Family Seeks Answers In Shooting Death Of Veteran By NJ Police

NEWTON, NJ — The family of a decorated, retired Army major has called for an investigation into what happened on July 4, when he was killed during a shootout with Newton Police officers.

In advance of a vigil for family and friends of Gulia Dale III on Saturday at 5 p.m. in Newton’s Green, Rick Robinson - the chairman of the NJSC NAACP and co-chair of the Newark NJ NAACP Criminal Justice Committees - released a statement about Dale’s death, along with Dale’s sister, Valerie Cobbertt.

They say the death of Dale, a black veteran who served honorably for 30 years including in Desert Storm, worked at both the Pentagon and Picatinny Arsenal and struggled with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, should be viewed as a wrongful death case.

Among Dale's accolades that Robinson shared with Patch, which he received as a Major, was a "Distinguished Eagle Certificate" from the 101st Airborne Division Air Assault and a Certificate of Achievement that he was awarded from the 1st Calvary Division.

“While it is true that Mr. Dale suffered from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, the engagement and tactics used by the Newton Police Department is highly questionable, and the family is looking for clarity,” a portion of Robinson’s statement read.

The family, he wrote, filed the request for an Internal Affairs investigation with the Newton Police Department on Aug. 5 about the July 4 deadly incident.

Lt. Scott King, on behalf of the Newton Police Department including its chief, said early Friday evening the department is referring all inquiries to the Attorney General's Office. Steven Barnes, a representative from the Office of the Attorney General who responded mid-Friday afternoon, said the office was unable to comment while the incident is under investigation. Barnes said inquiries about the status of the office, would need to be directed back to the Newton Police Department.

What’s Been Released So Far

Dale, 61, exchanged gunfire with two police officers, according to body and dash cam videos that were acquired by New Jersey’s Attorney General’s Office and posted online, as part of their 10-step Independent Prosecutor Directive. With that, the agency’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability takes the lead in the investigation, when a civilian dies in an incident where police weapons are fired.

Acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck released both the 911 recording and graphic and blurred videos of the gunfire traded between Dale and Officers Steven Kneidl and Garrett Armstrong on Aug. 2.

According to the 911 call, videos and Bruck’s news release, police were called to the residence on Clive Place by an unidentified woman who gave Dale’s license plate number to the dispatcher, telling him that Dale was armed.

"Please get the cops here," she pleaded more than once with the dispatcher, turning to Dale during the call and saying to him, "The cops are on the way for you because you're acting crazy."

After police arrived and Dale was sitting in his truck, they ordered him to get out of the vehicle - which he opened his door before quickly closing it again and remaining in his truck - before finally exiting it and was shot by Kneidl and Armstrong.

"Shots fired, shots fired, start BLS [basic life support] he's on the ground," one of the officers, who picked up Dale's gun, yelled on the video.

"He's dead, he's down," that same officer added, saying as he picked up Dale's weapon, "Got a gun, got a gun."

On one of the videos, after Dale dropped to the ground on his stomach, two responding officers rolled him over and then began administering basic life support, one of them noting they didn't detect Dale's pulse.

The officer who took Dale's gun directed the other two to "start cleaning him up" before that, telling his fellow officers to "get the trauma kits," as he nervously uttered some expletives while putting on his own gloves to help them.

Andover Township Police Department, the New Jersey State Police and medical first responders assisted at the call, with Dale pronounced dead.

Surviving Family's Perspective

Robinson said he accompanied Valerie Cobbertt to the Newton Police Department, when she filed the request for the Internal Affairs investigation. He described both Police Chief Steven VanNieuwland and Sgt. Thomas Muller as "very accommodating and gracious," during the process.

"The call was made by many, involving Mr. Dale and for the numerous explosives/firecrackers that were set off in that area for the July 4th holiday," Robinson commented about the incident. "Apparently, this kind of thing triggers our service men/women, regarding their pains/suffering with PTSD."

He said Dale's family felt humiliated after his death, because they said they received no phone calls from either the police department or Newton's Mayor's office.

“The Dale family is looking for a true account of the matter from the NJ Office of the Attorney General that led to the alleged, unspeakable execution of Mr. Dale,” Robinson wrote.

He said it is “no secret that our nation is currently grappling with police brutality incidents that has led to the deaths of black/brown men/women for decades.”

Robinson also referred to a bill that’s in process with the New Jersey Legislature, Assembly Bill A4656, spearheaded by Assemblywoman Angela V. McKnight, D-31st Dist., that establishes civilian boards to assess “police operations and conduct.”

As part of the family’s and NAACP’s joint inquest, they have requested the unedited audio and video footage from the incident, which it was redacted by the Office of the Attorney General.

They would also like a "full, thorough investigation" and the original police report, Robinson told Patch.

They are exploring the department’s “procedures regarding de-escalation training."

"In addition, the family is focusing on the engagement of the police and questioning their trainings for mental health issues, which they believe should be considered a 'wrongful death incident,'" Robinson added.

Lastly, Dale's family plans to write a letter to Gov. Phil Murphy in the near future, he said.

RELATED: Fatal Police Shooting Video Released By NJ Attorney General
RELATED: 1 Dead In July 4th Shooting Between Man, Newton Police

Editor's note: A previous version of this story stated Dale and police exchanged gunfire. The shooting remains under investigation by the Office of the Attorney General.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.