Latest casualty in War on Cops

[waltky]

K-9 officer killed assisting search warrant arrest...

Utah K-9 Killed; Suspect Shot During Standoff
April 28, 2016 | Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake K-9 Aldo was assisting in serving an arrest and search warrant when he was fatally shot late Wednesday.

Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake K-9 Aldo was assisting in serving an arrest and search warrant on a suspect at a residence at 4300 South 700 East around 11 p.m., according to KTVX. Police officials said that David Shane Anderson allegedly fled from officers during a high speed pursuit last week.

When officers arrived, they attempted to go inside and clear the home with the K-9 after no one answered. Once inside, shot were fired at K-9 Aldo, who was pronounced dead at the scene. "The K-9 is one of our officers . . . and it's a tragedy . . . and our handler, our entire K-9 unit and our entire department is mourning that but thank God it wasn't one of our officers," Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder told the news station.

SWAT officers attempted to remove the shooting suspect from the home, but he had barricaded himself inside. Officers made contact with the suspect, who had been been shot, after tear gas was deployed. He was transported to Intermountain Medical Center in critical condition. Police were trying to determine if the man taken to the hospital was Anderson -- the man they were serving the search warrant to.

Utah K-9 Killed; Suspect Shot During Standoff | Officer.com​

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[waltky]

Suspect wounded in subsequent shoot-out with police...

Kansas Police Officer Fatally Shot by Suspect
May 9, 2016 - A Kansas City police detective died Monday, several hours after officials said he was shot near the Kansas Speedway by 28-year-old Curtis Ayers.

A Kansas City, Kan., police detective died Monday, several hours after being shot near the Kansas Speedway. The man being sought in the shooting, Curtis Ayers, 28, of Tonganoxie, was arrested by Kansas City police after he was wounded in a shootout in the area of Bannister Road and Bruce R. Watkins Drive. He was reported in stable condition. A woman was also wounded at the scene of where Ayers was captured. Her injury was believed to be non-life threatening. After the detective was shot, Ayers allegedly fled in the detective’s unmarked police vehicle. Within minutes he allegedly carjacked another vehicle nearby. A short time after that he was believed to have carjacked another vehicle in Basehor.

Less than two and a half hours later, the silver Ford Focus taken in Basehor was involved in a wreck, and police shot and arrested Ayers. Police said the wreck occurred while Ayers was trying to exit east onto Bannister Road. He failed to negotiate the turn and crashed into a concrete pillar. “We need an ambulance, code,” the officer said. “Get ’em here quick.” The string of events began earlier in the afternoon, after police in Kansas City, Kan., were asked to check on a suspicious person near 110th Street and Village West Parkway about 12:15 p.m. That person, believed to be Ayers, ran from two officers north toward the speedway.

A detective heard the call and went to assist the officers, said Officer Patrick McCallop, a Kansas City, Kan., police spokesman. The detective exchanged gunshots with the man. The detective was hit more than once. “Don’t know how serious yet,” Kansas City, Kan., Police Chief Terry Zeigler tweeted shortly afterward. The gunman took the detective’s unmarked car and fled. He then carjacked a gold Toyota Camry at 118th Street and State Avenue and took off with two children still inside. Police requested multiple ambulances at that location. Police later found the car and the children abandoned in Basehor. The children were unharmed.

About 1:05 p.m., police reported that the carjacker had taken a silver Ford Focus at gunpoint in Basehor. A witness described the carjacker as blood-covered. At 2:09 p.m., Ziegler tweeted a brief update on the detective: “Officer in surgery. Please pray for him and his family!” Meanwhile, officers converged on Tonganoxie to check his neighborhood and others for Ayers. As they talked to nervous Tonganoxie neighbors of Ayers, a police officer announced, “We got him.” One lady hollered: “Did you kill him?” “No,” the officer said. “He’s shot up.”

VIDEO

 

[waltky]

Identity of fallen Kansas police officer released...

Fallen Kansas Police Detective Mourned
May 10, 2016 - Detective Brad Lancaster was fatally shot Monday afternoon while attempting to stop a suspect who ran from other officers near the Kansas Speedway.

As a city and its police department mourn Tuesday, prosecutors from multiple jurisdictions are conferring about charges against the man who allegedly killed a Kansas City, Kan., police detective Monday. Detective Brad Lancaster was fatally shot early in the afternoon while attempting to stop a suspect who ran from other officers just south of the Kansas Speedway. The suspect, identified by police as 28-year-old Curtis Ayers, allegedly shot Lancaster multiple times before fleeing in the detective's unmarked vehicle. Ayers was later shot and wounded by Kansas City police and taken into custody. He remained hospitalized Tuesday and is expected to survive.

A public vigil for Lancaster is planned for 7:30 p.m. tonight at Kansas City, Kan., City Hall. A memorial fund has been established for Lancaster's family. Contributions can be made at any branch of the Greater KC Public Safety Credit Union or at Kansas City, Kan., Police Headquarters at 7th Street and Minnesota Avenue. Lancaster, 39, a nine-year member of the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, was an Air Force veteran who formerly worked for the Platte County Sheriff's office. Meanwhile Tuesday, prosecutors from Wyandotte, Jackson and Leavenworth counties were working out details of where and when charges will be filed for Monday's violent crime spree. Officials said they anticipate that Wyandotte County prosecutors will likely announce charges Wednesday.

Detective Brad Lancaster​

Prosecutors in Jackson and Leavenworth counties have not said if they will pursue charges for crimes committed in their jurisdictions. In Kansas, the intentional killing of a police officer is a capital offense that carries a possible death sentence. Ayers, 28, was paroled for prison in January, and could also be subject to federal charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm or using a firearm in a crime of violence. Also on Tuesday, more details emerged about Monday's multi-state crime spree that began shortly after noon when Lancaster was fatally shot, and his unmarked police car was taken, allegedly by Ayers. A short time later, as Ayers drove west on State Avenue, another Kansas City, Kan., police officer rammed the detective's stolen car. Ayers was then involved in a crash with another vehicle in the area of 118th Street and State Avenue.

There, he allegedly confronted a woman at gunpoint who was driving with two small children in her vehicle. He forced a woman from her vehicle and drove off with the children still inside as their mother frantically tried to stop him. She suffered minor injuries, according to police. In the woman's car, Ayers drove west and then north on Kansas 7 to the city of Basehor. Basehor Police Chief Lloyd Martley said Ayers drove into the Falcon Lakes subdivision and was driving on 141st Street when he spotted a house with an open garage that had a car in it. Ayers pulled into the garage, then walked into the house where he confronted the resident at gunpoint. "He was sitting on the couch when he turned around and had a gun in his face," the chief said. The gunman demanded money, clothing and the homeowner's car keys.

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[waltky]

Officer dies from shootout wounds...

Wounded Phoenix Cop Succumbs to Wound
May 19, 2016 - A Phoenix police officer who was critically wounded in a shootout Wednesday afternoon succumbed to his injuries Thursday morning.

Officers responded to report of a residential burglary-in-progress around 2:30 p.m. near 51st Avenue and Baseline Road involving an armed suspect when the shooting occurred, according to KNXV-TV. As the officers arrived on the scene, the suspect -- who was seated in a van parked in the driveway, opened fire on them, wounding Officer David Glasser. The officers returned fire, fatally shooting the gunman.

Glasser was transported to a local hospital in extremely critical condition and remained there until he was pronounced dead the following morning. "We are grateful for the support we receive from our community in gentle times and in troubled times," the Phoenix Police Department wrote in a statement. "It means a great deal to our officers. Please continue to share your thoughts and prayers for the Glasser family."

Glasser, who served as a member of the Neighborhood Enforcement Team in the Maryvale precinct, is survived by his wife and two small children as well as his parents, sister, and a close extended family.

Wounded Phoenix Police Officer Succumbs to Wounds | Officer.com​

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California K-9 Shot During 2014 Manhunt Dies
May 19, 2016 | Anaheim Police K-9 Bruno, who was shot by a suspect two years ago, died Wednesday morning due to complications stemming from the incident.

Bruno was taken to a hospital Saturday night, where he underwent emergency surgery related to complications from the shooting, said Daron Wyatt, Anaheim police spokesman. The dog's organs began shutting down early Wednesday and a decision was made to end his suffering, Wyatt said. Shortly before 6 a.m., Bruno was put down. "All of the K-9 handlers were there with him," Wyatt said. "There was a good group of people around him."

Bruno was shot in the face March 20, 2014, while searching for a suspected parole violator with his handler, Officer R.J. Young. He had approached a trash can where the suspect was hiding, and the suspect then stuck a gun through the lid and began firing, striking Bruno, according to Wyatt. A bullet slammed into Bruno's jaw, shattering it, and another entered his chest cavity, damaging his internal organs, Wyatt said. The suspect was later shot and killed by police. Bruno "is credited with saving the lives of a couple of officers on that shooting incident, where he took the bullets," Wyatt said. "It's a tragedy that it had to happen."

Anaheim Police K-9 Bruno, left, and his handler, Officer R.J. Young​

Bruno's story drew national attention, as the injured police canine was slowly nursed back to health. Then Mayor Pro Tem Kris Murray called the dog "a hometown hero" in 2014. The canine had been living with the Young family. R.J. Young's wife, Rachel Young, wrote a children's book about Bruno and his interaction, after his retirement, with the couple's daughter Grace. The book was dedicated to all law enforcement officer families, "especially those with K-9s."

The Friends of the Anaheim Police Canine Assn. posted a message on Facebook for Bruno, touting the bond between R.J. Young and Bruno and offering prayers to the Young family. "Bruno was a warrior to the end and we will never forget OUR HERO," the post read. "Rest well 26K2; we know you will be vigilantly watching over RJ and the rest of us from Heaven."

California Police K-9 Shot During 2014 Manhunt Dies | Officer.com

 

[MikeK]

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.

[...]

Do any of these pandering whores really believe that someone who is motivated to assassinate a cop would be discouraged because to do so is a "hate crime?"

In many (most?) states the penalty for killing a cop is death. In states where there is no death penalty it is life in prison with no possibility of parole. So what effect will a "hate crime" law have? The very concept of a "hate crime" is as contemptibly absurd as is the notion of a "love crime." It is a textbook example of lubricious politicians pandering to stupid constituents.

 

[Trump.Stamped]

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.

[...]

Do any of these pandering whores really believe that someone who is motivated to assassinate a cop would be discouraged because to do so is a "hate crime?"

In many (most?) states the penalty for killing a cop is death. In states where there is no death penalty it is life in prison with no possibility of parole. So what effect will a "hate crime" law have? The very concept of a "hate crime" is as contemptibly absurd as is the notion of a "love crime." It is a textbook example of lubricious politicians pandering to stupid constituents.

I agree with that. Never understood the hate crime thing. What difference does it make if I kill someone because they are a certain color, or religion, or profession? Murder is murder.

 

[waltky]

Cop killer killed after standoff...

Mass. Officer Fatally Shot During Traffic Stop
May 22, 2016 - Auburn Police Officer Ronald Tarentino Jr. was shot by the occupant of a vehicle he pulled over.

Police surrounded a house this afternoon about four miles from the scene of an Auburn police officer's murder, and gunshots were heard as police deployed tear gas and a robot. Police are hunting for a man suspected of shooting Officer Ronald Tarentino Jr, a 42-year-old father of three, who later died from his wounds. The house on Watch Street in Oxford is about four miles from the Auburn intersection where Tarentino was shot. State and local police surrounded the house and were using a bullhorn to tell the occupants to come out. A be-on-the-lookout alert identifies the suspect as Jorge Zambrano, 35, of Worcester, and describes him as "armed and dangerous .... Officers are advised to use extreme caution." The alert says he was driving a white 1997 Infiniti QX4 SUV with an attached Massachusetts license plate of 4PJX80 that is not registered to the vehicle.

Meanwhile, an Auburn couple said they want Tarentino's family to know he wasn't alone as he lay on the street, shot by a man authorities say is now a fugitive. The shooting occurred on Rochdale Street at about 12:30 a.m. Tammy and Edward Lemieux's window overlooks the scene. "We were headed to bed and we heard gunshots and went to the window and heard him, 'I'm shot, I'm shot, I'm down, help me!' I grabbed towels and flew down as fast as we could to help him," said Tammy Lemieux, 41, adding that she was simultaneously trying to call 911 on her cell phone, but she said, "I couldn't move my fingers." From their window above the fatal shooting scene by to Stoneville Reservoir, Tammy Lemieux said she and her husband could see the blue lights of Tarentino's cruiser flashing and the officer lying beside the driver's side door, clutching his mike. They didn't see the suspect or the suspect's vehicle, which were already gone. They later spotted Tarentino's handgun and flashlight in the road. They ran down to help him. "Somebody was with him, comforting him, and we are so sorry for their loss," Tammy Lemieux said, sobbing. "I just wish I could have done more. I told him he was going to be OK."

Tarentino, 42, was a father of three children, and had transferred to Auburn from the Leicester police department two years ago. "The Auburn police, the town of Auburn and the law enforcement community suffered a tragic loss this morning," Auburn Police Chief Andrew Sluckis said, reading from a prepared statement, flanked by Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. and State Police Colonel Richard McKeon. Sluckis said Tarentino was shot by the occupant of a vehicle he pulled over on Rochdale Street at 12:30 a.m., who then fled in the vehicle, leaving the officer to die in the road.

The chief said no details of the "intensive investigation" into apprehending the shooter are being released "at this time." "We are devastated for his family," Sluckis said of Tarentino. "The residents of Auburn have lost a dedicated and brave public servant. The town should be assured that every available investigative asset from our department, state police, Worcester police, the FBI and the district attorney's office have been brought to bear on this investigation. "We will leave no stone unturned in our investigation to determine who was responsible for Officer Tarentino's murder," Sluckis said. "Every investigative avenue is being pursued fully and completely."

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Mass. Officer's Killer Dead Following Standoff
May 23, 2016 - Jorge Zambrano was shot dead by police after he burst from a closet and opened fire on officers in an Oxford duplex during a standoff Sunday.

Eighteen hours after he gunned down an Auburn cop in cold blood, Jorge Zambrano was shot dead by a tactical police unit after he burst from a closet and opened fire in an Oxford duplex, authorities said. The daylong drama began just after midnight when Auburn officer Ronald Tarentino Jr., 42, a father of three, pulled over a 1997 Infiniti SUV with stolen plates. Police say Zambrano shot Tarentino, who was found laying in the street, radioing for help on his mic. An intensive manhunt was launched for the suspect. An alert described Zambrano as “armed and dangerous. ... Officers are advised to use extreme caution.” Authorities said Zambrano had an extensive criminal record.

Around mid-afternoon, police found the vehicle they said Zambrano had been driving parked behind the duplex on Watch Street in Oxford. They surrounded the house. “He was lying in ambush for them,” Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said last night. State and local police surrounded the duplex, fired in tear gas and were using a bullhorn to tell Zambrano to surrender. State police Col. Richard McKeon said, “After clearing the basement and first floor ... troopers made entry onto the second floor. As they entered a bedroom, a closet door burst open. The suspect appeared from inside the closet and fired on the troopers, striking one of them.” The trooper, an 18-year police veteran who is a former Navy SEAL, was in stable condition with a shoulder wound last night at UMass-Lakeside Hospital. He was conscious and alert at the hospital prior to being prepped for surgery, state police said.

Jorge Zambrano, left, and Auburn Police Officer Ronald Tarentino Jr.​

The town of Auburn was reeling from the violence and the loss of a beloved officer yesterday. Tammy and Edward Lemieux heard the shots and saw Tarentino on the street, and tried to comfort the dying officer. “All we heard was the yelling and screaming after we heard the pop, pop,” Edward Lemieux said. “We don’t know where he was hit. ... It seemed like slow motion, but it wasn’t. Not even two minutes and the ambulance was here, backup was here.” Tammy Lemieux told Tarentino, “ ‘Help’s coming. They’re on their way.’ I held his hand and told him he was going to be OK, and he’s in good hands. ‘They’re coming, they’re coming.’ ”

Auburn police Chief Andrew Sluckis told reporters hours later, “The Auburn police, the town of Auburn and the law enforcement community suffered a tragic loss this morning. We are devastated for his family.” Tarentino, who transferred to Auburn from Leicester two years ago, was raised in Tewksbury, the son of a retired Medford police officer. Tarentino’s mother, Sharon Tarentino, told the Herald yesterday: “You never think it’s going to happen to you. It hits you like a sledgehammer. … It’s just not fair.” Pat Paquette, a Tewksbury neighbor, called the slain officer a “very polite, nice young man.” Paquette, without elaborating, said some neighbors have gone through “some tragedies” and Tarentino’s parents were always there to help. “I guess it’s our chance to support them,” Paquette said. “They’re devastated. It was their only son and he has a family. It’s just hard.”

Massachusetts Cop-Killer Dead Following Standoff | Officer.com

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Slain Officer's Mother: No Respect for Police
May 23, 2016 - Sharon Tarentino is grieving her 42-year-old son, Ronald Tarentino Jr., who was fatally shot Sunday during a pre-dawn traffic stop.

The devastated mother of slain Auburn police officer Ronald Tarentino Jr. denounced a dangerous, growing culture of disrespect for law enforcement that she sees. “I just wish people had a little bit more respect for what they do — nobody has respect for them anymore,” Sharon Tarentino, 63, told the Herald yesterday as she grieved her 42-year-old son, fatally shot yesterday in a pre-dawn traffic stop. “You never think it’s going to happen to you, it hits you like a sledgehammer. It’s just not fair,” Tarentino said by phone from her Tewksbury home. She said her family was heartbroken. “He was our first born. His kids are older but they are still going to grow up without their father, and Tricia without her husband,” Tarentino said, referring to her son’s widow and their three boys, ranging in age from 15 to early 20s.

Tarentino said the couple’s middle child is due to graduate from high school next week and the oldest is in the Army. Tarentino said as of yesterday afternoon, investigators hadn’t told her much about the man who took her son’s life, only that they know who he was and were on the hunt. The suspect was killed in a standoff with authorities later yesterday. Her hulking son, who stood about 6 feet, 4 inches tall, filled out his uniform nicely, she said. He looked the part of a tough officer, but his compassion always shone through. “He was happy-go-lucky,” Tarentino said of her son. “He could be the life of the party. He was good with everybody. He was a good person, an easy-going person — a gentle giant, really.”

She said her fallen son had followed in his father’s footsteps. Ronald Tarentino Sr. was a Medford police officer who retired recently after more than four decades on the job. “It was his family and his job. It took him a little while to figure it out. But that’s what he wanted to do,” Tarentino said of her son’s decision to wear the badge.

Medford police Lt. Mark Rudolph said he worked alongside the elder Tarentino — known on the force as “Ronnie Senior” — for more than three decades. Rudolph said cops are a tight-knit community, and Medford police were struggling yesterday with the news their former colleague’s son was slain on duty. “Ronnie Senior is a great person, a great officer, an all-around nice guy,” Rudolph said. “He’s the kind of guy who you would want for a partner, the kind of guy who is friendly with everybody. ... I’m sure his son was just like him. “It’s tough to take, it really is,” Rudolph said. “Law enforcement is a very difficult profession to work in. Unfortunately, we’re being targeted nationwide by individuals who would rather put up a fight instead of submitting.”

Slain Officer's Mother: There's No Respect for Police | Officer.com

 

[MikeK]

I agree with that. Never understood the hate crime thing. What difference does it make if I kill someone because they are a certain color, or religion, or profession? Murder is murder.

The hate crime law is a manifest contradiction.

Hate, like love, is an emotion, a state of mind -- which is impossible to positively ascertain. While it is possible to prove that someone killed another, how is it possible to be certain the emotion of hatred attended the act? How is it possible to prove how someone feels toward another person, or group of people, unless the individual declares his/her emotional state and its motivating force?

The concept of hate crimes is an extreme example of the politically correct mentality written into law.

 

[The Great Goose]

H

 

[waltky]

Granny says, "Dat's right - dey shoulda kept him when dey had him...

Court Probing Why Mass. Cop-Killer Was Free
May 24, 2016 - The state trial court is probing why cocaine trafficker Jorge Zambrano, who killed Auburn police officer Ronald Tarentino, was free to roam the streets.

The state trial court is probing why slain cop killer and convicted cocaine trafficker Jorge Zambrano was free to roam the streets despite repeated brushes with police and multiple probation violations in the past five months. Zambrano, 35, was shot and killed by troopers Sunday 18 hours after they say he murdered Auburn police officer Ronald Tarentino, 42. Court officials could not explain yesterday why Zambrano was not in jail for his probation violations and why he wasn’t forced to wear a GPS monitoring device. “Jorge Zambrano had both past and pending cases in the court system including serving a seven-year state prison sentence,” Trial Court Chief Justice Paula Carey said in a statement. “We are carefully examining all of the circumstances regarding Jorge Zambrano’s criminal history in order to determine whether additional systemic steps should have been taken in his case.”

A Herald review found Zambrano had been in court — and sprung — multiple times this year, court records show, including:

• An arrest May 16 in Worcester when police noticed him driving an Acura with plates that belonged to a Nissan Maxima. He was charged with driving with a suspended license, driving an unregistered motor vehicle and a number plate violation to conceal his ID. He was arraigned that day and let go on personal recognizance.

• Testing positive for cocaine on April 11 and April 25, self-reporting for cocaine on April 22, self-reporting for Suboxone use on April 11, missing a drug screening on April 8, and missing visits with his probation officer on April 4, April 8, April 11 and April 22. Zambrano was in court May 11 and again walked out — the hearing was rescheduled for June 9 so a lawyer could be present.

• On March 4, he was charged with assault and battery on a family member, resisting arrest and operating after revocation of his license in Clinton District Court, according to his lawyer. He was released on $500 cash bail, although the district attorney had asked for a much higher amount, according to his defense attorney, Anthony Scola.

• On Jan. 24, Zambrano was arrested in Worcester and charged with assault and battery on a police officer and resisting arrest. The arresting officer said Zambrano grabbed his uniform shirt and pulled him into a car, which had a large pit bull inside. Zambrano was released on personal recognizance.

Zambrano previously served two stretches in state prison for cocaine trafficking, possession and assault charges — including attacking cops. Gov. Charlie Baker said yesterday there will be a “series of investigations around all of this,” from the deadly shooting of Tarentino to that of Zambrano by police. “There’s a lot we know at this point but there’s obviously a lot we don’t know,” Baker said. “We’ll be looking at all aspects.” Scola noted that on May 16, the court could have elected to hold his client for violating his bail warning in the Clinton case, but added, “it was a minor motor vehicle charge, it would be unusual to hold someone in that situation.”

Asked why his client was not held for the probation violations, Scola said, “You’d have to ask probation what their thinking was on that. ... He self-?reported taking drugs, that might have gone into his favor.” The attorney added the court “could have assigned him counsel for the day and had a hearing. They would have had a detention hearing to revoke his bail on any of his pending charges.” Scola said he never saw the darker, violent side of Zambrano, reacting with dismay to his late client’s weekend attack. “It’s a tragedy,” Scola said of the death of Tarentino. “I knew the officer a bit … he was a nice guy. It’s a tragedy. I feel for his family that something so tragic could happen.”

Court Probing Why Massachusetts Cop-Killer Was Free | Officer.com

 

[waltky]

Arkansas cop killer sentenced to 28 years in prison...

Arkansas Sheriff Deputy's Killer Sentenced
May 28, 2016 - Fred Albert Kauffeld was found guilty in the slaying of Johnson County Reserve Deputy Sonny Smith, who was shot and killed while responding to a burglary call last May.

A Clarksville man accused of killing an auxiliary deputy last May was found guilty of murder and robbery Friday at the Johnson County Courthouse.

http://r1.officer.com/files/base/OFCR/image/2016/05/16x9/640x360/coppkiller.5749a161d4526.jpg[/img]
Fred Albert Kauffeld, left, and Reserve Deputy Sonny Smith​

Fred Albert Kauffeld, 52, received a sentence of 28 years in prison for capital murder and five years for burglary to be served concurrently for the May 2015 incident in which Johnson County auxiliary deputy Sonny Smith was shot and killed while responding to a call of a burglary in the area of Johnson County Road 1723. He was 42.

Kauffeld also received a $5,000 fine for burglary. He will be taken to Pope County Jail and then serve time with the Arkansas Department of Corrections, Smith added. Kauffeld's attorney Bill James Jr. of James Law Firm in Little Rock said by text message Kauffeld would be eligible for parole after serving 19 years. Johnson County Prosecuting Attorneys David Gibson and Bruce Wilson did not respond to calls.

Arkansas Sheriff Deputy's Killer Sentenced | Officer.com

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[waltky]

Memphis police officer run over by fleeing suspect...

Memphis Officer Struck and Killed by Suspect
June 5, 2016 - Memphis Police Officer Verdell Smith died Saturday night after being struck downtown by the vehicle of a fleeing shooting suspect.

An 18-year veteran of the Memphis Police Department died Saturday night after being struck downtown by the vehicle of a fleeing shooting suspect. Verdell Smith, 46, died at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis, making him the latest casualty in a brutal year that's seen 95 homicides so far -- possibly more if the death of a woman whose body was found in Frayser earlier Saturday evening is ruled a homicide or if any of three other victims in the crime that claimed Smith die. "This highlights the dangers officers face every day," MPD Director Michael Rallings said during a press conference outside the Med shortly before 2 a.m. Rallings said no charges have been filed yet against the suspect who felled Smith, who left a father, fiance and children.

Smith was struck after the unidentified suspect, who was taken into custody and transported to the Regional Medical in noncritical condition, shot three people during a spree that began in the Pinch District at Westy's Restaurant and Bar and spilled over to Bass Pro Shops before ending near Beale and Third streets. Rallings said police at Main and Exchange heard shots at 9:55 p.m. and found two male victims at Westy's. They were transported to Regional and remained in critical condition. At 10:02 p.m., Rallings said police got a call to the nearby Bass Pro, where a male employee had been shot. He was taken to Regional in noncritical condition. The suspect, described as a black male, fled in a silver vehicle and was spotted on Riverside Drive before officers lost site near the interstate.

Memphis Police Officer Verdell Smith​

Rallings said police weren't sure what route the suspect took next, but he ended up at Beale and Third as officers were working to clear the area. That's where Smith was struck. The suspect was taken into custody after a foot chase. Martin Norris and Jake Schorr IV, employees of Westy's, said a man walked up from the south on Main Street, talking loudly to himself, pulled a handgun and shot two customers who were sitting at a picnic table in front of the restaurant. Norris and Schorr chased the man down the block, but he crossed Front Street and jumped a fence, heading toward the parking lot of Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid.

There, truck driver Luis Cortez of Laredo, Texas, was exiting Bass Pro with his family when he heard gunshots in the parking lot. Cortez said the victim appeared to be a store employee who had been collecting shopping carts. Cortez said he saw a car near the victim, but couldn't see inside it because of dark-tinted windows. The car sped away and the victim ran to the store entrance, Cortez said. Memphis resident Tina Jamison said she was on Beale when the crash occurred, and she approached officers on the street. "We heard on the scanner, 'officer down,' Jamison said. She said when she heard commotion, she initially thought there had been a fight on Beale. "They told us to go inside one of the restaurants," she said.

Memphis Officer Struck and Killed by Shooting Suspect | Officer.com

 

[waltky]

Jefferson Parish deputy killed, two other Ouachita Parish deputies shot...

Louisiana Deputy Killed; Suspect in Custody
June 23, 2016 - Jefferson Parish Deputy David F. Michel Jr. was shot three times in the back after a pedestrian stop outside a Dunkin' Donuts Wednesday.

A Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office deputy was fatally shot Wednesday after a pedestrian stop on the West Bank, and authorities were questioning a man taken into custody in connection with the afternoon shooting. The deputy, David F. Michel Jr., was shot three times in the back and taken to University Medical Center in New Orleans, said Dr. Gerry Cvitanovich, the Jefferson Parish coroner. Michel, 50, of Marrero, joined the Sheriff's Office as a reserve in 2007 and became a full-time deputy in 2013, serving in the second district patrol division. He most recently had been assigned to the Sheriff's Office Street Crimes Unit. The name of the male suspect -- who was being treated at University Medical Center for minor injuries -- was not immediately released. He was taken into custody in the Pebble Walk neighborhood, where authorities said he fled after the shooting.

The shooting happened at 12:21 p.m. during a pedestrian stop outside the Dunkin' Donuts shop on Manhattan Boulevard, at the intersection of Ascot Road. Col. John Fortunato, a Sheriff's Office spokesman, said a "struggle ensued" between the deputy and the suspect when the suspect pulled a gun from his waistband and began firing. The suspect continued firing even after the deputy fell to the ground, Fortunato said. The shooting drew a massive law enforcement response to Harvey, as authorities combed the area for the shooter. A police helicopter could be seen circling overhead. Witnesses reported seeing deputies rush to the scene, where they set up perimeter. Shortly before 2 p.m. an ambulance with lights and sirens blaring flew up the University Medical Center ramp, accompanied by a marked JPSO cruiser. Minutes later a motorcade of unmarked police vehicles rushed toward the hospital, followed shortly after that by five State Police motorcycles.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand plans to hold a news conference at 10 p.m. at the Sheriff's Office to discuss the shooting. Cvitanovich, the coroner, said Michel's autopsy was underway Wednesday afternoon. Michel is the second Jefferson Parish deputy to be shot in the line of duty this year. In January, Deputy Stephen Arnold, a 12-year veteran of the Sheriff's Office, was shot and wounded during a pre-dawn drug raid in the Lower 9th Ward. The shooting shocked Jefferson Parish and the law enforcement community. The last Jefferson Parish deputy to be killed in the line of duty was Joshua Norris, who was fatally shot in 2007 responding to a domestic disturbance, according to the Sheriff's Office's website.

Jefferson Parish Councilman Chris Roberts interrupted a Parish Council meeting on Wednesday to hold a moment of silence for the fallen deputy and his loved ones. Later, he said the city of Gretna's water tower would be illuminated in blue to show support for the local law enforcement community, and that the parish General Government Building on Derbigny Street and the Mercedes-Benz Superdome would be lit up in the same color to pay respects to Michel. "We stand with all of our (law enforcement officers)," Roberts said on Facebook.

Louisiana Deputy Killed; Suspect in Custody | Officer.com

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Louisiana Deputies Shot; Suspect in Custody
June 23, 2016 - Two Ouachita Parish deputies were wounded while attempting to serve felony warrants Thursday morning.

Both deputies, who were assisting the U.S. Marshal's Office, arrived at 105 Mary Beth Court around 6:15 a.m. Thursday to serve several no-bond warrants when the incident occurred, according to The News Star.

Ouachita Parish Sheriff Jay Russell said the deputies entered the residence where the suspect, identified as 26-year-old Rickie Lavelle Wade Jr., was located. A brief scuffle ensued and one deputy was shot in the leg. A second deputy drew his weapon as encountered the suspect and he was shot once in his jaw before Wade fled the scene.

A manhunt was launched and Wade was taken into custody at approximately 8:40 a.m. after a standoff at a residence at 128 Michelle Court. The two deputies were transported to local hospitals and both were listed in stable condition. One of the deputies was transported to LSU-Shreveport for further examination. Charges against Wade are pending.

Louisiana Deputies Shot; Suspect in Custody | Officer.com

 

[waltky]

Cop killing suspects arrested...

Three Arrested in Death of Puerto Rico Officer
June 27, 2016 | Agent Gilberto Colón-Leon was fatally shot during a robbery attempt while he was off duty June 13.

Three men were arrested early Monday morning in the murder of a Puerto Rico police officer earlier this month. Agent Gilberto Colón-Leon was fatally shot during a robbery attempt around 2 a.m. on June 13 in Coamo while he was off duty, according to El Nuevo Dia.

Benny Aponte Vazquez, Jonathan Maldonado Rivera and Arnaldo Rodriguez were charged in the death of the 51-year-old officer.

Agent Gilberto Colón-Leon​

Colón-Leon was driving a friend home when the men approached his vehicle at the intersection of Calle Santiago Iglesias and Calle Ruiz Belvis and attempted to rob them. The officer was shot multiple times as he attempted to draw his weapon.

Colón-Leon served with the department for more than 20 years and was assigned to the Highway Division. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Three Arrested in Murder of Puerto Rico Police Officer | Officer.com

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Suspect Who Tried to Drown Trooper Killed
June 27, 2016 - A Gainesville driver who didn’t stop at a DUI checkpoint, led police on a chase and allegedly tried to drown a state trooper was shot and killed Saturday.

The violent confrontation in Hall County started about 8:30 p.m., after an SUV driven by 36-year-old Rodrigo Guardiola went through the road-check in Flowery Branch, according to a news release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

The chase ended on Industrial Boulevard after troopers tried to box the SUV in and a patrol car collided with the SUV. That’s when Guardiola and passenger Epitacio Gudino, 31, ran from authorities, the GBI said. They were caught about a mile away. Guardiola fought with a trooper and tried to drown him in a run-off creek, before two more troopers arrived to help.

One trooper fired a Taser, hitting Guardiola without slowing him down. The trooper then shot and killed Guardiola with his pistol, the GBI said. Gudino was caught about 45 minutes later, according to the GBI.

Though the three officers were taken to a nearby hospital with injuries, they will be OK physically, Georgia State Patrol spokesman Capt. Mark Perry told Channel 2 Action News. Mentally and emotionally, though, the troopers will need some time to heal and sort out the evening’s events, Perry said. “I will say this, the troopers involved, I know them personally,” Perry said. “I know they have a strong faith in God and know that’s what’s going to take to get them through it.” The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will complete its investigation before turning the case over to the District Attorney’s Office.

Suspect Who Tried to Drown Trooper Fatally Shot | Officer.com

 

[waltky]

Two deputies, inmate killed in escape attempt...

Michigan courthouse shooting: Two deputies and gunman killed
Tue, 12 Jul 2016 - An inmate being moved from a holding cell kills two law enforcement officers at a courthouse in the US state of Michigan.

The officers, known as bailiffs in the US, provide security for courthouses. The inmate, who was due in court, grabbed an officer's gun during a scuffle and opened fire, Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey said. People in the courthouse took shelter before other officers shot and killed the inmate, Mr Bailey said.

Berrien County Courthouse​

A deputy sheriff and another person were also wounded and were taken to hospital, where they are in a stable condition. The inmate was not identified, and Mr Bailey did not say what charges he was facing. The shooting occurred is in the resort town of St Joseph - about 100 miles (160km) northeast of Chicago.

Mr Bailey called the deaths of his colleagues "terrible". "Our hearts are torn apart. ... I have known them for over 30 years. It's a sad day," he said.

Michigan courthouse shooting: Two deputies and gunman killed - BBC News

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Michigan shooting: Inmate kills 2 bailiffs, sheriff says
Mon July 11, 2016 - Inmate killed after fatally shooting two bailiffs in Michigan courthouse; Incident occurs in Berrien County Courthouse in St. Joseph

Two court bailiffs were killed and a deputy was injured Monday after an inmate grabbed an officer's gun outside a holding cell in a Michigan courthouse, Berrien County Sheriff L. Paul Bailey said. The inmate made it into a public hallway, where he shot a civilian in the arm, Bailey said. Other law enforcement officers opened fire and killed the man, he said. The deputy and civilian suffered non-life threatening injuries and were treated at Lakeland Health in St. Joseph and are in stable condition, Bailey said.

Bailey wouldn't say why the inmate was in custody, which officer had the gun that was taken or whether any protocols were violated. The slain officers worked "a long time" in law enforcement and had served as bailiffs about 10 years each. "Our hearts are torn apart," Bailey said. "They were our friends. They were our colleagues. I've known them over 30 years." The shootings occurred days after the slaying of five police officers in Dallas. Authorities didn't mention any connection to the those killings, but Gov. Rick Snyder said, "This is a particularly tough time for law enforcement so I ask everybody to reach out and be supportive of law enforcement."

We all need to reach out and be supportive of law enforcement in our state and across the country.
— Governor Rick Snyder (@onetoughnerd) July 11, 2016

The shooting happened about 2:30 p.m. on the third floor of the Berrien County Courthouse in St. Joseph, located on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, as a deputy and a bailiff removed the inmate from a holding cell to take him to a courtroom, Bailey said. "They secured the door and the inmate started fighting with the bailiff and the deputy," he said. The inmate disarmed one of the officers, Bailey said. He killed the two bailiffs and wounded the deputy before running into the public corridor, where other officers shot and killed him.

Bailey said he didn't know whether the inmate was handcuffed. The courthouse will be closed on Tuesday while Michigan State Police investigate. St. Joseph is a town of about 8,300 on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, about 35 miles north of South Bend, Indiana, and some 100 miles by car from Chicago.

Michigan shooting: Inmate kills 2 bailiffs, sheriff says - CNN.com

 

[waltky]

Dastardly!...

Kansas Officer Fatally Shot; Suspect in Custody
July 19, 2016 - Kansas City, Kansas Police Capt. Robert Melton was shot and killed responding to a disturbance.

A Kansas City, Kan., police captain who was shot Tuesday afternoon has died, authorities announced at a press conference. Capt. Robert Melton was shot at 22nd and Haskell in Kansas City, Kan. and by 2:45 p.m. one person was in custody and police had detained another person. When Melton arrived at the University of Kansas Hospital at 2:22 p.m. He had no heart rate and CPR was performed. “Despite our best efforts, the officer was pronounced at 2:55 p.m.,” said trauma surgeon James Howard.

This is the second police officer shot and killed in KCK in the past two months. The detective, Brad Lancaster, 39, was a nine-year veteran of the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department was shot and killed May 9. “We need to be in prayer for our community,” KCK Mayor Mark Holland at the press conference. Holland cautioned the community, “Don’t jump to conclusions about this.” Kansas City, Kan., Police Chief Terry Zeigler tweeted at 2:02 p.m., “We have an officer shot at 22nd & Haskell. Start prayers, unknown condition.” The incident began about 1:33 p.m. when police received a call about an armed disturbance at Second Street and Edgerton Drive. The caller told police that several people in a car were firing shots at them, according to a statement from KCK police. Officers arrived within minutes. At that time, three or four people bailed from the car. An officer took one person into custody near there.

Capt. Robert Melton​

Shortly before 2 p.m., an officer attempted to stop another person. Multiple shots were fired and an officer was hit. Police were advised that an officer was down at 1:58 p.m. The officer was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Police are searching the area for others who were involved. One person is in custody. Friends of a KCK police officer began changing their Facebook profile photos to a police badge with a black stripe over it. Police have blocked off 18th Street north of Parallel until 24th Street in their search for suspects. Police swarmed the area with dozens of officers, some with rifles. Several police were taking cover behind cars at 16th and Quindaro by 2:30 p.m. A woman at a house there came out of a home with her hands up. Several officers were kneeling down in the street with their guns drawn toward the home. It was unknown what connection the house has to the shooting.

The woman who came out walked up to an officer who was holding a ballistic shield. She stood and talked with the officers. Then she walked away from the officers about 10 feet away toward the home and appeared to be yelling to someone in the house. She told police an 8-year-old and 3-year-old in the home. About 45 minutes later, two small children came out of the house and went to the woman. Police moved them out of the way. Next door to the house, just to the south side of Quindaro just east of 16th Street, is a vacant lot. A dozen officers were clustered at the first house next to the lot. Officers were still crouched behind car in front of the and there were officers stationed at building to the west of the house. About 3:08, a SWAT team approached the house behind ballistic shields. They entered the house. About 3:34 p.m. the officers left the house without anyone. A car was towed from the scene. After the shooting, police began to gather at the hospital where the officer was taken. One officer walked out to her car in tears.

Kansas Officer Fatally Shot; Suspect in Custody | Officer.com

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Ohio policeman served sandwich containing shards of glass
July 19, 2016 — Police in Ohio's capital city say an officer was served a sandwich containing glass shards at a restaurant, and an assault squad is investigating whether it was intentional.

The Columbus officer cut his mouth after biting into the sandwich served to him at a restaurant on Monday afternoon. He was taken to a hospital and held there overnight.

Police say the officer heard a crunching sound as he ate the sandwich. Columbus Public Health officials say they plan to visit the restaurant Tuesday to help determine what happened.

No charges have been filed in the case. The restaurant's name is being withheld as police continue to investigate.

Ohio policeman served sandwich containing shards of glass

 

[waltky]

Two corrections officers die in the line of duty...

Corrections Officer, Inmate Dead After Fight
July 19, 2016 - Luzerne County Corrections Officer Kristopher Moules and inmate Timothy D. Gilliam Jr. both died after falling five stories at the jail Moinday.

The correctional officer and inmate killed in a fall Monday night smashed through closed elevator doors and plummeted to their deaths during a scuffle in what appears to have been a “freak accident,” the county manager said Tuesday. Correctional Officer Kristopher Moules, 25, of Larksville, and Timothy D. Gilliam Jr., 27, of Wilkes-Barre, died following the confrontation on the aging jail’s fifth floor about 6:25 p.m. Monday. The pair had been engaged in a confrontation that began as an exchange of words between inmate and officer and escalated into an altercation that spilled out into a common area near the elevator, county Manager David Pedri said Tuesday afternoon. Pedri noted jail staff had already reviewed surveillance footage and determined Moules did nothing wrong. “The altercation, which lasted only seconds, proved to be extremely tragic,” he said.

The officer sounded an alarm that prompted other officers to run up five flights of stairs to assist, and another officer was on the scene within seconds, Pedri said. The two officers tried to subdue Gilliam, at which point he and Moules “smashed” through the elevator door, he said. “That elevator door gave way, leading to their tragic fall,” Pedri said. “The other corrections officer who was involved in the incident came very close to also falling into the elevator shaft.” Pedri, who recently took the helm as manager, said he had already called upon Luzerne County Council to begin examining the possibility of a new jail to replace the more than century-old structure on Water Street. “It is our duty now as county administrators to make sure that his name and the lessons learned from this matter are never forgotten,” Pedri said, adding that his hope was the new jail would bear Moules’ name.

Luzerne County Corrections Officer Kristopher Moules​

An autopsy conducted Tuesday morning ruled both men died of multiple traumatic injuries sustained in a fall, according to the Luzerne County coroner’s office. Gilliam’s manner of death was ruled accidental, while the manner of death for Moules was listed as undetermined pending the results of further investigation, according to the office. District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis said her office was still conducting a criminal investigation into the matter and that she could not comment pending the results of that probe. County records show Kristopher Moules was hired as a correctional officer at LCCF in September 2015 at a salary of $31,745.

His mother Kitty Moules, speaking in the garage of the family’s home in a well-maintained Larksville neighborhood off East Broadway Street, gestured to several fishing poles leaning against the wall, saying Kristopher Moules was supposed to be off Tuesday and had planned to go fishing at a cabin. “He just went to work, and now he’s dead,” Kitty Moules said, dabbing her eyes with a tissue. “He was just a perfect person — well-mannered, well-behaved, excellent student, excellent athlete.” She declined further comment, deferring comment to her other son or husband, who had gone to the jail to retrieve Kristopher Moules’s truck During high school, Kristopher Moules was a pitcher for the Wyoming Valley West Senior High School Spartans, helping the team land a spot in the state quarterfinal against Parkland in 2009. He was part of Lackawanna College’s Falcons when they made it to the NJCAA Junior College World Series in 2012, and went on to play as a first baseman and outfielder for Youngstown State University.

Pennsylvania Corrections Officer, Inmate Dead After Altercation

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New Details Released in Slaying of Corrections Officer Inside Prison
July 20, 2016 - Inmate Dillon Gage Compton has been identified as a suspect in connection with the death of Corrections Officer Mari Johnson on Saturday.

Texas Department of Criminal Justice officials announced Monday that Dillon Gage Compton, 21, had been identified as a suspect in connection with the death of Mari Johnson, a correctional officer at the French Robertson Unit near Abilene. According to a Texas Department of Criminal Justice news release, Compton was assigned to the kitchen area, and allegedly attacked Johnson when she entered a nearby storage area.

Corrections Officer Mari Johnson​

Compton was convicted of aggravated assault of a child under age 14 in Dallas County and entered prison in December 2011, said Robert C. Hurst, public information officer for the TDCJ, in an email. Compton was transferred from the Robertson Unit to an undisclosed maximum security prison. Investigators with the Office of the Inspector General-TDCJ continue to gather evidence and will present it to the Jones County district attorney once their investigation is complete, Hurst said.

Hurst confirmed Monday afternoon that the prison is on lockdown. Killing a correctional officer is a capital offense, he said. "The last (Texas) correctional officer killed in the line of duty was on July 15, 2015 at the Telford Unit in New Boston," Hurst said. TDCJ has not released further information on the deadly incident.

OFFICERS FACE OBSTACLES

 

[waltky]

Texas Sheriff's Deputy ambushed at home...

Texas Sheriff's Deputy Fatally Shot at Home
July 25, 2016 - Travis County Sgt. Craig Hutchinson called in on the radio that people were running out of the backyard of his home before he was killed.

Kevin Madison, presiding judge of the Lakeway Municipal Court, and his wife, Shirley, are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of suspects in the shooting death of Travis County sheriff’s deputy Sgt. Craig Hutchinson. Madison said he has served with the court for around 18 years, but worked for the sheriff’s office for two years in the 1980s after attending law school. “I loved the guys and gals that worked there and have great respect for Sheriff Hamilton,” he said. Madison said he hopes the reward will encourage others to add to the pot and increase the incentive for someone to come forward. “What a senseless, tragic, unnecessary loss,” he said. “A loss of a life over a lawnmower or some tools is just unbelievable. Instead of running away they shoot this poor deputy. Someone is going to know who these two guys are.”

7:25 a.m. update: Authorities have identified the Travis County sheriff’s deputy who was killed early Monday as Sgt. Craig Hutchinson, a veteran officer of 32 years who was set to retire in September. Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton said Hutchinson called in on the radio that people were running out of the backyard of his home in southwest Round Rock around 1:22 a.m. Hamilton said officers arrived to find the deputy shot in the yard about 10 minutes after the call. The sheriff said the shooting appears to be part of a robbery and that investigators so far do not think the incident was an ambush or a targeted attack. He said there was no word on any suspects but that the area had seen other burglaries recently. Hamilton reflected on the life of the deputy, noting that Hutchinson was his field training officer. “He taught me everything I know,” he said. “This guy was a big teddy bear.”

Sgt. Craig Hutchinson​

Hamilton later recalled how when he started at the sheriff’s office in 1985, “I worked in the jail with him. He went out on patrol before I did,” Hamilton said. “He was my field training officer, so this is very near and dear to me.” Hamilton said Hutchinson, known within the agency as Hutch, was loved by everyone. “He was about 6-foot-4 and weighed about 275 but he was a gentle bear… I loved that guy to death.” The investigation is expected to span much of the day. Residents in the area near Oak Meadow Drive and East Messick Loop say they’re shocked this happened here. Gary Thompson lives just around the corner from where Hutchinson was gunned down. He said he has lived in the neighborhood for around 25 years, and frequently saw Hutchinson either in his yard or passing by. He said he would always wave and constantly seemed cheerful and friendly. “I think everybody liked him,” he said. “He was a great guy.”

Charles Millard said Hutchinson was one of several law enforcement officers in the area. He said at least four lived a short distance from his home, a couple of blocks away from the scene of the shooting, and that he was surprised anything like this could happen in the area.

6:50 a.m. update:

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Police Shootings Put Chaplains On Duty 24/7
July 24, 2016 - Even in normal circumstances, the spiritual and emotional needs of hundreds of officers and staff are plenty of work for chaplains with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office and Baton Rouge Police Department. These are not normal circumstances.

When two police officers and one sheriff’s deputy were gunned down and three more officers wounded Sunday, it was an unprecedented trauma to local law enforcement. Never before have three officers been killed in the same incident in East Baton Rouge Parish. Two sheriff's deputies were shot to death on Jan. 10, 1972. “When you have the tragedy that we’re dealing with, it’s like 24/7,” said Gordon Atwell, who works with Ken Ellis as EBRSO’s two chaplains. “We’re moving round the clock trying to take care of the needs as we can identify the needs.” For Lt. Duren Boyce, lead BRPD chaplain, a Wednesday phone call from a reporter interrupted department preparations for the funerals of officers Montrell Jackson and Matthew Gerald. “Grieving and exhausted,” Boyce said of the effect on BRPD. “My brain is spinning.”

In addition to the grief associated with any deaths, those the chaplains care for are dealing with the knowledge that Jackson, Gerald, Deputy Brad Garafola and other officers — including critically wounded Deputy Nicholas Tullier — apparently were targeted by Gavin Eugene Long specifically because they were law enforcement officers. “Everyone has expressed their amazement,” Atwell said. “Maybe that’s not the right word. It’s like it’s not real. The tragedy has been different. People are, like, ‘This is like a nightmare.’ “That’s been the general consensus, not only from our department, but also it’s been the general public. … It’s like this is not supposed to happen here. It’s like unbelief that something that horrible could happen.” Typical chaplain duties include being available to minister to uniformed and administrative staff and to interact with members of the public who’ve been affected by crimes, Atwood said. That includes those of different faiths or no religious beliefs.

A police chaplain from New Jersey who had come for support, Robert Ossler, comforts Baton Rouge resident Stacey DeJohn while she drops flowers in memory of the three slain police officers on July 18.​

When officers are killed and wounded, the first priority is assisting the officers’ families, Atwood said, then fellow officers. “Law enforcement is a tight family,” he said. “They’re very close. It’s almost a culture of its own. We’re used to sharing and taking care of each other. When we walk in as a chaplain and they know us, we’re one of them, and we’re a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen to. That’s been a lot of what we’ve done, also. “I think for the most part everybody is holding up extremely well. Of course, there is all of the gamut of emotions that you can imagine. These deputies, all of them, our deceased deputy as well as the other two who were injured, these deputies were outstanding. They were deputies with outstanding personalities, involved in the community," Atwood said. "I just left where Deputy Garafola worked, and they talked about how he would bring chicken and he would bring them food. He was just a bright light to them there. For the most part, everybody is holding up well, but there is a lot of grief and a lot of sadness as well.”

The chaplains aren’t impervious to these emotions. Atwell said he and Ellis have supported each other through this crisis. On Boyce’s team of chaplains are Sgt. Riley Harbor, Sgt. Derrick Williams, Lt. Mavis Johnson, Officer Robert Johnson and civilian chaplain Wanda Walker. If there is a bright spot in this dark week, it has been the outpouring of public support. People have shown up bringing flowers and food and offers of financial assistance to the officers’ families. People have come up to officers offering prayers. “There’s exhaustion, but at the same time there is a real high sense of encouragement and higher morale thanks to the outpouring from the public,” Boyce said. “The amount of people we’ve seen … at headquarters is touching all of our hearts. It is helping us move forward and realize that Baton Rouge is one big family, and we are going to be OK.”

Police Shootings Put Chaplains On Duty 24/7 | Officer.com

 

[PurpleOwl]

There is a large difference between a police officer being killed by a gang, and by a member of a political group. there are gangs that have shoot on sight orders for police, theyre are also criminals with murder warrants out for their arrest that if they get caught by police they are looking at the death penalty. There are 15,000 murders every year and only about 100 of those murder victims are police officers. The police themselves kill atleast 1000 people a year.

 

[waltky]

Shooting Deaths of Officers Up 78%...

Report: Shooting Deaths of Officers Up 78%
July 27, 2016 - A total of 32 officers have been killed in firearms-related fatalities this year compared to 18 deaths during the same period last year.

The 2016 Mid-Year Fatalities report released Wednesday by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund 78 percent spike in firearms-related officer fatalities compared to last year. So far this year -- as of July 20 -- 67 federal, state and local law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty, which is an 8 percent increase over the 62 officers killed in the same period in 2015. "All American citizens should be outraged at the number of officers who have been targeted, shot and killed this year," NLEOMF President and CEO Craig W. Floyd said in a statement. "The brutal assassinations of law enforcement officers in Texas and Louisiana shocked our nation and we saw similar ambush attacks on officers in other parts of the country earlier this year."

A total of 32 officers have been killed in firearms-related fatalities this year compared to 18 deaths during the same period last year. Many of those deaths have been attributed to ambush-style killings. Fourteen were the result of an ambush-style attack carried out upon unsuspecting officers, compared to three in the same period in 2015. Seven of the cases involved officers stopping a suspicious person. Five officers were killed while executing tactical arrests or high-risk warrants. Four officers were killed while attempting to arrest suspects and two officers were killed while handling or transporting prisoners.

Police officer PJ Freeman stops to pay his respects at the roadside memorial for the three police officers slain in Baton Rouge, La.​

For the first time in three years, traffic-related fatalities were not the leading cause of law enforcement deaths during the first half of the year. A total of 24 officers has been killed thus far -- a 17 percent decrease over the 29 officers killed in traffic-related incidents during the same period last year. Thirteen were automobile crashes involving a collision with another vehicle, five officers were struck while on the side of the road, four were motorcycle crashes and two were single-vehicle crashes.

More officers were killed in Texas -- 13 -- than any other state. Louisiana lost seven officers during the period. California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio and Virginia all lost three officers thus far in 2016. Three federal officers were also killed in the line of duty in 2016. Floyd stressed the importance of communities and the nation as a whole supporting law enforcement officers. "Public safety is a partnership," he said. "Thankfully, the vast majority of Americans clearly support and appreciate the vital role law enforcement plays in our society. So, now is the time for all law-abiding citizens to partner with law enforcement in support of safe communities."

Report: Shooting Deaths of Officers Up 78% | Officer.com