OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Oklahoma Association for the Deaf says police have reached out since an officer fatally shot a deaf man in Oklahoma City, but that more needs to be done.
Association Treasurer Johnny Reininger told The Associated Press Friday that more training is needed to teach officers to recognize the deaf and to learn to visually communicate with those who can’t hear.
Reininger says Police Chief Bill Citty has reached out since 35-year-old Magdiel Sanchez was shot on Tuesday. Bystanders yelled to officers that Sanchez was deaf and couldn’t hear their commands to drop a metal pipe he was holding.
In this photo provided by the Sanchez family, Magdiel Sanchez is pictured in an undated photo. Sanchez was shot and killed when Oklahoma City police officers opened fire on him in front of his home Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017, as he approached them holding a metal pipe. A department official said the police officers didn’t hear witnesses yelling that Sanchez was deaf. (Sanchez Family Photo via AP)
Police Capt. Bo Mathews says officers currently attend four training sessions annually on working with people with disabilities, including a session on the deaf and hard of hearing.
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