Police Department

SPD Releases Names of Officers involved in April 29 Shooting

Monique Cotton, Public Information & Communication Director, 509.363.8285

Friday, May 2, 2014 at 4:51 p.m.

The Spokane Police Department is releasing the names of the officers involved in the shooting of homicide suspect Jeremy Arnold on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 29th, 2014.

The three involved officers have more than 50 years of combined experience with the Spokane Police Department and currently work as a Patrol sergeant, as a Major Crimes detective and as a SWAT medic.

Sgt. John Gately is a 23-year Spokane Police Department veteran and currently works on Patrol. Sgt. Gately is a member of the Tactical Crowd Control Response Unit (TAC Team), the Peer Assistance Team (PAT). He is a Hostage Negotiator and serves as the president of the Police Guild. Sgt. Gately worked for Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and the Spokane County Jail before coming to the Spokane Police Department.

Awards & Commendations:

• Distinguished Service Award (2012), the first awarded in the Department’s history, for 20 years of service with the TAC team
• The Chief’s Citation Award (2009) for his work with the Public Information Unit
• The Chief’s Citation Award (2006) for his work on the Hostage Negotiation Team
• The Silver Star Award (2004) for his actions to stop an active shooter at Lewis and Clark High School
• Multiple commendations for his involvement in rescuing several suicidal individuals experiencing mental health crisis and his handling of vehicle accidents; his work as an Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC) training instructor and Crisis Intervention Training instructor, his participation in teaching Post Traumatic Stress Disorder training; his participation in Read Across America with Central Valley Kindergarten; his participation in student drug education outreach; his visits to schools to educate youth about law enforcement; his work to provide a job shadow experience to students; his response to a child abduction call; his work with the Texas Association of Hostage Negotiators; his arrest of a repeat offender involved in an identity theft scam; His apprehension of a robbery suspect; his compassionate response to an elderly assault victim; his professionalism and courtesy while responding to a disturbance; and his de-escalation skills dealing with a mental health patient
• Commendation (2006) from the Washington State Patrol, for assisting the Dignitary Protection Unit for Vice President Cheney’s visit to Spokane
• Commendation (2001) from the FBI in for his role on the TAC team
• Commendation (1992) from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for his investigative work
• Commendation (2003) from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission for his expertise in a hostage negotiation training course
• Sgt. Gately was involved in an Officer Involved Shooting incident in 1995. The use of force in this incident was determined to be justified by the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office

Detective Neil Gallion is a 20-year Spokane Police Department veteran and currently works as a Major Crimes Unit Detective. Det. Gallion was a SWAT team member for 19 years, a SWAT instructor, Field Training Officer (FTO), and Active Shooter Training instructor. Det. Gallion worked for the Ritzville Police Department, the Spokane County Jail and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office before coming to the Spokane Police Department.

Awards & Commendations:

• Chief’s Citation Award (2004) for his work on SWAT team
• Chief’s Citation Award (2003) for his work in the Sexual Assault Unit
• Multiple commendations for his work with the SWAT team and his role as an instructor for active shooter training scenarios; multiple letters of commendation for his work as a Field Training Officer (FTO); commendations for his work with the city of Redmond on a child sexual abuse case; his work with the Temple Beth Shalom; the assistance he provided to the Jacksonville, Florida’s Sheriff’s Office with an investigation; his response to a child abduction call; his work with at-risk students at Shaw Middle School; his work to help prevent a drive-by shooting at Shadle Park High School; his response to a dangerous burglary situation involving multiple firearms; his work with students at the Spokane Community Truancy Center; his response to a shooting at Corbin Park; his response to a burglary at Riverside State Park; his role in a Patrol emphasis on East Sprague; his de-escalation skills while dealing with a suicidal individual; his role in successfully dis-arming an intoxicated, assaultive male with a weapon
• Commendation (2007) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for his work with Spokane’s Federal Courthouse on emergency prevention and domestic terrorism

Officer Jay Kernkamp is a 8-year Spokane Police Department veteran and currently works on Patrol. Ofc. Kernkamp is a SWAT medic, a Chemical Agent Response Team (CART) member and a Criminal Justice Training Commission certified firearms instructor. Ofc. Kernkamp has previously served as a volunteer Explorer and Reserve Officer for SPD. Ofc. Kernkamp worked for the Colfax Police Department before coming to the Spokane Police Department.

Awards & Commendations:

• Employee of the 4th Quarter Award (2013)
• Lifesaving Award (2010) for providing life-saving care to a shooting victim
• Commendations for his compassion in dealing with family members while responding to a suicide; investigating a domestic violence situation and arresting the suspect before the suspect carried out threats to kill family members; his prompt and professional response to a burglary call; his response to a vehicle accident; rendering first aid to an individual who had attempted suicide by cutting his neck; his assistance in locating a missing child; his role in arresting the three shooting suspects in the 2010 Hoopfest shooting
• Commendation (2011) from the Kennewick Police Department, for assisting with a bank robbery case
• Ofc. Kernkamp was involved in an Officer Involved Shooting incident in 2007. The use of force in this incident was determined to be justified by the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office

Officer Photos:

• Sgt. John Gately
• Det. Neil Gallion
• Sgt. Jay Kernkamp

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