District Attorney’s Office Clears Harbor Police Officers in Fatal Shooting

Friday, 27 February 2009
Contact: John Gilmore (619) 686-6222 or (619) 341-5684 (cellular)

The San Diego County District Attorney's office has released the results of an investigation into a fatal shooting in July involving two Harbor Police Department officers.

District Attorney representatives advised the Port of San Diego yesterday, February 26, 2009, that the office has cleared Officers Clyde Williams and Wayne Schmidt of any criminal liability. "Officer Williams's use of deadly force was reasonable under the circumstances, since Officer Schmidt had told him Mr. Hirschfield had gotten possession of one of his guns," District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said in the investigating report.

Steven Paul Hirschfield, 37, died the night of July 19 after jumping into San Diego Bay from a tour boat. The two officers, who were aboard a Harbor Police vessel, were called to help in the rescue. Once on the police vessel, the man "tried to grab for the throttles and gear the boat," according to the District Attorney‘s report. That led to a struggle involving the officers and the man.

"This was such a tragedy for Mr. Hirschfield's loved ones and friends, and our officers and their families," said John Gilmore, a spokesman for the Port of San Diego. "We are grateful to the District Attorney's Office and the San Diego Police Department for conducting comprehensive investigations into this case."

The District Attorney's report is available upon request.

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