By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- Dallas City Council approved a settlement of up to $2.8 million with Katrina Ahrens, widow of Senior Corporal Lorne Ahrens, who was killed in a July 7, 2016 ambush shooting that claimed the lives of five officers.
- Ahrens filed multiple lawsuits alleging that the city and other organizations mishandled records and donations, including allegations that the Assist the Officer Foundation processed donations intended for her family without her knowledge or consent.
- Another lawsuit alleged that some donations were delayed, lost, or restricted in ways not made clear to donors.
- The city appealed to higher courts to block the claims, but appeals courts upheld lower court rulings allowing the suits to proceed, and the state supreme court declined to review the case.
- The 10th anniversary of the attack approaches, with five Dallas police officers having died in the July 2016 downtown shooting.
DALLAS, TEXAS — Dallas City Council voted to approve a settlement of up to $2.8 million with Katrina Ahrens, widow of Senior Corporal Lorne Ahrens, one of five Dallas police officers killed in a targeted ambush shooting on July 7, 2016.
The settlement resolves litigation in which Ahrens alleged that the city allowed charitable organizations to mishandle donations intended to honor her husband’s memory and support his family. The specific terms of the settlement remain unclear, and city representatives declined to provide additional comment regarding the agreement.
Senior Corporal Ahrens and four other officers—Patrick Zamarripa, Brent Thompson, Michael Krol, and Michael J. Smith—were fatally shot during the downtown ambush. Several other officers sustained injuries. Law enforcement eventually killed the gunman with an explosive device delivered by a bomb squad robot.
Katrina Ahrens filed several lawsuits against the city and related organizations. One lawsuit sought to block the release of video and other records relating to her husband’s death. A second lawsuit alleged that the city allowed the Assist the Officer Foundation to access and process donations intended for her family without her knowledge or consent.
The lawsuit further claimed that donations were delayed, lost, or restricted in ways that were not made transparent to those who contributed. Ahrens alleged the foundation and city mishandled charitable contributions intended to memorialize her husband and provide support to his family.
The city initially appealed to higher courts to block the claims from proceeding. However, appellate courts upheld lower court decisions allowing the lawsuits to advance. The Texas Supreme Court declined to review the case, preserving the lower courts’ orders.
“Katrina Ahrens is pleased to have reached a resolution with the City of Dallas and appreciates the city’s efforts to bring that portion of the case to a close,” Ahrens’ attorney, Casey Griffith, stated. “As the 10th anniversary of the attack approaches, Katrina remains focused on honoring Lorne’s legacy and remembering him and his fellow officers who made the ultimate sacrifice that day.”