CLC student wins national writing contest
Benjamin Vitulli's research paper for a Central Lakes College criminal justice class earned more than an A from instructor Gae Davis.
His paper captured first place and $550 from the American Criminal Justice Association, which published "Stop or I'll Shoot: A Look at Police Use of Deadly Force" in a three-page spread of its official, annual publication, LAE Journal.
Lambda Alpha Epsilon describes itself as the "non-profit society dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in the administration of criminal justice."
Vitulli, a Baxter resident, is a member of Sigma Delta, the Central Lakes College chapter. He will graduate in May and apply for peace officer status in June upon completion of skills training and the licensure test.
His winning report provided a look at the dangers law enforcement personnel face in the line of duty. He cited incidents in which deadly force was used and where police were faced with community reaction to the force.
Benjamin Vitulli
A 28-year-old honor student, Vitulli estimated spending about 15 hours researching and editing his work. He secured information from numerous references, including the FBI and newspaper accounts.
"Police officers are put into situations with dangerous and unpredictable suspects," he wrote. "Many times, the use of force is necessary to end these situations. The decision to use deadly force will almost always involve some sort of legal action. The courts have continuously upheld the police officer's right to defend one's self from harm. The important thing to remember is that police officers do not shoot to kill; they shoot to protect."
One deadly incident recounted in Vitulli's paper was the June 24, 2008, shooting of Gordon Wheeler, Little Falls. Wheeler was shot and killed after entering the meeting room of the Morrison County Board of Commissioners with a loaded pistol and threats to shot the commissioners.
Wheeler raised the pistol to a firing position despite being told by police to drop the weapon. When he refused, he was shot to end the 21-minute incident.
The Minnesota Attorney General's Office cleared all officers involved in the shooting with acknowledgment that Wheeler was "serious about shooting one or more of the individuals present" and at no time did he comply with "law enforcement demands that would resulted in a peaceful conclusion to the incident."
"Are police justified in using deadly force when the suspect is armed with a knife? The answer is 'yes' ... police have a 21-foot rule which states that a suspect with a knife is considered to be a threat to the officers when within 21 feet."
Vitulli said he learned a great deal by researching the topic of deadly force. He incorporates it into his skills training with real-life law enforcement applications to crime fighting.
His studies at CLC come after a period of growing up in 10 different high schools as the son of a Naval officer. In a three-year stretch at Georgetown, S.C., Vitulli earned membership in the National Honor Society.
Still, he has a full academic plate, taking 14 credits last fall and 12 this term while participating in Law Enforcement Club community service projects, such as assisting the state patrol and county sheriff with traffic control at the annual Jaycees Ice-Fishing Extravaganza.