Windsor chief killed gunman; wounded officer going home

[dallasvic]

Rocky Mountain News
October 1, 2007

Windsor Police Chief John Michaels was at the epicenter of the shooting that killed a suspected candy thief over the weekend.
Michaels, a veteran of 31 years in law enforcement, is on modified administrative duties today while the Weld County district attorney investigates the shooting of Edward Cavaliere, a Windsor retirement community resident.
According to Jennifer Finch, spokeswoman for the district attorney, the incident began about 2 p.m. Saturday.
Two Windsor police officers contacted Cavaliere at his apartment unit at 701 Sixth St., and attempted to ask him about the theft of $25 worth of candy from a grocery store.
After exchanging words, Cavaliere fired several shots, hitting police Cpl. Gerald Beers in his torso and abdomen.
Beers was wearing protective body armor.
When the officers called for help, Michaels rushed to the apartment complex, checked Beers' vital signs, then tried to talk to the 68-year-old resident.
Cavaliere, whom neighbors said had been acting oddly in recent weeks, returned to the door a second time. When he pointed a gun at Michaels, the chief fired, Finch said.
Larimer County SWAT officers later searched the apartment with a robot and found Cavaliere dead about 4:20 p.m., Finch said.
Finch said the district attorney hopes to issue its shooting report by Nov. 1. Beers was hospitalized at Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, and is expected to be released today.