has found that three officers were justified in
fatally shooting a drug suspect in a restaurant parking lot in February.

Metro Police Chief Emmett Turner must decide whether to accept the
recommendation of the shooting review board that the shooting death of Joey
Kessinger complied with police rules.

Kessinger's sister, Mechelle, could not be reached for comment last night.

Police had bought drugs from Kessinger before the encounter that led to his
death Feb. 14 in the parking lot of the Rio Bravo Restaurant on West End
Avenue.

The report gives this account:

A detective was to buy drugs from Kessinger, who was to be arrested "prior
to the transaction."

Kessinger drove beside the detective's car. Sgt. Randy Brock pulled behind
Kessinger and other officers surrounded Kessinger's car. Brock approached
and identified himself as a police officer. Kessinger rolled up his window.
Brock broke the window and reached in to turn off the ignition, but
Kessinger backed up, dragging Brock. Brock ordered Kessinger to stop, but
he continued to drag him.

Kessinger headed toward detective Michael Donaldson, in front of Brock.
Donaldson became trapped between Kessinger's car and another car. Donaldson
fired five times at Kessinger, and Brock fired once. Detective Lewis
Lawrence, on the passenger side of Kessinger's car, couldn't see Brock fall
and fired 14 rounds. Six shots hit Kessinger, who was pronounced dead at
Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

The review board found Brock reasonably used deadly force to prevent his
own death or serious bodily injury. It also ruled it was reasonable for the
other officers to fire to protect their fellow officers and themselves.