Jay Olsen

Shonto Pete: Key person

Former Spokane Police Officer James “Jay” Olsen had been with the department 16 years when, after a night of drinking at a Spokane bar, he chased and shot Shonto Pete in the head on Feb. 26, 2007. Olsen was drunk at the time, and said he had been at a gay bar. In testimony during his trial, he described himself as a closeted gay man who hadn’t shared his secret with his police co-workers or his family. Olsen admitted he violated department policy by drinking while armed with a concealed weapon – his personal Glock pistol – but insisted he was defending himself from Pete, whom Olsen claimed stole his truck. Although a jury acquitted Olsen of first-degree assault and reckless endangerment for shooting Pete, he resigned from the police department prior to his expected dismissal for violating department policy.