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Denzil Ollen Broadhurst

Age : 61

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 10/31/2022

Location : Bell Avenue near May Street

City : Sacramento

County : Sacramento

State : California

Agency : Sacramento Police Department

Officer(s) :Benjamin Jillson

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Motorcyclist killed by police vehicle crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 10/31/2022, 61-year-old Denzil Ollen Broadhurst was killed in a collision with a Sacramento Police Department patrol vehicle driven by Officer Benjamin Jillson on Bell Avenue near May Street in Sacramento. Jillson was on duty and responding to a reported felony in progress. His emergency lights and siren were not activated.
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Jillson was driving east on Bell Avenue when he made a U-turn to travel west. Broadhurst was riding his motorcycle westbound on Bell Avenue. Prosecutors later determined that Broadhurst attempted to brake when Jillson's patrol vehicle turned directly into his path. Broadhurst collided with the police vehicle.
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Broadhurst suffered severe injuries and was transported alive to a hospital, where he died. Video evidence included Jillson's body-worn camera and privately owned surveillance footage that captured the collision.
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Sacramento Police Department Major Collision Investigations Unit detectives investigated and concluded that the evidence supported a vehicular-manslaughter charge. The Sacramento County District Attorney's Office agreed. A judge issued a misdemeanor vehicular-manslaughter warrant for Jillson on 03/01/2023. Jillson surrendered to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, was processed and released, and remained on administrative leave with his peace-officer powers suspended.
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On 11/02/2023, Jillson was convicted of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence. The court imposed 90 days in county jail but suspended the jail term contingent upon Jillson completing 100 hours of community service involving veterans' services. The Sacramento County District Attorney's Office objected to the court's disposition as too lenient.
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Broadhurst's wife and daughter also pursued a wrongful-death claim against Sacramento. In August 2023, the city agreed to pay $2 million to resolve the case.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Benjamin Jillson had more than two years with the Sacramento Police Department when he was charged. Following the criminal investigation, he remained on administrative leave and his peace-officer powers were suspended. After the criminal case concluded, Sacramento police said an internal administrative investigation would proceed.
Jillson was convicted of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence for Broadhurst's death. His 90-day jail sentence was suspended provided that he successfully completed 100 hours of veterans-related community service requested by Broadhurst's family.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.sacda.org/2023/11/sacramento-police-officer-convicted-of-vehicular-manslaughter/
https://apps.sacpd.org/Releases/liveview.aspx?reference=20230302-012
https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/sacramento-police-officer-benjamin-jillson-vehicular-manslaughter-2022-crash/
https://www.kcra.com/article/sacramento-police-officer-charged-in-crash-that-killed-motorcyclist/43168075
https://www.kcra.com/article/former-sacramento-police-officer-convicted-crash-killed-motorcyclist/45725314
https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article295221134.html