Topline
The family of Christian Glass, who was shot and killed by police last year after calling for help following a car crash, will receive $19 million from the state of Colorado and local authorities as part of a settlement, making it the largest police settlement paid by the state and one of the largest in the country.
Photo of Christian Glass placed for candle vigil at Citizens Park in Idaho Springs, Colorado.
Key Facts
The settlement will be paid by the state of Colorado along with Clear Creek County, the town of Georgetown, and the city of Idaho Springs, according to a statement released by the attorneys representing Glass’ family.
Glass, 22, was shot dead by police officers in June last year after he refused to leave his crashed car due to a mental health episode after seeking help on a 911 call.
In addition to the $19 million payment, the state and local authorities have also agreed to carry out several other steps as part of the settlement, which the Glass family’s attorneys say is “aimed at honoring Christian’s memory and effecting lasting change.”
Clear Creek County has agreed to set up a dedicated crisis response team to deal with emergencies involving mental health crises and train all its patrol officers in crisis intervention.
The county has also agreed to dedicate a public park to Glass and allow his parents Simon and Sally Glass to share their son’s story with new patrol recruits at the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office.
The three local authorities named in the settlement have each issued separate apology letters noting that Glass’s death was avoidable, which, according to the Denver Post, was also a requirement of the settlement.
Crucial Quote
“Christian Glass should be alive today. This settlement sends a message that such injustice will not be tolerated, and that those responsible will be held accountable—including those officers who stood by and failed to intervene to protect Christian,” the Glass family’s attorney’s said in their statement.
Key Background
Glass was killed in June last year near the town of Silver Plume in Clear Creek County, Colorado. The 22-year-old called 911 for help after a crash that left the SUV he was driving stuck off the road. Police found Glass in a state of mental distress and refusing to leave the vehicle. Glass remained in his car for over an hour, even telling officers he was “terrified” at one point before they tried to forcibly remove him. This led to Glass grabbing a knife, prompting one of the officers to shoot him five times. The incident immediately raised concerns about law enforcement’s failure to de-escalate situations involving people with mental health problems. Former sheriff’s deputy Andrew Buen and his supervisor Sergeant Kyle Gould are facing prosecution for Glass’ death.
Big Number
$15 million. That was the settlement amount that the city of Aurora, Colorado, had agreed to pay the family of Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man who died in police custody after being stopped, forcibly held on the ground and injected with ketamine. This was previously the largest police settlement paid in the state of Colorado.
Further Reading
Family of Christian Glass to receive $19 million in settlement over son’s 2021 police shooting death (Denver Post)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2023/05/23/colorado-will-pay-record-19-million-settlement-to-family-of-22-year-old-killed-by-police/