Crime & Safety

Police Chief Reacts to Verdict in Civil Case Against Officers

Three of Chief S. Michael Murphy's officers have been cleared of liability in the death of Sean Sullivan.

Warminster Police Chief S. Michael Murphy is relieved that a five-year legal battle ended yesterday when a federal jury at the Eastern District Courthouse in Philadelphia ruled that three of his officers did not use excessive force when they shot and killed Sean Sullivan.

“It has been an ordeal over the past five years,” said Murphy. “Nobody could have anticipated what happened that day.”

After two weeks of testimony and two days of deliberation in a civil suit brought by Sullivan's parent, Carol and Bruce Sullivan, the jury unanimously found that officers Sean Harold, Daniel Leporace, James McCaffrey from Warminster and Warrington officer Dan Blanchard were not liable for the death of Sullivan.

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“Given the length of the deliberations, it’s clear the jury considered all the evidence carefully,” said defense attorney Christopher Boyle. “It’s been conclusively decided the officers did nothing wrong.”

In March 2006, Sullivan had barricaded himself in his room after police arrested Carol at their home on Chestnut Road. After telling the police he had a gun, officers surrounded the property and called in the SWAT team.

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Sullivan then climbed out his back window and pointed at the officers what looked like a gun, but was later revealed to be a Walther PPK replica pellet gun. The four officers opened fire on Sullivan as he ran for the back fence, shooting 56 times and hitting him with six bullets.

“They are professionals and they take the job seriously,” said Murphy. “It’s not an easy thing, to take a life, and it has had a profound effect on them. My heart goes out to the family. It’s a terrible thing to lose a child, but the events speak for themselves.”

The Sullivan's attorneys presented eyewitness testimony during the trial that said Sean was not carrying a weapon when he was killed. During , Bill McSwain made implications that the gun could have been planted next to a blue boat, where it was discovered after the shooting.

“The allegations made by the plaintiff’s attorneys were outrageous,” said Murphy. “The officers were extremely upset about them.”

Jason Gosselin, the Sullivans' attorney, said his clients are certainly disappointed by the outcome of the trial, but take some solace in having the incident examined in open court.

“Carol has been waiting a long time for somebody to look at this shooting in an impartial way,” said Gosselin, who felt the Bucks County district attorney did not perform a complete investigation. “One eyewitness was never interviewed (by the DA), another eyewitness was never followed up. So there is some satisfaction in having a full hearing in front of an impartial body.”

Gosselin said it was too early to determine if an appeal will be made.

“We’re just letting the decision sink in right now,” he said. “It took the jury two days, which means it wasn’t an easy decision. There were six inquiries to review exhibits. I’ve never had that many requests for evidence from a jury.”

Boyle does not anticipate any such appeals, however.

“The jury had every piece of evidence and information they were entitled to,” he said. “It made for full and well-reasoned verdict. They did their job.”


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