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Posted: Tue 8:58 AM, Nov 09, 2010
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Reporter: KKCO Email

First court appearance for Troopers charged with shooting Jason Kemp

Corporal Kirk Firko

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) - Two Colorado State Troopers indicted by a Grand Jury in the death of Jason Kemp made their first court appearances Tuesday morning.

Trooper Ivan Lawyer was indicted on six counts, including criminally negligent homicide and Corporal Kirk Firko was indicted on five counts, including first degree criminal trespassing.

Their cases were continued Tuesday morning.

Both are on unpaid administrative leave. According to the indictment, Kemp was shot by Lawyer July 20. CSP had been called out to a hit-and-run accident in the Redlands and went to Kemp’s home to investigate.

The indictment says Kemp refused to answer his door so Lawyer eventually kicked it in. Lawyer says he saw Kemp standing in the dark and when Kemp raised his arm like he was holding a gun, Lawyer shot him.

Lawyer says he started CPR immediately but was unable to save Kemp.

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KKCO firmly believes in freedom of speech for all and we are happy to provide this forum for the community to share opinions and facts. We ask that commenters keep it clean, keep it truthful, stay on topic and be responsible. Comments left here do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of KKCO 11News.
  • by Karma on Apr 8, 2011 at 08:18 AM
    Jason was a fun loving man, he enjoyed life to it's fullest, there is nothing wrong with that. People could have taken a lesson or two from him, I know I did. He may have broken the law on other occasions, he may not have always made the right or best desision, but who among us can say we have never screwed up. He didn't deserve what happened to him, nobody deserves that. To his family I say keep faith, enjoy eachother to the fullest that's what Jason would have wanted.
  • by aaron Location: ashland on Feb 28, 2011 at 10:22 PM
    Although i havnt seen Jason in several years he was a classmate of mine and a good friend. Despite what people say about his criminal record the kid didnt have a mean bone in his body and i never saw him without a smile. how can anybody feel sympathy for the rotten pigs who murdered him? Tough job or not those cops deserve death and who ever hired them should be shit canned. Screw u grand junction PD
  • by Jerry Location: Colorado on Feb 1, 2011 at 12:12 PM
    I hope Firko gets raked over the coals for this. As a retired military member, I am against these sorts of abuses of authority. Just awful.
  • by Anonymous Location: Grand Junction on Nov 17, 2010 at 08:02 PM
    Even if the officer had the split second to decide on what was happening, why was a fatal one? This man did not deserve what has happened to him. Everyone has a past, and with people attempting to somehow make the connection between the past and now is rediculous.
  • by uncertain Location: Grand Junction on Nov 11, 2010 at 07:28 AM
    It doesn't matter if he was drunk or not. Criminal record or not, troublemaker or not....These officers of THE LAW are sworn in to protect and serve and UPHOLD the law reguardless of a situation. So just because he was drinking and a troublemaker made it ok for the Trooper to enter FORCEFULLY without a warrant? I think not. Mr. Kemp may have been drinking or may have been a troublemaker as you call him, but that DOES NOT justify him dying!
  • by James Location: Delta on Nov 10, 2010 at 08:50 PM
    It's too bad Mr. Kemp was drunk when he crashed his car, then leaving the scene, causing this incident to occur. I'm sure he was a nice guy, but if you knew him, you know he had a criminal record and was a troublemaker. If he wasn't breaking the law, this wouldn't have happened. It's unfortunate for everyone involved.
  • by really Location: gj on Nov 10, 2010 at 02:52 PM
    You sleek of obeying the law. I guess you don't mean for the people who are charged with upholding it. There is a thing called a search warrant. But I guess you will let that slide. The officers are wrong not kemp, they to should be heald accountable to the law they swore to uphold and protect. Their job is to serve and protect, not to punish and inslave.
  • by Uncertain Location: Grand Junction on Nov 9, 2010 at 09:20 PM
    Since when is it ok to kick a door in and just welcome yourself in without a warrant?? Does an officer really have to shoot to kill?? Isn't that why they were issued tasers?? What exactally is wrong with this situation?? LOTS!! There are people(some of which are innocent) "accused" of crimes sitting in jail waiting to prove their innocence and the meanwhile there is an officer sitting at home on paid leave(untill Oct) for shooting someone and he gets to "hang out" while they prove HIS innocence! They say to have faith in our judicial system but how can you? this is absolutely crazy and I really hope this officer is punnished for his crime, wheather its for shooting an unarmed man OR kicking a door down without a warrant...OR BOTH!!
  • by Jane on Nov 9, 2010 at 02:18 PM
    If you knew Jason you would know he would never do anything to hurt anyone. He was a kind hearted person. Why should he comply with a cop wanting to bust in with no search warrent? That's why he is also getting trust passing charges. If he wanted to get in so bad then maybe he should of tried calling and getting a search warrent before busting in the house and shooting him.
  • by Dawn Location: Colorado on Nov 9, 2010 at 11:24 AM
    It is a shame this has turned out this way. Police work is a very complex job. If all people followed lifes rules we would not need them but they are there to serve and protect and no one hesitates calling them when needed. No one wants to take a life but I believe they were put in a very bad predicament and had no choice. You have no idea what they go thru on daily bases and how hard it is for the family every time they go out to protect..I do. I have had friends killed in a line of duty way too really in life because someone wanted to do things their way and not follow the law. Kemp should have complied and none of this would of happened. How dare he put everyones life in jeopardy including his own,he lost..that to is a shame. getting to be a police officer is a very serious career and very difficult ..You should be so lucky that someone wants to protect you and do whats right. Ignorance is bliss..there is not limit to stupidity. I'm with the troopers and their family on this on
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