The City of Canandaigua has agreed to pay $1.5 million to the family of Sandy Guardiola, a parole officer who was fatally shot by Canandaigua Police Sgt. Scott Kadien during a wellness check in 2017.
Court documents reveal the settlement was finalized on Tuesday. Sgt. Kadien, who had served 15 years with the Canandaigua Police and retired in 2019 said Guardiola drew a gun on him during the encounter. A grand jury later found the shooting justified and opted not to press charges against Kadien.
The lawsuit, initiated by Guardiola’s family in 2018, not only pointed at Kadien for wrongful death but also accused the City of Canandaigua of not adequately training officers on wellness check protocols. A statement from the law firm representing the Guardiola family expressed that while no sum could replace their lost loved one, the judgment against the city acknowledges the gravity of the incident. The family continues its litigation against the State of New York and other individuals connected to the case.
Officials said the decision was made in the city’s best interest but maintained their belief in having done no wrong. The family’s legal representation, now focusing on the remaining claims against state defendants, has called on Attorney General Letitia James for discussions on resolving the remaining issues.
Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that Scott Kadien resigned. He retired from the Canandaigua Police Department in May 2019.
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