Newbie to SLTPD involved in fatal shooting
By Kathryn Reed
A police officer with 10 years of experience who joined the South Lake Tahoe department in January is responsible for the killing of an unarmed suspect in June.
Officer Josh Klinge, 35, remains on paid administrative leave.
Josh Klinge
Officers were called to the Tahoe Hacienda Motel on Lake Tahoe Boulevard at 2:40am June 15 because of reports of a woman who was screaming and crying.
A single bullet fired by Klinge killed Kris Jackson, 22, of Sacramento.
Jackson was on criminal probation at the time of the shooting. On June 1, he had been arrested by South Lake Tahoe police officers for allegedly possessing several baggies of cocaine, scales and packaging materials. On May 21, he had been arrested by local officers on a Sacramento failure to appear warrant related to a drug possession charge.
The deceased’s family has hired attorney Alan Laskin. The attorney questions whether proper commands where given to Jackson to stop as he was climbing out a hotel bathroom.
Shortly after the shooting the police department issued a statement saying, ““The involved officer’s statement explains he perceived a deadly threat from Kris Jackson. After interviews and a search of the crime scene, no firearm or other weapon was located.”
The El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office is conducting the criminal investigation to determine if Klinge was justified in the shooting.
District Attorney Vern Pierson told Lake Tahoe News he hopes the investigation will be wrapped up in 30 days, but is making no promises.
“We need forensic items to be completed,” he said.
Per protocol, SLTPD will be conducting a separate internal investigation to determine if Klinge followed department policies. This was the first officer involved shooting in South Lake Tahoe in more than 10 years.
Before starting with SLTPD, Klinge was an officer with Ceres Police Department from May 2007 to January this year. Prior to that he was a deputy with the Merced County Sheriff’s Department from December 2004-May 2007.He attended the Fresno City College police academy in 2003. At Ceres, Klinge was a K-9 officer.
Thank you for all your years of service, Officer Klinge.
NEWBIE, how disrespectful for a news media to use such a poor choice of words. How bout a veteran police officer with ten years of experience recently hired by the sltpd. Thanks for keeping the streets safe for the good citizens of the community Officer Klinge.
don’t put your finger on the trigger until your ready to shoot.
that’s the first rule of gun safety.
shoot first ask questions later that’s the new American standard.
don’t worry Officer Klinge they will sweep it under the carpet and you will get off.
Trying to sweep this under the rug STPD?
It took a month just to release the officers name?
This whole thing smells fishy to me.
I hope this pans out to be a good shooting. This Officer has done our town and society a favor. The drug dealing mope had many chances to stop his behavior. Thank you Officer.
He is not fit to be a police officer. Poor decision by this cop. His career should be over. And absolutely no pay.
“I hope this pans out to be a good shooting.”
No such thing.
“Thank you Officer.”
Because they fulfill the bloodlust you are too much of a coward to do.
You are trash.
This officer should get a metal! And instead of paid leave he should be working in the Police Station earning his pay Check instead of sitting home getting a check, I’m sure that there are a lot of things that he could be doing around the Police Station that would be of use.
Does anyone know if the city is self insured for this type of event?
I would hate to see city services cut to pay for his parents suit.
The report of what happened has yet to be released and the DA is correct to take the time to have the forensics done right and they will tell the tale. Some facts are clear in this and they are that Jackson was violating his probation and wouldn’t stop his criminal actions and was attempting to evade yet another arrest. These choices can have unforeseen consequences that often aren’t good. The officer was not a rookie after a decade and what happened at the window and why is what the report will address. When the report is released It should fairly document what happened and why and until then all of the guesses are just that.
Duke of idiots. For all you know I may have walked in those shoes for twenty years. Keep your ignorant thoughts in your pea brain. You know nothing of what they go through. NOTHING.
They wouldn’t let your type (prone to bigotry) be a cop, would they?
Arod: And your vast law enforcement training and experience and expertise in Police shooting investigations qualifies you to have already decided this Officer isn’t fit? Please enlighten us to your degrees. I suspect you have ZERO to offer.
I can’t take my eyes off the dog in this photo. I’m certain I’m completely wrong, but with those big floppy ears that dog just doesn’t look too menacing. I wouldn’t want to put him/her to the test though.
Spouse – 4-mer-usmc
The dog is probably a drug sniffer dog and not one used for search and arrests as labs are common for this with their good noses and calm temperament.
This dog is so cute it makes me want to rub its big, soft, floppy ears. It’s amazing what dogs are capable of doing to help humans. Time to go hug my dog.
Spouse – 4-mer-usmc
Any more news on this case? It has been awhile.
Also, what happened to the the sled net deputy arrested for drugs in Nevada.
Transparency would help our police department maintain the integrity they deserve.
The thing about SLTPD, when something like this happens, it just goes away. Like I believe three murders in recent years up here, nothing was never said from SLTPD about these murders, do any of you remember these murders that SLTPD was investigating? What happen with the investigation, it just went away and that was it.
I don’t know what to think about this police officer and what was going on in his mind. I agree he was a very hasty pulling the trigger from what I read awhile ago. Where was the police back-up? I’m sure they could of apprehended the suspect with out taking his life if they good professional fighting coordination. I agree, forget about this paid leave nonsense, sit him behind a desk and get him back to work, unless he is unstable then get him in a mental facility for a evaluation, if they still have these facility open due to the horrible economy, yea, the neo-depression economy that our current regime government says is doing just marvelous. NOT!