The Associated Press
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (AP) - Officers who fired 16 shots at a suspect they say tried to attack them with a box-cutter were justified in shooting the man earlier this month, according to the public safety commissioner.
Lt. Robert Hamilton, Sgt. J.D. Barnes, Officer Philip Notto, Officer Christopher Scaccia and Officer Andrew Zophy were returned to active patrol after an internal investigation, Public Safety Commissioner Daniel Boyle said Thursday. They were placed on administrative leave following the Sept. 14 shooting.
Hamilton, Barnes, Notto and Scaccia fired shots at 36-year-old Mark Barmore, after the suspect led police on a high-speed chase in the city, 10 miles northwest of Albany. Zophy did not shoot, but had the upper left arm of his uniform cut by Barmore.
An incident report showed that police tried other methods, such as police batons and pepper spray, before resorting to firepower.
“As far as the department is concerned, it was justifiable,” Boyle said.
Barmore was arraigned last week in his hospital room on charges, including attempted second-degree murder and resisting arrest.
He was being guarded by the county sheriff’s department at Albany Medical Center. His condition was not immediately known Friday.
District Attorney Robert Carney must decide whether to launch his own investigation.