Atlanta Police To Review 'No-Knock' Policy

Atlanta's police chief said his department will review its policy after an elderly woman was killed in a shootout with plainclothes officers.

Police Chief Richard Pennington's comments on the incident were the first since Kathryn Johnston was killed Tuesday night after she shot three narcotics officers who were serving a warrant at her home. The chief was out of town last week for Thanksgiving holiday and said he was unable to get a flight back to Atlanta sooner.

The officers entered the home looking for cocaine based on tips from an informant for which they received a "no-knock" warrant, according to the search warrant released Monday. Police frequently use "no-knock" warrants to get inside a home before suspects have a chance to get rid of any drugs or other contraband.

Pennington said his department will review its policy on "no-knock" warrants and its use of confidential informants.

After the shooting officers found marijuana inside the northwest Atlanta home, but "not a large quantity," Pennington said Sunday.

The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office also reported Sunday that records show Johnston was 88, despite her family saying she was 92.

Pennington was scheduled to hold a news conference later Monday to disclose details from the shooting, said police spokesman Officer Joe Cobb. The incident remains under internal review by the police department, which prevents the chief from talking about many aspects of the case, he said.

Johnston was described by neighbors and family as a woman who lived in fear in Vine City — a northwest Atlanta neighborhood in the shadow of the Georgia Dome sports stadium.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking into the incident at the request of the Fulton County District Attorney's Office.

The Rev. Markel Hutchins, a civil rights activist, has called for a federal investigation into the incident.

The three officers were released from the hospital last week and are on leave with pay. Funeral plans for Johnston have not been made.

[tigger2005-2009]

Police are out of control in Wisconsin also. Like Atlanta breaking a door down with wrong or made up information is very common. They do not bother the rich only the poor people. They lie about what they are doing when asked why. America has to wake up, we are living in a police state and must take it back to be a free country.
I feel sorry for the lady on how she died and those 3 police officers should go to jail!

[tinker3478]

Hello-review from now until doomsday-the old lady is dead! Where is Rev. Al?

[jn122736]

Breaking and entering by anyone is unreasonable search and seasure specifically prohibited by the constitution. Any judge who would issue such a warrent, or supreme court judge/judges ruling in favor of same should be immediately impeached.

[butterflync]

I think that any reasonable person would shoot if 3 plain clothes persons entered their home at night, uninvited, and carrying guns. This poor old lady....the best they can do is that she had a little pot in her home, so of course that makes it ok. This lady just had the misfortune of living in a poor neighborhood...period. She probably pissed off some local thugs or drug dealers, and they turned her into the cops on some bogus information. Atlanta should be ashamed of this. I feel horribly for her family, and hope that justice is served in this case. I don't think capturing any amount of drugs is worth this risk to human life. The "no warrant" policy should go.

[aeasus]

Of course we are not here to criticize spelling,but rather to share comments of the news reported.

[aeasus]

HEHEHEHEHAHAHAHAHEHEHE did I spiel dat riet/

to all...........CBSNEWS.com has enabled answers.com alt-click, you can use this to do spell checking, this of course will be of no help to you if you thought you spelled something correctly

[sguider]

This is really sad in this day and time. But the more things change, the more they stray the same. To think that a 92 yea old women was killed, by the Police. As i keep looking at this story, I see some things, that are out of place, and have many Questions. I understand that the Women fired 5 shoys, hit 3 officers. But there were 105 shell casing found, interesting. How did 3 police officers, fire 100 shots, without reloading?? Reports say, that there were only 3 officers, does any 1 smell something?? I do, a lie, and this isn't the 1st time, that they kicked this Old Womens door in. They killed her, but I wish she had have blone 1 of them away, this is so sad, and that's all I have to say.

Help us Lord God!!

[dogwoodtoo]

It is too bad the old lady didn't kill a cop... they would think a little more about no-knock next time..... If someone enters my place unexpected they better watch out....

[agnim]

For a bit of drugs (not a case of life/death) police are invading property with guns blazing on a mere tip from citizens who may be criminals themselves and have ulterior motives for setting up a fellow citizen?

What's so terrible wrong with that picture?

Those police have way too much time on their hands; and so the devil found mischief for them to make.

Those utterly incompetent police should be FIRED!
And the family of the decease should be ample compensated by both the individual police and the state.