Pedro Fernandez

How they died

Less-than-lethal force

Six or seven officers responding to a domestic violence call subdued Fernandez, killing him. A medical examiner ruled that restraint asphyxiation, cocaine, methamphetamine, and Fernandez's obesity were all contributing factors in the death. After reading the examiner's report, Chief David Kunkle put Senior Corporal Michael Pottorff, and Officers Glenn Thompson, Brandi Kramer, Julio Ortiz, Benustiano Avila, Randall Presley and Chad Smith on desk duty until they were cleared by a grand jury. Chief Kunkle later fielded controversy about whether he had hurt their reputations by doing so.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Pedro Fernandez, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources