AUGUSTA, Maine – A U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs report finds fault with the medical treatment given to a former Marine who was shot and killed by law enforcement officers at a VA hospital in Maine.
The report released last week says James Popkowski grew increasingly depressed amid failures that included poor communication and denial of prescription drugs.
The 37-year-old veteran had leukemia and left the Marines in 2003 with an honorable discharge. On July 8, officers responded to a shot fired at the VA Medical Center in Augusta and confronted Popkowski. He was shot in the neck.
Maine Today Media newspapers say the report is recommending that corrective actions at the Maine VA be completed by February.
The Maine Attorney General's office is conducting its own investigation.
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Information from: Kennebec Journal, http://www.kjonline.com/
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