City in New York Settles a Police Shooting Case for $5 Million

The family of a White Plains man fatally shot by police during an incident involving mental health issues will receive a $5 million settlement, following approval by the White Plains Common Council.

The case of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., whose police shooting in 2011 garnered national attention and ignited discussions about law enforcement’s approach to individuals with mental health challenges, has reached a significant resolution with this settlement.

On the early morning of Nov. 19, 2011, 68-year-old Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., a Marine Corps veteran suffering from both a chronic heart condition and mental health issues, accidentally activated his medical alert device. Responding to the alert, police officers, firefighters, and EMTs were dispatched to Chamberlain’s apartment. Despite his repeated insistence that he did not require assistance and his demand for them to leave, a standoff ensued, lasting for about an hour. The situation escalated, leading to the police breaking down Chamberlain’s door. According to police accounts, Chamberlain advanced toward them with a butcher knife, while his family asserts he was unarmed. After the deployment of tasers and bean bags proved ineffective, police shot Chamberlain, who later succumbed to his injuries during surgery.

Read the source article at News 12 Westchester