On Wednesday, the Indiana State Police released the name of the state police officer involved in the shooting that occurred at 6:35 p.m. on December 28, 2018.
Tpr. Daniel Organ is assigned to the Lafayette State Police Post and has been a member of the state police since October of 2017. Tpr. D. Organ has no disciplinary record and is presently on Administrative Leave.
While the state police will not speak to the specifics of an ongoing investigation, which is a longstanding policy in conjunction with prosecutorial requests, we can give an overview of what actions are taken as part of a comprehensive officer involved police action resulting in the death of, or serious bodily injury to, another person. Such points may include, but are not limited to:
- Detectives from the local state police post respond to the scene for the initial investigation which includes obtaining statements from all persons at the scene, before, during and immediately after an event that is being investigated
- Extensive and thorough interviews of all officers involved, which many times includes officers from other police agencies
- Extensive and thorough interviews are also conducted with civilian witnesses or participants as are necessary dependent upon the specific investigation
- Documentation of the scene that may include photographs, videos, sketches or other methods of documentation
- Collection of evidence by crime scene investigators
- Autopsy, toxicology and forensic reports are included, when applicable, and may take several months before being completed
- An internal peer review is conducted by commanders and detectives who are not part of the initial investigation
- Submission of the investigation to the local prosecuting attorney for review and/or other action as requested
- Once the prosecuting attorney has rendered a decision an administrative Police Action Review Board is convened
- A separate internal investigation will occur when recommended by the Police Action Review Board
In virtually every significant investigation conducted by law enforcement, whether it involves state police personnel, another police agency, or an investigation of a crime against a citizen, the information initially released often changes as the investigation evolves. It is for this reason that step-by-step updates do not occur over the course of an active investigation.
Once this criminal investigation is complete, the report and findings will be submitted to the Montgomery County Prosecutor for review and any action deemed appropriate.
The original release, issued December 28, 2018 and the first update release issued December 29, 2018 are copied below:
Lafayette Trooper Involved in Police Action Shooting
Montgomery County-Today at approximately 6:35 p.m. an Indiana State Trooper out of the Lafayette Post was involved in a police action shooting on US 231 near County Road 550 north. The Trooper was not injured but the suspect was struck at least once and was transported to Franciscan Hospital in Crawfordsville where he has succumbed to his injuries.
The Indiana State Police Detectives and Crime Scene Technicians are on scene at this time conducting the investigation and when completed will provide the Montgomery County Prosecutor with a full report. The Prosecutor’s office will decide what charges if any will result from the investigation. Name of the Trooper and suspect will be released at a later time.
No further information will be released at this time.
Lafayette Trooper Involved in Police Action Shooting
Montgomery County-This is an update to the original release that follows this information.
Yesterday at approximately 3:48 p.m. on US 231 northbound near County Road 550 North a trooper stopped and checked a black 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe that appeared abandoned on the side of the road. The vehicle was off the traveled portion of the highway so after checking for occupants, the trooper tagged the vehicle (tagged is a term used to advise other law enforcement officers that if a yellow tag has been placed on the vehicle, it has been checked) and proceeded on his normal patrol.
At approximately 6:35 p.m. the same trooper was driving southbound by the Tahoe he had tagged earlier that afternoon and saw that a second car, a white 2018 Dodge had pulled up in front of the Tahoe. A subject, later identified as Glenn A. Rightsell, 56 of Linden, IN was at the front of the vehicle with the hood open. The trooper noticed a handgun on the waist of Mr. Rightsell as he pulled around behind the Tahoe and parked with his emergency lights and spotlight on to investigate circumstances of why the second vehicle was there.
As the trooper approached from the driver’s side of the Tahoe, he identified himself as a law enforcement officer and gave verbal commands to Mr. Rightsell. Mr. Rightsell failed to comply with the directions and allegedly grabbed the gun on his waist, at which time the trooper drew his sidearm and fired upon Mr. Rightsell, striking him at least once.
The trooper retreated back to his police vehicle where he advised Region 1 Radio that shots were fired and requested assistance. Montgomery County Deputies arrived and when the scene was made safe, first aid was rendered to Mr. Rightsell and he was transported to Franciscan Hospital in Crawfordsville, IN by ambulance were he succumbed to his injuries.
A complete investigation will be conducted by the Indiana State Police and the report will be forwarded to Montgomery County Prosecutor Joseph Buser for review. Family of Mr. Rightsell have been notified. The trooper’s name will be released at a later date.
All further information will come from Montgomery County Prosecutor Joseph Buser.