Family of Deputy Brownlee's killer demanding an apology...RIDICULOUS..



The attorney for the family of a man who shot and killed a Weld County Sheriff's deputy demanded an apology from Sheriff John Cooke for the killing of the gunman and said the family's threat of a lawsuit is "not about the money."

Asked Thursday if he would write a letter of apology, Cooke simply stated: "No."

Denver attorney Michael Evans sent a notice early this week to Cooke and to the Greeley and Evans police departments warning that Rueben Reyes' family could file a civil lawsuit for $250,000 plus punitive damages unless they could reach a settlement.

Cooke responded that the case was a ploy for the attorney and the Reyes family to make some money.

On Nov. 23, at the end of a long police chase, police and Reyes scuffled where the cars had stopped in Evans. Reyes was able to get Deputy Sam Brownlee's service weapon and shot him three times, killing the sheriff's deputy. An Evans police officer immediately shot Reyes in the back three times, and he died later at North Colorado Medical Center.

In the notice this week, attorney Evans said the nature of the chase and the way it was handled, "aggravated the circumstances" leading to the death of Reyes. He also accused the officers at the scene of not offering help to Reyes in the form of CPR or first aid.

After Cooke said the notice was an attempt to make money, attorney Evans sent the e-mail letter to the sheriff, stating: "This case is not about the money. Its (sic) about the value of human life, or the complete disregard for it."

The attorney then told Cooke the Reyes family has agreed to release the sheriff's office from any civil lawsuit if the sheriff takes the following actions:

1. You will write a personal letter to the family apologizing for the loss of Mr. Reyes;

2. Promise to correct your agencies (sic) policies and procedures (which even your own investigative review panel agrees are faulty);

3. Discipline or terminate those individuals who are responsible choosing not to act to save Mr. Reyes' life at the scene.

Cooke said of the letter written to him: "It's very unethical to send me an e-mail like that. He knows I have an attorney, and they know they should deal with my attorney and not directly with me."

That first letter, the notice of claims, was originally sent to the Greeley City Attorney, Evans City Attorney and the Weld County Attorney.

Attorney Evans set a deadline of 5 p.m. Friday for Cooke to take action on the demands, and "If you don't accept, then I guess you would have to agree that its (sic) really not about the money after all."


yeah go pound some sand

joe