Sheriff: Hold Off on 'Armchair Quarterbacking' Until Shooting Investigation Is Complete

Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez issued a request to the public Wednesday to stop the "armchair quarterbacking" that has played out since the Monday shooting death of a Batavia Township man.

Perez said he felt compelled to issue the statement after reading media coverage of the shooting, which took place around 11:40 a.m. Monday, July 8, 2013, at 3S303 Elfstrom Trail in rural Batavia.

Luke Bulzak, 52, was on his roof of his home with a rifle when he was shot by a 20-year veteran of the Sheriff's Office. Bulzak was taken to Mercy Center Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:22 p.m.

A Sheriff's Office press release said officers responded to the home after receiving reports of a "suicidal" man with a gun. According to the release, the deputies asked Bulzak to drop the rifle. Bulzak then pointed it at deputies, and the sheriff’s sergeant shot him.

Investigations are pending, from both the Kane County Sheriff's Office and the Illinois State Police Investigations Unit, as required. The sheriff's sergeant has been placed on administrative leave until the investigations are completed.

A Daily Herald article published Wednesday quoted a neighbor, Worth Hill, who said he heard the gunshots but did not see Bulzak holding a rifle. Sheriff's Office spokesman Lt. Pat Gengler told the Daily Herald there was "no doubt" Bulzak was armed.

Commenters on news websites and on Patch also speculated about the aspects of the shooting.

In his response, Perez warned about the dangers of "media speculation and armchair quarterbacking."

"I respectfully ask that the media and the readers who wish to comment on how the incident should have been resolved allow the investigative process to take place and all the facts to be reviewed before speculating and theorizing," he said.

Perez promised that details of the investigation would be made public.

Full Statement by Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez

After reading the media coverage in the local newspapers of the shooting incident in Batavia township Monday, I feel compelled to issue this release.

First, our condolences go out to the Bulzak family for their loss. Second, we are providing any and all services required to help our deputies cope regarding the stress of being placed in this situation. We are also taking into consideration of the stress and emotions our sergeant is going to deal with for a lifetime.

As is frequently the case in incidents such as these, media speculation and armchair quarterbacking occurs. Our deputies are trained to respond to situations as this, and it is training that we hope they will never need to perform. We have guidelines and protocols for these circumstances, and part of our protocols are to have an independent agency review the shooting to determine if the use of deadly force was justified and followed agency policy.

I immediately contacted the Illinois State Police Investigations to review the incident. This includes interviews of all personnel on the scene at the time of the incident, review of our policies, computer dispatch, radio traffic, canvassing the neighborhood for witness statements, and collection of evidence from the scene.  

In addition to the State Police conducting their review, our agency has to conduct an investigation, as well. I have been in ongoing communication with the state’s attorney keeping him apprised of information as it is brought to my attention.

I respectfully ask that the media and the readers who wish to comment on how the incident should have been resolved allow the investigative process to take place and all the facts to be reviewed before speculating and theorizing.

This was a situation all law enforcement officers understand could become a reality at any time, and the last thing any of us wants is a loss of life for a member of the public or our agency. When the time is appropriate, all findings will be released to the public. Until then, this is an ongoing investigation and will not be compromised.