Latest casualty in War on Cops

[waltky]

Responding to a domestic-related shooting...

Rookie Virginia Officer Killed, Two Others Shot
February 27, 2016 - Prince William County Police Officer Ashley Guindon, who was sworn in on Friday, was killed while responding to a domestic-related shooting.

The officers were called to the reported shooting in the 13000 block of Lashmere Court in Woodbridge when they were confronted by the gunman, according to a department news release. The officers were transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital for treatment of their injuries.

Officer Ashley Guindon​

Officer Ashley Guindon, who was critically injured in the shooting, succumbed to her wounds. Guindon had just been sworn into the department on Friday and Saturday was her first day on the job. The condition of the other two wounded police officers is unknown.

A suspect was taken into police custody at the scene. "The remaining two officers wounded during the encounter are continuing to be treated for their injuries. We ask for everyone's thoughts and prayers as our department deals with this tragic loss," the department said in a statement. "We also ask for continued patience as we learn more about this incident." The investigation into the shooting is currently ongoing.

Rookie Virginia Officer Killed, Two Others Wounded | Officer.com

 

[waltky]

Suspect stole fallen officer's bicycle...

Pa. Police: Man Stole Fallen Officer's Bicycle
Feb 27, 2016 -- A man Scranton police accuse of stealing a fallen officer's bicycle from department headquarters lied about his identity when authorities arrested him Sunday, according to police.

Officers learned the suspect is Stephen Archer of Jessup when Mr. Archer's mother came to bail her son out of jail and provided his proper name. He previously told police his name was Declan Miles. Mr. Archer, 26, 404 Second Ave., Apt. C, walked into Scranton Police Headquarters shortly before noon Sunday and spoke with Patrolman Anthony Gieda, who worked the patrol desk in the building's vestibule, the officer wrote in a criminal complaint.

Mr. Archer told Patrolman Gieda he'd smoked marijuana and wanted to be arrested. Patrolman Gieda said he couldn't do that unless he had drugs in his possession. Mr. Archer said he did not have drugs, but then mentioned he'd stolen a truck. As Patrolman Gieda gathered information, the phone rang; the officer asked Mr. Archer to wait and answered the call. Mr. Archer took off his shirt and shoes and placed them on the windowsill in front of the officer, then put them back on. Mr. Archer looked around the lobby, glanced at Patrolman Gieda and walked out of the officer's view, toward where Patrolman John Wilding's police bicycle is on display.

Scranton Police Officer John Wilding​

Patrolman Wilding died in July pursuing three robbery suspects in West Scranton. He rode a bicycle as a beat officer. Mr. Archer grabbed the bicycle and fled through the front door. Patrolman Gieda ended the phone call and chased him. Patrolman Leland Palmere took Mr. Archer into custody at Lackawanna and South Washington avenues, where he said his name was Declan Miles and gave a birth date that made him 40 years old. He was charged with theft and receiving stolen property and jailed at Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bail.

Later, Mr. Archer's mother went to the jail to post bail and provided his real name. Still, he signed his property sheet as Declan Miles. The jail called police and let them know he'd given a false name. Mr. Archer faces additional charges of unsworn falsification and false identification to law enforcement. Magisterial District Judge Paul Keeler arraigned Mr. Archer on Sunday night and set bail at $5,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday.

Pennsylvania Police: Man Stole Fallen Officer's Bike | Officer.com

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Virginia policewoman killed on her first day on job; Army sergeant charged
Sun Feb 28, 2016 An off-duty U.S. Army sergeant stationed at the Pentagon has been charged with fatally shooting a Virginia police officer on her first day on the job as she responded to a domestic disturbance at a home outside Washington, authorities said on Sunday.

Ashley Guindon, 28, an officer with the Prince William County Police and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, died of her wounds after being shot on Saturday evening, a day after she was sworn in as a member of the force, the department said. Two other officers, Jesse Hempen, 31, and David McKeown, 33, were also shot during the altercation and remained hospitalized, Chief Steve Hudson said during a news conference. Guindon, Hempen and McKeown were shot at a home they were called to in Lake Ridge, about 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Washington, the county police department said. Inside the home, police found a woman shot to death and an 11-year-old, who was unharmed, Hudson said.

Officer Ashley Guindon is pictured having been sworn in by the Prince William County Police Department in this photo released on February 26, 2016.​

Army Sergeant Ronald Hamilton, 32, who is stationed at the Pentagon just outside Washington, has been charged in the shooting and was being held without bond, Prince William County Commonwealth Attorney Paul Ebert said. Hamilton was expected to be arraigned on Monday, Ebert said. "It's a sad day for everyone in this room. It's a sad day for law enforcement," Ebert said during the press conference standing next to a photo of Guindon. Guindon was a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, where she earned a degree in aeronautics. She also served in the Marine Corps Reserve and has family members in law enforcement, according to the county. The officer was a 2005 graduate of Merrimack High School in New Hampshire, the principal, Kenneth Johnson, said in a statement.

Guindon interned with the department's forensics services section while she was in graduate school. She graduated in June 2015 from the police academy, but resigned during officer field training for personal reasons. She was hired back about two weeks ago, Hudson said. "We were struck by her passion to do this job," Hudson said. "She clearly had a passion to serve others."

Officer Ashley Guindon (C) is pictured with officer Steven Kendall (L) and Lt. Col. B. Barnard (R) in this Prince William County Police Department photo released having been sworn in on February 26, 2016.​

On Sunday, the department posted a photograph of a black ribbon draped over a squad car in honor of Guindon. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God," the post said. Local media showed a procession of squad cars and officers standing at attention outside of Inova Fairfax Hospital where Guindon and two other officers where brought after they were shot. On Friday, the department sent a message on Twitter that included a photo of Guindon and a fellow officer after they were sworn in, saying that she would be working her first shifts over the weekend and adding "Be safe!"

Virginia policewoman killed on her first day on job; Army sergeant charged

 

[waltky]

Prince William County Police Officer Ashley Guindon laid to rest...

Services Held for Fallen Virginia Police Officer
March 1, 2016 - Prince William County Police Officer Ashley Guindon, who was fatally shot by a suspect Saturday night, was laid to rest Tuesday.

Officer Ashley Guindon, 28, was one of three Prince William County police officers wounded during a shootout with Ronald Williams Hamilton, who has been charged with capital murder of a police officer and one count of first-degree murder in the death of his wife, who was found dead in the home. Visitation was held at Hylton Memorial Chapel in Woodbridge Tuesday morning and was followed by the funeral service at noon.

Memorial Fund

The Prince William County Police Association has created an account for anyone that wishes to donate money to the family in memory of Officer Ashley Guindon. The association will be receiving all funds and then sending them directly to Ashley's mother. If possible, checks should be made payable to “PWCPA in memory of OFC Ashley Guindon.” The mailing address is Prince William County Police Association, Officer Guindon Memorial Fund. P. O. Box 1845, Manassas, VA 20108.

Officer Gunindon's Biography

Officer Ashley Marie Guindon of Woodbridge, VA was killed in the line of duty on February 27, 2016. Formerly of Merrimack, New Hampshire, she was the only daughter of Sharon Nowack Guindon and the late David Guindon. She was 28 years old.

Officer Guindon graduated from Merrimack High School in 2005 where she belonged to the cheerleading squad and Jr. ROTC. In 2007 Officer Guindon enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve, serving as a Field Radio Operator and in various aeronautical capacities. She earned numerous awards until her tenure ended in 2013. Officer Guindon attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University graduating in 2011 with an undergraduate degree in Aeronautical Science. She later attended Fort Lee's Mortuary School, where she was awarded a meritorious mast for achieving the highest GPA in her class. In 2011 Officer Guindon relocated to Virginia to pursue graduate studies. During this time she interned with Prince William County Police Department's Forensic Services Bureau. She had a stated goal of serving as a crime scene investigator, and it was her overwhelmingly positive experience with that Bureau that led her to eventually apply as an officer. On June 19, 2015, she graduated from the Prince William Police Criminal Justice Academy as a member of Session #36. Officer Guindon resigned for personal reasons before completing the Field Training Program, but later told friends she missed police work from the very day she left. She was rehired in February 2016 and began her Field Officer Training the evening of February 27, 2016.

Known as a bright, ambitious, and kind hearted "fashionista" by those who knew her best, Ashley loved dancing, reading and traveling. The only thing that rivaled her fascination of birds and nature was her love for her furry best friend, her pet pug, Scout. Ashley was destined to wear the badge, but her service to her community began long before her days as an officer. She assisted the Marine Corps Mortuary Affairs Office while serving in the Reserves, worked as a pre-hire with Prince William County Police Special Victim's Unit, and volunteered extensively with the Suicide Prevention Program, a cause near to her heart. Ashley Guindon is deeply loved and sorely missed not just by those who knew her best, but by everyone who is touched, not by how she died, but how she lived. Such is the fate of a hero.

VIDEO

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Player Honors Slain Officer at NFL Combine
March 1, 2016 - Former Virginia cornerback Maurice Canady wore Under Armour cleats with the name of slain Prince William County police officer Ashley Guindon written on them when he ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine on Monday morning.

Guindon died of a fatal gunshot wound during a domestic violence call on her first shift as a police officer on Saturday.

One of the cleats will be given to her family and the other will be put up for auction -- details are to be determined -- with proceeds going to Officer Guindon's memorial fund. Under Armour will also be making a donation.

Canady's cousin, Alexus is a police officer in Prince George's County (Md.) and his aunt, Pam Lewis, was killed in 2002.

Player Honors Slain Virginia Officer at NFL Combine | Officer.com

 

[waltky]

Maryland officer killed in attack on station...

Maryland Police Officer Dies in Attack at Station
March 13, 2016 - Prince George's County Police Officer Jacai Colson was fatally shot at the department's District 3 station in an unprovoked attacked Sunday.

Officer Jacai Colson was at the department's District 3 station on 7600 Barlowe Road in Landover around 5 p.m. when the unprovoked attacked took place, police officials said. "Our officers were going about their business and were attacked," Police Chief Hank Stawinski said at a press conference.

The four-year veteran of the department, who would have turned 29 this week, was transported to Prince George's Hospital Center where he was pronounced dead. FOP President John "Zeek" Teletchea told reporter that Colson was "a cops cop." "He was a personal friend. I'm going to miss him"

Prince George's County police officials announce the death of Officer Jacai Colson, who was fatally shot at the department's District 3 station in an unprovoked attacked Sunday evening.​

Officials said that two suspects had been taken into custody as of 6 p.m. "We do not believe there are outstanding suspects but the investigation is in its early stages," police said in an earlier statement.

A shelter in place order was made for residents near Prince George's County Police headquarters, but was lifted as of 7 p.m. Funeral arrangements for Colson are pending.

Maryland Police Officer Dies in Attack at Station | Officer.com

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Kentucky Deputy Shot While Serving Warrant
March 11, 2016 - Officials say that Ben J. Wyatt opened fire on Simpson County Deputy Eddie Lawson on Thursday as he attempted to serve a warrant.

A Simpson County sheriff's deputy is in stable condition after being shot while serving a warrant Thursday in the Franklin community. Shots were fired at Deputy Eddie Lawson as he approached a house on Cherry Street about 4:15 p.m. to serve a warrant to Ben J. Wyatt III, 28, of Franklin, Kentucky State Trooper Jeff Gregory said. Lawson was shot in the pelvis and right knee.

Deputy Eddie Lawson​

Lawson was able to call for help, and troopers arrived to help bring Wyatt into custody, Gregory said. Lawson returned fire, and Wyatt was shot in his left arm. Lawson was transported to TriStar Skyline Medical Center in Nashville, where he is in stable condition, Gregory said.

Wyatt was taken to The Medical Center at Franklin and then transferred to The Medical Center at Bowling Green, according to state police. He is also in stable condition. The warrant Lawson was serving was for charges against Wyatt of fourth-degree assault, menacing and third-degree terroristic threatening, according to state police. State police are handling the investigation of the shooting, Gregory said.

Kentucky Deputy Shot While Serving Warrant | Officer.com

 

[waltky]

Misidentification led to fatal shot...

Maryland Officer Killed by Colleague Was Likely Mistaken as a Threat
March 17, 2016 - The fatal shot fired at Prince George's County Police Officer Jacai Colson by a colleague during an ambush on Sunday was deliberately aimed.

Prince George's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski told reporters Wednesday that undercover Officer Jacai Colson -- who was in plainclothes and wasn't wearing a bulletproof vest -- was killed by a bullet fired by a fellow officer in the chaos of the attack that took place at the District III police station on March 13, according to WJLA-TV. "The shot that struck and killed Detective Colson was deliberately aimed at him by another police officer," he said. "It's another tragic dimension to this unfolding story."

Prince George's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski told reporters Wednesday that undercover Officer Jacai Colson was killed by a bullet fired by a fellow officer in the chaos of the attack that took place at the District III police station on March 13.​

Multiple sources have said that the officer, who has not given a statement yet, mistakenly thought Colson was a suspect during the shootout with Michael Ford. Stawinski said during the press conference that the officer did not intentionally shoot another police officer, but that he "was shooting at a target he perceived to be a threat" and didn't know he was shooting at a fellow officer.

Hei said that his conclusion was drawn from multiple sources and the investigation. While he said he was not ready to officially say why the shot was fired at Colson, he emphasized there was no malice involved. Ford was charged with second-degree murder Wednesday and faces a total of 25 counts -- including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Maryland Officer Killed by Colleague Was Likely Mistaken as a Threat

 

[Skylar]

What 'war on cops'? Cop deaths are near a 30 year low. Its literally the safest time to be a police officer in about 70 years.

 

[waltky]

Found shot to death in his personal car...

Off-duty N.J. police officer found shot dead in car
March 21, 2016 -- Police said an off-duty Sayreville, N.J., police officer was found shot to death in his personal car Monday.

The unidentified officer was a nine-year veteran of the Sayreville Police Department and worked in an undercover capacity. He was found in his car at 7:15 a.m. Monday in the parking lot of a former movie theater near the Garden State Parkway in Sayreville, a suburb of New York City, with a shattered window on the passenger side of the vehicle.

The victim may have been investigating a report of a suspicious person when he was shot, law enforcement sources told WNBC-TV, New York. "We have been alerted to a report of a body located near the former movie theater in Sayreville. The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office is investigating with the cooperation of the Sayreville Police Department," the Middlesex County, N.J., Prosecutor's Office said in a statement.

Off-duty N.J. police officer found shot dead in car

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Off-Duty N.J. Officer Found Shot Dead in Car
Mar 21, 2016 - An off-duty police officer in Sayreville, New Jersey was found fatally shot inside his personal vehicle Monday morning.

Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey said during a news conference that authorities received reports of a body found in a car on the site and that the victim was identified as a Sayreville police officer, according to myCentralNewJersey.

The shooting occurred next to the former Amboy Cinemas just off the Garden State Parkway in Sayreville shortly after 7 a.m. The prosecutor's office has taken over the investigation of the incident.

Off-Duty N.J. Officer Found Shot Dead in Car | Officer.com

 

[Skylar]

You realize that cop deaths last year were roughly at the rate they were in 1952, right?

So I ask again, what 'war on cops'?

 

[waltky]

Suspect died in the exchange of gunfire...

Illinois Officer Suffered Traumatic Brain Injury
March 28, 2016 - Park Forest Police Officer Tim Jones was shot three times in the jaw and neck during a shootout after responding to a break-in at a vacant home.

A Park Forest, Illinois police officer who was critically injured in a shootout earlier this month suffered a traumatic brain injury. Officer Tim Jones was shot three times in the jaw and neck by 21-year-old Thurman Reynolds, who died in the exchange, after responding to a call of a break-in at a vacant home in the early morning hours of March 19. The 1-year veteran of the police department was airlifted to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn for treatment of life-threatening injuries and remained in the ICU after undergoing surgery.

Here is the full statement from the Park Forest Police Department:

One week ago this morning, Officer Tim Jones was critically injured when he was shot while taking a man into custody. We receive many requests for updates on Tim's condition, and the concern is truly, truly appreciated. However, Tim suffered a traumatic brain injury, and that fact that he even survived his initial injuries is a testament not only to the marvels of modern medicine, but to his incredible will to survive. ‪#‎TimStrong‬ isn't just a hashtag, it's an accurate description of a young officer fighting for his life, and a motto and reminder for the rest of us. Each day that passes is a victory, so today we say, 7 days #TimStrong.

Tim is receiving some of the best medical care in the country, and we are thankful to the medical staff who are caring for him 24 hours a day. We too, like his family, are by his side 24 hours a day, and while we can't take the proactive role that medical staff play, we hope that our will helps sustain his. We cannot begin to thank you enough for the cards, calls, emails, social media posts, food dropped off at the station, gifts dropped off at the hospital, blue ribbons strung around town, and donations made to our fundraising page for Tim and his family. The support has been overwhelming, and will never be forgotten.

Wounded Illinois Officer Suffered Traumatic Brain Injury | Officer.com

 

[Skylar]

What war on cops? Remember, death rates last year were the lowest since 1952. And we have *way* more cops now than we did then. So the danger to any given police officer is likely lower than its been since the 1800s.

 

[waltky]

Virginia State trooper gunned down at Richmond Greyhound bus station...

Virginia Trooper Dies Following Shooting
March 31, 2016 - Trooper Chad P. Dermyer has succumbed to the injuries he sustained in a shooting at a bus station in Richmond that also left the gunman dead.

A Virginia State Police trooper has succumbed to the injuries he sustained in a shooting at a bus station in Richmond that also left the gunman dead Thursday afternoon. Trooper Chad P. Dermyer approached a man just inside the front doors of the Greyhound bus station in the 2900 block of North Boulevard around 2:40 p.m. after began talking to him, according to a department news release.

During their conversation, the man pulled out a handgun and shot the trooper multiple times. The 37-year-old trooper was transported to VCU Medical Center where he died a few hours later. As the gunman continued firing, two nearby troopers returned fire, hitting the suspect. Officials said the man continued to be combative as police took him into custody and EMS crews tried to render aid to him. He was transported to VCU Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Police have confirmed the male subject’s identification, but are still in the process of notifying his next of kin.

During the shooting, two women in the bus terminal were also wounded. Both were transported to VCU Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. No other law enforcement personnel or civilians were injured in the shooting. Approximately a dozen Virginia State Police troopers were participating in specialized training on criminal interdiction practices at the bus station. They had completed the classroom session and were conducting a field exercise when the shooting occurred. Trooper Dermyer's encounter with the male subject was part of the training and he was in uniform at the time of the shooting. The shooting remains under investigation.

Dermyer, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, graduated from the Virginia State Police Academy November 2014. He previously served with the City of Newport News Police Department and the Jackson Police Department in his homestate of Michigan. He is survived by his wife and two young children. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Virginia Trooper Dies After Shooting at Bus Station | Officer.com

 

[Skylar]

Virginia State trooper gunned down at Richmond Greyhound bus station...

Virginia Trooper Dies Following Shooting
March 31, 2016 - Trooper Chad P. Dermyer has succumbed to the injuries he sustained in a shooting at a bus station in Richmond that also left the gunman dead.

A Virginia State Police trooper has succumbed to the injuries he sustained in a shooting at a bus station in Richmond that also left the gunman dead Thursday afternoon. Trooper Chad P. Dermyer approached a man just inside the front doors of the Greyhound bus station in the 2900 block of North Boulevard around 2:40 p.m. after began talking to him, according to a department news release.

During their conversation, the man pulled out a handgun and shot the trooper multiple times. The 37-year-old trooper was transported to VCU Medical Center where he died a few hours later. As the gunman continued firing, two nearby troopers returned fire, hitting the suspect. Officials said the man continued to be combative as police took him into custody and EMS crews tried to render aid to him. He was transported to VCU Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Police have confirmed the male subject’s identification, but are still in the process of notifying his next of kin.

During the shooting, two women in the bus terminal were also wounded. Both were transported to VCU Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. No other law enforcement personnel or civilians were injured in the shooting. Approximately a dozen Virginia State Police troopers were participating in specialized training on criminal interdiction practices at the bus station. They had completed the classroom session and were conducting a field exercise when the shooting occurred. Trooper Dermyer's encounter with the male subject was part of the training and he was in uniform at the time of the shooting. The shooting remains under investigation.

Dermyer, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, graduated from the Virginia State Police Academy November 2014. He previously served with the City of Newport News Police Department and the Jackson Police Department in his homestate of Michigan. He is survived by his wife and two young children. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Virginia Trooper Dies After Shooting at Bus Station | Officer.com

With assaults down more than a quarter since Obama took office and police deaths near a 60 year low.......what 'war on cops' are you referring to? Remember, there are more cops now than at any time in our nation's history. Its safer to be a cop now than it has been since the last 1800s.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

"Latest casualty in War on Cops"

There is no ‘war on cops’ – it’s as much a ridiculous rightwing lie today as it was last September.

 

[waltky]

Cop killer expressed hated toward cops...

Trooper Killed at Virginia Bus Station Was Marine Vet
Apr 01, 2016 — An ex-girlfriend of the gunman at a Virginia bus station said Friday he frequently expressed his hatred toward police and once nearly choked her to death after she broke up with him.

James Brown III was killed Thursday by two Virginia state troopers after authorities say he fatally shot Trooper Chad P. Dermyer at a Richmond Greyhound station. Brown, 34, who had a lengthy criminal record, previously said he would rather die fighting police than return to prison, the ex-girlfriend said. "He wanted to be one of those guys that just died killing police officers because they are not taking him back to jail," she said. She spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because she said she fears for her safety. Authorities said Friday they're still trying to piece together what exactly happened at the busy bus terminal and what Brown's motive was.

Chad P. Dermyer poses for a photo as he receives his graduation diploma from Superintendent Col. W. Steven Flaherty.​

Dermyer had been participating in a counterterrorism training exercise at the bus station with about a dozen other troopers, special agents and supervisors when he was shot. Two women were also shot but were expected to recover. State Police Superintendent Col. Steven Flaherty said surveillance footage from the bus station helped authorities pull together what happened moments before the shooting. Brown, at the terminal for a stop on his way to Chicago, was seated in a restaurant. He walked toward his bags near the front entrance of the station and encountered Dermyer, who may have made some small talk, and Brown pulled a handgun and started firing.

Flaherty said the gun was legally purchased more than a year ago, but not by Brown. He had more than 140 rounds with him. Brown had an extensive criminal record in his home state, including charges of attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm and body armor as a felon and threatening to kill someone by phone. He often pleaded guilty to lesser charges or a single charge after being charged with several crimes. Brown's most recent conviction there was from 2012, when he pleaded guilty to domestic battery and aggravated battery of a pregnant woman and was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison.

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[waltky]

SWAT officer killed serving warrant in Columbus, Ohio...

Columbus Police Officer Succumbs to Wounds
April 12, 2016 - SWAT Officer Steven M. Smith died Tuesday evening, two days after he was shot in the head while attempting to serve a warrant.

Columbus police SWAT Officer Steven M. Smith had one final act of service. He donated his organs, giving life to up to eight people. Smith died Tuesday evening, two days after he was shot in the head while SWAT officers tried to serve a warrant on a man who had barricaded himself in his Clintonville home. Columbus police say that Smith, 54, died just before 5 p.m. at Ohio State's Wexner Medical Center, surrounded by his family. He had been with the Columbus Police Division for 27 years, serving on the SWAT team, helicopter unit, narcotics bureau and dive team, among others. "He lived life 100 percent and 100 miles per hour," said police Chief Kim Jacobs. "He got more out of it then most people ever will." Funeral arrangements, Jacobs said, are pending.

Smith is survived by his wife of 32 years, Lisa Smith; a son, Jesse, and a daughter, Brittany. The man accused of shooting Smith, Lincoln Rutledge, appeared in court earlier on Tuesday, his eyes downcast and his hands cuffed. Rutledge, 44, is being held without bond. Franklin County Municipal Court Judge Jim O'Grady said he agreed with a motion made by Prosecutor Ron O'Brien that Rutledge should not be afforded the chance to bond out of the Downtown jail while he awaits trial. "I don't feel that there are conditions of release that will ensure the safety of the public," O'Grady said. Rutledge said nothing during his brief court appearance on a charge of felonious assault. That was before Smith died; homicide charges are expected to be filed since the death, but that hadn't yet occurred late Tuesday.

Rutledge also has been charged with arson, which accuses him of setting fire to his ex-wife's home Saturday morning. It was that warrant that SWAT officers were attempting to serve on Rutledge about 13 hours later when they became enmeshed in a standoff with him at his apartment on California Avenue in Clintonville. Rutledge shot at SWAT officers approaching in an armored vehicle, and one of the bullets struck Smith in his head, detective Anne Pennington testified in court on Tuesday. Pennington is a homicide detective and a member of the Division's Critical Incident Response Team, which is made up of veteran homicide detectives who investigate high-profile incidents such as police-involved shootings and in-custody deaths. Pennington said witnesses placed Rutledge at the scene of the earlier fire, that he had threatened to harm his estranged wife, and that he left Ohio after learning of a judge's probate order in March that his mental health be assessed.

O'Brien said after the hearing that Rutledge eventually turned up in Missouri in late March, where he has family. Officers there spoke to him but had no cause to arrest him, and he did not face any felonies in Ohio that could have resulted in his extradition. Ultimately, O'Brien said, he came back to Ohio on his own. Family and co-workers of Rutledge's reported to police in recent weeks that his mental state had deteriorated markedly. He resigned on April 3 from his $87,000-a-year job as an IT security engineer at Ohio State University, a few weeks after OSU had cut off his access to the university's buildings and computer systems due to his increasingly erratic behavior since taking personal leave on Feb. 1. One co-worker said he became more troubled when he and his wife separated in August.

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[MikeK]

An attendant tragedy in examples of random police assassination is the probability that the victim was a decent individual who bears no similarity to the kind of sadistic bullies who are collectively responsible for the rising hatred of cops.

When a cop does something commendable it projects a favorable impression onto all cops. Likewise, when a cop does something offensive or contemptible it tends to color all cops as bad guys, making them all targets for the occasional psycho or the vengeful individual who was wrongfully abused by one or a small number of bad cops.

 

[waltky]

Houston deputy shot in the back...

Deputy ambushed, shot in back after traffic stop
14 Apr.`16 - A Harris County Precinct 7 Deputy Constable remains in the ICU after being shot several times during an ambush in Houston’s Third Ward overnight.

Constable May Walker said Deputy Alden Clopton was rushed into surgery with four bullets still lodged inside of him. Clopton remains in critical condition but he is expected to survive. "We don't anticipate any further surgical procedures are warranted or necessary at this point," said Memorial Hermann Surgeon Dr. Joseph Love. "I anticipate he will be in the hospital for a week or so." Clopton is a married father of six. His wife, oldest son and three brothers are in law enforcement. They rushed to the hospital to be by his side. "He has shown his due diligence and dedication to the community he serves. He grew up on the same streets that he serves on," said Todre Clopton, a police officer in Biloxi, Mississippi. "We are just asking for your continued prayers. We thank everyone from around the world for your continued support and prayers."

The shooting happened around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday on Alabama near Briley, not far from TSU. Pct. 7 officials said a female reserve deputy constable made a traffic stop, and the male deputy constable pulled in to offer assistance. After the traffic stop wrapped up, Clopton was leaning into the reserve deputy's passenger window to help with the patrol unit’s audio-visual equipment. That’s when a man approached from behind and fired at least six shots, four of which struck the deputy in his back. Walker said the wounded deputy never saw the attack coming. “It was virtually an ambush, is what it was,” said Constable Walker. The reserve deputy returned fire, and the suspect fled. A man matching the suspect’s description later showed up at a nearby fire station and is was still being questioned hours later as a "person of interest."

He has not been charged. Thursday afternoon investigators were back on the scene looking for more evidence. They said the crime was partially captured on surveillance cameras at a nearby store, but the video does not show the shooter. According to Lt. Holland Jones, Deputy Clopton is an 11-year veteran of the force who mentors new officers. "I would just like to say our prayers are with him and his family. I hope the community's prayers are with us and his family, and that he pulls through surgery in an excellent manner." “It’s going to be a recovery period, we’re just asking everyone pray for him and his family," Constable Walker later said. Walker said Clopton was wearing his bullet-proof vest at the time of the attack, and the vest may have saved his life.

Harris County Pct. 7 Deputy Constable ambushed, shot in back

 

[waltky]

The bond of blue...

Killings of Officers Felt Deeply Across Ranks
April 18, 2016 - The bond felt between police officers and among agencies is never highlighted quite so much as when tragedy strikes the ranks.

Danville Police Chief Dan Weckesser knows as well as anyone in Knox County the breadth of the loss felt after one of his officers, Thomas Cottrell Jr., was shot and killed earlier this year. He knows his officers are hurting. But he also has discovered that the pain and the uncertainty dwell even in the mind of his 14-year-old son. "Whenever I get a call and I go to leave at night," Weckesser said, "my son tells me that he can't sleep if I'm not there. "I told my son, 'We'll have to work through this. You know what I do.' "

Cottrell, who was ambushed and shot to death Jan. 17, was the first Ohio law-enforcement officer to be killed in the line of duty this year. Last week, Columbus SWAT Officer Steven M. Smith became the second. Smith died Tuesday, two days after he was shot during a standoff in Clintonville as he manned the turret of one of the Police Division's armored vehicles. His funeral on Tuesday is expected to draw hundreds of officers. Some will be from Danville.

The bond felt between police officers and among agencies is never highlighted quite so much as when tragedy strikes the ranks.​

The bond felt between police officers and among agencies is never highlighted quite so much as when tragedy strikes the ranks. "I've been to a lot of police funerals, and there is no greater demonstration of grief than you will see at a police funeral," said Jim Pasco, executive director of the National Fraternal Order of Police. Police officers "know the possibility exists that it may be their day. This is magnified whenever one of their brothers or sisters is hurt or killed."

Jason Pappas, president of the local FOP lodge, said those bonds can be strongest in a unit like SWAT, where the team is small and the work intense. "They've been in the same unit for years together," Pappas said. "That's no different than losing a brother or sister." "The department is a family," said David A. Harris, a law professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and an expert in police conduct. "For most officers, it is their cultural and occupational home. Losing someone in a violent death is a terrible thing, and they feel this very keenly."

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[waltky]

More states should follow suit...

La. Considers Hate Crime Protection for Police
April 21, 2016 - The Louisiana Legislature is weighing a bill that would make it a hate crime to target police officers and firefighters -- mimicking a national movement to carve out protections for law enforcement.

The House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee unanimously agreed on Wednesday to send the hate crime extension to the full House for consideration. House Bill 953 would also have to be vetted by the Senate. State Rep. Lance Harris, an Alexandria Republican who is pushing the bill, said a recent spike in attacks on first responders has created the need for additional protection. A suburban Houston sheriff's deputy was shot 15 times at a gas station last fall. Police have alleged that the ambush took place because the victim was a law enforcement officer, Harris noted.

In Florida in 2014, firefighters were targeted in a high-profile drive-by shooting, and similar cases have popped up across the country. "For no reason, shots were fired at these firefighters because they were public servants," Harris said. No one spoke against Harris' bill, which resembles a push on the national level to expand the federal hate crime law to cover cops. That effort is backed by the nation's largest police union. Chuck Canterbury, national president for the Fraternal Order of Police, said the extension's needed because of anti-police sentiment that has been fueled by controversial deaths by law enforcement in Ferguson, Missouri, and elsewhere. "The level of violence aimed at law enforcement officers has escalated in every region of our county and it is being fanned by the seething hatred of a small, but vocal few who are adept at manipulating the media," Canterbury said in a statement last fall.

The Louisiana Legislature is weighing a bill that would make it a hate crime to target police officers and firefighters -- mimicking a national movement to carve out protections for law enforcement.

The movement -- at least one bill has been proposed at the Congressional level -- has been dubbed the "Blue Lives Matter" effort, in contrast to the "Black Lives Matter" advocacy campaign that highlights violence against African Americans, particularly at the hands of law enforcement. Louisiana saw a sharp uptick in officer deaths last year that some ascribed, a least in part, to tension among law enforcement and the public. Under current state law, hate crime charges can be brought in some criminal cases in which the victim is targeted based on race, age, gender, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, creed, sexual orientation or organizational affiliation.

HB 953 would add those same protections for any victim selected based upon his or her actual or perceived employment as a law enforcement officer or firefighter. People convicted of felonies with the additional hate crime penalties face an additional five years in prison and up to $5,000 fine. In misdemeanor cases, the hate crime statute increases penalties by $500 or up to six months in prison. Two other bills at the Capitol seek to include gender identity to the state hate crimes statute to protect transgender people. Neither House Bill 501 nor Senate Bill 332 has had a committee hearing this session.

Louisiana Considers Hate Crime Protections for Police | Officer.com​

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[Militants]

I thought golf was against the Muslim religion.

Maybe so, but it's not against the Muslim Brotherhood of which Obama is subscribed.

Not against whole Islam world. Maybe to S.A. like surelly.