Citizens’ Police Review Board: Police sergeant should have faced suspension after sending officers to door of armed man

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Citizens’ Police Review Board agreed that a police sergeant should have faced suspension for sending officers to the front door of an armed man holding four children hostage in 2018.

Gary Lindsey shot Officer Keven Valencia, which left Valencia in a coma. Lindsey also killed four children and then himself.

Read: 4 children held hostage were killed while they slept, police say

Sgt. Amanda White received an eight-hour suspension after the department said having Orlando police officers go to the front door of a barricaded man went against policy.

“I’m gonna tell you right now, she made a split-second decision,” said Wesley Whited, of internal affairs.

In June 2018, a woman stopped police officers and told them her boyfriend battered her and was holding four children inside their home.

Officers responded and tried to open the door with a key the woman gave them, but the key broke in the lock.

Read: Who is Gary Wayne Lindsey Jr., the man accused of shooting officer, killing 4 children?

When Valencia tried to kick the door open, Lindsey fired through the front door, hitting Valencia in the head.

Whited said the policy on barricaded subjects is clear and, in this case, the officers should have backed away and asked for assistance.

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