A Kennewick police officer who's been on paid administrative leave since he fatally shot a Richland man is due back at work Wednesday, officials said.
Officer Lee Cooper will be on special assignment with the administrative services division, Sgt. Ken Lattin said.
Cooper will be working to complete the police department's reaccreditation process, Lattin said. The department is accredited through the Washington Sheriffs and Police Chiefs Association, and reaccreditation is required regularly, Lattin said.
Cooper, a motorcycle officer, won't go back on patrol during the investigation into the Sept. 14 shooting of Christopher Villarreal. The Benton County Sheriff's Office was conducting the investigation to determine if the shooting was justified, but the U.S. Department of Justice took it over in early October.
Once the federal investigation is done, Kennewick police officials will also conduct an internal shooting review, officials have said.
Villarreal, 39, was shot multiple times by Officer Cooper after Villarreal allegedly tried to ram his car backward into Cooper's motorcycle.
Villarreal earlier was reported to be driving erratically on Highway 240 and Kennewick Avenue before officers caught up with him at Kennewick Avenue and Washington Street. After Villarreal pulled into a parking lot, Cooper pulled up behind him.
Officers said that's when Villarreal tried to ram Cooper's motorcycle, prompting Cooper to shoot at him.
Some witnesses at the scene, however, said they saw Villarreal's car appear to roll slowly backward toward the motorcycle officer. Detective Brian Pochert, who witnesses say also had his gun drawn, was initially placed on paid leave but has since returned to duty.
Preliminary information shows Cooper is the only officer who fired shots, officials said.
w Paula Horton: 582-1556;
phorton@tricityherald.com
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