Jury Holds Gilroy Officer Responsible for Fatally Shooting Man

After two weeks of trial and one week of deliberations, an eight-member federal civil jury returned a verdict, Tuesday, awarding $1.25 million to the spouse and children of Gurmit Singh, who was fatally shot by Gilroy Police Corporal Eustaquio “Paco” Rodriguez on February 8, 2008.

The federal jury found Singh 50 percent liable in a comparative negligence determination regarding the incident, Gilroy Police Captain Jim Gillio wrote in a prepared statement.
                   
“We are very disappointed at the verdict and do not share the jury’s determination that Corporal Rodriguez should be faulted in any way for this incident,” Gilroy Police Chief Denise Turner states. “Corporal Rodriguez defended himself from attack by Gurmit Singh, amid very dangerous circumstances. Independent investigations by the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office and the Santa Clara County grand jury, as well as an investigation by this police department, all found that Corporal Rodriguez acted in self defense, within department policy, and that his actions were justifiable."
                   
Corporal Rodriguez had fired two shots at Gurmit Singh after Singh attacked him on the side of Highway 152. Rodriguez stopped to render him assistance after seeing him lying on the highway with his head in the westbound travel lane endangering himself and others.

Several drivers swerved into oncoming traffic to avoid hitting him. Rodriguez was heading back to the Gilroy Police Department after serving a subpoena in Gustine, and attempted to gain cooperation from Singh who was left on the side of the road by family members who Singh was violently attacking in their car.

Singh did not comply with Rodriguez’s commands or directions and then suddenly stood up and came at Corporal Rodriguez in a football-tackle mode.

Rodriguez felt his life was in jeopardy and that Singh was attempting to take his weapon and fired two shots at Singh as a result. Other officers arrived on scene to provide medical care and gain control of Singh, who later died from his wounds.
           
The three other named officers in this case were found to have no liability in the incident, and the jury did not award punitive damages in their decision. The city is defended by the ABAG PLAN self-insurance fund and the bases for both post trial motions and an appeal are currently being evaluated.

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