Tag Archives: Douglas Ostling

Tuesday forum focuses on policing and mental illness

Islanders for Collaborative Policing will host a discussion tonight on how law enforcement can better respond to situations involving mentally ill residents.

The Ostling trial brought the topic to the forefront this summer, when a federal jury found the city at fault for not properly training officers to approach people suffering from mental illness. ICP founder Kim Hendrickson said tonight’s will highlight changes at BIPD and what initiatives could benefit the department.

“This event will be an opportunity, we hope, to raise community and officer awareness about mental impairment, suggest new kinds of community and police partnerships, and to consider best practices employed by other police departments,” Hendrickson said in an announcement for the discussion.

The free event will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, 7968 Finch Road NE.

Participants include Joe Roszack of Kitsap Mental Health, Bill Mosiman of Bainbridge Island School District, Lis Eddy of the state Criminal Justice Training Commission, Dave Shurick of Poulsbo Police, and Bainbridge Police lieutenants Bob Day and Chris Jensen. Father Dennis Tierney of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church will serve as moderator.

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POLL: Where does Bainbridge need the biggest cellphone boost?

The Bainbridge City Council wants to tackle the island’s cellphone tower ordinance in the hopes it will lead to better coverage around the island.

The ordinance hasn’t been updated in 15 years, making it outdated and overly restrictive, according to cellphone companies.

If the rules are loosened, what area of the island would you most like to see get a coverage boost?

Cast your vote in the poll over to the right.

For the results on our last poll about the Ostling trial verdict, head down below.

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Poll: What do you think of the verdict in the Ostling trial?

After listening to 11 days of testimony and deliberating the the better part of three days, a federal jury took a middle path with their verdict on Friday.

Of the four main claims made in the lawsuit by the parents of Douglas Ostling, the mentally ill man who was fatally shot by Bainbridge police in 2010, the jury agreed with just one – that the Bainbridge Island Police Department failed to properly train officers in how to deal with the mentally ill. The jury awarded the Ostlings $1 million.

The jury disagreed with claims that officers illegally entered the Ostling family’s home, used unnecessary force and failed to render aid to the wounded Douglas Ostling.

How do you feel about the verdict? Cast your vote over to the right.

Head down below to see the results from the Bainbridge Conversation’s poll on how the city should pay for road fixes.

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Live Blog: Ostling v. Bainbridge, May 29

CASE BACKGROUND: The plaintiff Ostling family is expected to wrap up its case this week. They’re suing the city of Bainbridge Island for alleged civil rights violations against Douglas Ostling, the night the 43-year-old was shot and killed by police.

Reporter Tristan Baurick is at court live blogging the proceedings today.

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Live Blog: Ostling vs. Bainbridge Island, May 24

CASE BACKGROUND: The plaintiff Ostling family is expected to wrap up its case this week. They’re suing the city of Bainbridge Island for alleged civil rights violations against Douglas Ostling, the night the 43-year-old was shot and killed by police.

Reporter Tristan Baurick is at court live blogging the proceedings today.

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Liveaboard plan again saved from the brink, business groups merge and Inslee speaks

Liveaboard plan saved again
Just when about half of Eagle Harbor’s liveaboards were about to give up on the city’s open water marina plan, a few last minute changes on vessel boarding and sewage disposal rules appear to have shifted sentiment back in favor of the plan. Read more here.

Business groups merge
Fewer dollars and staff have brought the Bainbridge chamber of commerce and downtown association together as one organization. Get the details here.

Inslee speaks
U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee is set to speak in his own neighborhood tonight. He’ll be the guest at a Bainbridge Rotary dinner at the Wing Point Golf & Country Club. More info here.

City statement on Ostling shooting
If you haven’t seen it yet, head over here for the city’s statement on the police shooting of Douglas Ostling. The city offers condolences to the Ostling family, mentions the city is undertaking an internal review of the shooting, and refers readers to the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office investigation and the county prosecutor’s letter responding to the Ostling family’s outrage over the shooting. The prosecutor’s letter follows the city letter.

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Police mum on why it took 77 minutes to check on Ostling

Five minutes to shoot, 77 minutes to allow medical aid
Head over here for my latest story on the Ostling shooting investigation. An analysis of the lengthy 911 dispatch log and other documents allowed us to piece together a timeline of events leading up to the shooting and the drawn-out aftermath. Police opened fire on Ostling five minutes after arriving at the scene, but it took 77 minutes to check on Ostling’s condition.

I called Bainbridge several times on Friday and Monday for an explanation about why it took so long. On Monday afternoon I was told by e-mail that police would not respond to the question.

For other recent stories stemming from documents we obtained from Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office investigators, head over here and here.

Police body cams
The Kitsap Sun’s editorial board weighed in on the issue in Sunday’s paper. The board notes that Bainbridge police and the Ostling family have given very different accounts of the Oct. 26 shooting, especially on some key issues, such as where officers and Ostling were positioned, and whether or not the ax-wielding Ostling had an officer in a vulnerable position when the second officer fired his gun.

The editorial board argues that video cameras mounted to police officers would have made the key details of the incident much more clear to investigators, and the judge and jury that are likely to weigh in in the not-too-distant future.

Here’s a bit from the editorial:

“A car-mounted digital video cam costs about $5,000 — versus about $900 for a body-mounted camera, which also can be removed and mounted on the dashboard. Worn on an officer’s chest or with an ear clip similar to a Blue Tooth, the body cams offer a close-up video and audio recording that provides an accurate and unbiased view of disputed incidents.”

To read the rest, head over here.

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The man shot by police has been identified

The 43-year-old Bainbridge man who was shot by Bainbridge police last night has been identified as Douglas Ostling.

Police were called to 7700 Springridge Drive, on the island’s west side, just before 9 p.m.

According to police, Ostling was yelling incoherently and acted in an aggressive manner toward police. When he came at police with a double-headed ax, the officers fired several shots. At least one bullet struck Ostling in the lower torso. Ostling then barricaded himself in an apartment and was found dead later.

A neighbor told me this morning that Ostling appeared to suffer from a mental illness. She had been told by Ostling’s parents to avoid eye contact with him.

Head over HERE to see the story we’ve been updating since last night.

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