2nd evaluation supports officer’s insanity plea
5/4/2011A second psychological evaluation of a Toledo police sergeant charged with shooting another sergeant at the Scott Park district supported her plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
Sgt. Gloria Burks appeared Tuesday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court, where she faces charges of felonious assault with a gun specification and an alternative charge of assault. She is accused of wounding Sgt. Jeffrey Bechtel during a Sept. 20 incident in which she shot him in the right arm.
An evaluation submitted to the court March 1 noted that because of a seizure disorder, Sergeant Burks did not know what she was doing when she fired the gun. A second evaluation filed with the court Tuesday supported that opinion, authorities said.
Not guilty by reason of insanity is a defense that must be proved by the defendant at trial.
Sergeant Burks was relieved of duty without pay after the shooting. Judge Myron Duhart set a June 9 court date to hear any motions filed in the case. No trial date has been set.