QM Direct

Good Morning/Afternoon. Please state your name for the jury, spelling your last.

Good Morning, my name is Quinn Marietta.

M-A-R-I-E-T-T-A

What do you do for a living?

I've been with the department for 10 years now. Recently, I was assigned as the School Resource Officer (SRO) at Alturas High School. In this capacity, I'm responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment for both students and faculty.I also coordinate with school administrators to address any security concerns, and fostering a positive relationship between law enforcement and the school community.

Why did you want to become a cop?

Growing up, every kid has that one dream they latch onto, and for me, it was becoming a police officer. My parents were both detectives, so I guess it runs in the family. It felt like it was almost in my blood, and I wanted to carry on that legacy.It's more than just a job; it's about contributing to something bigger, and that sense of duty is what pushed me to pursue this career.

What training did you receive before you became an official police officer?

After high school, I went to Utopia University for my Criminal Justice degree. Once I graduated, I enrolled in the police academy and hit the ground running. I excelled in the training and ended up graduating at the top of my class. I then joined the force, alongside my parents, and they've mentored me ever since. From defensive tactics to emergency response protocols, I've had extensive training in the fundamentals, and they've been a solid resource as I transitioned into the field.

Was that all the training you received?

In addition to my initial training, I completed extra courses at the Alturas Justice Academy to further hone my skills. But honestly, the real growth came through on-the-job experience. The more I worked, the more I learned, and my field skills really sharpened. Things were going smoothly... that is, until March of 2017, when everything started to shift.

You mentioned that things changed after March 2017, what do you mean by that?

In March of 2017, the state began slashing funding for the police department, leading to layoffs and budget cuts. The whole atmosphere shifted, and the job became a lot more stressful. It's frustrating—especially when you're out there putting your life on the line every day—and to see the state unable to allocate any resources for the people who protect and serve. The morale took a hit, and it was a tough adjustment. I honestly wasn't sure if it was the right path for me.

why did you begin to question your career choice?

By 2018, gangs were becoming more aggressive, and the danger on the job escalated. I lost one of my best friends in the line of duty and that hit hard. It was a wake-up call, and I started questioning whether this was the career I wanted. The constant threat, the pressure—it was a lot to carry, and I just wasn't sure honestly.

How did this experience affect you?

The experience really rocked me. Then, I was offered the SRO position, I needed a change of pace and environment not just physically, but emotionally too. It felt like the right choice to protect my well-being while still doing meaningful work.

How did you train to become an SRO?

With the department going through so many budget cuts, I was told that they didn't have enough money to send me to training but I was offered training manuals. I had to rely a lot on my experience as an officer, adapting to the school environment while figuring out the best way to handle situations as they came up. It wasn't the ideal setup, but I made it work.

Did you ever feel underprepared?

No, I never felt underprepared. I did the best with the resources I had and my experience on the force gave me the skills and confidence to handle the responsibilities of being an SRO. I was one of the best officers, and I knew I could rise to the challenge, even with limited training.

Marietta I want to shift focus, why are you here in court today?

Cole Caple's guardian has filed a complaint against The Alturas Police Department for a pattern of unreasonable and excessive force.

Officer Marietta, could you tell jury what really happened on October 13?

On October 13, I began the day by conducting standard security checks on all metal detectors to ensure no one was bringing weapons onto the campus. When the metal detectors malfunctioned, I continued with manual screenings and thorough searches of students to ensure everyone's safety. Afterward, I patrolled the halls. Between the first and second period, I received a report about a potential situation and began responding accordingly.

what report!?

The report I received was from a student, Alder Frenchman, who approached me with concerns about what he believed to be a gun in Cole Caple's backpack. I took immediate action, following protocol to assess the situation and ensure everyone's safety.

What did you do after hearing this report?

After hearing the report, I immediately assessed the situation and saw it as a potential threat. My priority was ensuring the safety of everyone around me, so I quickly approached Cole and insisted he hand over his backpack. I was focused on getting the bag away from him as quickly as possible, fearing he might pull out a weapon. My primary concern was de-escalating the situation and preventing any harm.

can you demonstrate for the jury what cole looked like when you spoke to him

He looked at me with these wild eyes and began to reach aggressively to his bag (demonstrate).

What did you mean by wild eyes?

His eyes were moving sporadically and it looked as if he was determined to do somthing.

at this point did you know that cole was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome

No, I hadn't even heard of Asperger's before then. It wasn't something covered in any of the training materials I had reviewed, and it wasn't something I was made aware of beforehand, I heard today that Cole Caple's guardian didn't even inform the school so there was no way I could have possibly known about his diagnoses.

what was the next action you took

After assessing the situation, I sprayed Cole with pepper spray to neutralize any potential threat of a school shooting. My priority was to quickly de-escalate, so I then escorted him to the office. In situations like this, it's crucial to prioritize safety, and I felt it was better to act swiftly and decisively, even if the outcome wasn't clear at the time.

once you brought cole to the office what did you do next

I immediately looked into his bag. What I saw resembled a ghost gun. At that moment, I made the decision to leave the item in the bag, believing I had acted properly. My main concern was ensuring the safety of everyone at the school; you can't take chances when it comes to something as serious as a potential school shooting.

now i want to shift focus to a later event, why didn't you allow cole to wash his eyes when in the office

I did consider allowing Cole to wash out his eyes, but my attention was diverted when the principal began trying to open the backpack and tamper with the evidence of what appeared to be the gun. My immediate concern shifted to preventing any further contamination of the scene, which took priority at that moment.

did you end up taking cole to the police department

Yes, Cole was taken to the police department. However, he refused to answer any questions, so he was cuffed to a chair in the conference room while we waited for the gun to be processed and confirmed by CSI. We needed to ensure the evidence was properly handled before moving forward with any further questioning.

What was the report from csi?

The CSI report came back stating that the item was a 3D-printed model that couldn't fire any bullets. It was then we discovered that what we initially thought was a real gun was actually a model gun.

Looking back on the situation, would you have acted differently?

Looking back, given the information I had about Cole and the uncertainty of the situation, I still believe I acted with the best intentions to ensure the safety of the students. The situation was tense, and my primary concern was preventing any potential harm. It's unfortunate that Cole had to withdraw from his education here but I couldn't have foreseen it, I did what I had to do to ensure my school's safety . In a scenario like that, it's always better to be safe than sorry—Alturas High could have easily been the site of a tragedy, and I couldn't take that chance.