The Killing of Stonechild Chiefstick

The final episode of this series documents the use of force policy report considered by the Poulsbo Police Chief when he would make a determination on policy violations resulting from the incident on July 3, 2019.

Since the day of the shooting there’s been a single version of the events of July 3rd, 2019. The prosecutor, in making his decision, relied mostly on witness statements. There are problems with that methodology. What story does the empirical evidence tell?

Nine months after the shooting, the prosecutor releases his decision on whether Officer Keller was justified in shooting Stonechild Chiefstick.

How did these men come together on this fateful day? What in their histories brought them to be in the grassy area by the big rock on July 3rd, 2019. This episode gives us a glimpse into the backgrounds of the two men driving this story.

Moments after the shooting, law enforcement from multiple agencies began insulating Officer Keller from culpability. In the days after, law enforcement engineered press releases to smear the victim of this crime. Meanwhile, the Kitsap Critical Incident Response Team undertook an independent investigation—an effort designed to clear Poulsbo PD Officer Craig Keller of murder.

Poulsbo, at this moment, is a microcosm of what is happening across the US. A race of people believes they are being treated poorly and are the victims of race-based violence. City officials meet them with denial. Constituents are voicing their concerns and instead of listening, officials are pointing fingers back at their accusers.

On the evening of July 3rd, 2019, a 39-year old Native man named Stonechild Chiefstick was attending a Fourth of July festival at a waterfront park in Poulsbo, WA. After receiving reports that Chiefstick had threatened someone with a screwdriver, Poulsbo Police Officer Craig Keller—along with 3 other officers—moved to engage.

Officer Keller fired two shots, striking Chiefstick in the face and chest. He would be pronounced dead 40 minutes later.

The entire encounter lasted approximately 10 seconds.

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The Killing of Stonechild Chiefstick is a 7-episode series about the shooting death of Stonechild Chiefstick, the search for justice, the effects on the community of Poulsbo, WA and the Suquamish Tribe. Documents from the investigation, city council meetings, social media, and interviews from witnesses and community members come together to tell the story of how a big event can shape a small town.

The goal of the podcast is to help illustrate the idea that what we have now in terms of police training and accountability are wholly inadequate and that justice is elusive for those seeking it most.