Police release bodycam footage of 2025 officer-involved shooting

Routine bicycle stop escalated to armed confrontation, police say

Suspect survived 2025 police shooting with non-life-threatening injuries

Suspect faces charges in case tied to assault and firearm allegations

DA clears Topeka officer in 2025 shooting

Lack of policy contributed to delay in video release

2025 shooting prompted incoming police chief to begin tenure early

Police release bodycam footage of 2025 officer-involved shooting

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Topeka Police Department released body-worn camera footage this week of a Jan. 17, 2025, shooting involving an officer and a 38-year-old Topeka man. The video shows an officer shooting Joseph Pham-Gardner after Pham-Gardner allegedly pointed a handgun during a foot pursuit. The department has not publicly identified the officer involved, consistent with local practices of withholding officers' names when not confirmed by official records. The department said the release was part of an ongoing commitment to transparency following the conclusion of investigative and prosecutorial review.

Routine bicycle stop escalated to armed confrontation, police say

TOPEKA, Kan. — The January 2025 shooting began as a stop for a traffic ordinance violation after a patrol officer spotted a bicyclist riding without a front headlight in an alley near the 2000 block of Southwest Clay. When the suspect, Joseph Pham-Gardner, attempted to flee, the officer pursued him. According to police and publicly released summaries of the incident, Pham-Gardner then produced a handgun and pointed it at the officer, prompting the officer to fire.

Suspect survived 2025 police shooting with non-life-threatening injuries

TOPEKA, Kan. — Joseph Pham-Gardner survived the Jan. 17, 2025, police shooting with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Following the gunfire, officers rendered aid at the scene until medical personnel transported him. Investigators said a firearm was recovered at the scene.

Suspect faces charges in case tied to assault and firearm allegations

TOPEKA, Kan. — The public release of the bodycam footage was delayed while the criminal case against Joseph Pham-Gardner remained pending. Early public reporting indicated he intended to enter a guilty plea, though his case status awaits final court confirmation. Publicly reported charges in the case included aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, criminal threat against a law enforcement officer, criminal possession of a weapon by a felon, defacing identification marks of a firearm, interference with a law enforcement officer and a bicycle equipment violation.

DA clears Topeka officer in 2025 shooting

TOPEKA, Kan. — The officer involved in the January 2025 shooting of Joseph Pham-Gardner was cleared of wrongdoing. Following an investigation by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said the officer's conduct was determined to be self-defense and that no criminal charges would be filed against the officer.

Lack of policy contributed to delay in video release

TOPEKA, Kan. — The delayed release of the January 2025 shooting footage came before the department's updated body-worn-camera release process was put in place. City reporting in January 2026 said Topeka police updated body-worn-camera policy and established additional procedures related to footage access and review in critical incidents.

2025 shooting prompted incoming police chief to begin tenure early

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Jan. 17, 2025, officer-involved shooting occurred just days before Topeka Police Chief Chris Vallejo took command. Vallejo was expected to begin work the week of Jan. 20, 2025, days after the shooting.

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