Two days after a University Police officer killed a student,people on campus had more questions than answers.
Most notably, they asked how an officer with seven months ofexperience and pre-basic police academy training was allowed toconfront a suspect alone.
"That's a question I'm not going to answer," Gene Burton, chiefof University Police, said.
Burton and other university officials spent the day answeringwhat questions they said they could, but Muncie Police isinvestigating Saturday morning's shooting, and Burton said he didnot want to interfere.
"I want that investigation to be thought of as complete andabove the board," Burton said.
Michael S. McKinney, 21, a fourth-year student, was shot andkilled by University Police officer Robert Duplain, 24, whenDuplain responded to a burglary call at 1325 North St. Saturdaymorning. Duplain said McKinney ran at him and wouldn't stop, soDuplain fired.
Duplain has not returned messages seeking comment.
Terry Winters, deputy chief of Muncie Police, said he expectshis investigation will be complete and forwarded to the DelawareCounty prosecutor sometime next week.
Winters said investigators have been speaking with McKinney'sfriends, who have maintained that McKinney was likely confused andthought he was trying to get into a friend's house at the cornersof North and Dicks streets seven houses away.
Toxicology reports that might indicate the use of any drugs oralcohol will be returned in about three weeks, Winters said.
Winters also released more details of how the events unfolded.He said that when Duplain and a second officer arrived at thescene, they decided to approach the backyard from both sides. Theother officer approached from the east, which is blocked by a whitefence. Duplain approached the west side of the yard, which isaccessible from the front.
By the time the second officer made his way back to the westside of the yard, Winters said, McKinney had already been shot.
Burton said the University Police's use-of-force policy -- theprocedures officers adhere to when dealing with an aggressivesuspect -- includes any variable that could come into play when anofficer confronts a suspect. That policy will be available no laterthan "first thing" Tuesday morning, Burton said.
Duplain has worked at the University Police Department for sevenmonths. Heather Shupp, executive director of UniversityCommunications, said Duplain has completed a 40-hourpre-basic-training course and was scheduled to attend the policeacademy in January.
Burton said this is Duplain's first law-enforcement job.
Burton said Duplain is one of two officers employed by theUniversity Police Department who has not attended the policeacademy.
Shupp said it is common for law-enforcement agencies to employofficers after they have received pre-basic training but beforethey have attended the police academy.
Indiana University's police force has one officer who is waitingto go to the police academy. Purdue University's police forceemploys none but has employed them in the past. IUPUI's police hasnone, and Indiana State University's police has one who just leftthe police academy.
Winters said the Muncie Police Department employs a few officerswho have not attended the police academy. Winters, however, saidany officer who has been with the force for less than a year workswith a training officer regardless of whether or not they haveattended the academy.
Shupp said Duplain had been working alone Saturday morning.
During his field training he was described as extremelycompetent by his supervisors.
"He's been a model officer," Burton said. "He's an extremelyconscientious young man."
Burton said officers at the University Police Department, whichthe Indiana State Police investigated two years ago, are dealingwith the situation the best they can.
"It's a trying time for everyone in the Ball State community,"Burton said.
Meanwhile, in Bedford, McKinney's hometown, his family ispreparing for today's viewing and Wednesday's funeral.
"I'm sure Michael's friends from Ball State will have the chanceto come down," Timothy McKinney, Michael McKinney's father, said."I know they'll turn out for him."
Timothy McKinney said he was appalled when he heard the detailsof what happened to his son. He expects, though, that anywrongdoing will be brought out through the Muncie Police'sinvestigation.
Any legal action that McKinney's family might take, he said,will have to wait.
"I have no time to think about that," Timothy McKinney said. "Ineed to put him in his resting place."
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