Real cops, in the real world, would never act like this! Would they?

I was really looking forward to the two-hour premiere of the new Alcatraz series, but then when I watched it Monday night I got turned off by something one of the main characters did --- but didn't do.

For those of you who didn't watch it, or don't even know what I'm talking about, this new series about Alcatraz takes place in the present, but there are also lots of flashbacks too. You see, back in March of 1963 Alcatraz, for a variety of reasons, was closed down and the prisoners housed there were moved to other correctional facilities --- or were they?

According to the storyline of this new series several hundred prisoners, along with dozens of guards too, just vanished. Now, these brutally vicious criminals were coming back from where ever they had been for the past 50 years. They hadn't aged and their mission was unclear. I found that this Alcatraz series reminded me a lot of the popular "Lost" series from a few years ago. There were lots of questions, and at least initially, very few answers.

One of the first Alcatraz alumni to suddenly reappear here in the present was Prisoner #2024, better known as Jack Sylvane. The first thing Jack did was to murder the ex-deputy warden of Alcatraz, a bad guy himself, with the last name of Tiller. He tormented Jack while he was at Alcatraz and it's easy to understand why Jack wanted him dead. Then, Jack heads out to murder another individual, although we don't know why.

Before Jack can carry out this second murder however, he is stopped by two officers from San Franciso P.D. Jack promptly shoots both officers, killing one and critically wounding the other. Then, he goes and kills the second individual who had originally been his intended target.

Now we come to Detective Rebecca Madsen, of San Franciso P.D. She is investigating the original murder of ex-Deputy Warden Tiller and she is just seconds behind Jack as he shoots the two officers, and then the other intended victim too.

Det. Madsen eventually tracks Jack Sylvane down and she finds him standing at the grave of his ex-wife. Jack has an automatic pistol in his right hand and initially he doesn't notice the arrival and approach of Det. Madsen.
"Now give me your gun and I won't blow your brains out," Det. Madsen tells Jack. Okay, so far, so good.

Jack looks at the gun in his right hand and he seems to shake his head from side to side as if to say "No." Det. Madsen doesn't give up.
"Give me the gun Jack," she begins again. "You don't want to hurt anyone else."
As this confrontational encounter takes place sirens can be heard in the background. More San Francisco P.D. officers are coming.

Det. Madsen and Jack talk some more and he admits to killing the two civilians. He even states, "I killed Tiller out of hate." But, he never mentions the two San Franciso cops he gunned down AND Det. Madsen, who is with San Fransciso P.D. herself, never even mentions them too. But, she does ask Jack about his second victim and why did he kill him.

"Where have you been? What happened to you Jack," Det. Madsen asks, as other heavily armed officers now move into position.
"Shoot me," Jack says to Det. Madsen. His words sound sad and it's almost as if he's begging her to do this.
"No" she says, as she shakes her head from side to side.

So far, I don't really have a major problem with the actions of Det. Madsen, although I still have to wonder a little about why she didn't ask Jack about why he shot the two San Franciso P.D. officers. If Jack were to live through this experience, and stand trial for the murder on that one officer, a verbal admission by him might have been nice to get. But, that's not really a major point. What happens next, however, is!

Jack the cop killer suddenly raises his right hand up and he points his automatic at Det. Madsen's head. I'm not sure, but it also sounded as if he cocked the gun too, as he was doing this. It also sounded as if Jack yelled, "Do it!" Det. Madsen's response?
"Jack, put down the gun! "Get on your knees!" she yelled.

Although Det. Madsen failed miserably to defend herself, one of the other San Franciso officers shoots him. There's only one shot. Det. Madsen's response? She throws up her hands into the air, like she's giving up and she yells "Hey, ????, stop!" She's yelling this at her fellow officers, the ones that may have just saved her life.

I found this scene, where cop killer Jack threatens to shoot Det. Madsen, and she doesn't shoot him, to be incredibly unrealistic and even absurd. Yes, this appeared to be a classic example of the "Suicide by Cop" mentality some malcontents may have, and many people may argue that Det. Madsen was probably not in any real danger --- that bad guy Jack wouldn't have really shot her.

Also, many others may argue that she didn't want to shoot him because they needed him alive, so that they could learn where he had been for the past 50 years, and also what was the secret to his still youthful appearance --- had he found the Fountain of Youth?

All of this is hogwash, though. When an individual, any individual, points a loaded pistol at a police officer, there is every expectation that that individual will be shot, and probably killed. Jack? The other officers around Jack and Det. Madsen fired a grand total of one (1) shot and they apparently wounded poor old jack in a non-lethal location. Just one bullet? I find that also absurd too.

As they led Jack away, he turned to Det. Madsen and said, "You should have killed me!"

I could agree more!

Gary P. Jones, Captain [retired]
Fort Lauderdale Police Department

Author of book: Badge 149 - "Shots Fired!"
www.badge 149.com

Final Note: If you saw this series premiere, or even if you didn't, I would very much like to hear any comments you might have about this post. Thank you!

Do we really need more gun control?

My previous post ("Shame of those who would politicize the murder of a law enforcement officer") was about the murder of Park Ranger Margaret Anderson at Mount Rainier National Park. Her killer was an Iraq war veteran named Benjamin Colton Barnes, age 24. He fled the scene of Ranger Anderson's murder and entered the woods of the massive park. Thanks to Mother Nature, he did not survive. His body was discovered Monday lying face down and partially submerged in an icy, snowy mountain creek. Several weapons were found nearby. An autopsy performed Tuesday showed that Barnes had hypothermia and drowned.

I'm not that familiar with the current law reference firearms and America's National Parks, but it is apparently legal for park visitors to bring loaded weapons with them when they enter one of our nation's National Parks (unless there are state laws that make it illegal). After Ranger Anderson's murder I read several other articles that mentioned that her murder has now renewed the debate regarding this new 2010 federal law.

It seems that some people are of the opinion that if firearms were outlawed in our National Parks this would have stopped the subject Barnes from bringing weapons into the Mount Rainier National Park and therefore Park Ranger Anderson would never have been murdered. What absurd logic! Does anyone really believe that if Barnes saw a sign at the park's main entrance that said "No firearms permitted," that he would have turned around and not entered the park? Really, does this even make any sense to you?

The subject Barnes had apparently been involved in another shooting earlier, and four people were injured, two critically. He apparently went to Mount Rainier National Park to hide from the investigating authorities, and now there are those misguided individuals among us who would have us believe that Barnes would obey the law now and not bring his guns into the park. What hogwash!

We should remember that when Barnes was still in the military he was charged with driving under the influence AND improper transport of a privately owned weapon. So, if he didn't obey the rules while in the army, with respect to his weapons, why should we believe it would have been any different after he had been involved in that earlier shooting?

Bill Wade is the outgoing chair of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees. Because of Ranger Anderson's murder he reportedly said that, "The many congressmen and senators that voted for the legislation that allowed loaded weapons to be brought into the parks ought to be feeling pretty bad now." Mr. Wade apparently called Ranger Anderson's murder a tragedy that could have been prevented. Again, with all due respect to Mr. Wade, what bull! Posting a "No firearms permitted" sign would NOT have prevented this tragedy from happening.

One thing that always seems to happen after a tragedy like the Ranger Anderson murder is that some individuals and/or politicians can't resist the urge to use these tragedies for their own political gain. I remember back to the Tucson shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in January of 2011. Jared Lee Loughner was the nut who shot Giffords, and who wounded a dozen others, and killed six. On his resume it says that he was rejected by the U.S. Army, although they won't say why. A judge eventually declared that Loughner was NOT competent to stand trial.

Shortly after the Arizona tragedy involving Rep. Giffords, New York Rep. Peter King, an outspoken Republican who favors more gun control, said he wants a new Federal law that would make it a crime to knowingly carry firearms within 1,000 feet of high-ranking officials (which, of course, would include the members of Congress).

Yes, I suppose such a law might keep a rational and a sane person from carrying a gun to a political rally. But, what about a nut like Loughner, who has been declared not competent? Do you think such a law would stop him? I don't think so.

Gary P. Jones, Captain [retired]

Fort Lauderdale Police Department (1967-1993)

author of book: Badge 149 - "Shots Fired!"

http://www.badge149.com

Shame on those who would politicize the murder of a law enforcement officer

Unfortunately, tragedy never takes a holiday --- not even on New Year's Day. 34-year old National Park Ranger Margaret Anderson, the mother of two young daughters, was shot and killed Sunday morning at beautiful Mount Rainier National Park, in Washington State.

The park rangers at Mount Rainier have one of the most important jobs there and they are the park's front-line law enforcement officers. They drive lonely rural roads by themselves and they do everything from responding to car accidents, issuing speeding tickets and arresting lawbreakers. They also respond to fires, hike the park's many miles of trails and help search for lost or injured visitors. They also conduct checkpoints where they inspect vehicles entering the park to see if they are properly equipped with snow chains on their tires.

When the driver of the blue pontiac did not stop at the checkpoint the rangers there radioed for assistance. Ranger Anderson then established a roadblock to stop the car which was now being pursued by another park ranger. When the fleeing driver encountered Ranger Anderson's roadblock, he exited his vehicle and began firing on both Anderson and the other ranger who had been chasing him. Anderson was struck while she was still inside of her car and she never got a chance to get out of it. Even though her wounds were extremely critical, as the subject fled on foot she apparently still was able to radio for help. And although the pursuing ranger's cruiser was peppered with gunfire, he was not injured.

The vehicle was operated by a white male, Benjamin Colton Barnes. What the park rangers didn't know was that the subject Barnes was a suspect in a shooting that happened about eight hours earlier at a Skyway (King County) home. The subject Barnes and several other armed individuals were apparently having some sort of a "show and tell" with their guns when an argument resulted into a deadly shootout. Four people were shot, and two reportedly were in critical condition.

No one will ever know for sure what Barnes was thinking, or why he acted as he did. But, we can speculate that after he was involved in the Skyway shooting he may have decided to hide out at the 368-square-mile Mount Rainier National Park. He may have reasoned that the cops would never think to look for him there, and if they did they wouldn't be able to find him. We don't know if Barnes already had more weapons and gear in his car when he fled the Skyway home shortly after 3:00 a.m., or if he retrieved them afterwards, but he was heavily armed and equipped with survival gear when he arrived at Mount Rainier National Park at about 10:00 a.m. He apparently planned to survive in the rugged wilderness.

I think it is also safe to speculate that when Barnes first encountered the checkpoint, his guilty conscience told him that the rangers were after him. That's why he blew right past the checkpoint. And, with the one ranger chasing him, and when he saw the roadblock that Ranger Anderson had established with her own car, he must have thought the cops were really after him. It's such a tragedy, again. Like so often happens in traffic stops that turn deadly, the bad guy(s) may have done something very serious, yet the officer(s) are only believing they're stopping them for traffic. There's a definite lesson to be learned here --- again. Never assume you're only stopping an individual for a "routine" reason. There is nothing "routine" about any traffic stop.

As many criminals will often do, when suddenly faced with a very stressful and unexpected encounter, the subject Barnes panicked. After shooting Ranger Anderson, and shooting at the other ranger(s) too, Barnes fled into the nearby woods without any of the survival gear he had arrived with. Approximately 200 officers from a number of different law enforcement agencies were involved in the search for Ranger Anderson's killer. In addition to the search teams on the ground, which included K-9 units, the massive search Monday also involved fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters with sophisticated infrared detection equipment.

Without adequate survival gear the subject Barnes was definitely in a no win situation. He was totally unprepared for the bitter, freezing temperatures and the chest-deep snow he had to maneuver through. When Barnes was eventually found, he was dead. His body was lying half-submerged in Paradise Creek and he was wearing only one tennis shoe, a T-shirt and jeans. He was barely one mile away from where he had first fled into the woods. All indications were that he had died from his harsh exposure to the elements. His body showed no signs of injuries.

At a press conference before Barnes was found, the person conducting the press conference indicated that the police and the park rangers would be very happy if Mother Nature did them a favor and dealt with Barnes before he would be able to do any further harm to anyone else. Well, chalk one up for good old Mother Nature --- and the good guys!

When the body of Barnes was found he reportedly was carrying a handgun, a magazine of ammunition and a knife. Another ammunition magazine was found near Barnes' body and an assault-style rifle was also found about 50 yards upstream. So, when he fled the scene of Ranger Anderson's murder Barnes took his weapons and ammunition, but not his survival gear. Yes, it sounds as though he definitely did intend to do more harm if he could. Thank you Mother Nature!

The subject Barnes was an Iraq war veteran (2007-2008) and while he was there he supposedly served in communications. He had been a private first class and his military service ended in the fall of 2009. He reportedly received a misconduct discharge after he was charged with D.U.I. and improper transport of a privately owned weapon.

Barnes also reportedly had had a difficult time making the transition back to civilian life. He also may have suffered from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and he may have even been suicidal too.

First of all, I feel bad for any military veteran who is having a difficult time after having served our country. I love the brave men and women of our military and will never forget all that they do to help keep us free!

However, when I read some of the posts by individuals who were commenting on the murder of Park Ranger Anderson, I was appalled and disgusted. Some of these people had the nerve to blame Ranger Anderson's murder on --- you guessed it, President George Walker Bush (43rd President). After all, it was President Bush that sent the subject Barnes off to Iraq where he became a ruthless killing machine. Therefore, according to their perverted reasoning, it was the fault of President Bush, and not Barnes' fault. Give me a break! Don't these people have anything better to do than blame President Bush for everything they can. I suppose next we'll hear that it's his fault that................... You pick the topic.

Before I would blame anyone for Barnes' criminal behavior, I would like to remind everyone that there are a great many military veterans, both men and women, who suffer from PTSD, and they don't go around shooting innocent people. They don't kill law enforcement officers.

Also, I would like to know much more about the subject Barnes BEFORE he entered the military. What was he like? I suspect that his love affair with guns was something he had long before he became a soldier. I also suspect that his unpredictable and violent personality was something he had long before he went to Iraq. I could be wrong, of course, but I don't think I am.

Sadly, but it's a true fact, not every person is qualified and/or has the necessary qualities, and mental stability, that would make them a good soldier. Unfortunately, the same can be said for the law enforcement profession too. Some individuals are just not suited for these important roles. I would venture to say that Benjamin Colton Barnes was one of these individuals. Again, I may be wrong, but before we jump to almost insane conclusions and blame President Bush for this man's criminal behavior, I think we should have all the facts first.

Shame on anyone who would politicize such a tragic thing as the murder of a law enforcement professional.

Ranger Anderson's murder has stunned her colleagues of the National Park Service. Only eight other rangers have been murdered in the line of duty in the past century.

Gary P. Jones, Captain [retired]
Fort Lauderdale Police Department (1967-1993)

author of book: Badge 149 - "Shots Fired!"

www.badge149.com

Read more here: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/01/02/2333928/death-on-mount-rainier-a-timeline.html#storylink=cpywas closed as dozens of officers searched for the armed gunman over snowy and rugged terrain.who was gunned down after she had set a roadblock to stop

BILL MAHER IS A DISGUSTING INDIVIDUAL

Most of my previous posts at “Gary’s Police Blog” have been law enforcement related and I usually try to stay away from politics and other non-law enforcement topics. But, because of some of the latest vile comments by t.v. host (HBO) Bill Maher I just felt the need to express my outrage and disgust at this horrible excuse for a human being.

From what I hear Mr. Maher is an avowed atheist and proud of it. Okay, that’s his choice and here in America that’s his right. In addition to being anti-religion Maher also apparently has a real intense dislike for the new quarterback of the Denver Broncos, Tim Tebow. Why? I don’t know why. Maybe he doesn’t like Tebow’s college alma mater the University of Florida and/or the Florida Gators. Maybe he doesn’t like the Broncos, or maybe he just doesn’t like professional football at all. I don’t know why this man obviously hates Tim Tebow so much, but I bet it has something to do with Tim’s unshakable faith in God.

What also seems very apparent though, at least to me, is that Mr. Maher’s dislike for Tim Tebow, plus his anti-religion attitude, has caused him to now cross the line. In a Christmas Eve tweet Mr. Maher poked fun at Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos. Tim and the Broncos had been beaten badly by the Buffalo Bills. Tebow threw four interceptions and Denver lost the game to Buffalo in a blowout, 40-14. Mr. Maher tweeted:

“Wow, Jesus just F___ed Tim Tebow bad! And on Xmas Eve! Somewhere in hell Satan is tebowing, saying to Hitler 'Hey, Buffalo’s killing them.’” (In an effort to avoid offending anyone I’ve removed most of the letters from the word that begins with the letter “F” that Mr. Maher used).

“Tebowing” is a new word you will not find in the dictionary. It is a word coined exclusively because of Tim Tebow, of course, and it means to get down on a knee and begin praying, even though everyone else around you will probably be doing something else. If you’ve watched any of the Bronco’s games that Tebow has quarterbacked you’ve probably seen him do this after he has scored.

Personally, I’d rather see a professional football player “Tebowing” than doing some of the other stupid things they do after they score a touchdown. I’m particularly turned off by the idiotic dances that so many of them seem to feel are necessary. I don’t mind the “Lambeau Leap” that I believe began with the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field where they play their home games. At least those players are involving the fans when they celebrate a score, but these stupid dances that many other players do are disgusting. It’s as though they are saying, “Look at me --- I’m great.” So yes, I’d much rather see a Tim Tebow thanking God that some other conceited player thanking himself!

Many people who are upset with Mr. Maher’s comment about Jesus have called for a boycott of HBO, which is the home of his show, “Real Time.” A boycott may happen, but I doubt it will have any effect on HBO’s decision to keep this controversial individual on the air. Again, personally, I gave up HBO a long time ago, manly because I didn’t like some of their programming. Even if I had HBO I would never watch Mr. Maher’s show because I don’t like him and I don’t like the kind of man that he his.

I know he could care less, of course. Arrogant people like him usually don’t care what the common folk think about them. After all, they’re better than the rest of us, right? Yeah, right! I doubt it!

Gary P. Jones, Captain [retired]

Fort Lauderdale P.D. (1967-1993)

author of book: Badge 149 - "Shots Fired!"

www.badge149.com

Attorney General Eric Holder should resign!

United States Attorney General Eric Holder needs to resign --- now!!!!! But, if he doesn't resign then President Obama needs to fire him --- immediately!!!!! Anyone want to take bets on whether of not that will ever happen? Not me!

From a law enforcement point of view Eric Holder has been a disgrace. Remember the New Black Panther voter intimidation case in Philadelphia, back in 2008? Two members of the New Black Panther Party brandished a nightstick at a polling place, but Mr. Holder was responsible for his Department of Justice (D.O.J.) dropping that case, although there was sufficient evidence to prove that voter intimidation DID occur.

What about Mr. Holder's decision that we must give Miranda Rights to terrorists who are captured on the field of battle --- and in foreign lands? What about Mr. Holder's defense of civilian trials for terrorists captured on the field of battle? Mr. Holder supported this too, in fact, he has passionately advocated for this very questionable decision.

What about illegal immigration and Mr. Holder's D.O.J. filing lawsuits against individual states (like Arizona) that have tried to protect themselves and their citizens from the awful scourge of illegal immigration? This perverted line of thinking is just absurd.

Now we have the A.T.F. fiasco called "Operation Fast and Furious" which played such a direct role in at least one U.S. law enforcement officer being murdered.

Louisiana Rep. John Fleming (R) is just one of the latest elected officials now calling for Eric Holder's resignation OR termination. In a prepared statement Rep. Fleming said, "Attorney General Eric Holder is either withholding what he knows about Operation Fast and Furious, and the guns that ended up arming Mexican drug cartels, or he is incompetent for not knowing how the secret program worked." Rep. Fleming also believes that Mr. Holder's leadership at his D.O.J. has been an "absolute disaster." I couldn't agree more.

Even if we give Mr. Holder the benefit of the doubt, and assume he did not know about "Fast and Furious" beforehand --- he should have known. He is the head of the Department of Justice, the chief law enforcement officer in America, and he IS responsible for everything that takes place at the Department of Justice. That's how it works. President Harry Truman liked to say that "The buck stops here." Well Mr. Holder, that goes for you too.

Now, in an interview that appeared in the New York Times on Sunday an arrogant Eric Holder claims that the attacks against him by his critics are racially motivated. He said, "This is a way to get at the president because of the way I can be identified with him. Both due to the nature of our relationship and, you know, the fact that we're both African-American." How pathetic! Race has nothing at all to do with any of this. Competence, honesty and integrity do --- and these are all qualities that Mr. Holder apparently lacks.

At least 60 congressmen, two senators, four Republican presidential candidates and two sitting governors have reportedly demanded Mr. Holder's resignation. Seventy-five congressmen have reportedly signed onto a House resolution for a vote of "no confidence" in Mr. Holder as attorney general. Including both lists, that means there are at least 86 members of the House who no longer trust Mr. Holder to head the all-important Department of Justice.

It is time for Eric Holder to leave the Department of Justice!!!!!

Gary P. Jones, Captain [retired]

Fort Lauderdale P.D. (1967-1993)

author of book: Badge 149 - "Shots Fired!"

www.badge149.com

Why it should never be Departmental policy that high speed vehicle pursuits should be called off if only traffic charges are known and/or involved.

Sunday, in San Diego, another hero died! Not only was Officer Jeremy Henwood, age 36, a four-year veteran of the San Diego Police Department, he was also a Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. He had already served two combat tours in Iraq, and now he had recently returned home after he completed a year-long deployment in Afghanistan. He had commanded a logistics company. I believe he was assigned to the 4th Marine Logistics Group. Logistics groups are very important and they arrange for the convoys to resupply the front line troops.

Jeremy Henwood originally joined the Marines in the enlisted ranks and he was a sergeant before he became an officer. His initial training was as an infantryman and in 2003 he took part in the assault on Baghdad. Then, in 2004 he participated in the savage fighting at Fallouja. Fallouja was the heart of the notorious Sunni Triangle. How painfully ironic it is that Officer Henwood would survive the violence of the insurgency in Iraq, and the brutality of Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan, only to be assassinated in a senseless murder right here in America.

Officer Henwood was murdered by a 23-year-old male individual. Initial reports, which may not be entirely accurate (they usually aren't), indicated that the subject lived alone in a rented apartment and when he could find work he was a construction worker. He apparently had a minor criminal record that included petty theft and resisting arrest. But, although the murder of Officer Henwood appeared to be the deranged work of some insane madman, the subject apparently had no prior history of mental illness.

Earlier Saturday, before Officer Henwood was murdered, the subject was apparently involved in a shooting at an In-N-Out Burger restaurant, 14 miles away in El Cajon. In this shooting a male individual was sitting with his girlfriend in his vehicle in the parking lot. Suddenly, they were approached by a man who was carrying a shotgun. This man, who apparently was the subject who eventually murdered Officer Henwood, then shot the man in the car in the face, with a single round. Then, he fled the area in a black Audi.

Considering Officer Henwood's Marine Corps service in Iraq it is also a little ironic that the shooting victim from the restaurant was an Iraqi immigrant. And, while he was still in Iraq he even served as a translator for the U.S. military. The man is expected to survive, but with a shotgun round to the face I would imagine he will probably require some extensive plastic surgery. According to initial reports, police investigators had not been able to establish any sort of a relationship between the male shooter and the male victim at the restaurant.

Then, according to media reports, only a few minutes after the shooting at the restaurant an officer spotted the black Audi speeding and gave chase. The officer apparently had no knowledge of the shooting at the restaurant and was only chasing the Audi for traffic. The officer eventually terminated the high speed pursuit of the Audi when their speeds reached 100 m.p.h. The attack on Officer Henwood occurred shortly after this.

The armed subject in the black Audi got behind Officer Henwood's patrol car and flashed his headlights, as if he were trying to get the officer's attention. Then, he pulled up alongside the left side of Officer Henwood's marked unit. As the two cars sat there side by side, either stopped completely, or moving forward very slowly, the individual with the shotgun pointed his weapon out the passenger's window and he shot Officer Henwood in the face. Civilian witnesses tried to help Officer Henwood. One used his police radio to alert the dispatcher that an officer had been shot. They also gave him first aid until paramedics arrived at the scene.

After the unprovoked ambush-like attack on Officer Henwood late Saturday afternoon, the police were able to track down his 23-year old assailant. The police located the suspect and the black Audi at an apartment complex and when they saw a man with a shotgun get into the car, and start to drive away, they moved in. Several marked units blocked the road so the Audi couldn't escape and then the officers moved in to make the arrest. When the suspect reached for the shotgun, the police opened fired. The officers pulled the wounded suspect from his vehicle and called for the paramedics. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

I guess we will never know for sure what this individual was thinking when he savagely attacked Officer Henwood. After all, he had apparently just bought himself a used black Audi sedan, so it would seem that he at least had some positive thoughts of living the good life. Yet, when police investigators eventually searched the subject's apartment they found a two-page rambling suicide note. Although the note suggested that there may have been some financial and mental problems troubling the subject, he did not say how he was going to kill himself, or why.

Officer Henwood died at the hospital, at 1:45 a.m. on Sunday, more than eight hours after he was shot in the face by the subject in the Audi. The police investigation is still ongoing, but as of now the investigators say they have no known motive for the unprovoked and cowardly attack on Officer Henwood. Located outside the downtown police department headquarters there is a granite memorial to all of the San Diego officers who have died in the line of duty. Jeremy Henwood's name will now be added to this memorial, and he becomes the 32nd San Diego officer to die in the line of duty since 1913.

I really hate being a Monday-morning-quarterback, but I have to wonder about that officer who chased the Audi, but then stopped the chase when their speeds reach 100 m.p.h. I wonder, did the officer decide on his own to stop the pursuit, or was he told to stop because their Departmental policy dictated that he should? If he stopped on his own, then I imagine he feels terrible. After all, if he had continued chasing the Audi, and not stopped the pursuit, then Officer Henwood would more than likely not have been shot. But, if he stopped the pursuit because he was told to stop, or Departmental policy indicated he should, then I imagine that officer is probably mad as Hell. I know I would be!

For over twenty-six (26) years I worked at Fort Lauderdale P.D. F.L.P.D. is an excellent agency with good leadership and outstanding officers. Times have changed though, and I know that the F.L.P.D. pursuit policy has changed too. I can almost bet that if the same exact circumstances that happened in San Diego happened in Fort Lauderdale, that the only known reason for the pursuit was a traffic charge (speeding), then I'm certain that a road patrol supervisor WOULD advise the officer to stop chasing the Audi. That's the way it is now at F.L.P.D., and I imagine many other law enforcement agencies too.

Unfortunately, these are the litigation-happy times we live in, and police departments all across America have had to adjust to these new realities. Did this more restrictive sort of a pursuit policy play a hand in getting Officer Henwood shot. God, I hope not!

Officer Jeremy Henwood Family Trust
c/o San Diego Police Officers Association
8388 Vickers Street, San Diego, CA 92111

Gary P. Jones
Law Enforcement Ambassador
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

author of: Badge 149 - ''Shots Fired!''
www.badge149.com

Who is more stupid --- the bird, the cat, or me?

Most, if not all, of my blog posts have involved the law enforcement profession, but not this one....

In the early morning hours, when the sun comes up and a bright new day begins, I almost always awake to the annoying banging of a few stupid birds flying into the bedroom window. I suppose they see their reflection in the glass window and think they are seeing another bird. I would think that after they slam beak first into this glass wall a few dozen times they would get the hint. Hey stupid, it ain't another bird, it's glass!

Then, we have my stupid cat. She sits there quietly on a chair by the window and she watches these birds crashing into the glass. And, it's very obvious what she is thinking. She desperately wants to sink her fangs into one of these feathery creatures. Suddenly, the cat bolts forward and she herself slams headfirst into the window. She does this with such force that the whole damn bedroom seems to vibrate. After she does this several times, I'm definitely awake.

Usually, I'll just tell the cat, "Hey stupid, you can't get the bird because it's on the other side of the glass window."

This morning, after I made this same comment again, I got to thinking. Who is more stupid, the birds for repeatedly flying into the glass window, the cat for trying to go through the glass to get at the birds, OR ME, for trying to explain it all to my dumb cat?