Family Of Slain Man Says They Don't Blame Deputy

Family Of Slain Man Says They Don't Blame Deputy
District Attorney Cleared Deputy
Updated: 12:09 am CDT July 21, 2010

Text SizeAAATOWN OF LEEDS, Wis. -- The family of a Columbia County man shot and killed by police last month outside his home said on Monday that they don't blame the sheriff's deputy involved in the shooting.

The family's response comes as the deputy was cleared of any wrongdoing in the incident. The Columbia County district attorney said on Monday that it is a closed case and the deputy involved will not be charged.

The parents of Shaun Bollig said they believe he was suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) after serving in the military overseas, and they want more help for veterans like their son.

The incident occurred on June 27 when Bollig, 29, of the Town of Leeds, was fatally shot by the deputy at his parent's home near Arlington. Bollig died a short time later.

The Columbia County District Attorney Jane Kohlwey said Deputy Michael Haverley Jr. acted reasonably to protect his safety and the safety of others. Haverley fired the fatal shots after Bollig fired his weapon and refused to drop it.

"Based upon everything I received, it appears that he was really faced with a situation that all he had left at that point to stop the force that was coming at him, which was deadly force, was to return with deadly force. And that's what he was forced to do in this matter," Kohlwey said.

The district attorney's decision comes days after a full investigation by the Department of Criminal Investigation, which found that because Bollig had fired several shots and he wasn't obeying police orders, the officer's actions were warranted to protect himself and others around the property.

Meanwhile, Bollig's parents said that while they don't blame the deputy involved, they're second guessing their call to police.

"I was hoping that somebody would help him because I knew that he went to his breaking point, and then, now I found out about all of this and I'm like, if I knew he was going to get shot up, I would have never called. You know, it's awful. I feel just awful," said Faye Bollig, Shaun's mother.
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Family Of Slain Man Says They Dont Blame Deputy