Joseph J. Howard

Date: 8/5/2021    Location: Hartford, VT                       FACTORS (1,2,3,4,12,14,15,19)      

Name: Joseph John Howard                         

Criminal History/Involved: None stated./ Yes, Howard was creating a public disturbance, causing a neighbor to be alarmed, and then assaulted the responding police officer.

Mental Illness: Yes, Howard was described as acting erratically by the 911 caller and his actions towards the officer were erratic and suicidal.

Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown./ Yes, the toxicology report showed Howard had “methadone, steroids, and evidence of THC or marijuana” in his system at time of death.

Race/Sex/Age: Unknown/Male/35

Officer(s) involved: Hartford Police Department, Corporal Eric Clifford                                        

What prompted the initial contact with police? At approximately 1:30 p.m. on August 5, 2021, Hartford Police Cpl. Eric Clifford responded to a 911 call of an unknown man acting erratically and creating a disturbance at the complainant’s house, making him fear for his safety. Upon arrival, Cpl. Clifford encountered Joseph John Howard outside of the 911 caller’s house.

Actions taken by subject towards police: Howard ignored Cpl. Clifford’s orders to stay back and instead charged at the officer. Cpl. Clifford used pepper spray against Howard, but it did not stop Howard’s attack. Both men went to the ground where Howard punched Cpl. Clifford in the head “and strangled him.”

Reactions by the police: Reasonably fearing for his life while being strangled by the violent attacker, Cpl. Clifford accessed his duty weapon and shot Howard, killing him. Cpl. Clifford was treated for minor injuries at the hospital and released.

Outcome of investigation into the fatal police incident: The Vermont Attorney General’s office determined Cpl. Eric Clifford’s actions were reasonable and he was justified in using deadly force against Joseph John Howard.

What could the subject have done that day to still be alive today? To still be alive today, Howard could have: not taken the illegal drugs he ingested; not acted erratically at a stranger’s house, causing him to call 911; complied with Cpl. Clifford’s commands; not physically assaulted and strangled the officer.

Miscellaneous: While there are no photos of Howard in any of the news reports, nor mentions of his race, he must be white because if he were black the media would have mentioned it since they always highlight the race when a white police officer shoots an unarmed black suspect.

Justified Use of Deadly Force? YES, Cpl. Clifford attempted non-lethal options to no avail and justifiably used deadly force to defend himself against a violent man who was high on drugs, beating him and attempting to strangle him to death.