SANTA MARIA, Calif. - In the aftermath of the Covarrubias shooting, Santa Barbara District Attorney's office began an investigation, likely one of the most unique and tragic cases in the county's history.
The final report released to the public was very detailed. Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley said it needed to be that detailed because of all the different people this affected.
Last summer, the District Attorney's Office released an 18-page report on their investigation in the fatal shooting of Officer Covarrubias. Dudley said the case was heart wrenching, especially because of its far-reaching effects.
"In every case where there's an officer involved shooting, it's always very sad," said Dudley. "But this was perhaps the saddest because so many different people were involved in this one and it destroyed so many different lives."
When asked how this particular case would affect other officer investigations, Dudley hesitated to acknowledge that it would have any effect.
"We have always thoroughly investigated officer involved shootings because it really is the moment when Santa Barbara County in its entirety looks to the District Attorney's Office to make sure we're being vigilant and we're being transparent," said Dudley.
Dudley said that despite the unique aspects surrounding the case, the DA's Office handled their business like it was any other officer involved shooting.
"The only difference was, really the nation was watching us because this got national news," said Dudley. "But in terms of our procedure, it was the same as it was for every other case."
Perhaps the only unique aspect of the investigation was the length of the report.
"We wrote a longer report in this case because of all the levels we've discussed. But our procedure was the same," said Dudley. "We were vigilant and we were transparent."
