Just Venting.

[GCPD0171]

A local officer in my county got into a chase the other night. It went into the next county where the suspect stopped in a church pva. The officer tried to block him in with his car. The officer exited and approached the suspect who backed up and struck the officer with the car. Officer fired twice, killing the suspect. Officer was taken to a local hospital and released. The local media is making a big deal about the chase because it was for a misdameanor. Nothing in the agencies policy says he couldnt chase the guy. They don't seem to care that the guy was wanted for similar evading charges and had a stolen tag on his car. They don't care that he tried to run the officer over to get away. Once again the media is trying to make a martar out of a scum bag.!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[G.W.]

Unfortunately, that seems to be the rule instead of the exception nowadays. If anything goes wrong we seem to get the blame for it, whether justified or not.
I have to admit that some of our local media around here are pretty good though, and do support police in most cases. Others are just idiots looking for headlines.

I hope everything works out for our brother officer. Keep us appraised.

[K9Cop]

GCPD0171 - I definitely understand your frustration...if it is any consolation some of the papers down here are not reporting the chase in such a manner:

News & Record - Greensboro, NC
Posted 9:50 a.m.

BELMONT (AP) -- A Belmont police officer shot and killed a man after a chase that began during an attempted traffic stop in Gaston County and ended in Charlotte.

Everett Francis Davisson, 33, of Charlotte, was driving a white Mazda 626 with a stolen license plate just after 2:40 a.m. Monday when Belmont Police Sgt. Gladys Grier saw the plate and tried to stop him. Because Grier was driving an unmarked patrol car, Officer Douglas Bryson, 37, took over the chase in a marked cruiser and followed Davisson into Charlotte.

A state Highway Patrol trooper set up "stop sticks" on Interstate 85, but both Bryson and Davisson dodged the tire-puncturing devices, authorities said.

Police would not provide further information about the route of the chase, saying only that it began in Belmont and ended on Newland Road in Charlotte.

When Newland Road came to a dead-end, Davisson pulled into a church parking lot.

According to police, Bryson tried to block Davisson's car, got out of his cruiser and walked toward the Mazda. Then, Davisson drove toward Bryson, hitting him on the leg. Police said Bryson pulled his gun and ordered Davisson to stop the car, but Davisson hit him again.

Police said Bryson fired two shots, striking Davisson in the finger and chest. He died at the scene.

Police said Davisson had four outstanding warrants for stolen property, resisting arrest, failure to heed a blue light and driving with a revoked license.

Bryson was treated at Presbyterian Hospital for minor leg injuries and released. He was placed on paid administrative leave, which is routine after an officer uses his weapon, Belmont police said.

The case will be sent to the Mecklenburg County district attorney to determine if charges will be filed.

[J.DIXON]

One down,many more to go. I say it was a justifiable shooting.:p

[K9Cop]

While we are venting: I had an incident last summer around 0400 where I went in pursuit of an F-350 4x4 that was travelling 106mph in a 35 mph zone. Due to some officer liking to hear himself talk on the radio about nothing - I was not able to advise dispatch (thus have back-up rolling my way - back-up is about 15 minutes out as it is)until we were about 2 miles outside my city limits. The truck finally pulled over on a highway turn-around. I drew my weapon, opened my door (windows had illegal tint on the truck and I could not see how many occupants let alone what the driver was doing), was able to tell dispatch where we were and the next thing the truck makes a sharp U-Turn and is heading right at my drivers door. An F-350 that is jacked up versus a 97 Crown Vic was like one of those monster trucks versus a volkswagon - at least it felt like that when it was barrelling towards me. I floor the gas, and got out of his way just in time. He went past me and into the grassy median, now he's comming back at me and once again aiming at my drivers door. Alotta things go through your head in what is actually a split second but feels like eternity. I wanted to shoot but knew even if I got a head shot - that as fast as that truck was comming at me - I'd end up dead as well. So I get out of his way once more - he turns around after missing me the second time and starts hauling butt down the highway...so I'm in pursuit again telling dispatch that I NEED HELP NOW!!!! (Screw the 10 codes we are required to use). The driver ends up taking a turn off the highway at a high rate of speed and rolls the truck. Back-up arrives just as the truck begins to roll. We both jump out and are yelling to the occupants to exit the vehicle - we light up the truck and see no one inside. The driver landed in the floorboard of the passenger side - there was a passenger who was able to comply to our commands and exited through the back door of the extended cab. He kept begging us not to shoot him - said the driver told him "I'm gonna kill this cop". The driver was intoxicated (2nd conviction), high on cocaine and of course had a serious attitude - he denied being the driver and said there was a third person in the truck which meant Rescue had to spend 30 minutes looking for a victim that did not exist in the woods. The D.A. against my wishes allowed the guy to plead to a lesser offense then assualt with intent to kill a goverment official, even though this guys friend who was the occupant of the vehicle was there in court to testify that the driver said his intent was to kill me - He got 6 months active sentence. The D.A. told me "You should have shot him when he came at you with that truck". After explaining that I'd be dead as well - he said "oh well, and smiles". Seems your damned if you do....and your damned if you don't.

[knutson]

In response to the numerous letter and comments about the use if deadly force in a high speed pursuit, I would like to tell you a story about two officers here in Wisconsin that were killed while they sat in their patrol car waiting to cross a intersection. Apparently a lone driver of a late 90's model truck was not taking his meds and was loking to ram his truck into a light pole or something in that order. As Officer Getter and Markins sat in their patrol car this maniac in speeds excessive to 70 plus charged his truck into the drivers side of the cruiser killing both officers instantly. The crappy part about this is we lost two outstanding officers and the person attempted to use the insanity plea (which very seldom works in Wisconsin). I could only imagine what these two officers thoughts were as they sat in their car observing this and how they would survive. The media played on the emotions of the communtiy and made the offciers that heroes and put a bright star above the rest of us out there doing the job. I guess my only thought is what does, Heaven have in store for us if Angels dare to fly where we patrol???

Semper Fi

[That Guy]

The media played on the emotions of the communtiy and made the offciers that heroes and put a bright star above the rest of us out there doing the job.

Its sad that the media has to set the mood for the public.:mad:

TGY

[Deuce]

Typical media bull..Americans have short memories. 9-11 wasn't even 2 yrs ago and we're already back to that crap. :rolleyes:

[WA-K9]

In Portland OR. recently a couple Officers were making a drug arrest. A female passenger, w/ a big time record, said she's not going back and climbs into the driver's seat. As she takes off one of the Officers tries to stop her and ends up hanging out the vehicle. She is non-compliant and fearing for his life the Officer uses deadly force. He is cleared by the dept. and the civilian review board. The Politically Correct chief gives him days off anyway because of the appearance of wrong doing. Do I smell a law suit for that dept? Hope so.

Anyway, the media goes crazy and gets a picture of this gal that must have been one of those glamour shots. A segment of the community says it was racially motivated and starts talking about how this lady was a great mom and all. They did not mention her children had been taken by the state.

The media and those w/ an agenda are going to go for sensationalism everytime, the truth be darned. It useed to really upset me but now I just expect it. I'm also glad That chief is at Portland and not at my dept. what a jerk!

[BlueBlood]

the officer should be 10-4. he met deadly force with deadly force, anyone would have to be crazy to say he was in any type of wrong. when someone tries to run over you with a 4,000lb piece of metal, they are trying to kill you. there is no time to play with someone in that situation when 'your' life depends on stopping them.

[SaNdMaN]

Check out what's going on in Denver...Within a month Denver PD and Aurora PD each killed emotionally disturbed black people...Now, the religous groups of the inner city want the law regarding use of deadly force CHANGED. Not to mention they have got themselves Johnny Cochoran!!!!!!

Never mind that the first suspect was allowed to get within 6' feet of the officer...The officer gave him multiple loud verbal warnings to drop the knife he was holding, to which he refused...He was shot and killed...

The second was a female who actually struck the officer with a 19" bronze candlestick cutting his arm open...As she raised the weapon over her head to strike him again, the officer shot and killed her...

Of course, now in the eyes of the media, we are all just a bunch of thugs who want to go out and kill mentally ill minorities...