RUTLAND HERALD
Officer who fired fatal shot in church resigns
February 14, 2003

By SUSAN SMALLHEER Southern Vermont Bureau

BRATTLEBORO - One of the two Brattleboro police officers involved in the
fatal shooting of Robert Woodward at a Brattleboro church a year ago has
resigned.

Officer Marshall Holbrook, who was the second officer to fire at Robert
"Woody" Woodward, has submitted his letter of resignation, Town Manager
Jerry Remillard confirmed late Friday.

Holbrook and Officers Terry Parker and William Davies responded to the
All Souls Unitarian Church on Sunday morning, Dec. 2, 2001, and
encountered Woodward, 38, of Bellows Falls.

Holbrook and Parker both said Woodward, who was distraught and armed
with a knife, refused commands to drop the knife. When he made what the
officers called "a charge" toward them, they shot him. Davies, who was
in the back of the church sanctuary, never fired his weapon.

Parker fired first, although the fatal shot came from Holbrook's service
revolver, according to the Vermont Attorney General's report, which last
year concluded that the two officers' use of deadly force was justified.


Remillard said he didn't know what Holbrook's plans were or whether the
resignation came because of the shooting. Some officers in the
department said, on the condition of anonymity, that Holbrook was moving
to Florida for a better paying job in law enforcement.

"The grass is greener in Florida," one said.

Remillard said Parker was still employed by the police department and on
full duty. After the shooting, the two officers were placed on
administrative duty and then returned to active duty. They later asked
to be taken off active duty, citing hostility in the community. They
eventually returned to full duty.

The family of Woodward, a social worker who worked with troubled
children, has sued the town of Brattleboro and the two police officers,
claiming Woodward's civil rights were violated when they killed him.

Woodward died in surgery at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in
Lebanon, N.H., several hours after the shooting in the church sanctuary.
His death spawned profound controversy in the Brattleboro area, and many
condemned the police for unnecessary violence.

Woodward, a peace activist, had gone to the church seeking sanctuary,
claiming he was being persecuted by government agents and saying he was
afraid the police would shoot him. A minute after the police entered the
church, he was shot seven times, in the chest, arms and back.

Holbrook started part time at the Brattleboro Police Department in 1990
and became full-time in 1993.

In his statements shortly after the shooting, Holbrook said that
Woodward "just charged at Officer Parker" without any warning. Woodward
was holding his knife to his eye , but then dropped it down and held the
knife with its blade pointing out.

Brattleboro Select Board Chairman Greg Worden said Friday that he had
only heard informal conversations that Holbrook might be leaving, and
had no official confirmation from Remillard.

Worden declined to comment on the status of the lawsuit against the town
and the two officers. What effect the departure of Holbrook might have
on the controversy, Worden said he had no idea. The lawsuit is being
handled by the town's insurance through the Vermont League of Cities and
Towns.

Neither Police Chief John Martin nor Thomas Costello of Brattleboro, the
attorney for the Woodward family, could be reached for comment late
Friday.

Contact Susan Smallheer at susan.smallheer@rutlandherald.com.