NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Norfolk Police Chief Mike Goldsmith says two recent officer-involved shootings were incidents that escalated quickly.
Goldsmith told media outlets Monday during a news conference that he stands by his officers.
On Friday, police fatally shot 35-year-old David Latham. Two days earlier, 71-year-old Lawrence H. Faine was shot.
Police say each man threatened officers with a knife. Each man also had mental health problems.
Since 2011, Goldsmith says the department has responded to more than 7,000 psychiatric calls, including 909 so far this year.
Goldsmith says the department is working to implement a crisis intervention team.
Relatives of Latham and Faine have questioned the shootings. They say deadly force wasn’t necessary.
The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office will determine whether the shootings were justified.
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