Deadly Stockton bank robbery, hostage's death to get outside scrutiny

Deadly Stockton bank robbery, hostage’s death to get outside scrutiny

1/6

A Stockton police officer investigates the scene after a vehicle involved in a suspected bank robbery was stopped in the Northern California city. Three women were taken hostage by the alleged robbers; two were shot and thrown or leaped from the getaway vehicle, the other was killed. (Craig Sanders / Associated Press)

2/6

Jaime Ramos, the suspect arrested in the deadly hostage shooting in Stockton, appears for an arraignment at the San Joaquin County Courthouse on July 21. (Craig Sanders / Associated Press)

3/6

People hold up candles during a vigil for Misty Holt-Singh in downtown Stockton on July 19. (Clifford Otto / Associated Press)

4/6

Gregory Jon Martinez, left, speaks to an unidentified TV reporter July 18 about his son, Alex Gregory Martinez, who was one of two bank robbery suspects killed in a gun battle with police in Stockton on July 16. (Fenit Nirappil / Associated Press)

5/6

Stockton Police Chief Eric Jones, left, speaks at a news conference Thursday about the investigation into a bank robbery and ensuing shootout in Stockton. (Craig Sanders / Associated Press)

6/6

Police officers investigate the scene after a vehicle involved in a suspected bank robbery was stopped on Wednesday in Stockton, Calif. (Craig Sanders / Associated Press)

By Joseph Serna

Oct. 14, 2014 1:43 PM PT

The city of Stockton has hired a Washington-based research group to probe its police department’s deadly response to a bank robbery turned hostage situation earlier this year, officials announced Tuesday.

Stockton police said the Police Foundation, the group that highlighted disarray and poor communication by Los Angeles police during the final showdown with cop killer Christopher Dorner in 2013, had been tapped to conduct an independent review of “all aspects of [the department’s] response to the robbery and hostage-taking” on July 16.

On that afternoon, three men robbed a Bank of the West then used three hostages as human shields as they made their getaway. Over the next hour, police engaged the suspects in a rolling gun battle during a street pursuit. In the end, two gunmen were killed and a hostage was fatally wounded by police gunfire.

Family members of the slain hostage have called for an investigation into the incident.

“We believe it’s essential our department learn all it can from this tragic event -- but also that agencies everywhere learn all they can from it,” Police Chief Eric Jones said in a statement.

The Police Foundation’s investigators will interview officers involved in the incident as part of their probe, officials said. A comprehensive report is months away, they said.

The surviving suspect and two men who police said helped drop off the three robbers at the bank were arrested in connection with the case.

For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna