MENU
SEARCH"While the full evidence has not yet been made public, when it is released, it will clearly show that if the officers had been properly trained and followed the law, Gabby would still be alive today," said McConkie.
Lawyers for Gabby Petito’s family announced Monday they filed a notice to claim, the first step in initiating a negligence lawsuit against the Moab Police Department (UT). The attorney’s say the police department could have prevented their daughter's death by intervening further when officers responded to a fight between Petito and her fiancé weeks before her death.
The lawsuit will be seeking $50 million in damages from the police department, as well as city and state officials.
"Gabby's parents are bringing this lawsuit to honor Gabby's legacy by working to save the lives of victims of domestic violence throughout the United States and the world," said James McConkie, an attorney with Parker & McConkie, which is representing the Petito family, during a press conference Monday.
Petito and fiancé Brian Laundrie were pulled over by police in Moab on Aug. 12, 2021, after 911 dispatchers received reports that the two were fighting, reports KSL FM. Body camera footage from the interaction raised criticism as to whether further intervention could have prevented Petito's death.
At the time, police determined Petito was the primary aggressor. The videos don't show Moab officers asking about details to determine whether Petito was acting in self-defense, they instead ask Petito if she meant to hurt him.
Petito’s body was found on Sept. 19, 2021, at the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area in Wyoming's Bridger-Teton National Forest and the coroner’s office ruled she died from blunt force trauma and strangulation. Laundrie’s body was found in Florida after he died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. However, police say he left a letter admitting he had killed Petito.
"While the full evidence has not yet been made public, when it is released, it will clearly show that if the officers had been properly trained and followed the law, Gabby would still be alive today," said McConkie. "The Moab City Police Department has neglected its duty to provide the training and resources its officers need to do their job. This is an institutional failure plain and simple."
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 →