Cop And Suspect ID'd In Officer-Involved Shooting

From Fairfield Police Department:

This is an update regarding the officer involved shooting that occurred yesterday (4/23/12).  The suspect has been identified as Robert McMullan, 51 years, of Fairfield. The officer involved in the shooting is Adam Ponce.

On 4/23/12, Officer Ponce was following up on a case previously reported to the Fairfield Police Department. A man had been seen following an elementary school girl home from school and taking pictures of her. The man had been driving a white over red car. The incident was reported by the parents of the young girl but the man and car were not located. The parents located a car that matched the description in the Gold Coast Drive area. They noted the license plate and provided it to Officer Ponce.  Officer Ponce then made contact at the Gold Coast Drive residence where the car is registered. Robert McMullan answered the door and immediately became very aggressive, confrontational, and irrational. McMullan yelled at Officer Ponce and was very angry regarding the inquiry.  McMullan pushed Officer Ponce and then attacked him physically. The struggle became very violent, very quickly. The front door of the house was knocked off the hinges during the struggle. Officer Ponce was place in a situation by McMullan where he had to use deadly force in order to defend himself.  Officer Ponce fatally shot McMullan.

Robert McMullan has an extensive criminal history in Solano county and Napa county. He has prior arrests for Domestic Violence, Assaulting Police Officers, Threatening Police Officers, Resisting Arrest and Drug Offense.   The actions of McMullan escalated this incident and had he not attacked Officer Ponce, this shooting would not have occurred.

Officer Ponce is a decorated 16 year veteran Police Officer. He spent 6 years working for the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office and the past 10 years as a Fairfield Police Officer. He has worked various assignments including: Gang Unit Detective, Crime Suppression Team officer, Field Training Officer, Corporal, and Hostage Negotiator. Officer Ponce is assigned to the busiest shift and patrols the busiest beat.  He is a very well respected, experienced, member of our patrol team.

In 2011, there were 30 assaults committed against Fairfield Police Officers while performing their duties.  Fairfield officers respond to over 70,000 calls for service per year. Most of those incidents do not involve any use of force.  There was no indication this contact with McMullan would turn violent and deadly. All officers are trained and prepared to address any threat or assault while investigating criminal activity.