Family Sues Lakewood Police After Innocent Father Killed in High-Speed Chase

Tragic Death of Bohdan Vetrov

• 💔 Bohdan Vetrov, a father of seven and the sole provider for his family, was killed on June 29th, 2023, when a juvenile suspect fleeing Lakewood police collided with his truck.
• 🇺🇦 Vetrov had immigrated from Ukraine in 2017 and his family is now facing significant financial and emotional hardship.

Allegations Against Lakewood Police

• ⚖️ The Vetrov family has filed a wrongful death claim against the City of Lakewood and its police department.
• 🚨 The lawsuit alleges officers violated state law and departmental policies by initiating a high-speed chase without proper risk assessment, approval, or supervision.
• 🚗 Officers allegedly activated their lights and pursued a juvenile suspect who was initially driving safely towards his home, leading to the fatal collision.

Policy Violations and Negligence

• 🚫 Attorneys claim officers failed to coordinate a safe apprehension, suggesting they could have waited for the teen to pull into his driveway.
• 📈 The pursuing officer was reportedly not certified in pursuit intervention, a mandatory requirement, and continued the chase without supervisor communication or a plan to safely end it.
• 📉 This lack of certification and adherence to policy is described as gross negligence, leading to Vetrov's death.

Legal Action and Damages

• 💰 The family is seeking $26 million in damages against the City of Lakewood.
• 🧒 Civil claims against the minors involved are not possible as they were juveniles at the time of the crash.
• 🙏 The family's attorney stated their desire for accountability, justice, and to prevent similar tragedies for other families.

Community and Expert Reactions

• 🗣️ Dr. Rashad Richey and Senator Nina Turner expressed outrage and heartbreak over the incident, emphasizing the senselessness and recklessness of the police pursuit.
• 🧠 They highlighted the importance of policies like supervisor consultation to allow officers to de-escalate and make safer decisions in high-pressure situations.