Cowley County Sheriff David Falletti has responded to follow up questions I submitted in regard to the officer involved shooting on April 15. A couple of these questions were based on questions asked of me by NewsCow readers.
One of those questions was about the number of officers at the scene the day Andrea C. Barrow was shot and killed. Three officers, who were injured and hospitalized but later released, exchanged gunfire with Barrow.
She had fired on officers as they approached her vehicle on 122nd Road just off U.S. 77 highway north of Winfield.
On another day, two deputies likely would have been at that scene. However, on the day of the shooting, one of the deputies had another deputy riding along. That deputy was fairly new to the department and was in “field training status,” Falletti said.
The three deputies have not been identified by name. They remain on paid administrative leave pending an investigation by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
The officers also have mental health services available to them.
According to the Sheriff:
“We did a critical incident debriefing the following week and there were three sessions offered. One for those directly involved; the deputies, ems and dispatch. Another offered for all others that wanted to meet, and then that evening a session for spouses and significant others. They (deputies) will also have access to counseling for as long as they need it.”