County officer who shot man works at airport
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
By Paula Reed Ward, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A few more details came to light yesterday about the death of a Moon man who was shot three times by Allegheny County police early Saturday morning after he failed to pull over in a traffic stop on Business Route 60.

County police Superintendent Charles Moffatt said the incident is still under investigation, but he revealed that the patrol officer who killed Gary Dennison, 64, was a 10-year veteran of the force assigned to Pittsburgh International Airport. That officer's name has still not been released.

Mr. Dennison was shot about 12:46 a.m. Saturday on South Patton Drive after county officers attempted to stop him. Those officers had been on their way to assist in another traffic stop on Business Route 60; however, just as they were about to arrive, the first call was cleared, said Superintendent Moffatt.

But then, he continued, the officers saw Mr. Dennison in an older model Ford Thunderbird put on his flashers as if he were about to pull over. Mr. Dennison changed his mind, though. The officers then saw the retired US Airways employee weave on the roadway at least twice. They put on their flashing lights to pull him over, but Mr. Dennison didn't stop.

"He doesn't take off in a police chase," Superintendent Moffatt said. "He just continues on. He basically blows through two stop signs without hesitating."

Both vehicles were only traveling between 30 and 35 mph, he continued. The shooting occurred about a mile from where the officers first tried to stop Mr. Dennison.

Superintendent Moffatt would not give any additional details about the circumstances of the shooting, though he had said in the past that Mr. Dennison was using his vehicle as a weapon. County police have repeatedly said that the officer who shot Mr. Dennison feared serious injury or death for a fellow officer.

The Allegheny County medical examiner's office yesterday released a preliminary report saying that Mr. Dennison was shot three times, including the fatal hit that went through his left chest. It does not yet have the results of toxicology tests that were performed.

Also yesterday, Superintendent Moffatt said no weapon was found in Mr. Dennison's vehicle.

First published on February 13, 2008 at 12:00 am