Officer Stephen Mader, 26, found himself staring down a suicidal man with a pistol in hand. Although the officer could have immediately shot at the man, he chose to attempt to deescalate the situation and lost his job in the process.
Police Officer Mader
Officer Stephen Mader was responding to a domestic-disturbance call made by R.J. William’s former girlfriend who stated that the man was suicidal and had an unloaded gun on him.
Officer Stephen Mader, 26, found himself staring down a suicidal man with a pistol in hand. Although the officer could have immediately shot at the man, he chose to attempt to deescalate the situation and lost his job in the process.
Armed
Despite not knowing that the gun was unloaded, Officer Mader approached Williams who had his hands behind his back. Williams eventually showed his hands, revealing the pistol.
Officer Stephen Mader, 26, found himself staring down a suicidal man with a pistol in hand. Although the officer could have immediately shot at the man, he chose to attempt to deescalate the situation and lost his job in the process.
Williams Pleas
Mader concluded that Williams was attempting to commit “suicide by cop” as he continuously yelled, “Just shoot me” at Mader.
Officer Stephen Mader, 26, found himself staring down a suicidal man with a pistol in hand. Although the officer could have immediately shot at the man, he chose to attempt to deescalate the situation and lost his job in the process.
Deescalating the Situation
Mader attempted to calm Williams down and told him to drop his weapon, however, Williams continued to beg Mader to shoot him. Despite the pleas from Williams, Mader refused to draw his gun.
Officer Stephen Mader, 26, found himself staring down a suicidal man with a pistol in hand. Although the officer could have immediately shot at the man, he chose to attempt to deescalate the situation and lost his job in the process.
Two Officers
Suddenly two officers came up behind Mader and upon seeing the pistol in Williams’ hand shot and killed him. It was later confirmed that the pistol was not loaded.
Officer Stephen Mader, 26, found himself staring down a suicidal man with a pistol in hand. Although the officer could have immediately shot at the man, he chose to attempt to deescalate the situation and lost his job in the process.
Termination
Upon further investigation by state police, Mader received a termination notice for “apparent difficulties in critical incident reasoning.”
Officer Stephen Mader, 26, found himself staring down a suicidal man with a pistol in hand. Although the officer could have immediately shot at the man, he chose to attempt to deescalate the situation and lost his job in the process.
Federal Lawsuit
Mader’s decision to not shoot and kill Williams cost him his job and has brought about a federal lawsuit that he has filed against his former employer.
Officer Stephen Mader, 26, found himself staring down a suicidal man with a pistol in hand. Although the officer could have immediately shot at the man, he chose to attempt to deescalate the situation and lost his job in the process.
Reports
Speaking to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Mader said that Alexander, the police chief, told him that he placed the lives of the other two officers in danger and that warranted his termination.
Officer Stephen Mader, 26, found himself staring down a suicidal man with a pistol in hand. Although the officer could have immediately shot at the man, he chose to attempt to deescalate the situation and lost his job in the process.
Police Chief
Alexander spoke to reporters stating that the story was one-sided and came from a “disgruntled employee.”
Officer Stephen Mader, 26, found himself staring down a suicidal man with a pistol in hand. Although the officer could have immediately shot at the man, he chose to attempt to deescalate the situation and lost his job in the process.
ACLU Speaks Out
When speaking out about Mader and the situation, Joseph Cohen, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in West Virginia said, “He was able to look at the full situation, the body language, words that used, and determined that Mr. Williams was not a threat to other people.”