Kootenai County Prosecutor Bill Douglas made a correct decision when he cleared two sheriff’s deputies of wrongdoing in the shooting death of a Hayden man Dec. 28. Michael A. Madonna fired at them. They returned fire and killed him. In the exchange, Coeur d’Alene police Officer Michael Kralicek was severely wounded.

Madonna appeared to have a death wish. After surviving the first barrage of gunfire in the 65-second episode, he showed himself and threatened, “You’re going to have to kill me.” Those were his last words. Deputy Smart cut him down with four shots. The deadly exchange underscores the danger officers face when responding to any call.

The prosecutor’s findings, however, failed to address a major question: Could the shootout have been prevented?

Few have been in the position of Bangs, Smart and Kralicek. Their heroism is not in question. But the policies they followed in carrying out their duties remain in question. Is it the sheriff’s policy, for example, to leave alone a drunken man who’d slipped his handcuffs, as Madonna had done – twice? Is it policy to shoot through walls into a house without knowing a gunman’s exact location? Bangs and Smart could have been following departmental policy to a tee during the tragic shootout. If so, department policy should change.

An independent investigation is needed to analyze the policies that came into play in this shootout.

In an interview with The Spokesman-Review, sheriff’s Lt. Kim Edmonson said Bangs didn’t violate any department policies when he twice walked away from Madonna and allowed him to move his cuffed hands to the front of his body. The maneuver enabled Madonna to run into the house and grab a gun. This, even though the officers knew Madonna had slipped his handcuffs in a patrol car about two weeks earlier and tried to choke a police officer and take his weapon. An independent probe would reveal if this is the proper way to handle volatile characters.

A national expert on police-involved shootings told The Spokesman-Review that officers shouldn’t shoot unless they see their targets. Yet the deputies poured 31 bullets into the house, some as suppressive fire through a wall to stop Madonna from shooting again. A dog was killed. The shootout would have endangered others if Madonna had had guests, as he often did, according to a friend. If an innocent bystander had been hurt or killed, sheriff’s policies would now be under intense review.

Ultimately, Madonna was a bad apple, with a drinking habit and a chip on his shoulder. He was solely responsible for this tragedy. But tough questions should be asked about the actions of police officers who have the authority to use lethal force. Their actions should be scrutinized when they do.