Family of Disabled Man Killed by Deputy Receives Over $2 Million in Jury Award

A jury awarded $2.27 million to the family of Delmar Espejo, a homeless and disabled man killed by a deputy sheriff outside the Capitol in 2019. The state was found liable for failing to properly train and supervise the deputy. The trial raised concerns about the Sheriff Division, currently under investigation for misconduct. Former deputy Gregory Bergman, now with the San Diego Police Department, was involved in two other fatal shootings since the incident. The jury found Bergman negligent in his use of force, while all jurors agreed the state had not properly trained and supervised him. The family’s attorneys argued Espejo posed no threat to Bergman, who claimed self-defense. Espejo’s relatives described him as a polite young man with disabilities. The jury awarded $2.25 million in damages, to be paid by the Attorney General’s Office. Espejo’s family expressed grief over the outcome and wished for more accountability for Bergman. The trial highlighted treatment of the homeless by law enforcement. The Attorney General’s Office was criticized for mishandling evidence, and the state was accused of discrimination. The department is resisting implementing more cameras around the Capitol. The Department of Law Enforcement declined to comment on the case. Deputy sheriffs do not wear body cameras, but the department is working on rolling them out.

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