The Spokane City Council has approved a $3.7 million settlement to the children of Robert Bradley, who was fatally shot by police in 2022. The agreement brings an end to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Bradley’s estate, with the city admitting no legal liability.
The settlement, passed by a 4-2 council vote, is among the largest police shooting payouts in Spokane’s history. It includes a previous $500,000 payment made to Bradley’s fiancée in December, bringing the total settlement amount to $4.2 million. Councilmembers Jonathan Bingle and Michael Cathcart opposed the resolution.
Of the total amount, Spokane is responsible for $1.5 million, while the remaining $2.2 million will be covered by the city’s insurer. According to city records, Spokane spent roughly $600,000 in legal fees before reaching the agreement.
Bradley, 41, was shot and killed outside his home in the Hillyard neighborhood in September 2022. Officers were attempting to serve a court order related to a dispute with a neighbor when the incident occurred. Police say Bradley pulled a handgun during the interaction, prompting officers to open fire.
Bradley’s family disputes that account, claiming he was unloading gear from a recent camping trip and had not been made aware of the officers’ presence due to his hearing impairment. Their lawsuit alleged that he was shot within seconds of the officers’ approach and was not given time to respond.
In March 2024, then-Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Haskell determined that the two officers involved, Cpl. Chris Johnson and Detective Trevor Walker, acted in self-defense and declined to pursue charges. Haskell, who has since resigned, did not file charges in any police shooting case during his tenure.
Robert Bradley’s children were represented by attorney Rondi Thorp, who has handled multiple wrongful death cases involving Spokane police. Thorp previously represented the family of David Novak in a separate case that resulted in the city’s largest known police settlement.
During public comment at Monday’s council meeting, members of the community questioned officer conduct and departmental oversight. Anwar Peace of the Spokane Human Rights Commission called the settlement a “wake-up call” and raised concerns about recurring officer-involved shootings linked to specific individuals.
Cpl. Johnson, who was involved in both the Bradley and Novak cases, has also been named in a more recent shooting currently under review. Local advocacy groups, including the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability, are urging further investigation into repeated incidents involving the same officers.
