Fullerton PD Officer Joe Wolfe Beat Himself Off the Force in Kelly Thomas Killing
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| Pool photo by Joshua Sudock / OC Register |
| Joe Wolfe: Beating himself off the force |
The city of Fullerton announced today that Joe Wolfe, one of the six officers involved in the savage beating death of Kelly Thomas, has been fired.
Wolfe, who helped beat Thomas, is the second officer to leave the troubled agency in the wake of the internationally infamous event in July 2011.
This revelation comes a week after reports that officer Manuel Ramos, who currently faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and second degree murder in the Thomas killing, also left the department.
Fullerton Cpl. Tim Kandler confirmed to reporters that today was Wolfe's last day on duty.
"We can't get into what the status was," Kandler told The Orange County Register. "He is no longer employed with the Fullerton Police Department."
Ron Thomas, Kelly Thomas' father, has been calling for District Attorney Tony Rackauckas to file criminal charges against Wolfe and told the paper, "I'm glad it happened."
He also believes Wolfe is guilty of excessive force and should be charged by Rackauckas along with Ramos and co-defendant Jay Cicinelli.
He also believes Wolfe is guilty of excessive force and should be charged by Rackauckas along with Ramos and co-defendant Jay Cicinelli.
Wolfe and Ramos were the first to confront Thomas after receiving a incendiary phone call from a Slidebar employee alleging that Thomas was attempting to break into parked cars. As the encounter spiraled out of control, Wolfe can be seen on a city surveillance camera striking Thomas with a baton and later kneeing and elbowing him.
And then there were four. Who is next of the dirty half dozen to fall? And will the DA charge Wolfe with a crime?
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