WHITESTOWN — The independent review into the death of Deputy Kurt B. Wyman and the Sheriff’s Office’s departmental policies will not be completed by the one-year anniversary on Thursday.
Officials had initially expected it to have the report by this week, but that will not be the case.
Meanwhile, the Sheriff’s Office will hold a public memorial service Thursday morning to commemorate the anniversary at the newly rechristened Deputy Kurt B. Wyman Law Enforcement Building. The public is invited to attend the 8 a.m. service at 6065 Judd Road.
However, vendors are still working on the new letters for the front of the building, as well as a memorial plaque. Sheriff Robert M. Maciol said those will not be ready for the June 7 anniversary.
"They are working on the lettering as we speak," Maciol said. A second ceremony will be held in several weeks once the lettering and plaque are completed.
"Everyone is being very strong. It’s been a very emotional few weeks," Maciol stated. The Wyman family has been instrumental in helping his officers cope. The family "help them move forward with their jobs every single day."
Also not ready in time for the one-year anniversary will be the internal review of the incident.
Since late March, a team of four law enforcement specialists has been reviewing the June 7, 2011 stand-off in Augusta that led to the shooting death of Deputy Wyman. The four specialists have not been identified. Before the committee was formed, Sheriff Maciol said he hoped their review would be complete by the one-year anniversary.
"Initially when we sat down and talked about it, we were hoping for early summer. But the more we got into it, they said it might be later in the summer," said Undersheriff Robert S. Swenszkowski this morning.
"We’re not asking them for a timeline."
The review is being conducted independently from the Sheriff’s Office. Swenszkowski said the committee contacts him when they need more information.
"They communicate with themselves and meet amongst themselves at various locations, or through e-mail or phone," Swenszkowski stated.
"They’re currently reviewing policy. They initially were reviewing all the case work," he said. "I know they will be reviewing some training policies."
On the early morning of June 7, 2011, Deputy Wyman was shot and killed by Knoxboro Road resident Christian M. Patterson, who had been holed up in his garage with a shotgun. Patterson had been involved in a domestic dispute with his girlfriend the night before, and then held a stand-off with deputies for six hours while he refused to surrender or drop his weapon.
At about 2 a.m., the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team fired less-than-lethal, hard-foam rounds at Patterson in an attempt to subdue him. However, Patterson maintained control of his shotgun, and killed Wyman when the 24-year-old deputy rushed into the garage.
Patterson was convicted of aggravated murder on Feb. 9 following a jury trial in County Court. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
"My concern is that the review is thorough," said Undersheriff Swenszkowski. "The most important thing is to learn and improve upon the incident."
