Trial date set in shooting of sergeant by colleague

7/12/2011
BY BLADE STAFF

An Oct. 25 trial date was set in Lucas County Common Pleas Court Monday for a Toledo police sergeant charged with shooting another sergeant at the Scott Park district station.

Sgt. Gloria Burks is charged with felonious assault with a gun specification and an alternative charge of assault. She is accused of shooting Sgt. Jeffrey Bechtel in the right arm during a Sept. 20 incident.

Monday, Sergeant Burks’ lawyer indicated that the defense intends to waive a jury trial and instead try the case before Judge Myron Duhart.

Evaluations by separate psychologists were submitted to the court this year noting that because of a seizure disorder, Sergeant Burks did not know what she was doing when she fired the gun. Her lawyers have filed a motion of not guilty by reason of insanity, a defense that must be proven by the defendant at trial.

Sergeant Burks was relieved of duty without pay after the shooting.