Bellevue officers on leave after fatal shooting

Two Bellevue police officers have been placed on paid administrative leave following Wednesday's shooting death of a Bellevue man.The personnel files of the two officers -- Sgt. Jeffrey Matter and Officer Erik Lawson -- show they had no serious disciplinary problems in their long careers.Sgt. Jeffrey Matter is a 20-year Bellevue police veteran, while Officer Erik Lawson has spent nine years in law enforcement and has 18 years of military experience.The two men are on leave pending an Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation probe into the death of 60-year-old James Richard David.Read original story and comments HERE.The two officers shot and killed David at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday on the porch of his Union Street home. The officers shot David after he pointed a gun at them, Bellevue police Chief Dennis Brandal said.Preliminary autopsy reports were not available on Friday, though officials said they should be available next week.Those results should finally reveal exactly how many times the officers shot David, a piece of information that police and investigators have yet to disclose.Police, in fact, have released little information on the incident, other than a brief news release.Accounts from witnesses at the scene have varied, with some neighbors saying they heard no more than five shots, and others -- including David's relatives -- claiming the two officers together fired more than 24 shots.In a written statement, Brandal said the two officers identified themselves as they approached David's house while investigating a complaint from a neighbor who said David flashed a handgun.When officers approached him on his porch, David stood up and ran for the front door with the gun, Brandal said. Officers then ordered him to drop his weapon, but he turned around and ran toward them, pointing the gun at one officer.Neither Lawson nor Matter would comment on the incident when a reporter visited them at their homes on Friday.Bellevue police hired Matter in July 1990, promoting him to sergeant in January 2002.The only evaluation in his personnel file took place 30 days after he started his job, and even that offered few details on his performance other than noting he performed well at desk duties but needed more training on the road.He received a string of commendations for rescuing a 3-year-old girl from a fire at Bellevue Manor Apartments in December 1996."Without your quick thinking and actions, a young child would have certainly perished from smoke inhalation," then-police Chief Richard Englund wrote. "Your bravery has not gone unnoticed ... the City of Bellevue can be proud to have an officer of your caliber employed by them."The personnel file for Lawson, 36, shows he has been credited with carrying out important special operations missions in the military and helping in the war on terrorism.He served as a U.S. Army reserve officer, a staff sergeant and lance corporal, receiving numerous accolades during his extensive military career.He was awarded achievement medals from the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps Reserves, and also received a meritorious medal for his service in the airborne special operations for the Delta Company 412th Civil Affairs Battalion. He served several terms of active duty, including in Djibouti, Kenya and Iraq, according to his file.As a lance corporal, he was part of a task force combating illegal drugs in California.He "successfully dealt a crippling blow to the illegal drug trade within the Los Padres National Forest," his superior wrote on one commendation. "His self-sacrifice, effort and perseverance in the face of adversity, and local dedication to duty reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Marine Corps."While the Bellevue shooting remains under investigation, David's family and friends have raised questions about the circumstances of his death."What is uncertain is the need for at least 24 shots fired by the officers at this wonderful, peaceful, loving man," his son, James David Jr., wrote in a statement. "This alone brings many unanswered questions."David recently retired as a foreman at the rail car shop at Norfolk Southern Railroad. He, too, was a U.S. Army veteran.He was a 1968 graduate of Bellevue Senior High School, and a member of Immaculate Conception Church, Bellevue Eagles Aerie 490 and a trustee at the Bellevue VFW. He was also a member of the Sandusky Amvets, Sandusky American Legion and the National Rifle Association.His friends described him as a hardworking man who was gearing up to enjoy his retirement.The family said Friday they have no further comment beyond their written statement.David's funeral arrangements have been scheduled. Visitation is 2-8 p.m. Sunday at Foos and Foos Funeral Service in Bellevue, while a funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home, with a burial at York Chapel Cemetery.