<\/p>\n
Katrina Ahrens, center, accepts a handmade memorial cross\u00a0during a 2017 ceremony at Dallas police headquarters. A Johnson County jury Tuesday rejected allegations by Ahrens, the widow of Dallas Senior Cpl. Lorne Ahrens, that the Dallas Police Association mishandled donations sent after the 2016 sniper attack that killed five law enforcement officers.<\/p>\n
CLEBURNE\u00a0\u2014 A Johnson County jury on Tuesday found that the Dallas Police Association did not mishandle more than $10 million donated after the 2016 sniper attack that killed five law enforcement officers, rejecting a claim for damages by the widow of one of the slain officers.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The verdict followed about 3\u00bd hours of deliberations at the end of a weeklong trial. Katrina Ahrens filed the lawsuit in Johnson County, where she lives, about an hour southwest of Dallas. The jury also determined that attorney Bob Gorsky, who worked for the police group, had not conspired with it to hold the funds “hostage” as\u00a0Ahrens’ complaint had alleged.<\/p>\n
The verdict marks the end of a decade of litigation by Ahrens against the city’s largest police union. She hung her head as State District Judge Sydney Hewlett read the verdict. She\u00a0declined to comment afterward.<\/p>\n
Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n
“While we’re disappointed in the jury’s verdict regarding the DPA and Bob Gorsky, we are pleased the jury found the [Assist the Officer] converted donations for the families of the Five Fallen and breached its fiduciary duty to Ms. Ahrens,” Ahrens’ attorney, Casey Griffith, said in a statement. The Assist the Officer charitable organization, which is affiliated with the police group, previously settled with Ahrens out of court and was not a defendant in the trial.<\/p>\n
In a statement issued after\u00a0the verdict, Gorsky thanked the jury and wished Ahrens and her family well. Her children, now 18 and 20, were not part of the lawsuit and did not attend the trial.<\/p>\n
“We have maintained all along that we gave our best advice to ensure the millions of dollars in donations made by thousands of generous people all over the country got into the hands of the families,” Gorsky wrote in his statement. “That\u2019s what happened and we\u2019re grateful the jury agreed.”<\/p>\n
Ahrens’ husband, Senior Cpl. Lorne Ahrens<\/a>, had served as a Dallas police officer for more than 13 years when he was fatally shot.\u00a0The sniper was killed<\/a> hours later by explosives delivered by a remote-controlled police robot.<\/p>\n Katrina Ahrens was also a Dallas police officer when her husband was killed. She retired earlier this year after more than 25 years with the department.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Related: Inside the Dallas ambush memorial that nearly didn\u2019t exist, with the librarians who saved it\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n After the attack that also wounded several officers, checks, letters and gifts for the slain officers\u2019 families poured in from thousands of people around the world. Because donors generally did not know where to send them, most of the items were delivered to police headquarters or City Hall.<\/p>\n Testimony during the trial showed the city was unprepared to handle such an enormous outpouring of support. About three months after the shooting, city officials entered into a written agreement with Assist the Officer. Under the plan, the charity would collect the items, deposit the checks into its bank account and later distribute the money to the families.<\/p>\n