Jarrett Tonn, a Vallejo police officer who shot and killed 22-year-old Sean Monterrosa on June 2, 2020 from the backseat of an unmarked police vehicle, has had his termination overturned and job reinstated. Tonn’s firing was reversed at arbitration, along with allegations regarding his use of force in the incident. He was found to have acted within legal justification, perceiving a threat from Monterrosa who was moving his hands toward his waist area, though it turned out to be a hammer.
Tonn was reinstated with full back pay and benefits. His termination was initially linked to his failure to activate his body-worn camera on time. The decision to reinstate him has sparked controversy, particularly from Sean Monterrosa’s family and attorney Lee Merritt.
Merritt accused Tonn of “murdering an unarmed civilian” and criticized the lack of accountability in the Vallejo police Department.
“He[Tonn] shot Sean Monterrosa in the back of the head as he ran away,” Merritt said in a statement. “His behavior has fractured the Vallejo community and the decision to reinstate him is appalling. This murder was the third time Tonn has fired his weapon at an unarmed citizen. The Vallejo community can have no faith in Tonn as a community member let alone as a law enforcement officer.”
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