The South Bend Police Officer involved in the deadly shooting of an armed car break-in suspect has resigned.
Sgt. Ryan O’Neill, who shot and killed Eric Logan, 54, on June 16, resigned effective Monday, July 15, according to the South Bend Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 36.
The shooting happened after Logan approached O’Neill with a hunting knife raised in a threatening manner, according to the police report. O’Neill’s body camera was not operating at the time.
The full statement from the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #36 is below:
Today, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #36 in South Bend, Indiana announced that Sgt. Ryan O’Neill will be resigning from the South Bend Indiana Police Department effective today.
“Sgt. O’Neill did his job and was forced to defend his own life from a convicted felon who was armed with an eight-inch hunting knife,” Harvey Mills, South Bend FOP President said.
“We’re confident that the investigation into the shooting will determine that the action he took was justified based on the law and his training; however, job related stress, the lawsuit, national media attention, and hateful things said on social media have been difficult for O’Neill and his young family.”
The full statement from the local group BlackTavists:
Around 3 a.m. on June 16th, long-time South Bend resident Eric Jack Logan, age 54, was gunned down by Police Officer Ryan O’Neill who was responding to a call at Central High Apartments. Despite professional code-of-conduct expectations and the trust of the community, O’Neill neglected to initiate the use of his body camera on the night he fatally shot Eric Logan, stirring long-standing racial tensions and distrust between our black communities and the South Bend police force.
Our city, and the nation, watched as Eric Logan’s family and friends grieved the loss of a husband, son, father, brother, uncle, and cherished friend. Our city, and the nation, watched our black community reacted in frustration and disbelief, as we’ve demanded accountability, justice, and a change to the reactionary culture of the Mayor’s administration and a higher standard of conduct enforced for our officers.
Today, we welcome O’Neill’s resignation as an important step, perhaps only the first, in the healing of our community and the ongoing need for change in police culture toward a zero tolerance for racial bias and racism. As the special Prosecutor’s investigation continues, we hope this sends a strong signal to other officers that unjust excessive force and lethal force will always be met with strong community reaction, complete and thorough investigation, and legal and professional consequences.
Moving forward, we await the just indictment of Ryan O’Neill in Eric Logan’s death. We look forward to working together with the City of South Bend and the community-at-large toward a bias and prejudice-free South Bend Police Department.
