REVIEW: POLICE ACTED APPROPRIATELY

An administrative review has exonerated three Rock Island police
officers after an early October incident when one of them was shot
in the ankle while running down an alleged drug dealer, Rock Island
Police Chief John Wright said.

Kevin Young, 39, of Rock Island, is being held on $1.5 million bond
at the Rock Island County Jail. He is charged with three counts of
attempted first-degree murder and faces other felony charges.

Three of the officers involved in the Oct. 7 incident were placed on
leave while reasons for discharging their firearms were reviewed,
Wright said, noting the review was standard procedure and "there
were no accusations of misconduct on the part of the officers involved."

The review showed that all officers acted appropriately and within
department guidelines, the chief said. It was conducted by Illinois
State Police and the police department's office of professional standards.

Officers Ron Waddle and Ryan Barnett have returned to active duty.
Officer Mike Ramirez, who was shot in the ankle during the incident,
has returned to light duty until he is cleared for full duty.

Ramirez was one of four Rock Island police officers responding to a
911 call about suspicious activities near 12th Street and 8th Avenue
on Oct. 7. According to police, the officers, all in full uniform,
approached the parked vehicle. One remained with the occupied
vehicle while the three others pursued Young. When the group reached
13th Street, Young allegedly turned and shot at police, hitting
Ramirez in the right ankle. All three officers returned fire.

The fourth officer joined in the chase as did others from Rock
Island police and the Rock Island County Sheriff's Department. Young
was apprehended a short distance away and officers discovered a .380
Beretta handgun, jacket and money along the path he had fled.