Latest casualty in War on Cops

[waltky]

This one did not have a good ending...
:angry:
Kentucky Police Officer Shot in Head Dies
November 6, 2015 | Richmond Officer Daniel Ellis died early Friday, less than two days after an ex-convict shot him.

Richmond police officer Daniel Ellis died early Friday, less than two days after an ex-convict who fled parole allegedly hid in an apartment bedroom and shot him, authorities said. "The Richmond Police Department is extremely grateful for the prayers and support that have been extended to Officer Daniel Ellis, his family, friends, and fellow officers," according to a press release from Kentucky State Police trooper Robert Purdy. "They ask that you continue to pray for them as they grieve this tremendous loss, and that the privacy of the family is respected during this very difficult and trying time."

Information on funeral arrangements will be release after services are planned over the next few days, Purdy said. "It's just heartbreaking," Richmond Mayor Jim Barnes told The Associated Press. "It's an emotional time for everyone in the community. Those guys work so hard to protect the city." Hundreds gathered Thursday night at St. Mark Catholic Church in Richmond to pray for Ellis. Ellis died shortly before 2 a.m. at University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital where he had been treated since the shooting, Purdy said in the release. Rev. Jim Sichko, pastor at St. Mark, announced Friday morning that the church would be open for quiet prayer until 6 p.m. He invited anyone who wanted to come.

Ellis, 33, was shot in the head Wednesday morning while investigating an attempted robbery at the Gulf station on Main Street. The investigation led the seven-year department veteran to Gregory Ratliff's Richmond apartment in search of Raleigh Sizemore Jr., 34. Sizemore hid with Rita Creech, 44, in a bedroom, police said. Creech told police Sizemore forced her to go into the bedroom by holding a gun to her head, according to police citations. Ratliff told police Sizemore ordered him not to let police in or Sizemore would shoot him. He allegedly had told Ratliff he didn't want to return to prison. Ratliff, 25, admitted to lying to Ellis, telling the officer no one was in the home and no weapons were in the apartment, according to the court citations. Sizemore admitted to shooting Ellis as Ellis entered the bedroom, according to a police report. He also admitted to firing at other officers as they entered the apartment to help Ellis. Sizemore also was wounded.

Sizemore was initially charged with attempted murder of a police officer and Ratliff was charged with complicity. Those charges are likely to be changed with Ellis' death. Creech, of Richmond, was charged with first-degree robbery. Sizemore has been moved from the Madison County jail to Jefferson County because his presence was a "conflict of interest" for officers that new Ellis, deputy jailer Jeremy LaGrange said. Ratliff and Sizemore are still at the Madison County jail, LaGrange said. Creech told police Sizemore attempted to rob a woman at the Gulf station with a gun after being driven there in a Toyota Sienna minivan, according to the police citations. Creech admitted she was in the front passenger seat of the van, and Sizemore told her he lost his wrist watch during the attempted robbery.

Kentucky Police Officer Shot in the Head Dies | Officer.com

 

[waltky]

Granny says, "Dat's right - we know how to handle dem cop-killers 'round here...

Bond Set at $2.5M for Suspected Ky. Cop-Killer
Nov 10, 2015 -- A judge entered not guilty pleas Monday on behalf of four defendants charged in the fatal shooting of Richmond police officer Daniel Ellis and the attempted robbery he was investigating before his death.

Madison District Court Judge Brandy Oliver Brown entered a not guilty plea for Raleigh Sizemore Jr., 34, on charges of murder of a police officer, two counts of attempted murder of a police officer, unlawful imprisonment and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. Sizemore was arraigned via video conference from Kentucky State Reformatory in LaGrange, where he is being held. Brown set a $2.5 million bond for Sizemore, who was represented by public defender Teresa Whitaker. Brown also scheduled a Nov. 18 preliminary hearing, when she will determine whether there is probably cause to send the case to a grand jury. Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock and several Richmond police officers were in district court for the arraignment.

Brown also entered not guilty pleas for Gregory Ratliff, 35, Rita Creech, 44, and Carl Banks, 35, who were arraigned by video from the Madison County jail. Brown set a $2 million bond for Ratliff, who was represented by public defenders Rodney Barnes and Nathan Goodrich. Creech and Banks were arraigned without attorneys present. They and Ratliff also have preliminary hearings set for Nov. 18. Ellis, 33, was shot in the head Wednesday morning while investigating an attempted robbery earlier in the day at Main Street Gulf in Richmond. He died early Friday morning; his visitation is Tuesday and funeral is Wednesday, both at Eastern Kentucky University's Alumni Coliseum. He will be buried in Dunnville in Casey County, between Liberty and Russell Springs.

Raleigh Sizemore Jr.​

The robbery investigation led Ellis, a seven-year department veteran, to Ratliff's apartment in search of Sizemore, who had hidden with Creech in a back bedroom. Creech, who was charged with complicity to first-degree robbery, told police Sizemore forced her to go into the bedroom by holding a gun to her head. Ratliff told police Sizemore threatened to shoot him if Ratliff let police inside. Sizemore allegedly told Ratliff he didn't want to return to prison. Ratliff admitted to lying to Ellis, telling the officer no one was in the home and no weapons were in the apartment. Ratliff is charged with complicity to murder of a police officer. Sizemore admitted to shooting Ellis as Ellis entered the bedroom. He also admitted to firing at other officers as they entered the apartment to help Ellis. Sizemore was also wounded.

Sizemore, who was released from prison in April and absconded parole, had served three years of a 10-year sentence for manufacturing methamphetamine and first-degree criminal mischief. Creech told police Sizemore attempted to rob a woman at the Gulf station after being driven there in a Toyota Sienna minivan. Creech admitted she was in the front passenger seat in the van. Carl Banks, charged with complicity to first-degree robbery, allegedly drove the minivan away from the gas station, police said. He remains in the Madison jail in lieu of $100,000 bond.

Bond Set at $2.5M for Suspected Kentucky Cop-Killer | Officer.com

See also:

Report Blasts Hospital in Minn. Deputy's Death
Nov 10, 2015 -- For days before he killed the deputy, Danny Hammond was raving, hallucinating and threatening to kill himself, his family and any men who walked into his hospital room.

Not once during his 72-hour psychiatric hold at St. Cloud Hospital did Danny Hammond see a psychiatrist or the inside of the psychiatric ward. Before his psychiatric hold was up, Hammond wrestled a gun away from Aitkin County Deputy Steve Sandberg, killing the veteran investigator who was standing guard over him at the hospital's request. Hammond died shortly after being tasered by officers responding to the Oct. 18 attack.

On Monday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released a report blasting St. Cloud Hospital for failing to provide proper psychiatric care to Hammond, whom staff had consistently described as violent, suicidal and unstable throughout his stay. Despite that, the report said, the hospital terminated psychiatric care after one day. Last month, the agency placed the hospital on "immediate jeopardy" status and threatened its federal funding until it corrected its policies. The hospital announced Friday that it had done so and its warning status had been lifted.

In a brief statement, hospital President Craig Broman asked the community to "trust that St. Cloud Hospital is safe." "The patient was evaluated by a credentialed member of our psychiatric team," he said by e-mail. "We have been asked to refrain from commenting on specifics related to the tragic incident. We look forward to providing a comprehensive review for the public when we are in a position to do so.

MORE

 

[waltky]

Marlin Texas Police Chief Dies of Wounds...

Texas Police Chief Succumbs to Wounds
November 10, 2015 - Marlin Police Chief Darrell Allen was taken off life support nine days after he was shot in the head.

The police chief in Marlin, Texas succumbed Tuesday to wounds sustained in a shooting earlier this month. Marlin Police Chief Darrell Allen was taken off life support at Baylor Scott & White Memorial Hospital and was pronounced dead at 4:23 p.m. by Bell County Justice of the Peace David Barfield, according to The Temple Daily Telegram.

Police Chief Darrell Allen​

Law enforcement agencies will escort the 43-year-old chief to the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas for an autopsy. Allen was working an off-duty security job at the Laid Back Lounge II in Temple around 1:22 a.m. on Nov. 1 when he was shot in the head during an altercation. Derrick Wayne Gamble was arrested and charged following the shooting with aggravated assault against a peace officer, a first-degree felony.

Allen was working with another off-duty Marlin police officer at the bar when he attempted to detain the 24-year-old prior to the shooting. Temple Police Sgt. Allen Teston told reporters that Gamble "pulled a gun from his jacket and shot the chief." Temple Police and the Texas Rangers are currently investigating the shooting. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Texas Police Chief Succumbs to Wounds | Officer.com

 

[waltky]

Funeral held for Officer Daniel Ellis...

Thousands Mourn Slain Kentucky Police Officer
Nov 11, 2015 -- A week after Richmond police officer Daniel Ellis was shot, many residents and colleagues from around the country gathered at Eastern Kentucky University's Alumni Coliseum Wednesday for his funeral.

After the service ended around noon, bagpipes were played and officers saluted when Ellis' flag-draped coffin was brought outside the coliseum. Officers then headed back to a parking lot full of cruisers to begin the 100-mile procession to an Adair County cemetery for Ellis' burial. Ellis was shot Nov. 4 while investigating a robbery and died of his injuries Friday. Since then, flowers have covered his cruiser and the city has been lit blue as people came together to support Ellis' family. EKU and Madison County schools canceled classes Wednesday so students and staff could attend the funeral. Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock spoke about Ellis during the service. "When Daniel sank his teeth into something he just wouldn't let it go. That's what he was doing last week," Brock said. "Our lives will never be the same again, the lives of his fellow officers and of his family will never be the same."

Ellis started at the Richmond police department on Aug. 11, 2008. "He turned out to be a great police officer. He was one of those guys that just got it and got it early," Brock said. "If there has been one small sliver of light in this black cloud it has been the support of our community," he said. "We just feel like being a part of this community it is our job to show our support for our local heroes," said Cathy Wall of Richmond, who watched the procession with family. "I think it's been amazing standing here watching today the police officers from all of the different places. We've seen them from as far away as Maryland," she said. "I want to thank the Ellis family for the sacrifice they are making for us. He is a true hero in our eyes."

A week after Richmond Police Officer Daniel Ellis was shot, many residents and colleagues from around the country gathered at Eastern Kentucky University's Alumni Coliseum Wednesday for his funeral.​

Ellis, 33, was shot in the head while investigating an attempted robbery at the Gulf station on Main Street in Richmond. The investigation led Ellis to Gregory Ratliff's Richmond apartment in search of Raleigh Sizemore Jr., 34. Sizemore hid with Rita Creech, 44, in a bedroom, police said. Creech later told police Sizemore forced her to go into the bedroom by holding a gun to her head, according to police citations. Ratliff told police Sizemore threatened to shoot him if Ratliff let police inside. Sizemore allegedly had told Ratliff he didn't want to return to prison. Ratliff, 25, admitted to lying to Ellis, telling the officer no one was in the home and no weapons were in the apartment, according to the court citations.

Sizemore admitted to shooting Ellis as Ellis entered the bedroom, according to a police report. He also admitted to firing at other officers as they entered the apartment to help Ellis. Sizemore also was wounded. Sizemore, who had been released from prison in April, was charged Friday with murder of a police officer and two counts of attempted murder of a police officer for allegedly shooting at two other officers after shooting Ellis. He pleaded not guilty Monday. Ratliff was charged with complicity. Sizemore previously served three years of a 10-year sentence for manufacturing methamphetamine and first-degree criminal mischief, according to state corrections records.

Thousands Mourn Slain Kentucky Police Officer | Officer.com

 

[Abishai100]

Anarchy Aspirin


In the Ron Howard film "Backdraft" [1991], a seasoned arson detective and his aspiring rookie partner interrogate a cold-hearted arsonist and serial killer named Ronald.

In the Danny Boyle film "The Beach" [2000], a pensive traveling American named Richard finds himself on an isolated oasis where he begins to contemplate the human value of nihilism.

Both of these films offer characters (Ronald and Richard) that signify a civilization fascination with rationalism and pedestrianism as they relate to society values.

Why do we make civics-inquisition films such as "Maniac Cop" [1988]? Why does Toys 'R Us sell water-guns to kids every summer?

There must be a way to coordinate civics dialogue with storytelling.

What do you remember most about 9/11 (Taliban-NYC attacks) and Friday the 13th (2015 France terrorism)? Are you concerned (or amused) when you realize that 9/11 is also the American phone digit call code for emergency police service (911)? Are you concerned (or amused) when you realize that Friday the 13th represents misfortune storytelling?





Backdraft (Film)

The Beach (Film)

 

[waltky]

California cop killed in line of duty...

California Police Officer Fatally Shot in Ambush
November 19, 2015 - Downey Police Officer Ricardo Galvez was shot and killed while sitting inside his personal vehicle in the police station's parking lot early Thursday morning.

A Downey police officer was found fatally shot while sitting inside his personal vehicle in the police station's parking lot, officials said early Thursday. Two male suspects ran toward Officer Ricardo Galvez about 11:08 p.m. as he was seated in driver’s seat of his vehicle at the Downey Police Department station’s west parking lot in the 10900 block of Brookshire Avenue, said Homicide Lt. John Corina of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The suspects fired at Galvez, killing him, he said. After shooting at the officer, the suspects fot into a vehicle and fled.

A Downey police officer driving in the area heard the shots and followed the suspects’ vehicle into Montebello, Corina said. The suspects bailed from the vehicle near Washington Boulevard and Carob Way in Montebello.
A search was underway Thursday morning for the suspects, he said. Three people were detained and authorities were searching for at least one more person. “It appears that this officer was targeted,” Corina said. “It doesn’t look like it was random.”

Officer Ricardo Galvez​

Homicide detectives are reviewing surveillance video of the incident and are trying to determine what led to the shooting, he said. Galvez, a five-year Downey police veteran, was nearing the end of his shift at the time of the shooting. Detectives weren’t aware of any threats made to the officer prior to the shooting. Corina said investigators believe the shooters knew the officer. Downey Police Chief Carl Charles said Galvez was known to the community as “Ricky.”

Charles described Galvez as a “tremendous young man, who loved serving the residents of Downey.” “His smile was infectious and his professionalism was always on display,” the police chief said. Galvez was a U.S. Marine and was deployed twice during Operation Enduring Freedom, Charles said. Galvez was not married and did not have children. “Words cannot express the love and respect we have for Ricky,” he said. “Our department is hurting.”

California Police Officer Fatally Shot in Ambush | Officer.com

See also:

California officer may have been deliberately targeted, police say
Thursday 19 November 2015 - Ricardo Galvez shot dead in car by two men in police parking lot near LA; Sheriff’s department says ‘It doesn’t look like it was random’

An officer shot to death while sitting in his car in the parking lot of Downey police headquarters was apparently targeted, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said on Thursday. Officer Ricardo Galvez was in the driver’s seat of his personal vehicle at the end of his shift when two male suspects ran up and opened fire late on Wednesday, lieutenant John Corina said. The five-year department veteran died in the car.

Another officer heard the gunshots and pursued the suspects, who drove off into the neighboring city of Montebello. Authorities did not say whether they believed Galvez was targeted for personal reasons or because of his profession. “It doesn’t look like it was random,” Corina said. A large perimeter was set up as Swat officers swept neighborhoods early on Thursday. A number of people were detained and investigators were trying to determine if any of them were the suspects, Corina said. No weapons were recovered.

Montebello resident Victor Bocanegra said police knocked on his door shortly after 2am and escorted his family out to the street. “They’ve evacuated some buildings and some townhomes,” Bocanegra told KABC-TV. “My family’s scared.” Bocanegra said he saw police put at least two people into patrol cars and drive away.

Downey’s police chief, Carl Charles, praised Galvez’s professionalism and said the officer loved serving the city. “Words cannot express the love we have for Ricky,” he said. Galvez was a marine veteran from the Downey area. He was not married but lived close to his siblings and other family members, Charles said at a press conference. The parking lot at the police department was cordoned off and sheriff’s homicide detectives were reviewing surveillance video, Corina said. Downey is a city of about 110,000 residents 10 miles south-east of downtown Los Angeles.

California officer may have been deliberately targeted, police say

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

California cop killed in line of duty...

First, he was not killed in the line of duty. He was sitting in his own personal car in plain clothes in the station parking lot. Second, they have no idea why he was killed. It could have been a past criminal he arrested. It could have been related to a matter in his personal life. Maybe he was involved in shady shit they don't know about yet. Or maybe he was just the random victim of a nutjob.

 

[waltky]

Quick arrests made in California cop killing...

Three Arrested in Calif. Police Officer's Slaying
Nov 19, 2015 — Three people have been arrested in connection with the killing of a 29-year-old Downey Police Department officer who was fatally shot in a botched robbery as he sat in his personal vehicle in a civic center parking lot, authorities said Thursday.

Two adults and a juvenile admitted to shooting Officer Ricardo Galvez in an attempt to rob him, said Lt. John Corina of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Homicide detectives are not looking for any other suspects. Detectives have recovered a handgun, which they believe was used in the shooting, he said. “They shot and they killed the officer,” Corina said. “That’s basically it. They admitted they were trying to rob him.” Galvez, who was on duty but not in uniform, was sitting in the driver’s seat of his car just after 11 p.m. Wednesday when two male suspects approached and opened fire, Corina said. The assailants did not realize that Galvez was a police officer, Corina said.

Afterward, the two men got into a vehicle and fled, he said. A Downey officer driving in the area heard the shots and followed the suspects’ vehicle into Montebello, Corina said, but they ran from the vehicle near Washington Boulevard and Carob Way. Earlier, authorities believed the officer had been targeted. Galvez had just attended a training session and was parked in a lot used by city employees that also offers public parking, according to sheriff’s Cmdr. Rod Kusch. The shooting happened at close range, and there were multiple shots fired, they said. A forensic unit is examining the vehicle for evidence.

Homicide detectives are reviewing surveillance video and are trying to determine what led to the shooting, Corina said. Galvez, a five-year Downey police veteran, was nearing the end of his shift at the time of the incident. Downey Police Chief Carl Charles said Galvez, a resident of Whittier, was known to the community as “Ricky.” He described Galvez as a “tremendous young man who loved serving the residents of Downey.” “His smile was infectious, and his professionalism was always on display,” the police chief said.

Galvez was a former Marine and was deployed twice during Operation Enduring Freedom, Charles said. The field patrol officer was not married and did not have children. “Words cannot express the love and respect we have for Ricky,” he said. “Our department is hurting.”

MORE

 

[waltky]

Louisiana Sgt. Found Shot Dead Outside Her Home...

La. Sergeant Found Shot Dead Outside Home
Dec 16, 2015 - A veteran Jefferson Parish, Louisiana Sheriff's sergeant was found dead Monday of multiple gunshot wounds in her personal vehicle outside her home on Monday.

Sgt. Tracey Marshall's body was discovered in the front seat of her red Ford pick-up truck around 9:45 a.m. in a parking lot in front of their condominium four-plex in the 2300 block of Ashley Drive in Terrytown, according to The Times-Picayune.

Jefferson Parish Sgt. Tracey Marshall was found shot multiple times in the front seat of her pick-up truck Monday morning.​

The 10-year veteran, who worked at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center and the courthouse, was remembered fondly by her colleagues. "She was a great person," Lt. Kenyatta Bryant told the newspaper. "She was always there, loving and caring. Anybody could go to her. She was like the mother of the evening watch for a lot of people."

Marshall joined the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office in 2005 and was promoted to sergeant of the night watch at the correctional center in 2010. Investigators are currently looking for a motive and have not identified any possible suspects.

Louisiana Sergeant Found Dead Outside Home | Officer.com

 

[Onyx]

I get that the label "war on cops" is a good spin line, since almost every liberal will reject that they are at war with cops, but I'll at least be honest about it... I want a war on cops.

Law enforcement officials are either sanctimonious or idiotic. Law enforcement officials are either intentionally justifying their role as a crony thug to reap the "Cool factor", or completely oblivious of what they are doing in the big picture of things.

 

[Maryland Patriot]

I thought golf was against the Muslim religion.

Its ok to hit balls if they are gay or infidels.

 

[waltky]

Utah Officer Fatally Shot...

Utah Officer Fatally Shot After Confrontation
January 17, 2016 - Unified Police Officer Doug Barney was fatally shot and another officer was wounded by a suspect who was killed in a shootout Sunday.

A veteran police officer with the Unified Police Department was fatally shot during a confrontation with a suspect in Holladay, Utah on Sunday. Officer Doug Barney responded to a traffic collision around 9:51 a.m. near 2160 East 4500 South when he spotted a man who got out of the vehicle and walked away from the scene, according to KSL-TV.

Officer Doug Barney​

Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder said that it appears the suspect, identified as Cory Lee Henderson, fired a single round at the officer that struck him in the head. The 18-year veteran of the department was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Minutes later, responding officers encountered the gunman nearby when there was an exchange of gunfire. Henderson was fatally shot and Officer Jon Richie was shot three times -- twice in the legs and once in the torso. He was transported to the hospital for treatment of his wounds and is expected to survive. "He was conscious and alert when I was at the hospital and spoke to him. He seems to be doing very well," Winder said. The incident is currently under investigation. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Utah Police Officer Fatally Shot After Confrontation | Officer.com

See also:

La. Deputy's Body Found in Shallow Grave
Jan 15, 2016 - The body of a deputy in Webster County, Louisiana was found in a shallow grave in a wooded area behind her house on Monday.

Authorities charged 35-year-old Jermaine Johnson with the murder of Deputy Sulyn Prince, according to KSLA-TV. Louisiana State Police Trooper Matt Harris said Johnson lived in a house behind Prince and that the ongoing investigation could lead to more charges. If convicted on the current charged of second-degree murder, Johnson could serve life in prison without benefit of parole.

Deputy Sulyn Prince​

The case unfolded after Homer police were called to Prince's house around 8 a.m. following reports that she was missing. Officers found evidence consistent with foul play and state police investigators and forensic scientists were called in to process the scene. Webster County Chief Deputy Bobby Igo confirmed that Prince was as a master control operator at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.

Prince was at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional for 10-12 years. Previously she had worked at Claiborne Parish Detention Center at Homer and, before that, David Wade Correctional Center, a Louisiana Corrections Department facility about midway between Homer and Haynesville.

Louisiana Deputy's Body Found in Shallow Grave | Officer.com

 

[waltky]

Police officer targeted and killed in Ohio...

Ohio Officer Found Dead; Suspect Arrested
Jan 18, 2016 -- A police officer in the Knox County village of Danville was shot and killed just before midnight Sunday by a man who reportedly was looking to kill the officer.

According to the Knox County Sheriff's Office, a dispatcher received a call at 11:20 p.m. from a woman in Danville, stating that her ex-boyfriend Herschel Ray Jones III had weapons and was looking to kill an officer.

Officer Thomas Cottrell​

Dispatchers attempted to contact Officer Thomas Cottrell but were unsuccessful. Deputies began a search of the village, about 20 miles east of Mount Vernon. And at about 11:47 p.m., they found Cottrell dead on the ground behind the Danville Municipal Building. His gun had been taken and his police cruiser was missing.

Law enforcement from surrounding jurisdictions began a search for the assailant. At about 1:36 a.m. Monday, a man was seen running from a residence on East Washington St. After a short foot chase, Jones was arrested in an area near Danville Park. Officers from the Knox County Sheriff's Office and the state's Bureau of Criminal Investigation are investigating the incident.

Ohio Officer Found Dead; Suspect in Custody | Officer.com

 

[waltky]

Officer Thomas Cottrell was 'Light That This World Needed'...

Officer was 'Light That This World Needed'
January 23, 2016 - Officer Thomas Cottrell was a small-town man, doing what small-town men do.

He was coaching kids, raising a family, doing his job, said Danville Mayor Robert Dile. And the several hundred people who attended Tuesday night's vigil to honor the slain Danville auxiliary police officer, gripping candles in the same parking lot where he was gunned down two nights earlier, were perhaps the best small-town testament to how much he was loved. "It's small-town love and caring at its best on display," said Danville police Officer Kevin Henthorn.

Candles were passed around and blue ribbons pinned on scarves and jackets before the Rev. Don Hosier of Greer Wesleyan Church read Psalm 23 and led the group -- including officers from various jurisdictions and residents young and old -- in prayer. A small collection of signs and flowers grew throughout the day outside the Danville Municipal Building, the center of the village about 20 miles east of Mount Vernon. Tanya Elliott, Cottrell's life partner, was embraced by supporters. "This crime should never have happened," she said through tears. "The world just got a lot darker."

She said she hopes the community keeps Cottrell's memory going, and encouraged others to do something good every day, just as he would. "He was the light that this world needed," she said. Deputies with the Knox County Sheriff's Office began a search for Cottrell, 34, late Sunday night, after a woman called 911 to warn police that her ex-boyfriend, Herschel Ray Jones III, was looking for an officer to kill. Deputies found Cottrell dead behind the Danville Municipal Building, his gun and police cruiser missing.

Law officers arrested Jones near the Danville High School football field early Monday; Cottrell's cruiser was found nearby. Knox County Coroner Jennifer Ogle said Cottrell died of a single gunshot wound in his head, fired at close range. Jones is being held in the Morrow County Jail. Charges have not yet been filed, but he's currently being held on a parole violation. Jones' father, Herschel Jones Jr., said earlier Tuesday that he's torn up about the allegations, but said he hurts more to think of what Cottrell's family is going through. "There is no reason anyone should take anyone's life, let alone in the manner his was taken," the elder Jones said.

MORE

See also:

Texas K-9 Fatally Shot; Fugitive Sought
January 21, 2016 - Authorities say that Michael Paul Koch shot and killed Smith County Constable’s K-9 Ogar Tuesday.

Authorities say a fugitive accused of killing a Smith County constable’s K-9 on Tuesday is still on the run. The suspect, 36-year-old Michael Paul Koch, was pulled over on Interstate 20, a sheriff’s spokeswoman said. Koch abandoned the car and fled into the woods, authorities said, and Deputy Constable Kevin Petty sent the dog, Ogar, after him.

Smith County Constable’s K-9 Ogar​

Petty told Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith that he heard shots from the woods and found Ogar fatally wounded, according to KLTV-TV (Channel 7). The sheriff told the Tyler Morning Telegraph that drugs were found near where the dog was killed.

Laura Parsons, a spokeswoman for the sheriff, said officers were still searching for Koch, though not as extensively as they were Tuesday. “We’ve still got guys out there looking,” she said.

Texas K-9 Fatally Shot; Fugitive Sought | Officer.com

 

[waltky]

Death penalty on the table for cop killer...

Suspected Cop-Killer Could Face Death Penalty
February 2, 2016 — A Knox County grand jury returned a 10-count indictment Monday that included death penalty specifications in last month's assassination-style shooting of Danville Police Officer Thomas Cottrell. The death penalty case would be the first in Knox County since 2006.

Herschel R. Jones III, 32, is charged with aggravated murder, grand theft and tampering with evidence in connection with Cottrell's slaying just before midnight on Jan. 17. The death-penalty specifications accuse Jones of targeting a police officer and committing the offense while he was under post-release control for a previous felony, said Knox County Prosecutor Chip McConville. "That is one crime that rises to the top," McConville said.

Agents from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation released new details about the case, including that Cottrell likely did not have a chance to react to the attack and was shot at twice. Two bullets were recovered. One was found in the vehicle and the other was removed from Cottrell, said Eric T. Lehnhart, a BCI special agent. An autopsy revealed that Cottrell, a father of three teenagers, was shot in the head at close range. Jones also is charged with aggravated burglary, kidnapping and grand theft in connection with a robbery on Nov. 13 in which he is accused of tying up Mount Vernon resident Kevin Mickley and stealing his .38-caliber pistol. Ballistics testing showed that was the weapon used to kill Cottrell.

Herschel R. Jones III, left, and Officer Thomas Cottrell​

Agents also believe that Jones took articles of Cottrell's clothing after the shooting and tried to burn them along with his own clothes. He also was charged with taking Cottrell's police cruiser and 9 mm service revolver. Jones was found soon after the killing after a short chase. He has been held since that time in the Morrow County jail on a parole violation. A misdemeanor assault charge relates to an attack on Jones' girlfriend, Tiffiny Willgrube, with whom he was living near Danville's downtown. She had called 911 to report that Jones had left her home with a gun, intent on killing an officer.

And in a disturbing update, Danville Police Chief Dan Weckesser said that officers have been on alert after at least two threats against the department. "Nervous," said Chief Dan Weckesser, "especially because we've had other individuals make threats recently." Since the shooting, a man threatened an officer in a Facebook post and another threatened the department directly, Weckesser said. “People just realy need to calm down,” said McConville. “Copycats are really kind of ill-served at this time.” Dates for a competency hearing for Jones and his initial appearance in court have not been scheduled.

Suspected Ohio Cop-Killer Could Face Death Penalty | Officer.com

 

[waltky]

Man who killed K-9 officer is shot dead...

Law enforcement agencies salute fallen K-9 officer
February 4, 2016 --Port Authority K-9 Officer Aren, killed in the line of duty Sunday, was memorialized this morning by scores of police officers, dozens of fellow dog officers, and citizens.

The North Shore was crowded with tearful onlookers as a medal of honor was presented to his handler, Port Authority Police Officer Brian O'Malley. Officer O'Malley, his blue cap tipped low over his eyes, wiped a tear from his cheek. He attended the service with his wife, Michelle, and their children, Michael, 18, Donovan, 13, and Payton, 10.

The morning service began with a lengthy procession of police vehicles from the Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway in Wilkinsburg to the North Shore Drive at the site of the Allegheny County Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Aren died Sunday afternoon when he was stabbed in the head by a fleeing man.

According to police, two Port Authority officers were walking a trail near the East Busway when they came across Bruce Kelley Jr. and his father, who were sitting a gazebo at Wood Street and drinking from open containers. Police said Kelley Jr. began to walk away, was told to stop, then began to "aggressively approach" the officers, according to a police document. A fight ensued. Police backup was sought. Officer Aren and his handler, Officer O'Malley, were among those who responded.

Police said a second fight ensued along Whitney Street, a dead-end adjoining the busway trail, and Aren was released after attempts to subdue Kelley Jr. with a Taser failed. Kelley Jr., who was carrying a knife, stabbed the dog in the head, police said. Two officers then shot Kelley Jr. who died.

Law enforcement agencies salute fallen K-9 officer | Officer.com

 

[waltky]

Officer trying to serve warrant in Oregon killed...

Oregon Officer Fatally Shot Serving Warrant
February 6, 2016 - Seaside Police Sgt. Jason Goodding was shot and killed while serving a warrant to a suspect, who was fatally wounded by another officer Friday.

A police officer in Seaside, Oregon was fatally shot while serving a warrant Friday night. Sgt. Jason Goodding and another officer were attempting to apprehend a known felon in the city's downtown in the 300 block of Broadway Street when the shooting occurred, according to KOIN-TV. Officials said that the suspect, identified as 55-year-old Phillip Ferry, resisted arrest and the second officer deployed his Taser before Ferry shot Goodding. The other officer returned fire, wounding the suspect. Both Ferry and Goodding were taken to local hospitals, where they both succumbed to their injuries.

Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin said that Ferry was well known to police and had been booked into the county jail 41 times. "It’s been 10 or 12 years since we've had an officer-involved shooting and much longer than that since an officer was shot," Clatsop County District Attorney Josh Marquis told the news station. The 39-year-old officer had been with the department since 2003 and leaves behind his wife and two daughters. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Oregon Officer Fatally Shot Serving Warrant | Officer.com

 

[Skylar]

What 'war on cops'?

 

[waltky]

Canadian officer shot responding to a domestic violence call...

Canadian Officer Fatally Shot; Gunman Dead
February 15, 2016 | Lac-Simon Officer Thierry Leroux was shot and killed while responding to a domestic violence call by a gunman who took his own life Saturday.

A police officer in the small Algonquin community of Lac-Simon in Québec, Canada was fatally shot while responding to a domestic violence call Saturday night. Officer Thierry Leroux approached a residence with another officer around 10 p.m. when he was struck by a shot was fired from inside the home, according to CBC .

The 26-year-old -- who had been a member of the force for just six months -- was transported to a hospital in Val-d'Or, where he was pronounced dead. The suspected shooter, identified as 22-year-old Joseph Anthony Raymond-Papatie, died from a self-inflicted wound shortly after the officer was wounded.

Quebec Provincial Police spokesperson Benoît Coutu told the news station that responding police officers did not return fire after they were shot at. The shooting is currently under investigation. Officers across Canada took to social media to express their condolences to the Lac-Simon police force and to the officer's family members.

Canadian Officer Fatally Shot; Gunman Dead | Officer.com

See also:

Miss. Officer Shot in the Head; Suspects Arrested
February 15, 2016 - Clarksdale Police Cpl. Derrick Couch was critically wounded while responding to an armed robbery.

Cpl. Derrick Couch was confronted by one of the suspects who opened fire on him while he was investigating the scene across from the police department and City Hall, according to WREG-TV. The officer was flown to Regional Medical Center in Memphis where he was listed in critical condition. Couch has served with the Clarksdale Police Department since December 2011 and has been in the Community Police Division, Special Operations Division and Patrol Division. He previously worked for the Tunica County Sheriff's Office.

Police released surveillance footage of the suspect that appears to show them go their separate ways following the robbery and shooting. Both both suspects were in police custody Sunday afternoon, Clarksdale Mayor Bill Luckett told the news station. The shooting suspect's father turned him in to police shortly. "I'm so proud of this man’s father for doing the right thing," Luckett said. "That's got to be tough to do, but it's the right thing to do."

Clarksdale Police arrested the second suspect later Sunday afternoon. Officials believe that suspect was involved in the robbery, but is not the one who shot the Couch. Officials have not released either suspect's name yet and Luckett said their ages ages range from 19 to 21.

Mississippi Police Officer Shot in the Head | Officer.com

 

[waltky]

Six hour standoff ends with Mississippi officer dead...

Six-hour long standoff ends with Mississippi officer dead
February 20, 2016 | One law enforcement officer was killed and three were wounded early Saturday after a six-hour long standoff at a rural Mississippi house ended when authorities stormed the house and the gunman inside opened fire, authorities said. Also killed was the man suspected of firing on the officers.

The standoff started Friday afternoon when authorities responded to a domestic dispute call at the home in rural northeastern Mississippi, authorities said. But the man, holed up in his home with his wife and 10-year-old daughter, refused to come out, sparking a six-hour standoff with officers outside, said Department of Public Safety spokesman Warren Strain. Strain said man wasn't shooting at officers before they entered the house but they had tried to talk with him for six hours and had fundamentally exhausted negotiations. The woman and child were rescued, said Strain. But the man was killed after he opened fire as tactical teams entered the home. Multiple police agencies remained on the scene Saturday afternoon at the one-story house in sparsely populated woods in Tishomingo County.

Killed were James Lee Tartt, 44, who was a Mississippi narcotics agent, and suspected gunman Charles Lee Lambert, who was 45. The high-powered rifle Lambert used was also recovered from inside the house. Tartt's family described him as a dedicated officer who had spent most of his career battling drugs. "He was just a really good guy, and he wanted to make the world a better place. Ever since I've known him he has always been the type who would do anything to make the world a better place," said Julia Criss Tartt, the aunt of the slain officer. Her husband, Don Tartt, who is the slain officer's uncle, said Lee Tartt and his wife had just moved into a new house that the officer had been building for the last two years. They had married about a year ago, said Don Tartt, adding that Lee Tartt's new wife had two children who became his stepchildren when they married.

Lee Tartt, an agent with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. Tartt, was killed early Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016, after a hourslong standoff in rural north Mississippi ended in gunfire, authorities said. The man suspect was killed. Tishomingo County Coroner Mack Wilemon said the gunfire came after a standoff developed at a house where police had responded to some kind of domestic disturbance Friday afternoon.​

Last fall Lee Tartt ran for sheriff in Grenada county but lost to an incumbent, said his aunt. The slain officer was raised in Mississippi and was a "country boy" who loved to fish and hunt, said Don Tartt. In addition to his work as a narcotics agent Lee was also part of an area SWAT team that would respond to situations like the Friday night standoff. Don Tartt said his daughter is Donna Tartt, the author who has written such books as "The Secret History" and "The Goldfinch," and she was a cousin of the slain officer. "Lee has always been a kind of dedicated kid," said Don Tartt. "It's just sad that he had to meet the end like he did, but when you're in law enforcement you have to expect that." Three state troopers who entered the home were wounded. The most seriously wounded officer was out of surgery Saturday and in critical but stable condition at a hospital in Corinth, said Strain.

The other two officers were in fair condition at hospitals in Memphis and Tupelo, Strain said. Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant called on the state's residents to pray for Tartt's family. "Our men and women in law enforcement put themselves in harm's way every hour of every shift. This is a tragic reminder that their willingness to serve can exact the highest price," Bryant said. Tartt was a decorated officer who had been in law enforcement for 22 years. He joined the narcotics bureau in 2000 and in 2011 had been honored as agent of the year, Strain said. Strain said Tartt is the fifth Miss. Bureau of Narcotics agent killed in agency's 45-year history. The last agent killed was in 1998.

Six-hour long standoff ends with Mississippi officer dead