By Police1 Staff
PERRYSBURG, Ohio — A fatal officer-involved shooting is under two different investigations, which include questions about why an Ohio police chief told responding officers.
Chief Daniel Paez, a 23-year veteran of the Perrysburg Police Department, has been publicly accused of dereliction of duty for instructing his officers to stand down during a pursuit and shootout that ultimately led to the death of one suspect, WTOL reported.
“Our officers here in the city of Perrysburg were doing their duty that day, responding to calls for help and screams for help from a neighboring jurisdiction as shots were being fired at Perrysburg Township Police and as a suspect took two hostages,” said City Councilman Haraz Ghanbari.
That’s when Paez reportedly told four of his officers, who have more than 60 years’ combined experience to back off.
At a city council safety meeting, Paez said he made the decision because he wasn’t sure the officers were experienced enough to handle it.
In addition to reprimanding the councilman for making public accusations against the police chief, Mayor Thomas Macklin noted in a statement that he has requested the Lucas County Sheriff assign an investigator to “provide a candid and forthright report.”
The incident is also being investigated by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.