Officers enjoy immunity from excessive force claim

Sandra Krause sued on behalf of her son's estate after he was killed by Redford Township Police officers.  Matthew Krause had been pursued into the family home and hid in a closet with a gun.  After several hours of unsuccessful negotiations, the policy used a "flash bang" to stun Krause and attempt an extrication.  Krause fired his weapon and was killed in a responding volley of weapons set on "automatic" fire.  The parent argued that the officers should have delayed responding, continued negotiating, and not escalated the confrontation.  As with most of these matters, however, the Court system granted qualified immunity to the police for their actions in confronting an armed, potentially dangerous individual.  The Courts refuse to apply "hindsight" vision to the reasonableness of the officers on the scene in most situations.