MENU
SEARCHSix Fullerton (Calif.) Police officers involved in the fatal beating of a homeless man in early July have been suspended, as investigations into the incident have been launched by the department, Orange County District Attorney's Office and FBI.
Six Fullerton (Calif.) Police officers involved in the fatal beating of a homeless man in early July have been suspended, as investigations into the incident have been launched by the department, Orange County District Attorney's Office and FBI.
On July 5, Fullerton PD officers responded to a report of a man looking in the windows of cars. Responding officers encountered Kelly Thomas, 37, at a transit station.
Thomas, who suffered from schizophrenia, apparently became violent when officers attempted to search him, which caused the physical altercation, reports the Orange County Register.
Witnesses said the officers beat Thomas with a flashlight, used a stun gun multiple times and slammed his face into the concrete multiple times, reports the Los Angeles Times.
Thomas was critically wounded and died five days after the incident.
One of the officers involved in the incident has been identified as Jay Cicinelli, a former LAPD officer who lost an eye when he was shot multiple times during a 1996 shooting while he was a rookie cop.
A citizen used a cell phone that captured mostly audio from the incident that has been posted to YouTube. Also witnesses were captured on surveillance cameras on an OCTA transit bus giving their impressions of the incident.
Ron Thomas, the father of Kelly and a retired Orange County (Calif.) Sheriff's deputy, told Times columnist Steve Lopez he hopes the incident will serve to teach other law enforcement officers.
Sources:Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register, Friends for Fullerton's Future
The Colorado State Patrol, after analyzing its 2025 struck-by incidents, identified one area for improvement: using traffic cones to provide advanced warning before the cruiser's location. Here is the agency’s final data.
Read More →
Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.
Read More →Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.
Read More →
The mission of the Jorge Pastore Foundation is to support first responders through essential training, stronger community engagement, and mental wellness resources, all accessible and funded through donations, sponsorships, and foundation-led fundraising. It works closely with Team Wendy in the discussions about developing better protective gear for officers.
Read More →
Patrol work hasn’t changed—but the expectations on officers have. See how one police chief helped officers get the right information at the right time, improve patrol visibility, and strengthen trust without adding complexity or surveillance. This real-world story shows how patrol-driven technology can make the job safer, smarter, and more effective—starting on day one.
Read More →
What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.
Read More →
Real-world scenarios show that a tracking canine can detect and follow a human track several hours after it was made.
Read More →
In this video, we get a look at the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical, both for men and women. Kyle Ferdyn, sales manager, showcases four of the latest boots.
Read More →
With the commercial availability of Avon Protection’s EXOSKIN-S2, users now have increased options for their protective suit requirements across the spectrum of CBRN threat environments.
Read More →
Versaterm has acquired Aloft, an FAA-approved Unmanned Service Supplier (USS) that specializes in real-time airspace intelligence and flight authorizations.
Read More →