Dear Redmond Community,
At a special meeting on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, Redmond City Council approved a $7.5 million settlement to the family of Andrea Thomas Churna, who was shot and killed by a Redmond Police officer on Sept. 20, 2020.
The original Redmond Police Department news release on Sept. 21, 2020, included an error, stating, "During the interaction, she confronted officers with a handgun, multiple shots were fired, and the subject was struck several times."
While Churna was armed with a handgun earlier in the encounter with Redmond officers, when she was shot and killed in the hallway just outside of her apartment, Churna was unarmed. Following the shooting, the officers found Churna’s gun on the balcony of her apartment. I apologize to Andrea Thomas Churna's family and loved ones for the inaccurate statement made regarding the circumstances surrounding her death.
The policy in place when the shooting occurred does not allow me to elaborate specifically on the internal findings until the conclusion of the inquest process and an actual filing determination by the prosecutors' office. These rules include only taking punitive administrative or disciplinary actions based on clear and available facts.
Working to continually seek improvement, the Redmond Police Department has since updated our policy and procedures manual to align with industry best practices. These include access to additional less-lethal options, implementing a body-worn and in-car camera program, and increasing mental health resources.
While no amount of money will bring Ms. Churna back, this settlement closes a painful chapter. I again offer my sympathies to Ms. Churna’s family and loved ones. It is a tragedy that this had to end with a loss of life.
Sincerely,
Chief Darrell Lowe
Media Contact:
Jill Green, Public Information Officer
jgreen@redmond.gov