Family of recruit killed in training gets $1 million settlement

Published 9:41 am Friday, December 22, 2006

MARIETTA — Cobb County Commissioners approved a $1 million settlement Thursday with the family of a police recruit accidentally shot in the chest during firearms training.

The settlement includes a requirement for an independent third-party review of safety standards at the North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy, where Tara Drummond was fatally shot Sept. 13, 2005, the Marietta Daily Journal reported.

“The primary objective we’ve had since day one is to ensure safety of the training system for (the academy) and the state of Georgia,” said Brian Drummond, the father of the 23-year-old recruit.

A Cobb County Police Department investigation determined that she was shot accidentally by former Cobb County sheriff’s Sgt. Albert C. Jackson, her instructor. Four separate grand juries decided not to charge Jackson in the case, although he was demoted to deputy and barred from academy teaching.

Georgia House Speaker Glenn Richardson, retained as an attorney by Drummond’s mother, issued a notice of intent to sue the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, the academy and the Georgia Department of Administrative Services Risk Management for $5 million. Her biological father, Frank Spagnuolo, also notified of his intent to file a $5 million wrongful death suit.

No suits were filed.

The settlement approved Thursday awards both families a total of $1 million, which will be drawn from the county’s casualty and liability fund, the Daily Journal said.