Widow of Sheriff’s Deputy Shot by Partner Sues County
- Share via
SANTA ANA — The widow of the sheriff’s deputy shot to death by a fellow officer in 1993 sued Orange County last week, alleging that the county was lax in its supervision of its deputies, thereby contributing to her husband’s death.
The lawsuit, filed by Rosemary Robins and her daughter, Melissa Robins, alleges that the county runs a Sheriff’s Department with deputies who “have a propensity for the use of unnecessary and excessive force, for reckless indifference to the health and safety of fellow officers and other citizens.”
Deputy Darryn Leroy Robins was killed by his partner, Brian P. Scanlan, on Christmas Day, 1993, during an impromptu training drill in a Lake Forest theater parking lot. According to official accounts, the partners were practicing traffic stops when Scanlan fired accidentally after Robins startled him by reaching for a weapon.
Orange County prosecutors concluded that Scanlan had been “grossly negligent” for using a loaded weapon during an exercise. The county grand jury, however, opted not to indict him on involuntary manslaughter charges.
Last week’s lawsuit, filed in Orange County Superior Court, came after Orange County officials rejected in December a $2-million settlement sought by Robins’ family.
Robins also alleges in the lawsuit that her husband’s civil rights were violated. She seeks unspecified general, special and punitive damages.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
