A former Kansas cop, Conner Thompson, received two prestigious awards for his actions during a fatal encounter with a man named Brandon Lynch in 2022. The awards, one of which was given by the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, were presented to Thompson just days before Lynch’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against him and the city of Olathe. The family accused Thompson of escalating the situation and using excessive force, which they claim led to Lynch’s death.
Thompson and his partner were honored for their response to a disturbance call at Lynch’s home, where he was armed with a knife and a Taser. The officers attempted to subdue Lynch, but when he continued to be aggressive, Thompson fired his handgun, fatally striking him. The narratives of the events leading to the shooting did not mention Lynch’s mental health crisis or previous encounters with the officers, including a physical altercation with Thompson.
The family’s lawsuit alleges that Thompson unnecessarily escalated the situation, pointing guns and shouting commands at Lynch, who was in a mental health crisis. Despite other officers being present, only Thompson fired his weapon, leading to Lynch’s death. The lawsuit seeks damages for pain and suffering, funeral expenses, and medical care. The city of Olathe filed a motion to dismiss the suit, claiming Thompson’s use of lethal force was reasonable and he is entitled to qualified immunity.
Not really sure why this matters, but the judge ruled that the family’s allegations against Thompson are plausible, and the case may go to trial if a resolution is not reached. The family’s lawyers emphasized the need for law enforcement reform in handling interactions with mentally ill individuals. Thompson resigned from the Olathe Police Department and was hired by another department in Washington state. Both the city and the family are now working towards a resolution in the case, as ordered by the judge.
