Franklin County commissioners on Tuesday approved a $500,000 settlement for the family of aSomali man who was shot and killed by deputies in December 2005.
As part of the settlement, deputies will be required to undergo additional training to handlesituations involving those who are mentally ill, 10TV's Patrick Bell reported.
Nasir Abdi was shot and killed outside an east side apartment complex by deputies who hadarrived to take him to receive treatment. Abdi, 23, was a paranoid schizophrenic who a court hadordered to receive care.
Deputies said they opened fire after Abdi pulled out a knife.
Abdi's family sued the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, claiming the deputies mishandled thesituation because of Abdi's illness, Bell reported.
Franklin County Sheriff Jim Karnes said he did not understand why the county was forced to paythe settlement.
Karnes said deputies had no choice but to open fire after Abdi produced a knife.
"The point is even the judge says our officers did nothing wrong," Karnes said. "It's just veryhard for me to comprehend. If we did nothing wrong why we have to pay."
In addition to the settlement, all Franklin County sheriff's deputies will receive 20 hours ofmental health training every three years. Deputies who serve warrants must also undergo an extra 40hours of crisis intervention team training, Bell reported.
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