In wake of Augusta gunfight, here's a look at how the GBI investigates officer-involved shootings

Following a June multi-block shootout in downtown Augusta that involved multiple off-duty Richmond County Sheriff’s Office deputies, locals may be wondering why the Georgia Bureau Investigation examines local officer-involved shootings and what the process entails.

The agency supports Georgia’s criminal justice system by conducting criminal investigations, providing forensic laboratory services and offering computerized criminal justice information.

Another responsibility of the GBI is investigating use of force cases. GBI investigators are called in to gather facts about the incidents independently from their respective agencies to maintain public trust.

New sheriff in town: Immediate action on gun violence and other top priorities for sheriff-elect 'Gino Rock' Brantley

Mitchell Posey, inspector in the GBI headquarters' investigative division, explained that incidents such as the 2014 police killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown, an unarmed Black man in Ferguson, Missouri, emphasize the need for an agency like the GBI and have shaped its role in the state’s criminal justice system.

“You can go all the way back to Rodney King, [a Black man brutally beaten by white Los Angeles Police Department officers in 1991], and you can see that when police do things they shouldn't do, how the community is going to respond,” Posey said. “After Ferguson, it really came to light how important it was to have an independent and transparent investigation that met a standard.”

He added the GBI's role is to fill a gap for its law enforcement partners, to "do things that other agencies recognize they shouldn’t do, or don’t have the ability or resources to do."

It is important to note that in cases like the downtown Augusta shooting, the GBI may only investigate the officer-involved shooting, not the shooting that occurred before deputies arrived.

From start to finish, Posey walked The Chronicle through a typical use of force investigation and explained the complexities that may cause a delay in criminal charges.

How a GBI use of force investigation begins

The GBI is called in by an agency or elected official to help investigate the local use of force case. They typically only get involved if requested.

Then the GBI will send agents from one of its 15 regional offices throughout the state, usually dispatching supervisors and agents closest to the area where the incident occurred.

"If it is in a public area, we want to make sure that we do a thorough investigation, but at the same time, return the area to some level of normalcy," Posey said.

In addition to canvassing the neighborhood and interviewing witnesses, agents collect physical and digital evidence.

“In today's world, when an officer-involved shooting happens, rather than ducking, hiding or running, most people seem to pull their phone out,” Posey said. “Those videos, plus any [surveillance camera footage], are very important to us because they show different perspectives and angles of the incident."

But Posey said the downside is that it can make the process more lengthy.

"Sometimes these systems don’t work in conjunction with each other or with an operating system that we have on our computer," he said. "Sometimes we have to work with that particular company or business just to be able to watch the video.”

Other aspects like filing search warrants due to witnesses failing to provide evidence, or officers lawyering up or completely refusing to talk can also impact the speed of an investigation.

The end of an investigation

Once a GBI investigation is complete, agents provide the report to the District Attorney’s Office. In a typical use of force investigation, Posey said the report is usually the length of a small book.

“We’re essentially writing a 100 to 200 page book within 90 days, making sure all the facts are known and that it’s written in a way that’s understandable for a third-party reader," he said. "Agents are also having to work on other cases [at the same time]. It's a tall order.”

Once the report is given to the DA’s office, it is up to the prosecutors if criminal charges should be pursued.

Police radio recordings: 'We need to start clearing these streets': Police radio captures downtown Augusta shootout

How the GBI remains consistent, transparent

In the mid-2000s, the GBI created a use of force manual to ensure all investigations followed the same standard procedures. The manual continues to evolve and has about 30 pages.

“We want to make sure that we ask all the right questions so if something spurs up in the public, regardless of the reason, we're able to provide an answer and mitigate the spread of false information causing even more discord in the community,” Posey said.

He added the GBI works more than 100 officer-involved shootings each year and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office may only have a few each year.

“You see the difference in the experience level,” he said. “We have specific training for our agents on the interview process, the crime scene process and, of course, the manual. We put our agents through training where we put them in scenarios in which they're required to make split second decisions of using force or not using force.”

Having a standard manual and training also allows all 340 GBI agents statewide to help with a case if needed, regardless of the region to which they are assigned.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: How the GBI investigates officer-involved shootings in Georgia