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Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Officer's Cause of Death Changed From Suicide
By T.J. Wilham
Journal Staff Writer
The state's chief medical investigator has changed a controversial ruling on the cause of death of an Albuquerque police officer from suicide to "undetermined."
The decision comes two months after a forensics expert who was asked to review autopsy reports on the death of Albuquerque Police Department Lt. Todd Parkins concluded the veteran officer's death was accidental.
In his new ruling, Dr. Ross Zumwalt, head of the state Office of the Medical Investigator, didn't go as far as saying the death was accidental. Instead, he ruled his office couldn't make a determination.
Zumwalt didn't return phone calls seeking comment.
Parkins died in September after his shotgun went off inside his Cedar Crest home. His wife and one of his two sons were inside.
OMI ruled the death was suicide, prompting harsh criticism from local police officials and Parkins' family. They publicly urged Zumwalt to change his ruling to an undetermined cause of death at the very least, although they said they believe the death was accidental.
Sheriff Darren White, whose agency handled the investigation, asked renowned pathologist Michael Baden to review the case. White has said his investigators didn't believe the death was a suicide.
"I am grateful for what Dr. Zumwalt has done," White said Monday. "While it may not have been the determination everyone wanted, I hope this will bring some peace for Todd's family."
White said he felt Baden played a key role.
Baden, a former New York City chief medical examiner and host of HBO's "Autopsy," looked over ballistics reports and autopsy photographs as well as three-dimensional images of Parkins' home. In his April report, Baden cited several factors in his determination, including:
n Parkins was wiping his gun with a rag and was in a rush to leave on a weekend hunting trip with several officers.
n There was no indication Parkins was depressed.
n The muzzle of the gun was several inches away from Parkins when it discharged.
n After he was shot, Parkins fell to the floor and said to his wife, "What happened? Please call."
n The shotgun model in question has a history of accidental discharges.
OMI had maintained Parkins committed suicide because an examination of the gun revealed no malfunctions, the safety was off, the trigger was pulled and the trajectory of the wound was consistent with Parkins being seated in the chair and bent over the gun, "to allow the pellets to travel straight through his body."
Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz said Monday he was pleased with the revised ruling.
"(The initial ruling) was a very strong blow to the family as well as members of Albuquerque Police Department because we all knew Todd very well," Schultz said. "I support the decision. It was the right decision to make based on the evidence.
"At the very least it should be undetermined. I think it was most likely accidental, but understand the Office of the Medical Investigator does have some questions."
Parkins was considered one of APD's rising stars. He was in charge of the department's traffic unit, which is responsible for traffic control during major events and security for presidential visits.
Parkins and his family also were close with Mayor Martin Chávez and Schultz. Parkins appeared at numerous news conferences on their behalf.
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