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Review Finds Vista Deputies Were Justified in Use of Deadly Force

The California attorney general's office has concluded Vista Sheriff's deputies use of force was justified when officers shot and killed four Latino men. The attorney general's review supports Distric

Review Finds Vista Deputies Were Justified in Use of Deadly Force

The California attorney general's office has concluded Vista Sheriff's deputies use of force was justified when officers shot and killed four Latino men. The attorney general's review supports District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis' decision. KPBS reporter Amy Isackson has the story.

A coalition of Latino and civil rights groups asked the attorney general's office to review the shootings. The groups question whether Latinos in Vista are disproportionately the victims of lethal force. In the space of five months in 2005, Vista Sheriff's deputies shot and killed five Latino men. The groups also wonder if officers needed to used deadly force in those cases.

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Last July, the district attorney's office concluded deputies' actions were justified.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Gary Schons agrees. He says he doesn't see any pattern of discrimination.

Schons : That's not to say that there aren't issues within the Sheriff's Department that need to be addressed, and we understand there is a study underway by the Sheriff's Department.

The state attorney general's civil rights division will also review the shootings.

Amy Isackson, KPBS News.

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