White Plains Settles Chamberlain Family Lawsuit

WHITE PLAINS, NY — It’s been more than a decade since the family of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. sued the city of White Plains over his death by a White Plains police officer.

At Monday’s Common Council meeting, the city approved a $5 million settlement with Chamberlain’s family.

Mayor Tom Roach said, during the meeting, that although the settlement ends litigation, “our work is not done.”

He said that the city will keep reviewing police policies and training and technology so that the events surrounding Chamberlain’s death do not happen again.

Chamberlain, who was a 68-year-old former Marine, suffered from mental illness and was shot and killed in his White Plains home Nov. 19, 2011, following a confrontation with White Plains police officers who were responding to an accidental activation of his medical alert system.

Kenneth Chamberlain Jr. said in a statement after the settlement was announced that he hopes other victims of police violence will be inspired to keep fighting for the truth,” the Journal News reported.

An independent review of the police-involved shooting death of Chamberlain Sr. found no new evidence warranting the convening of a new grand jury.

Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah, whose office released the review at the end of July, said there were, however, areas where real analysis and reform were desperately needed, including treating every victim’s family with respect and dignity and enhanced training on how to handle and de-escalate situations.

SEE ALSO: Chamberlain Shooting Death Shows More Transparency Needed: DA