The Evansville Police Department in southern Indiana has come under scrutiny following a series of incidents involving the use of force and a controversial training exercise. Over a span of 14 months, five individuals lost their lives during encounters with Evansville police, raising questions about the department's tactics and accountability measures.
In March 2023, a training exercise known as the "Big Fight" at the police academy resulted in the death of one recruit and serious injury to another. Asson Hacker, a 33-year-old former coal miner, collapsed after a seven-minute fight against a much larger instructor. He was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a life-threatening condition often caused by extreme physical exertion. Another recruit, Tanner Corum, suffered similar injuries and a spinal injury during his bout with the same instructor.
This incident brought attention to the department's history of downplaying use of force in fatal encounters. Between September 2019 and November 2020, four individuals died following interactions with Evansville police officers. These cases involved the use of less-lethal weapons such as Tasers and physical restraint techniques that, while not intended to be fatal, have contributed to deaths across the nation.
"Force by Evansville officers has overwhelmingly been deemed lawful when challenged in court."
The deaths of Edward Snukis, Dean Smith, Steven Beasley, and Evan Terhune all involved controversial use of force tactics. In Snukis' case, officers used a Taser and held him face down, a position known to restrict breathing dangerously. Smith, who had asthma, went into cardiac arrest after being bitten by a police dog and restrained. Beasley lost consciousness after being Tasered while handcuffed, and Terhune became unresponsive in a police van while wearing a spit hood.
A key factor in these cases has been the rulings of Vanderburgh County Coroner Steven Lockyear. In all five deaths, including the training incident, Lockyear did not cite police actions as causal or contributing factors. His determinations have been used by investigators and prosecutors to close criminal inquiries without filing charges against officers.
The U.S. Department of Justice has raised concerns about similar force-related issues in other cities. This pattern of minimizing use of force, coupled with coroner rulings that do not implicate officers, has drawn attention from organizations like the Public Welfare Foundation and investigative journalism programs.
As of 2024, the city of Evansville agreed to pay $987,600 to Terhune's parents, with a non-disclosure agreement attached. This settlement, along with the ongoing scrutiny, highlights the complex issues surrounding police training, use of force, and accountability in law enforcement agencies across the United States.