[WI] Then-Deputy Hutchins gets 20 years for shooting girlfriend and 12 year old girl

...[Former Milwaukee County Sheriff's Deputy Thomas] Hutchins' attorney, Bridget Boyle, said Hutchins fired several shots at the door lock because he wanted to see if [his then-girlfriend Petria] Dent was all right. Dent, who was in the courtroom gallery responded loudly: "He shot me in the face! What does she mean he wanted to see if I was OK?...

FORMER DEPUTY SENTENCED TO JAIL TIME WISN.com
May 28, 2009
[Excerpt] A former Milwaukee County sheriff's deputy will spend 20 years in prison for shooting his girlfriend and a 12-year-old girl. Thomas Hutchins pled no contest to shooting the woman in the face during an argument at her Northside Milwaukee condo in December. She ran to a neighbor's house, where Hutchins fired through the door, shooting a 12-year-old inside... [Full article here]

FORMER SHERIFF'S DEPUTY SENTENCED IN SHOOTINGS
Today's TMJ4
Dan O'Donnell
May 28, 2009
[Excerpts] ...Thomas Hutchins, 40, had pleaded no contest to two charges of first degree reckless injury and one count of endangering safety through the use of a dangerous weapon in January. According to a criminal complaint, Hutchins and his then-girlfriend Petria Dent got into a violent argument... When she threatened to call police, Hutchins shot her in the face and then followed her as she ran to her neighbor's home. When Dent locked the front door behind her, Hutchins fired several shots. Three bullets struck a young girl in the leg and hand. "It's only pure luck that he's not facing two counts of reckless homicide," said Deputy District Attorney Patrick Kenney. Dent has undergone five surgeries since the incident, and the girl still has heavy scars. She and several of her siblings who were home at the time of the incident are still in therapy. [Full article here]

FORMER DEPUTY SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS FOR SHOOTING THAT INJURED TWO
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
By Marie Rohde
May. 28, 2009
[Excerpts] ...Milwaukee County Circuit Judge David Borowski sentenced Hutchins to 10 years in prison and five years of extended supervision on each of the injury counts to be served consecutively, and two years in prison followed by two years of extended supervision to be served concurrently on the third count. According to records and testimony, Hutchins went to the home of his girlfriend, Petria Dent, 32, with a gift for their child just before Christmas. The couple soon argued; he said it was over Dent spanking the girl. Dent said he slapped her and that she defended herself by striking him with a candlestick. Hutchins denied slapping her, saying her attack was unprovoked, and he shot her out of fear for his safety. He also said she had threatened to call the police, and he feared his job would be endangered... Hutchins' attorney, Bridget Boyle, said Hutchins fired several shots at the door lock because he wanted to see if Dent was all right. Dent, who was in the courtroom gallery responded loudly: "He shot me in the face! What does she mean he wanted to see if I was OK?"... [Deputy District Attorney Patrick] Kenney noted that Dent's two children were in the home when she was shot, as were several other children in her care. There were a number of people in the second home as well. All the children are receiving therapy and are still fearful... [Full article here]

Previous posts:

• [WI] Deputy Hutchins, who shot his girlfriend & 12 year old neighbor who helped her, has a violent history - ...MARY HUTCHINS CLAIMED THAT HER EX-HUSBAND HAD THREATENED HER FOR FOUR YEARS AND SAID HE'D MAKE HER SEE HER MOTHER, WHO DIED IN 2004...."DEPUTY THOMAS HUTCHINS THREATENED TO TAKE MY LIFE... HE DOESN'T CARE, HE WILL KILL ME"... HE EVEN RIPPED THE PHONE OUT OF THE WALL..."YOU TAKE MY JOB, I'LL TAKE YOUR LIFE"... THEN HE POINTED HIS GLOCK HANDGUN AT HER AND STATED, "YOU TAKE MY JOB, I'LL TAKE YOUR LIFE," ACCORDING TO THE COMPLAINT. HE FIRED TWICE, THE COMPLAINT SAYS. SHE FELT PAIN IN HER FACE AND RAN...
• [WI] Shot in the face, Deputy Hutchins' girlfriend leaps from window, before 12 year Karess Patton also shot - ...The girlfriend -- still trying to flee the deputy -- jumped out of an upstairs window to the pavement below and continued to run through a number of yards before getting help from another neighbor...

3 VIDEOS FROM DECEMBER 2008:

[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement shooting attempted murder secondary victim wisconsinl]

[FL] In behalf of Officer Guillen who confessed to sexual battery of 7 year old in his home, "He's done a great job"

..."He has never been disciplined by the Bal Harbour Police Department," Bal Harbour Police Chief Thomas E. Hunker said. "He's done a great job."

BAL HARBOUR OFFICER ACCUSED OF MOLESTING CHILD
MiamiHerald.com
By Rodolfo R. Roman and Robert Samuels
May 28, 2009
A Bal Harbour police officer was arrested Thursday and accused of molesting a 7-year-old girl, police said. Rene Guillen, a five-year-veteran who works with the city's motorcycle unit and who has a clean police record, was charged with sexual aggravated battery on a minor... He confessed... "He has never been disciplined by the Bal Harbour Police Department," Bal Harbour Police Chief Thomas E. Hunker said. "He's done a great job." [Full article here]

BAL HARBOUR OFFICER SEXUALLY ASSAULTED CHILD, POLICE SAY
Sun-Sentinel.com
By Doug Phillips
May 29, 2009
...Guillen provided a full confession, according to a statement from Miami-Dade police. Information released by police allege that the 7-year-old girl was sexually assaulted while visiting Guillen's residence on the evening of April 25, 2009. Further details were not provided... Guillen has been suspended from the Bal Harbour Police Department without pay... [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement miami dade county child children rape florida]

[CT] Norwich Police Lt. Blanchette allowed the respectability of "RETIREMENT"?

In the OUTRAGEOUS RESOLUTION of Norwich Police Lt. Michael R. Blanchette's heroin-connected scandal - AN OFFENSIVE-TO-ALL "RETIREMENT" WITH PENSION - only one of the two recent articles BOTHERS to mention Lt. Blanchette's prior domestic case in a short blurb - at the end:

...In 2004, Blanchette was arrested on domestic charges related to allegations he was harassing his estranged wife. The charges were later dismissed when he agreed to go to counseling.

Previous post:
[CT] DV charges erased, Lt. Blanchette moved on to other crimes - Riddle: Keep a cop that breaks the law and what do you get?

It's crazy that this officer is getting the package he is, after his heroin-related escapades, ESPECIALLY (WATCH THIS) BECAUSE he has threatened that if he DOESN'T get the golden egg he is going to

SING

on what he knows about the department! He THREATENS, and then GETS the respected exit of retirement? But this is a blog on officer-involved domestic violence, so HERE I'm even more disgusted. In 2004 it wasn't just a domestic "harassment" incident as the recent article says. He should have been fired years back. The more recent charges should have been against a civilian ex-cop Blanchette, not a current police lieutenant with sworn powers of arrest, paid by the city to pose as someone of public trust - representing the whole Norwich Police Department.

You KEEP a cop that commits crimes and you have a badged criminal. Keeping him says more about the chief and brass than the individual criminal cop. It looks bad on every Norwich police officer - but I say it's on the chief.

Please see the article excerpts that I have included from 2004 that follow (below) these recent news excerpts.

NORWICH POLICE OFFICER AGREES TO RETIRE
Lieutenant demoted, suspended 40 days
Norwich Bulletin
By Greg Smith
May 27, 2009
[Excerpts] Nearly two and a half years after embattled former Norwich Police Lt. Michael R. Blanchette last wore his uniform, the city has come to an agreement to ensure he never does again. Under an agreement reached with the city, Blanchette will be able to seek retirement benefits with the city’s Personnel and Pension Board, but he will be demoted from lieutenant to patrol officer and receive a 40-day suspension, Police Chief Louis J. Fusaro said Wednesday. The announcement comes at the end of an internal investigation into, among other things, Blanchette’s drug possession arrest last year, Fusaro said. The retirement would be retroactive to April 25 and the suspension would be served by Blanchette forfeiting $12,000 in accrued leave payments he would have been eligible for at the time of his retirement... In response to a Freedom of Information request made by The Norwich Bulletin in March, Fusaro on Wednesday released 64 pages of heavily redacted documents pertaining to the internal investigation into Blanchette’s arrest, and other matters. Some of the documents are indecipherable because of the redactions, but include allegations from suspected drug dealers that Blanchette bought, used and sold heroin and was stealing from drug dealers outside the city... In a May 29, 2008, letter Blanchette expressed his intention to retire with his full 20-year pension and warned that he would conduct a “protracted fight with the news media, and civil courts should you decide to try and deprive me of my retirements benefits”... Blanchette said he had maintained documented information about what he considered mishandled disciplinary problems and prepared his own news releases... In 2004, Blanchette was arrested on domestic charges related to allegations he was harassing his estranged wife. The charges were later dismissed when he agreed to go to counseling. [Full article here]

NORWICH COP WILL RETIRE AS PART OF SETTLEMENT TIED TO INTERNAL PROBE
Lt. Blanchette had alleged links to drug dealers, users
The Day
By Claire Bessette
Published on 5/28/2009
[Excerpts] Despite citing several valid reasons to fire former city police Lt. Michael Blanchette following an investigation into his alleged association with drug users and dealers, Chief Louis Fusaro said Wednesday that the department instead reached a settlement that included a suspension, a demotion and immediate retirement... Michael Blanchette was charged with possession of a controlled substance, but later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct and paid a $100 fine. But the internal investigation also included two separate earlier incidents - one while Blanchette was on duty and one while off duty - in which Blanchette “exercised extremely poor judgment,” the chief wrote... In a March 5, 2009 letter to Blanchette titled “proposed termination from employment,” Fusaro said Blanchette's long tenure on injury leave dating back to January 2007 was cause to terminate his employment because he no longer could perform his duties. Fusaro also cited several disciplinary allegations and accused Blanchette of threatening to release information to the media that “would have the effect of casting disrepute on the department without regard for the truth or veracity of the information to be released.” In the letter, Fusaro described Blanchette's actions as showing insubordination, incompetence, “untruthfulness” and interference with an internal investigation. Fusaro Wednesday declined to comment on the settlement or the documents that were released... A week after the Blanchettes were arrested, local and New York police arrested two men in Norwich for possession of more than two pounds of heroin purchased at the same Bronx apartment. One of those suspects, identified as “D,” told police during interviews that “Michael Blanchette has used heroin for several years”... Mocek cited Blanchette for insubordination for his continued close association with his brother, “a known narcotics user and felon,” and for his continued association with other individuals of dubious reputation... [Full article here]

FROM 2004:

Police officer arrested in domestic fracas
Three incidents culminate in multiple charges
Norwich Bulletin (CT)
Greg Smith
February 19, 2004
[Excerpts] City police have arrested a veteran ranking officer following an investigation into allegations of domestic abuse made by his estranged wife. Lt. Michael R. Blanchette, a supervisor in the department's training division, was arraigned Wednesday in Norwich Superior Court on multiple charges of first-degree criminal trespassing, second-degree harassment, disorderly conduct and one count of breach of peace... [Deputy Police Chief Warren] Mocek directed Blanchette not to go to this wife's home and to obtain a police escort when picking up his children. Feb. 15, Daneen Blanchette contacted police to report Michael Blanchette at her residence. He was arrested Tuesday... Blanchette's wife claimed in her statements to police that he verbally and emotionally abused her and on one occasion pushed her and spit in her face. She also charged he entered her home without her permission several times when she was not home. She also claimed that Blanchette "has become increasingly unpredictable in his behavior and she is afraid to go to sleep at night." It was not unusual, she said, for Blanchette to call her residence up to 100 times a day...

Officer faces domestic disturbance charges
The Day
By Eileen Mcnamara
February 19, 2004
...[Warren] Mocek, the deputy chief, told Michael Blanchette not to go to his wife's home "pending the outcome of this investigation." ... Two days later, Daneen Blanchette told police, her husband came to her home uninvited at 3:30 p.m. and knocked repeatedly on the door, yelling, "I'm not leaving"...

Arrested Norwich officer turns weapons in; duty status uncertain
Police lieutenant accused of harassing his estranged wife
The Day (New London, CT)
By Claire Bessette
February 20, 2004
Police Lt. Michael Blanchette turned in his duty firearms and some personal firearms Tuesday in the wake of his arrest on domestic disturbance charges. It remained unclear Thursday whether Blanchette will be allowed to return to active duty. Blanchette, who was promoted to lieutenant in September 2002, is using vacation time for the rest of this week... [Deputy Police Chief Warren] Mocek said THE DEPARTMENT HAS NO SET POLICY FOR HANDLING ARRESTS OF OFFICERS, AND NO AUTOMATIC REQUIREMENT THAT OFFICERS BE PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. EACH CASE IS REVIEWED SEPARATELY BASED ON THE CHARGES AND THE OFFICER'S ACTIONS, HE SAID...

Officer to enter family violence program to get charges dropped
The Day
By Paul Choiniere
April 29, 2004
Norwich Police Lt. Michael R. Blanchette, arrested in February on allegations he harassed and intimidated his estranged wife, agreed Wednesday to enter the state's Family Violence Education Program, a move that should lead to his criminal charges being dropped. THE PROTECTIVE ORDER FILED AGAINST BLANCHETTE WAS ALSO MODIFIED TO ALLOW HIM TO CARRY A GUN WHILE ON DUTY... IF BLANCHETTE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES THE PROGRAM, AIMED AT PREVENTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THE CHARGES WILL BE DROPPED...

Arrested cop gets gun back
Norwich Bulletin
Thursday, April 29, 2004
By GREG SMITH
A Norwich police lieutenant, arrested on domestic violence charges, COULD GET HIS GUN BACK AS EARLY AS THIS WEEK AND LEAVE LEGAL TROUBLES BEHIND WITHIN A YEAR. LT. MICHAEL BLANCHETTE, 38, APPEARED IN DANIELSON SUPERIOR COURT WEDNESDAY WITH HIS WIFE, DANEEN, at his side...

This blurb from 2008 shows how the domestic charges were resolved:

DEA joins investigation of Norwich cop
State's attorney's office also involved in probe of police lieutenant, brother as New York drug connection is alleged The Day, CT
By Claire Bessette
6/26/2008
...In 2004 Blanchette was arrested on domestic disturbance charges after his estranged wife told police he had repeatedly harassed her, entered her home uninvited and shoved her. The charges were dismissed after Blanchette agreed to attend classes and counseling...

[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement connecticut repeat offenders teflon]

[KY] Update on Sgt. Kenny Riley's girlfriend assault : A demotion, a week off from work, and - the charges were dropped?

...Authorities say [Daviess County Sheriff's Sgt.] Kenny Riley, 41, violated the department's policy...

WHAT POLICY WAS THAT?

FROM THE LAST POST:
...Sgt. Kenny Riley, 41, was charged with fourth-degree assault/domestic violence... [Rileys's girlfriend] said Riley grabbed her in their living room, ripping her shirt, and she ran upstairs and called 911. Officers noted she had "redness on her right side," and she said she was unsure how she got the mark... Riley told officers [his girlfriend] had been drinking and was attempting to drive to Denny's. He said as she was walking toward the door to leave, he grabbed her by the shirt, and it ripped.

I almost missed this, but thanks to the commenters on the last Riley post I started poking around...

Kentucky Deputy Demoted
May 15, 2008
A Daviess County Sheriff's Office employee accused of assaulting his girlfriend has been demoted to deputy from sergeant. Authorities say Kenny Riley, 41, violated the department's policy. Riley was suspended for a week without pay. Charges against him were dismissed. Riley works security at the courthouse. [Link]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement sheriff's deputy sergeant teflon kentucky]

[IN] Hoping Sgt. Downey's wife runs for higher ground now

...On Sunday May 17, Downey's wife told police her husband threatened to hurt her animals. She called right back and told them to disregard the call. In December, Downey's wife told police her husband assaulted her.... In April, 2008, a third-party caller told police Downey's wife was having problems with the off-duty officer...

There are those who loose their cool and writhe in remorse. And then there are those who think they can do what they want and get away with it. Sgt. Downey appears to take no responsibility, seems to feel free to do it again, blames others for the trouble he's in, and it would be no surprise if he pretends to reconcile - but only to get in a better warring position with intent of "winning" in the end. Now, it's a battleground, with weapons and strategies. I can feel the dangerous ideas running through his head from here... It doesn't take a psychic.

Previous post:
[IN] South Bend Police Sgt. Eric Downey contesting the wife-battery and dui charges against him - IT WAS THE FOURTH CALL FROM SGT. ERIC DOWNEY’S HOME IN THE PAST 13 MONTHS... MRS. DOWNEY TOLD OFFICERS HE PINNED HER ON THE BED, THEN HELD HER DOWN IN A CHAIR — BEFORE SHE STARTED TO FIGHT BACK. BUT SGT. DOWNEY TOLD OFFICERS A VERBAL ARGUMENT ESCALATED TO HIS WIFE HITTING AND CHOKING HIM FIRST... DOWNEY'S NEXT COURT DATE IS MAY 26...

SOUTH BEND POLICE OFFICER PLACED ON PAID LEAVE AFTER BATTERY, OWI CHARGES
WSBT
May 28, 2009
[Excerpts] SOUTH BEND - A South Bend police officer has been placed on paid administrative leave after being charged with domestic battery and operating a vehicle while intoxicated. The South Bend Board of Public Safety also removed all of Sgt. Eric Downey's police powers. He will work in the chief's office until the investigation is complete... This wasn't the first time police were called to the officer's home. On Sunday May 17, Downey's wife told police her husband threatened to hurt her animals. She called right back and told them to disregard the call. In December, Downey's wife told police her husband assaulted her. Police sent that case to the Family Violence Unit. In April, 2008, a third-party caller told police Downey's wife was having problems with the off-duty officer. The probable cause documents in this latest incident say Downey grabbed his wife's wrists so hard he caused injury and pain. Downey has filed a formal complaint against all officers on the call for excessive force and false arrest. He says he filed an additional complaint against one of the officers for intimidation and provocation... [Full article here]

Twittered: South Bend Police Sgt. Downey placed on paid leave after domestic battery, OWI charges - http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/46381327.html
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement repeat indiana]

[OH] Deputy Kirk, who assaulted his wife, is fired. It appears to be a commendable, swift decision, but sad too.

Please pray for them both.
Their lives and unrest continue.
This is a fragile time.

...[Clinton County Sheriff Ralph] Fizer said Kirk's case was handled like all other such cases for anyone else. "He was given due process. Our officers are held to higher standards," he said. "They have a Code of Ethics they are held to"...

This sheriff doesn't play. The article of the abuse and arrest was only three days ago, and already the investigation is done enough to know what they wanted to do.

Previous post:
[OH] Deputy Chris Kirk attacks, injures his wife, and was bailed out the next day - She suffered bruises to her arms and back. Kirk was held in jail for one night, and then released on $2500 bond after a court appearance. Kirk is on administrative leave pending the outcome of a report from a disciplinary hearing officer...

SHERIFF'S DEPUTY CHARGED WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
WNEWSJ
Rose Cooper, County Editor
5/29/2009 12:35:00 AM
[Excerpts] A Clinton County sheriff's deputy, who was recently charged with domestic violence for allegedly attacking his wife, was fired Wednesday following an internal investigation and a disciplinary hearing. Chris Kirk was arrested May 13 after his wife, Misty Kirk, filed domestic violence charges with the sheriff's office, said Clinton County Sheriff Ralph D. Fizer Jr. Fizer said Kirk's wife suffered visible injuries during an altercation on May 11. She had bruises to her arms and back... A temporary protection order was also filed. The domestic violence case is still pending in court, Fizer said... Kirk was immediately placed on administrative leave pending the disciplinary hearing and the internal investigation conducted by Lt. Brian Edwards, chief detective with the sheriff's office. Fizer said John Hosler, director of Clinton County Job & Family Services, was appointed disciplinary hearing officer. During the May 20 hearing, Fizer said Kirk could call witnesses on his behalf... "He does have a right to appeal. He has 10 days to file with the State of Ohio Personnel Board of Review in Columbus" Fizer said Kirk's case was handled like all other such cases for anyone else. "He was given due process. Our officers are held to higher standards," he said. "They have a Code of Ethics they are held to"... Kirk received the American Red Cross Hero award in March for rescuing two boys who were trapped in raging creek waters last year. [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement terminated shiny sheriff zero tolerance ohio]

[CAN] RCMP Officer Woodrow locked up the woman his domestic violence was with. Police were flown into the scene.

ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE SGT. WAYNE NEWELL, MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICER, REGARDING RCMP CONSTABLE JAMES WOODROW:

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A PROBLEM IN OUR SOCIETY AND WE WON’T TOLERATE IT, ESPECIALLY BY OUR OWN MEMBERS... HE IS NOW FACING CHARGES OF ASSAULT, SECTION 266 OF THE CRIMINAL CODE AND ONE COUNT OF FORCIBLE CONFINEMENT, 279 OF THE CRIMINAL CODE... THE DISPUTE STARTED IN THE OFFICER'S HOME... THE OFF DUTY RCMP OFFICER TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO ARREST THIS WOMAN, SHE WAS PLACED IN THE CELLS. THAT OBVIOUSLY CAUSED MUCH CONCERN... THERE WAS NO MEDICAL ATTENTION SOT[SP] IMMEDIATELY, I DON’T KNOW IF SHE’S GONE SINCE OR NOT. BUT THE INJURIES INVOLVED BRUISING AND SCRATCHES AND THAT TYPE OF THING...

Photo is of RCMP Newell. Woodrow's arraignment is POSTPONED UNTIL OCTOBER 7th!

OFF-DUTY MOUNTIE ACCUSED OF HITTING NAIN WOMAN, PUTTING HER IN LOCKUP
CBC News
May 28, 2009
An off-duty Mountie in northern Labrador is accused of assaulting a woman and then later arresting her and putting her in the Nain lockup, the RCMP said Thursday. Const. James Woodrow was arrested Wednesday and remained in custody overnight. He appeared in circuit court in Nain on Thursday afternoon on charges of assault and forcible confinement. "These are serious [charges]," said Sgt. Wayne Newell, who speaks on behalf of the RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador. "Obviously, the RCMP does not tolerate any degree of domestic violence, and when it involves one of our own, it is certainly not a good thing. "It's something that we're not very proud to report but we have to report it." Newell said other members of the force learned of the dispute at about 2 a.m. on Tuesday. Because the complaint involved a member of the detachment, RCMP officers from other locations flew in. He said the investigation showed that the dispute started in the officer's home. "The off-duty RCMP officer took it upon himself to arrest the woman. When it ended up outside, he placed her in cells for the evening - that's [the] forcible confinement charge," Newell told CBC News... Newell said the woman had minor injuries and has been offered counselling. On Thursday afternoon, a circuit court judge in Nain released Woodrow on conditions to keep the peace and have no contact with the complainant... [Full article here]

RCMP MEMBER CHARGED WITH ASSAULT ON WOMAN IN NAIN Radio Briefs, oksociety.com
by CKOK
May 28, 2009, 2:44 pm
[Excerpts] Off duty Nain RCMP Officer James Woodrow has been charged with one count of Assault and one count of Forcible Confinement and he will be appearing in court at 1:30 pm this afternoon in Nain. On our AtjiKangitut show this afternoon we will be speaking with Wayne Newell who is the Media Relations Officer with the RCMP in St. John’s about this case... Wayne Newell: Yes, on May 26th at around 2:00 in the morning the RCMP officers who were on duty in Nain responded to a disturbance involving an off-duty RCMP officer and a Nain woman... he is now facing charges of assault, section 266 of the criminal code and one count of forcible confinement, 279 of the criminal code. These are very serious allegations obviously and we take them very seriously. Any type of domestic violence is a problem in our society and when it’s one of our own it’s particularly troubling... This just occurred of course and there is the potential for further charges. I haven’t reviewed all the potential charges but those are the two that are obvious at this time. If there’s others that come to mind that are applicable they would be laid too. And we have to remember that there is a separate and parallel internal investigation taking place as well and there are obviously sanctions that could be placed on the officer for breach of the RCMP Act for conduct unbecoming of an Officer... RCMP officers saw what was going on, and they saw the disturbance, so the exact circumstances is something that is before the courts, we can’t go into the full details of things but obviously it will all come out in court... The injuries were minor in nature. There was no medical attention sot[sp] immediately, I don’t know if she’s gone since or not. But the injuries involved bruising and scratches and that type of thing... Our members are expected to obey the law and to be seen to be obeying the law and when cases like this come into play then it’s certainly troubling, there’s no question about it. But we have to be seen to do things right as well, and in this case we made an arrest and the charges are applied. Domestic Violence is a problem in our society and we won’t tolerate it, especially by our own members. In this case there is a separate internal investigation I don’t want to pre-judge the investigation yet, but the consequences could include up to dismissal. So these are serious things that have taken place. But they are isolated incidents. Our members in Nain and in all communities in this province go about their duties in protecting people every day, they do an excellent job. Unfortunately, we’re made up of human beings who sometimes make mistakes and that’s the case here I believe, a mistake was made and the important thing is that we take appropriate remedial action and we work with the communities and try to do the job before us. The actions of one or two don’t represent the values of everybody in the organization this is just an isolated incident and we hope that it is not seen as a blanket thing that everybody acts this way... [Full article here]

"UPDATE ON RCMP OFFICER'S ARRAIGNMENT"
Radio Briefs, oksociety.com
by CKOK
May 28, 2009, 3:17 pm
RCMP member James Woodrow just finished his appearance in court and OKalaKatiget was there. Woodrow was scheduled to enter a plea, but now his Arraignment has been postponed until October 7, 2009 at 9:30 am in Nain because of lack of documentation. He has been charged with one count of assault and one count of forcible confinement against a woman in Nain. Judge William English presided over the case and said Woodrow would be released on conditions of undertaking including that he keep the peace and have good behavior, reside in Corner Brook and remain away from the victim. So on October 7th, Woodrow will enter his plea in Nain. [LINK]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement canada abuse of power]

[FL] The 1 year old that REINSTATED Avon Park Police Officer James Parker was babysitting - "Baby Hope" Kaedyn Short - has died

..."Baby Hope has lost her life... An innocent little baby girl who could not even defend herself. Why, why has this happened? What went wrong?"...

Previous post:
[FL] Officer Parker - reinstated after domestic violence - now accused of putting girlfriend's toddler in critical condition - ...Parker was also arrested in June 26, 2004 on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge involving his former wife. He entered into a diversion program and the States Attorney's Office eventually deferred prosecution. Parker, then 27, was reinstated in late July 2004 after completing a two-day suspension without pay... When Parker attended his arraignment on July 19, 2004, his ex wife withdrew charges... A deferred prosecution agreement was signed in lieu of Parker attending an anger management program for 12 weeks. All criminal charges were dismissed after he successfully completed the class...


What will it take before officer-involved domestic violence is taken seriously? It is NOT a private matter or moment's mistake. Officer Parker's domestic violence past was waved away. He even appears to have been allowed to get out of attending the anger management class. If his charges had been handled as the crimes they were instead of as character infractions, would little Kaedyn Short be alive today? Most young mothers would trust their police officer boyfriend to watch the baby - but I believe most would not let an EX-officer, fired for domestic violence, watch their child.

Largely, systems in place to determine police discipline and fitness, along with the court system, are too often aligned to give domestic abusing law enforcement officers a break. Do those same systems spend as much time, money, power, and energy on keeping the officer's NEXT victims safe from him or her?

Donations may be sent to Children's Services Foundation at P.O. Box 7125, Sebring, FL 33872-0103. At the bottom of the check, write "for Baby K fund." All donations in Children's Services' name are tax deductible

CHILD ALLEGEDLY INJURED BY AP COP DIES
Kaedyn Short died this morning
Highlands Today
Brad Dickerson
Published: May 27, 2009
[Excerpts] A 22-month-old girl who authorities say was severely injured by Avon Park police officer James Parker died from her injuries today. Kaedyn Short passed away at 9:38 a.m. at a hospice home where she was being cared for in her final days, according to a Highlands County Sheriff's Office press release. Short was the daughter of Parker's former live-in girlfriend and had been on life support for some time after being hospitalized for multiple bruises and an apparent skull fracture March 29. On May 4, attorney Richard Pipkin, speaking on behalf of Short's mother, had told a court room gathered for Parker's bond hearing that the child was being taken off life support. If she did live, doctors said she would be a vegetative state, the attorney had added. On March 29, deputies with the sheriff's office were called to Highlands Regional Medical Center after Short, then 20 months old, was being brought into the emergency room with multiple bruises on her body and an apparent skull fracture. Her mother was at work at the time of the incident and Parker was reportedly watching the child... At Parker's May bond hearing, sheriff's office Det. Tyrone Tyson said there was evidence of older injuries on the child, including a two-month-old fractured right collarbone and a broken elbow, which occurred about a week prior to March 29. Parker was charged with aggravated child abuse, domestic violence related, and remains in the Highlands County Jail in lieu of a $250,000 bond... [Full article here]

If the domestic violence past of officers is wiped from the record for the sake of his or her career - how can someone like the mother of Kaedyn see what was coming her way? How would she know he finagled out of his anger classes or that the classes had even been recommended for him - when he is ALL DRESSED UP WITH A BADGE AND A GUN BLENDING IN WITH ALL THE DECENT COPS WHO GET UP EVERYDAY AND DON'T COMMIT CRIMES, BUT ARE COMMITTED TO STOPPING CRIMES? How does the next victim

know?

It's a very cruel and costly deception. Especially at moments like this.

Where's Kaedyn? A fruit of diversion and second chances for an officer's career?

This is NOT one of those hindsight is 20/20 situations. I am the storykeeper. This is almost predictable - that someone else will be hurt by the abuser who believes that they can offend and get out of it.

Too often their anger grows arrogant.

BABY IN PARKER CASE HAS DIED
newssun.com
By ED BALDRIDGE ed.baldridge@newssun.com
Trey Christy
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
[Excerpts] Avon Park police officer James Parker may face more serious charges after the 22-month-old infant he allegedly abused died Wednesday morning, several weeks after being taken off life support... “We will look at the facts and see what we believe is appropriate,” Assistant State Attorney Steve Houchin said Thursday when asked about the possibility of upgrading the charges to murder. “It depends on what facts develop from law enforcement and the medical examiner. We will take the appropriate action when we have that information.” According to Houchin, an autopsy was being performed by the District 10 Medical Examiners Office Thursday. The Department of Children and Families is also included in the investigation... [Full article here]

It is TRAGICALLY REDUNDANT now on this blog to post the injuries and deaths committed by officers given favor instead of punishment, breaks instead being fired. Let these officers who can't control themselves find a job that does not feed into their already-displayed immaturity. When you keep them, the department and courts contribute to not only creating a monster of sorts - but ruining even the officer's life. Look at Officer Parker now. Who would want to be in his place? He NEEDED intervention - whether he liked it or NOT. Was letting him not be charged, clear his record, and be reinstated REALLY a break for him? Looks like it broke him and many others instead.

How many lives are imploding with little Kaedyn's death?

This is so sad.

COMMUNITY MOURNS FOR CHILD WHO DIED FROM ABUSE
Highlands Today
Brad Dickerson bdickerson@highlandstoday.com
Published: May 28, 2009
[Excerpts] Dana Gonzalez has been "just an emotional wreck" since learning Thursday morning that 22-month-old Kaedyn Short had died. The Avon Park massage therapist said she and a lot of her clients, who are nurses, have been keeping the young child in their prayers after news of her injuries first hit in late March. That spiritual support is something she hopes will continue now more than ever. "We need to be in prayer for the family," Gonzalez said, adding that she has been following the story, but does not know Short or her mother. The young child died almost two months after authorities say she was severely injured by Avon Park police officer James Parker... Gonzalez, who is a member of the Avon Park League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), plans to attend a candle light prayer vigil Monday night in honor of Short, also known as "Baby Hope"... In an emotional e-mail, Avon Park LULAC president Patricia Austin said, "our hearts hurt," after the news of Short's passing was announced. "Baby Hope has lost her life," Austin said in the e-mail. "An innocent little baby girl who could not even defend herself. Why, why has this happened? What went wrong?" In addition to the candlelight vigil, Monday's LULAC meeting will focus on the issue of recognizing police brutality and abuse... Donations may be sent to Children's Services Foundation at P.O. Box 7125, Sebring, FL 33872-0103. At the bottom of the check, write "for Baby K fund." All donations in Children's Services' name are tax deductible... [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence fatality fatalities child children murder law enforcement florida]

[UK] From across the sea, goodbye to Police Officer Claire Howarth

..."OFFICERS HAVE BEEN IN TEARS"...

CHESHIRE POLICE OFFICER MARTIN FORSHAW IS IN JAIL ON SUSPICION OF KILLING HIS MANCHESTER POLICE OFFICER FIANCE CLAIRE HOWARTH

POLICE OFFICER ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF MURDERING WPC LOVER
Russell Jenkins
May 7, 2009
[Excerpts] ...Chief Superintendent John O'Hare, from Greater Manchester Police's Rochdale division, said that Miss Howarth was well respected and popular. He said: "Claire had been handpicked to undertake a challenging role as a community beat manager and she was someone I had identified as an officer with the potential to go far in Greater Manchester Police and make a real difference. Our thoughts are with Claire's family and friends at this very difficult time and they are absolutely distraught, as we all are.nIn November 2008 a member of the public wrote to Greater Manchester Police's internal newspaper, Brief, to thank Claire for helping her 12-year-old daughter deal with school bullies. The letter praised Claire for being a 'total credit to your force and we feel privileged to have people like her out there looking after us'"... [Full article here]
'KILLER' WEDDING
The Sun
By BEN ASHFORD
Published: 09 May 2009
[Excerpts] WPC Claire Howarth was weeks away from marrying the cop suspected of murdering her, it emerged last night... A post mortem revealed Claire - who was due to take sergeant's exams - died from a blow to the head, likely from a blunt weapon. Detectives suspect Forshaw battered her during a row at home in Tottington, Gtr Manchester, then rammed her car into a tree and placed her at the wheel... Floral tributes were left at the couple's home yesterday. A colleague said: "Officers have been in tears." Sources claimed Forshaw has refused to answer questions. [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement fatality fatalities united kingdom]

[CO] Ex-Boulder Police Officer Dileo kills wife Liz, son Chris, and himself

A former firefighter and Boulder police officer who fatally shot his wife and son before killing himself Monday had threatened his family members in the past... Philip Frank Dileo, 61, left a simple set of instructions on what to do with the bodies before gunning down his wife, Elizabeth Schwarzenbach-Dileo, 63, and their son, Philip Christopher Dileo, 23...

Neighbors Say Boulder Shooting Suspect Was 'Crazy, Dangerous'
Police: Shooter Was Former Boulder Officer
The Denver Channel
POSTED: 7:14 pm MDT May 27, 2009
UPDATED: 12:16 am MDT May 28, 2009
Former neighbors of a man accused of a double-murder-suicide that shook a Boulder neighborhood this week say the shooter was a "crazy" and "dangerous" man who harassed them and even threatened to kill them several times. CALL7 Investigators have learned, the harassment was so bad, one of the neighbors was granted a restraining order... The CALL7 Investigators confirmed there are three reports filed with the Boulder county sheriff for harassment in 2006 and two officer information reports filed in 2005 and 2006 involving neighbors. Boulder police said they have had one contact with this family before. In 2005, Elizabeth Schwarzenbach-Dileo came to the police department to talk with an officer about the legality of purchasing a gun because her husband had made threats against her. There are indications that he previously threatened their son, as well, police said... [Full article here]



Police: Boulder shooter threatened family before
Suspect was a former Boulder cop, Aurora firefighter
The Daily Camera
By John Aguilar (Contact)
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
A former firefighter and Boulder police officer who fatally shot his wife and son before killing himself Monday had threatened his family members in the past, police said Wednesday. Philip Frank Dileo, 61, left a simple set of instructions on what to do with the bodies before gunning down his wife, Elizabeth Schwarzenbach-Dileo, 63, and their son, Philip Christopher Dileo, 23, at the family’s Boulder home early Monday, according to Boulder police... Although several neighbors remembered Philip F. Dileo as friendly and outgoing, public documents paint a darker picture — of a man who believed he was repeatedly wronged by Boulder’s public institutions... Megan Stinson told Channel 7 on Wednesday that he talked often about his wife and son, and said he was a dying man. “Just let me die with my family that I love,” Stinson recalled Dileo saying... “It’s sad to hear about what happened to his wife and son,” Brandon Stinson told the Camera. “But I have to say when I heard about it on the news, I was not surprised at hearing what happened”... [Full article here]


[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement fatality fatalities murder colorado]

[AL] Officer Chevis Finley charged with shooting death of Broderick Rashad Dixon - "fighting over a woman"

...Irondale Police say that the men were fighting over a woman... Dixon was shot several times...

Brighton officer on leave after arrest
myfoxal.com, WBRC
27 May 2009
A Brighton police officer was placed on leave Wednesday night after he was arrested and charged with murder. 22-year old Chevis Raymond Finley was arrested Friday and booked into the Jefferson County Jail. He has been accused of shooting 27-year old Broderick Dixon in the parking lot of the Enclave at Mountain Brook Apartments in Irondale. Irondale Police say that the men were fighting over a woman. Finley has been a Brighton Police officer for less than a year, and was off duty at the time of the shooting. [LINK]

Brighton officer a suspect in Irondale slaying
Birmingham News
Posted by Jeremy Gray
May 27, 2009 9:24 PM
A 22-year-old Birmingham man charged with murder in a Friday morning Irondale shooting death has been a Brighton police officer for about a year, Brighton Mayor Angelo Hinkle said tonight. Chevis Finley was booked into the Jefferson County Jail Friday night on $75,000 bond. Hinkle said Finley is on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Lt. Norman Stapp of the Irondale Police Department on Friday said Finley and the victim, Brodrick Rashad Dixon, 27, of Helena were visiting a woman at the Enclave at Mountain Brook apartments. Dixon was shot several times... Finley was released on bond on Monday, according to court records. A hearing has been scheduled in Jefferson County District Judge Sheldon Watkins' court on June 15. [Full article here]

[CA] San Francisco Fire Department's "private matter"

[police officer involved domestic violence abuse law enforcement female public safety San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White department]

[WI] Time out for a hero: Elm Grove Police Officer John Krahn

"...When I saw him he was in agony, pain. His leg was bent back and he just yelled at me and said, get the kid out of the car..."

[CO] "Resigned" (shoulda-been-fired) Officer Stafford gets out of dv-related felony in plea deal

...The felonies and criminal mischief charge were dismissed as part of Tuesday's plea deal,..

Previous posts:

• [CO] Officer Stafford arrested: Harassment, stalking, official misconduct & criminal mischief related to dv - ...He was arrested by the Boulder County Sheriff's Office on suspicion of harassment/stalking, official misconduct and criminal mischief related to domestic violence. The harassment count is a class 5 felony... Police also took 13 guns from Stafford's home for safe keeping, including rifles, pistols and a shotgun... "I will be watching you like a hawk"...
• [CO] Update on Officer Stafford stalking, official misconduct case - ...Stafford, while driving an unmarked Lafayette police truck equipped with warning sirens, gave the woman’s boyfriend a ticket for weaving. Stafford then sent the woman a text message that said, “Your boyfriend just received a ticket, ha ha,” according to the arrest affidavit... In June, the woman told police, Stafford called her boss at Sonic and told him to fire her because she was stealing money and dating an employee. She also told police Stafford sent her text messages while she was at work that indicated he was watching her...

FORMER LAFAYETTE OFFICER PLEADS GUILTY TO MISCONDUCT
Stafford was facing felony stalking
By Zak Brown (Contact)
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
BOULDER, Colo. - A former charged with stalking his ex-girlfriend and giving her new boyfriend an unwarranted traffic ticket pleaded guilty Tuesday to misdemeanor criminal mischief and official misconduct. James Edward Stafford, 34, was arrested by the Boulder County Sheriff's Office in July on suspicion of felony stalking, harassment, official misconduct and criminal mischief related to domestic violence. The felonies and criminal mischief charge were dismissed as part of Tuesday's plea deal, according to court records. Stafford, who resigned from the Lafayette Police Department in March, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered not to have contact with the victims in the case. His guilty plea means he can't be certified as a law-enforcement officer in Colorado. Police cleared the ticket that Stafford issued his ex's boyfriend last July. Stafford's attorney did not return a message seeking comment Tuesday afternoon. [LINK]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement abuse of power colorado]

[IA] Officer Michael Dobson arrested for various domesitic abuse, assault charges including intimidation with a weapon

WATERLOO OFFICER FACES DOMESTIC ABUSE CHARGES
wcfcourier.com
May 20, 2009
DYSART - According to Dysart Police, a Waterloo police officer has been arrested in Tama County. Michael Dobson turned himself in to Dysart police Monday afternoon. Police have not said what led to Dobson's arrest. He is charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon, first-degree harassment, misdemeanor charges of domestic abuse, obstruction of emergency communication, assault and interference with official acts. Dobson was taken to the Tama County Jail, with bail set at $15,000. Dobson has been a Waterloo Police officer since 1995. [LINK]

[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement iowa armed]

[MA] PREGNANT WIFE OF 6'4" SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING POLICE OFFICER MOSLEY SAYS NO ASSAULT HAPPENED

...Mrs. Mosley said she left and did call police. She did not call because of the argument, but would not say exactly why she called police. “I called police for a different reason,” she said...

I want to say right off the top that there is nothing in the news that I read that reported injuries or any indication that Officer William Mosley has lost control of his temper. If he has, it's not in the news. Also, because this is a blog and not a newspaper, I can tell you that there is a woman in the newspaper earlier this year and last year, by the same name as Officer Mosley's wife - Stacey Mosley, that has some charges of her own. I don't know if it's the same Stacey so I won't post them here now. If it is her I also don't know if the charges are legitimate or a set up. I hope though that they both get help on how to get along while they have to parent together - whether they make up or go their separate ways.

I know how hard divorce can be.

WIFE OF CITY OFFICER TO SEEK DISMISSAL OF DOMESTIC CHARGES Worcester Telegram & Gazette
By Scott J. Croteau scroteau@telegram.com
May 26, 2009
[EXCERPTS] WORCESTER — A city police officer will appear in court tomorrow after he was arrested and arraigned last week for allegedly assaulting his wife. Police Officer William D. Mosley, 32, of Ashmore Road, is facing charges of aggravated domestic assault and battery and threatening to commit a crime in Central District Court. The charges stem from a May 19 incident outside his home involving his wife, Stacey Mosley. In an interview today, Mrs. Mosley said Officer Mosley never assaulted her and the whole incident has been “blown out of proportion” by police. She plans to ask for the criminal charges to be dismissed in court... Mrs. Mosley, who is five to six months pregnant, told police that Officer Mosley yelled at her and stated he didn’t want her at the home, the records state... “He did not drag me. He did not assault me... It was a verbal argument.” Mrs. Mosley said she left and did call police. She did not call because of the argument, but would not say exactly why she called police. “I called police for a different reason,” she said... Police Chief Gary J. Gemme said Officer Mosley is on restricted duty and is currently assigned to the Service Division. Citing department policy, Chief Gemme said the officer’s firearms license has been temporarily suspended, as is the case in any type of domestic incident [Full article here]

OFFICER MOSLEY COMES UP IN ANOTHER CASE WHERE HE SHOWS UP, OFF DUTY, FOR AN ATTORNEY-FRIEND'S DOMESTIC SITUATION:

IS THE PROOF, AND THE TRUTH, IN THE COFFEE?
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Dianne Williamson dwilliamson@telegram.com
December 18, 2008
[EXCERPTS] Kevin Larson insists that he never wanted his estranged wife arrested when he called police after she threw coffee on him during an argument in front of their home. Kristina Larson, meanwhile, insists that she “tripped in a hole” on the sidewalk and the cold coffee flew from the thermos and all over her husband’s white dress shirt... Suffice it to say that the Larsons are in the midst of a bitter divorce. And this sort of nonsense doesn’t typically make the newspaper, except that Ms. Larson alleges that her husband, a local criminal lawyer, used his friendship with a Worcester cop to have her arrested... Mr. Larson acknowledged this week that the coffee was cold. He also admitted that he called his friend, Worcester Police Officer William Mosley, on his cell phone, but claims he only wanted the number for police dispatch. Records show that Mr. Larson did call the police non-emergency number at 10:40 a.m. to say that his wife had thrown coffee on him. He wasn’t hurt and the coffee wasn’t “that hot,” he told police, but he wanted to make a report. Meanwhile, in a burst of self-confession and perhaps anticipating that her husband had beaten her to the punch, Ms. Larson called police, too, on her way back home and dutifully reported that she had just spilled coffee on him. Shortly after, a uniformed Officer Mosley and a fellow officer showed up at the house in a cruiser. THEY WERE OFF DUTY but working an overtime detail, according to Police Chief Gary Gemme. “I think he was checking to see if I was all right,” Mr. Larson ventured. Uh-huh. Also on the scene was an officer who was supposed to be there, and Ms. Larson was arrested and charged with domestic assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (hot coffee). Except that both parties agree that the coffee was cold and speculate that police simply assumed it was hot... “I was arrested only because my husband has connections and he told them to arrest me,” she said. But Sgt. Kerry Hazelhurst, a police spokesman, noted that domestic violence laws require police to make an arrest when even the slightest instance of abuse is alleged, and he said that Officer Spinelli responded appropriately... [Full article here]

BOXING:

BOXING `SHOWDOWN' TO BENEFIT YOUTHS
Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA)
Kathleen A. Shaw
Thursday, May 6, 2004
[EXCERPTS] WORCESTER -- The well-known and not-so-well-known of Worcester will converge on the Palladium on Main Street tonight for the annual ``Downtown Showdown II'' boxing match. The tickets, at $20 each, sold out long ago, said LAWYER Anthony M. Salerno, one of the organizers... Worcester police Officer Will Mosley will square off against state Trooper Robert Krom in what is called ``The Battle of the Blue." Mr. Mosley is 6 feet 4 inches tall and Mr. Krom rises to 6 feet 7 inches tall, Mr. Salerno said, noting it might be called "The Battle of the Giants"...

SIX PACK FOR GARCIA, GONZALEZ
Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA) -
Author: Bud Barth
COLUMN: BOXING NOTES
Sunday, February 11, 2007
[EXCERPT] ...William Mosley , 30, super heavyweight - A Worcester police officer , Mosley won the Rocky Marciano Tournament about four years ago, according to Garcia, and is one of the three local favorites to capture a title next week, Lowbridge and Edwin Rodriguez being the others...

WORCESTER OFFICERS SET TO BOX IN LONDON Police to box 'across the pond'
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
By Milton J. Valencia
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
[EXCERPTS] For Police Officer Andrew "A.C." Cravedi, boxing is about the excitement. For Officer William D. Mosley, it's the passion. '"I train seriously now, it's like a lifestyle to me," he said. The two partners on the police beat are part of an effort to establish a Worcester Police Department boxing team, and will pioneer that cause when they travel to London on Friday to fight police officers on that city's metropolitan force... "They're going to be representing Worcester police," said Officer Nathan Reando, of the gang unit, who is spearheading efforts to form the Worcester team.... Officers Cravedi and Mosley leave for London tomorrow, and fight Friday as heavyweights... In their day jobs, they're partners on the 3-11 p.m. shift, patrolling the Pleasant and Chandler streets area. They have different styles on the job, with Officer Cravedi being the diplomat and Officer Mosley being the enforcer. Officer Cravedi likes to call it "verbal judo." "I'm not tolerant of too many excuses," Officer Mosley said. "If a situation calls for more diplomacy, he's the man... There's going to be knockouts," Officer Mosley predicted. [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement massachusetts recant recanting]

[OH] Deputy Chris Kirk attacks, injures his wife, and was bailed out the next day

CLINTON COUNTY DEPUTY CHARGED WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
local12.com
5/26/2009 Last Update: 10:10 am
A Clinton County Sheriff Deputy faces charges of domestic violence for allegedly attacking his wife. Chris Kirk was arrested on May 13th. Detectives say on May 11th, Kirk injured his wife during some type of altercation. She suffered bruises to her arms and back. Kirk was held in jail for one night, and then released on $2500 bond after a court appearance. Kirk is on administrative leave pending the outcome of a report from a disciplinary hearing officer. The couple has no children. [LINK]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement ohio]

[NYPD] No longer here with us - NYPD Forensic Investigator Michelle Lee

...Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly described her as a “very talented young woman”...

New York Police Forensic Investigator Michelle Lee was murdered so horribly that I have not included the details in the news excerpts below. It angers and sickens me. The links are there if you need to know... but for me, a life was stolen leaving a wake of sadness to those who knew and loved her.

NEWS EXCERPTS FROM APRIL 28 TO MAY 24:

SEX-SLAY SHOCKER
New York Post
By Murray Weiss, Larry Celona and ERIN CALABRESE
Last updated: 2:26 pm
April 28, 2009
[Excerpts] An NYPD crime-lab worker yesterday wound up on the other side of the microscope - the possible victim of a sex slaying similar to the ones she would typically be investigating... There were no signs of forced entry, and nothing seemed to be missing... Nor were there any signs of a struggle... In her job as a criminalist, Lee tested powders, and ran hair and fiber analyses in the department's Queens lab. "She was extremely nice, extremely professional," said an officer who worked with her. "She asked lots of questions." Lee became an intern in the lab after graduating from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and was hired full time in September... Cops are looking to interview some of Lee's ex-boyfriends... [Full article here]


CSI: NY MOURNS
Lab Pals Probe Slay Of Co-Worker
New York Post
By Murray Weiss, Ikimulisa Livingston & Larry Celona
April 29, 2009
[Excerpts] ...Stunned colleagues from the NYPD's crime-scene unit spent yesterday and Monday painstakingly scouring every inch of forensic expert Michelle Lee's Queens apartment... For anything to send to the lab... There was no sign of forced entry, nothing appeared to be missing, and there was no evidence of a struggle... [Full article here]

COP-LAB REWARD OF 12G
New York Post
By Murray Weiss
April 30, 2009
[Excerpts] The NYPD put up a $12,000 reward yesterday for information that helps them solve the brutal slaying of a crime-lab worker... "The case obviously caused great concern and upset throughout the department," Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said. "I can assure you this is very aggressive investigation"... They believe ... her killer wanted it to look like she had been tortured or had been the victim of a sex crime... [Full article here]

FORMER BEAU GARY MCGURK BUSTED IN GRISLY SLAY OF NYPD CSI MICHELE LEE
NYDailyNews.com
BY Nicole Bode and Alison Gendar
Friday, May 22nd 2009, 2:35 AM
[Excerpts] An ex-boyfriend who conned thousands of dollars from his NYPD girlfriend was arrested Thursday in her grisly murder... He was arrested Thursday night at his mother's house in Woodside, Queens, and is being held at the 108th Precinct stationhouse on second-degree murder charges... Investigators were afraid McGurk would flee to his native Ireland and escape justice... She kept the relationship secret from her parents and friends, but laid out McGurk's seduction campaign in her diary, police sources said. The brazen student told Lee he was broke and suffering from cancer, and that he could not afford or get medical insurance, so she gave him money. Investigators don't believe Lee was the first to fall for McGurk's con job. McGurk was a "professional student" who bilked unsuspecting young women to bankroll his life in the U.S., they said... It was unclear if the violence came to a head because the money was drying up and she asked to be repaid, or because she learned the illness was a hoax and grew tired of his games, sources said... [Full article here]

I CHOKED HER DURING SEX, GARY MCGURK, SUSPECT IN NYPD CRIMINALIST MICHELLE LEE'S MURDER, TOLD COPS
NYDailyNews.com
BY Nicole Bode
Saturday, May 23rd 2009, 1:22 AM
[Excerpts] ...At his arraignment in Queens Supreme Court yesterday, McGurk denied killing the beautiful 24-year-old - with whom he had had an on-again, off-again sexual relationship since approaching her at the CUNY John Jay College gym in 2004, where he played soccer. Sources said McGurk bilked thousands of dollars from Lee, who was hired by the NYPD in September for her dream job as a criminalist scouring for forensic clues. "He denied it to me, he denied it to my partner, he denied it to police," McGurk's lawyer, Ron Rubinstein, said. "Hopefully the truth will come out." McGurk was ordered held without bail yesterday on a second-degree murder charge. [Full article here]

CSI RUSE IN NYPD GAL'S SLAY SCENE
New York Post
By Murray Weiss, Kirsten Fleming and Dareh Gregorian
May 23, 2009
[Excerpts] A creepy con man charged with murdering his criminalist ex-girlfriend used his forensic expertise to try covering his tracks... Gary McGurk, 23, portrayed Michelle Lee as being into kink, and he intentionally left behind "a psychopathic crime scene to throw them off his trail," a police source said. "He was pulling pieces from all sorts of different crimes into one scene." The misdirection didn't work, thanks to "substantial" DNA evidence and McGurk's statements to investigators... He pleaded not guilty yesterday and was ordered held without bail... After prodding from detectives, McGurk admitted he lied to Lee about having cancer to swindle cash from her. "I absolutely lied about the cancer. It was a means to an end for me," he said... Lee's father, Sam, said, "It's a bit of a relief that someone has been caught, but this is only the beginning of the case." [Full article here]

NYC FORENSIC COP FOUND STABBED
Using the same investigative techniques NYPD cop was learning, authorities arrest her ex-lover in the case.
Associated Press
Colleen Long
May 24, 2009
[Excerpts] Michelle Lee’s career was solving crimes. Working as a forensic investigator for the New York Police Department, she was training to do the type of “CSI” work made famous on television. But the 24-year-old became a victim of a crime herself... Using the same investigative techniques Lee was learning, authorities on Friday arrested her ex-lover Gary McGurk in the case, charging him with second-degree murder... His attorney, Joseph Corozzo said his client was innocent. “This is a gruesome crime, but my client is not responsible for it,” he said. “We look forward to seeing the purported evidence in this case.” Lee had recently moved out of her parent’s home and was living in Sunnyside, Queens, a quaint neighborhood of working-class families. She started working for the NYPD last September and was training in forensic investigations at a police lab analyzing evidence like hair samples, drugs, gunshot residues and bodily fluids. She was going to specialize in narcotics. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly described her as a “very talented young woman”... McGurk, a 23-year-old Irish-born student at John Jay Criminal College, was apparently the last person to have contact with her, and his statements kept changing, investigators said... After he started dating another girl, their relationship cooled but they still spoke regularly. They chatted online the Saturday before she was found dead. And he was apparently upset investigators didn’t contact him immediately, according to court documents... McGurk was charged Friday by District Attorney Richard Brown with second-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence, and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. He maintains his innocence. “If I were to have done this to Michelle I would not only embarrass myself but I would also embarrass my family,” McGurk said, according to court documents. “I did not go into her apartment. She had company. You don’t like it but you accept it.” He is due in court June 4. He faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted. In his court statements, McGurk said he is scheduled to graduate May 28, but he wasn’t sure he could handle the life of a forensic psychologist. [Full article here
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement fatality fatalities murder new york police department nyc nypd]

[LA] Ex-Sheriff's Lt. Allan Wayne Schaeffer, do you agree with these facts as stated by the District Attorney?

(Schaeffer is here because the battery case victim was his girlfriend at the time.)

Second Degree Battery, Case # 09-301

On or about May 8, 2006 in the Parish of St. John the Baptist, Allan Wayne Schaeffer intentionally inflicted serious bodily injury upon Tracey DeAnn Mutz when he physically beat and strangle Tracey DeAnn Mutz, without her consent, causing her to seek emergency medical treatment due to multiple bruises to her hands, feet, face and neck and due to her extreme physical pain.

Malfeasance in Office, Case # 09-302

On or about February 28, 2007, in the Parish of St. John the Baptist, Allan Wayne Schaeffer, who was employed as a sheriff's deputy with the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Department contacted Lisa St. Martin on the premise of assisting her with her current criminal charges. Upon meeting with Ms. St. Martin, Schaeffer drove to the St. John Sheriff's Office Jail and parked behind a big green bus where he attempted to obtain and coerce sex from Ms. St. Martin for assisting her with her pending criminal theft charges, by virtue of his position and authority at the St. John Parish Sheriff's Office. When Ms. St. Martin refused, she thereafter felt threatened by the defendant's repeated harassment and threats to take her to jail for failure to give into his sexual demands.

Q: Do you agree with these facts as stated by the District Attorney?
A: Yes (initialed AWS)

The Court is convinced that the defendant has been fully advised of his constitutional rights, that he understands the nature of the charge against him, that he understands the penalty to be imposed, that his plea is freely and voluntarily entered and that there is a factual basis for the plea and that the defendant is in fact guilty of the crime charged.

I now ask you to acknowledge that you have read The above and certify that the answers are true and correct by signing your name hereto in this 22 day of May, 2009.

Signature received: Allan Wayne Schaeffer

I now ask that your counsel to acknowledge that he was present during my questioning of you in open court prior to your plea being accepted and to acknowledge to me that he also informed you of your rights prior to this time as well as to the consequence to you on your plea of guilty, that he has gone over this form with you in detail and that he is satisfied with your plea of guilty is a voluntary act on your part.

[IN] Unnamed East Chicago Officer bit, scratched unnamed woman, and took "things" from her

...East Chicago police are investigating the case and checking with Highland authorities to see if the allegations are accurate...

E.C. cop accused of biting, scratching woman NWI
By Vanessa Renderman
vanessa.renderman@nwi.com, (219) 933-3241
Thursday, May 21, 2009
An East Chicago [Indiana] police officer is accused of biting and scratching a woman at a Highland bar. Highland police are investigating the allegations and have confirmed they involve an East Chicago officer, Highland police Cmdr. George Georgeff said... Georgeff said a woman filed a report at the Highland police station Wednesday morning. She indicated some things were taken from her, and she had bite marks and minor scratches resulting from an incident Wednesday morning at Corker's Tavern & Grill... Highland police advised the East Chicago Police Department of the incident... East Chicago police are investigating the case and checking with Highland authorities to see if the allegations are accurate... [Full article here]

[CA] Police Cpt. Grisby defended his wife by shooting his son

FALLBROOK: Oceanside police captain shoots, wounds son Officials: Captain fired to stop son from attacking his mother Friday night
North County Timies
By SARAH GORDON - sgordon@nctimes.com
Saturday, May 23, 2009
FALLBROOK - An Oceanside Police Department captain shot and wounded his 25-year-old son after the young man reportedly attacked his mother at his parents' Fallbrook home early Saturday morning, authorities said. Reginald Grigsby is one of three Oceanside police captains who serve directly under the chief. The 27-year department veteran oversees Oceanside's 113 patrol officers as head of the department's Field Operations Division... Grigsby's son, Reginald Grigsby Jr., is a former San Diego State football player with a reported history of mental illness. Initial reports indicate that Grigsby was home with his wife, Desirah, on Friday night when their son showed up and got into an argument with his mother, sheriff's Lt. Dennis Brugos said. The dispute quickly turned violent, and Grigsby tried to defend his wife, Brugos said. Unable to stop the attack, Grigsby retrieved a handgun and shot his son. The police captain called the Sheriff's Department to report the shooting. Both Grigsby Jr. and Desirah Grigsby were taken to the hospital with what appeared to be survivable injuries, Brugos said. Their updated conditions were unavailable Saturday. Brugos did not release any further information about the alleged fight or the family's injuries... [Full article here]

A query: Who is working exclusively, whole-heartedly on addessing officer-involved domestic violence issues?

I can count them on one hand? It will take more single-focusedness than that to bring about real changes.

A question posed by one Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy's ex-wife always stays near me.

"There really is no hope for us is there?"

It depends.
Not at this pace.
Not with mostly lip-service.

This is a call for collective dedication.
Videos:



See www.lanejudson.com as a starting point - with so much yet to do.
We can, together.
[crystal judson domestic violence protocol program, grants, funding, the crystal clear act, crystal judson victim advocates, intimate partner violence, domestic abuse, law enforcement, sheriff's, deputy, department, office, public safety, special class of crime]

[GA] Officer Jack "J.T." Root arrested for domestic battery

CARTERSVILLEPOLICE OFFICER ARRESTED FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Rome News, Georgia
May 22, 2009
An officer with the Cartersville Police Department was arrested today on a domestic violence charge. According to police reports: J.T. Root of Cartersville was arrested and charged with battery under the Family Violence Act. An internal investigation has been initiated and Root has been placed on administrative suspension. The incident will be forwarded to Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training for investigation by their staff.
LINK

[US] DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AMONG RANKS OF LAW AGENCIES IS A MAJOR ISSUE

...Special problems for victims Domestic violence by a law enforcement officer creates walls for victims. Victims are often left feeling that no one cares. They feel alone and desperate. And they live in fear...

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AMONG RANKS OF LAW AGENCIES IS A MAJOR ISSUE
Pensacola Business Journal
Cambria Fallon Santiago Cambria@askcambria.com
May, 22, 2009
Domestic violence is two to four times more common in law enforcement families than the general population. In two studies, 40 percent of police officers self-report that they have used violence against their partners within the last year. Contrast this to the general population: It's estimated that domestic violence occurs in about 10 percent of families. The tragedy is that many law enforcement agencies are falling short in dealing with the problem. A nationwide survey of 123 police departments showed that 45 percent of those surveyed had no specific policy for dealing with officer-involved domestic violence. The same survey showed that when caught, the most common discipline imposed for a sustained allegation of domestic violence was counseling. Nineteen percent of departments indicated that officers would be terminated after a second sustained allegation of domestic violence. Some are taking the problem seriously. For example, in San Diego, a national model in domestic violence prosecution, the city attorney prosecuted 92 percent of domestic violence cases. Special problems for victims Domestic violence by a law enforcement officer creates walls for victims. Victims are often left feeling that no one cares. They feel alone and desperate. And they live in fear. Among those fears: The batterer has a gun. The batterer knows how to inflict pain and leave no bruises. The person is trained to intimidate by his presence alone. The person has the power to kill the victim and get away with it, or have others do it for him. Call the police? The batterer is a police officer. The batterer often threatens that if victim makes a report the abuser will be fired. The victim fears being killed if that happens. The abuser has access to surveillance tools, phone taps, scanners, tracking devices, audio and video recording equipment to stalk the victim's activities. The batterer or fellow officers will often "patrol" the victim's whereabouts. Other people fear the batterer and won't get involved. A law enforcement officer knows the location of battered women's shelters. The abuser knows the court system and district attorneys, judges, and bailiffs personally. Victims of victimization Individuals and businesses are sometimes hesitant or refuse to help when they find out the perpetrator is a law enforcement officer. They may fear retaliation and turn the victim away. This leaves victims of abuse with few choices. Many victims remain in a relationship not because they want to but because they have to. When faced with the reality that there are very few, if any, who will risk helping when the abuser is a law enforcement officer, they give up searching and accept the life of a victim. It's horrific mental and emotional abuse, not to mention the physical abuse these victims go through thinking there is no way out — all because the perpetrator wears a badge. Cambria Fallon Santiago is a Pensacola-based consultant to corporations and individuals concerned about workplace and domestic violence. [LINK]

(remember what i said about typos?)

For SOME reason, as SOON as I POST, I see the error, and fix it. So if you get these by mail and see my mistake - chances are online it's fixed within 60 seconds. I don't know the how or why of it - just that it's that way with me.

[KS] When Sheriff Elbert L."Buck" Causey was accused of hitting his wife, Barton Co. didn't follow the domestic violence policy (they can't find)

LAST YEAR BARTON COUNTY SHERIFF BUCK CAUSEY WAS ACCUSED OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST HIS WIFE. BARTON COUNTY, LIKE MOST COUNTIES, WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THE WHAT-IF OF THE ALLEGATIONS BEING MADE AGAINST THE HIGHEST LAWMAN OF THE AGENCY. THAT HAPPENED HERE IN TACOMA WASHINGTON TOO. THE POLICE CHIEF WAS THE ACCUSED, PEOPLE DID NOT DO WHAT THEY SHOULD DO, AND IT ENDED IN A VERY HIGH-PROFILE (HEART WRENCHING AND EXPENSIVE) MURDER-SUICIDE. HAVE A POLICY SPECIFICALLY FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, INCLUDE WHAT TO DO IF IT'S THE CHIEF OR SHERIFF, AND FOLLOW THE POLICY!

I BELIEVE WE SHOULD LEARN FROM THE DISASTERS AND EMBARASSMENT OF OTHERS. IT BESTOWS SOME SOCIAL VALUE TO THE AGONY OF THOSE WHO WERE PUBLICLY EXPOSED OR SHAMED. IT GIVES SOME SAD BUT POWERFUL VALUE TO THE VICTIM'S PREDICAMENT.

EXCERPTS FROM NEWS CLIPS BELOW:

...IN AUDIO RECORDINGS OF 911 CALLS MADE JUNE 2 [2008], A MAN IDENTIFYING HIMSELF AS WICHITA RESIDENT ALAN HARBUTZ, LINDA CAUSEY'S BROTHER, CALLED BARTON COUNTY EMERGENCY DISPATCHERS AT 9:52 P.M., SAYING THAT BARTON COUNTY SHERIFF BUCK CAUSEY ALLEGEDLY HAD STRUCK HIS WIFE AND THREATENED HER IF SHE REPORTED IT. LINDA CAUSEY LATER CALLED THE DISPATCH CENTER AND SAID SHE HAD LEFT THE HOUSE. "I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO COME OUT HERE... HE IS SO WHACKED OUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIM... SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED TO HIM"... THERE WERE TWO 911 CALLS FROM FAMILY MEMBERS BEFORE LINDA CAUSEY'S CALL. IN THE SECOND CALL, A MAN SAID LINDA CAUSEY HAD A "BLOODY LIP." LINDA CAUSEY LATER EXPLAINED TO VAUGHAN THAT SHE WAS UNSTEADY BECAUSE OF A PREVIOUS ANKLE INJURY. WHEN SHE STOOD UP DURING THE ARGUMENT, SHE LOST HER BALANCE AND BIT HER LIP WHEN SHE FELL BACK TO THE COUCH... [BARTON COUNTY UNDERSHERIFF GARY] VAUGHAN SAID THE UNDERSHERIFF, BY LAW, CANNOT ARREST THE SHERIFF... THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION DID NOT RESULT IN INTERVIEWS WITH ALL PARTIES OR PRESERVATION OF THE CRIME SCENE OR PHOTOGRAPHS... THE SHERIFF'S POLICY DIRECTS OFFICERS TO MAKE AN ARREST IF PROBABLE CAUSE EXISTS "REGARDLESS OF THE VICTIM'S STATED DESIRE FOR PROSECUTION." IF NO ARREST IS MADE, A WRITTEN EXPLANATION IS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE POLICE REPORT... DEPUTIES "WERE UNNECESSARILY PUT IN THE UNTENABLE SITUATION OF INVESTIGATING THEIR OWN SHERIFF... IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE WAS NONCOMPLIANCE WITH THESE WRITTEN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE POLICY AND PROCEDURES... THE FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE PROCEDURES HAS COMPROMISED THE ABILITY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE TO HAVE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO REACH A DECISION"... THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WILL NOT LIKELY FACE DISCIPLINARY MEASURES FOR THE LAPSES. THERE IS NO STATE AGENCY THAT MONITORS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOR COMPLIANCE WITH STATUTES, AND ALTHOUGH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAWS INSTRUCT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO TAKE SEVERAL ACTIONS, THERE ARE NO PENALTIES SPELLED OUT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT NON-COMPLIANCE...

THE NOW-EX SHERIFF HAS BEEN ARRESTED AGAIN - IN ARKANSAS (AGAIN WITH NO CHARGES):

CAUSEY ARRESTED AFTER DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ALLEGATIONS
Great Bend Tribune
SUSAN THACKER sthacker@gbtribune.com
05/21/2009 3:44pm
[Excerpts] Former Barton County Sheriff Elbert L. "Buck" Causey Jr. turned himself in to law enforcement officials in Rogers, Ark., last week after learning there was a warrant for his arrest. Local law enforcement officers were advised Friday morning that Causey turned himself in after he learned he was wanted on suspicion of domestic abuse in Arkansas. The misdemeanor allegations of domestic violence and violating a protection from abuse order reportedly involved his girlfriend. He remains free on bond and formal charges had not been filed as of Friday... Last month, Causey filed paperwork in Barton County to divorce his wife of nearly 35 years, citing incompatibility. His wife, Linda Causey, filed a response last week, agreeing to the divorce... [Full article here]

FORMER BARTON COUNTY SHERIFF ARRESTED IN ARKANSAS
The Hutchinson News
By Darcy Gray - dgray@hutchnews.com
5/4/2009 2:11 PM
[Excerpts] A former Barton County sheriff turned himself in to authorities last week in Rogers, Ark., where he was arrested for domestic battery and violating an order of protection. Buck Causey, 61, was arrested last Thursday at the Rogers, Ark., Police Department on suspicion of domestic battery and violating an order of protection, referred to in Kansas as a protection-from-abuse order. Causey was booked Thursday into the Benton County Jail in Arkansas but did not have to pay a fine for his release... The Rogers Police Department had issued two warrants for Causey’s arrest; the battery reportedly occurred April 4, while the violation of the protection order occurred April 20, Rogers Police Corp. Angel Murphy-Pearce confirmed... She could not reveal who filed the order of protection against Causey. Causey reported both a Rogers, Ark., address and a Great Bend address, according to the arrest report, Murphy-Pearce said. No place of employment was listed. He is scheduled to make a court appearance June 2 in Rogers, Ark., District Court for arraignment... Although Buck Causey had filed a divorce petition in Reno County against his wife last June, he told The News in July 2008 the petition was “on hold.” His attorney, Dan Forker of Hutchinson, had indicated the couple were trying to work things out. Last month, Causey filed another divorce petition – this time in Barton County – requesting a divorce from his wife of nearly 35 years, citing incompatibility... Linda Causey filed a response last week, agreeing to the divorce... [Full article here]

NEWS CLIPS FROM 2008 NEWS, WITH LINKS:

DEPUTIES VISIT SHERIFF'S HOME AFTER 911 CALLS
There was no evidence of abuse taking place, according to undersheriff.
The Hutchinson News
By Jon Ruhlen - jruhlen@hutchnews.com
6/10/2008
[Excerpts] 911 calls sent sheriff's deputies to the home of the Barton County sheriff and his wife last week. Both reportedly told deputies an argument had gotten out of hand but did not escalate to violence. In audio recordings of 911 calls made June 2, a man identifying himself as Wichita resident Alan Harbutz, Linda Causey's brother, called Barton County emergency dispatchers at 9:52 p.m., saying that Barton County Sheriff Buck Causey allegedly had struck his wife and threatened her if she reported it. Linda Causey later called the dispatch center and said she had left the house. "I don't want anyone to come out here... He is so whacked out I don't know what is wrong with him... Something has happened to him." The dispatcher can be heard attempting to calm Linda Causey and instructing her to come to the dispatch center. Barton County Undersheriff Gary Vaughan investigated the matter. He said Linda Causey initially refused to provide a statement and that Buck Causey said they had been arguing, but he denied hitting his wife... There were two 911 calls from family members before Linda Causey's call. In the second call, a man said Linda Causey had a "bloody lip." Linda Causey later explained to Vaughan that she was unsteady because of a previous ankle injury. When she stood up during the argument, she lost her balance and bit her lip when she fell back to the couch, Vaughan said. Vaughan said the next morning Linda Causey provided a three-page written statement. "She said she was sorry for what she had started, that Buck hadn't done anything wrong and she was just embarrassed and hurt," Vaughan said. Buck Causey was not arrested. Vaughan said the undersheriff, by law, cannot arrest the sheriff. Also, he did not see any physical evidence of battery. "I never saw a cut or anything on her lip. There was no bruising, no discoloration, no signs the night I was there or the next morning," Vaughan said. Vaughan said that usually he would call an outside agency to investigate an incident that involves a member of the Sheriff's Department. However, Vaughan said he didn't want to call the Kansas Bureau of Investigation because Linda Causey works there. Rather than wait for investigators to come from Topeka or elsewhere, Vaughan said he decided to investigate the matter himself... The Causeys are reportedly on a cruise until Monday and could not be reached for comment... Barton County Attorney Doug Matthews refused comment... Barton County administrator Richard Boeckman said he just found out about the incident Monday and briefed county commissioners about it. However, because the sheriff is an elected official, "essentially elected officials are responsible to the voters and not to the commission"... [Full article here]

IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS
Officials should've consulted KBI sooner concerning Barton sheriff
The Hutchinson News
6/14/2008 11:00 PM
[Excerpts] Barton County Attorney Doug Matthews said Wednesday afternoon that he had contacted the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Attorney General's Office to help investigate 911 calls related to an incident at the home of Barton County Sheriff Buck Causey. But the three calls came to the dispatch center on the night of June 2, over a week earlier, about a potential domestic violence incident at the sheriff's home. The KBI wasn't contacted that night to investigate, and the matter was handled by the county undersheriff, Gary Vaughan, whose direct supervisor is Causey. Matthews either didn't learn of the incident until contacted about it by The News, or he chose to sit on the case for whatever reason... In the end, it might turn out that the 911 calls from Causey's home were the result of nothing more than a heated argument. But the Barton County Sheriff's office - like every law enforcement agency - should not investigate allegations of wrongdoing or criminal activity involving its own officers. The KBI is fully capable of performing such an investigation and is independent enough to offer an unbiased analysis of the facts. Asking an officer to investigate a complaint against his or her boss opens the door for allegations of impropriety and erodes the public's confidence in those agencies. [Full article here]

BARTON SHERIFF 'WELCOMES' INVESTIGATION
Causey hopes it will clear him of possible domestic violence allegations.
The Hutchinson News
By Jon Ruhlen - jruhlen@hutchnews.com
6/17/2008 10:46 PM
[Excerpts] Barton County Sheriff Buck Causey returned from an Alaskan cruise and publicly addressed 911 calls alleging domestic violence at his home. "I welcome the investigation that's going on now with the attorney general's office and hope that I will be exonerated soon"... Kansas domestic violence law and the domestic violence policy of the Barton County Sheriff's Department require that officers make an arrest if there is probable cause to believe domestic violence has occurred. Causey was not arrested, however, because Vaughan said he did not see any evidence of domestic violence and because Linda Causey denied that her husband had hit her. Kansas law also requires prosecuting attorneys to adopt written policies regarding the prosecution of domestic violence crimes. Barton County Attorney Doug Matthews said in an e-mail that the county attorney's office drew up a policy in 1997 and distributed it to various agencies, but staff had been unable to locate a hard copy by late Tuesday. Causey said normally officers would contact the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to handle any alleged crime involving a fellow officer. However, since Linda Causey works for the KBI office in Great Bend, Vaughan opted to handle the investigation internally... Last Wednesday, Matthews contacted the Kansas Attorney General's office to conduct an investigation into the matter... [Full article here]

CAUSEY PUBLICLY ADDRESSES 911 INCIDENT
Great Bend Tribune
Dale Hogg dhogg@gbtribune.com
06/17/2008
[Excerpts] Barton County Sheriff Buck Causey made his first public appearance since 911 calls were made... “Everybody has read the newspapers... There are a lot of rumors on the street.” Causey said it was unfortunate that, being an elected public official, his private live and public life cannot be separated. However, “I assure you that on the evening of June 2, there was no criminal activity that occurred at my residence”... Causey said his wife called her brother and he called another brother who, in turn, called 911. “He didn’t know what he was talking about... I have been married for 34 years. I have never hit my wife, I will never hit my wife. I would never hit a woman”... [Full article here]

BARTON CO. SHERIFF BEGAN DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS AFTER ALLEGED INCIDENT
However, the matter is "on hold," Causey, attorney say.
The Hutchinson News
7/7/2008 10:51 PM
[Excerpts] On June 4, just two days after 911 calls alleging domestic troubles sent law enforcement officers to the home of Barton County Sheriff Buck Causey, he signed a divorce petition against his wife, Linda Causey. The divorce suit, however, wasn't filed until June 26 in Reno County District Court, and Sheriff Causey told The News Monday that the divorce action is "on hold"... The News was unable to reach Linda Causey for comment. [Full article here]

NO CHARGES FILED IN BARTON SHERIFF CASE
But AG's office says authorities didn't follow proper procedures.
The Hutchinson News
By Jon Ruhlen - jruhlen@hutchnews.com
Published online 7/16/2008 10:43 PM
[Excerpts] Barton County Sheriff Buck Causey will not face charges in connection with a 911 call to his house in an alleged domestic dispute, although an Attorney General's investigation found problems with the investigation by sheriff's officers. "I'd just like to say at this point in time I'm very humble," Causey said. "I apologize for any emotional distress I've caused my department and the citizens of Barton County"... After the allegations became public, Barton County Attorney Doug Matthews requested an investigation into the matter by the Kansas Attorney General's office. An investigator with the office and a Kansas Bureau of Investigation agent looked into the matter. Assistant Attorney General Barry Disney summarized the findings in a letter to Matthews dated Tuesday. Disney wrote that deputies "were unnecessarily put in the untenable situation of investigating their own sheriff;" that despite state laws and internal policies directing domestic violence investigations "it is clear that there was noncompliance with these written domestic violence policy and procedures"; and that "the failure to follow these procedures has compromised the ability of the Attorney General's Office to have sufficient evidence to reach a decision"... Under Kansas domestic violence laws, police are ordered to adopt written policies on domestic violence, which include a definition of domestic violence and an order that officers "shall make an arrest when they have probable cause to believe that a crime is being committed or has been committed." The Barton County Sheriff's operational procedure policy defines domestic violence as "the infliction of physical harm, bodily injury or assault, or fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury or assault, by one family or household member on another." For both felony and misdemeanor cases, THE SHERIFF'S POLICY DIRECTS OFFICERS TO MAKE AN ARREST IF PROBABLE CAUSE EXISTS "REGARDLESS OF THE VICTIM'S STATED DESIRE FOR PROSECUTION." IF NO ARREST IS MADE, A WRITTEN EXPLANATION IS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE POLICE REPORT. In his findings, Disney wrote that THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION DID NOT RESULT IN INTERVIEWS WITH ALL PARTIES OR PRESERVATION OF THE CRIME SCENE OR PHOTOGRAPHS; that officers failed to explain why an arrest wasn't made; failed to provide the victim with information on victims' rights; failed to refer both parties to counseling; and that both the sheriff and undersheriff made efforts to have the investigation handled internally. Causey and Vaughan both said the department would look into possible revisions to the domestic violence policy, although they took exception to some of the findings. "There was never an attempted cover-up on this investigation," Causey said... While he conceded that officers neglected to provide domestic violence resource information to Linda Causey, [Undersheriff] Vaughan took umbrage to the statement that he and Causey attempted to handle the matter internally... VAUGHAN HAS SAID THAT HE TALKED TO LINDA CAUSEY THE NEXT MORNING and she said the two had been in an argument but Buck Causey had not hit her. A mark on her lip, she said, was caused when she stood up too quickly, lost her balance on a recently injured ankle, and fell back to the couch - biting her lip in the process... THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WILL NOT LIKELY FACE DISCIPLINARY MEASURES FOR THE LAPSES. THERE IS NO STATE AGENCY THAT MONITORS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOR COMPLIANCE WITH STATUTES, AND ALTHOUGH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAWS INSTRUCT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO TAKE SEVERAL ACTIONS, THERE ARE NO PENALTIES SPELLED OUT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT NON-COMPLIANCE... [the Kansas Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Trainings] only takes into account criminal convictions when considering revoking or renewing an officer's certificate. Kansas Attorney General spokeswoman Ashley Anstaett said there is no commission that enforces disciplinary issues among law enforcement agencies. Anstaett did say that the case is still considered open if any new evidence would come to light before the five-year statute of limitations expires. Kansas law also directs prosecutors to adopt policies regarding the prosecution of domestic violence cases. Matthews has responded to an open records request by The News for the policy by saying no one can find a copy of the policy, which was adopted in 1997. Matthews has indicated that his staff is in the process of drafting a new policy... [Full article here]

NO CHARGES IN SHERIFF CASE
Great Bend Tribune
Dale Hogg dhogg@gbtribune.com
07/17/2008
[Excerpts] ...“I’m very glad there are no charges going to be filed,” [Barton County Sheriff Buck] Causey said Tuesday afternoon. “I am very humbled, remorseful and sorry for any inconvenience and emotional distress I have caused my department and the citizens of the county”... Below is the body of the Kansas Attorney General’s Office letter to Barton County Attorney Doug Matthews regarding its findings in the Buck Causey case... "AT YOUR REQUEST, THE OFFICE OF THE KANSAS ATTORNEY GENERAL REVIEWED ALLEGATIONS STEMMING FROM A REPORTED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENT INVOLVING SHERIFF BUCK CAUSEY ON JUNE 2, 2008, IN BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS... DEPUTIES AT THE BARTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE WERE UNNECESSARILY PUT IN THE UNTENABLE SITUATION OF INVESTIGATING THEIR OWN SHERIFF... UNFORTUNATELY, WHILE PROCEDURES WERE IN PLACE, THEY WERE NOT FOLLOWED... IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE WAS NONCOMPLIANCE WITH THESE WRITTEN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE POLICY AND PROCEDURES... THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION DID NOT RESULT IN INTERVIEWS OF ALL PARTIES, RECORDED STATEMENTS, PRESERVATION OF THE CRIME SCENE, OR THE OBTAINING OF PHOTOGRAPHS OR OTHER EVIDENCE... THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION FAILED TO EXPLAIN IN WRITTEN REPORTS WHY AN ARREST WAS, OR WAS NOT MADE... THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION FAILED TO PROVIDE THE REPORTED VICTIM WITH INFORMATION REGARDING VICTIMS’ RIGHTS, THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE CRIME VICTIMS’ COMPENSATION BOARD OR INFORMATION ABOUT POSSIBLE COMPENSATION BENEFITS; THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION FAILED TO REFER THE REPORTED VICTIM OR ABUSER TO PROFESSIONAL AGENCIES FOR COUNSELING; AND THE SHERIFF AND UNDERSHERIFF MADE EFFORTS TO HAVE THE INVESTIGATION HANDLED INTERNALLY RATHER THAN ADHERING TO THE REQUIREMENT IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS THAT A KANSAS STANDARD OFFENSE REPORT BE COMPLETED. IN THIS CASE, MANY PIECES OF EVIDENCE WERE SIMPLY NOT OBTAINED AS REQUIRED UNDER THE PROCEDURES ADOPTED BY THE OFFICE’S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE POLICY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE PROCEDURES HAS COMPROMISED THE ABILITY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE TO HAVE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO REACH A DECISION, BASED UPON ALL RELEVANT FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES." [Full article here]

SHERIFF INVESTIGATION
Report reinforces that outside agency should've handled probe
The Hutchinson News
7/19/2008 10:35 PM
[Excerpts] The world of law enforcement and criminal justice revolves heavily around protocol and proper procedure - and following that protocol for every alleged crime, no matter who is involved. But that is not the way it worked in Barton County. A 911 call alleging a domestic dispute at the home of Barton County Sheriff Buck Causey was investigated internally by Undersheriff Gary Vaughan, who found no evidence of violence. The investigation died there, until reports surfaced several weeks later, at which time County Attorney Doug Matthews forwarded a report to the Kansas Attorney General's office... Because of that failure, the attorney general stated, vital information was not collected - such as recorded interviews of the parties involved and photographs of the crime scene... Barton County Sheriff's office handled this investigation in a haphazard manner and by doing so, damaged the credibility and integrity of the office. Police protocol is in place for a reason: to ensure that every person, from a homeless man to the most powerful government official, is investigated in the same manner. That protocol helps ensure that the investigation is complete, accurate and fair, regardless of background or position... [Full article here]

CAUSEY'S STILL IN CHARGE UNTIL JAN. 12
Great Bend Tribune
Chuck Smith csmith@gbtribune.com
11/25/2008
[Excerpts] Sheriff Buck Causey addressed the Barton County Commission Monday morning for the first time since his Nov. 4 election defeat. Included in his comments was the admonition that until Jan. 12 - the day county officers are sworn in - he is still the elected sheriff of Barton County and the commissioners should act like it. Causey referred to an instance recently when commission members discussed a jail issue with Greg Armstrong, who was elected sheriff in the recent general election... He suggested Armstrong did not win the office, so much as Causey lost it, with the election being swayed by issues in his personal life. "He kind of won it by default," Causey said. "Mr. Armstrong took advantage of this situation and became sheriff"... [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement policy teflon brass accountability]

[MI] Police Chief Josten's domestic assault of his sheriff's deputy wife is not his first assault charge

[Bloomingdale Police Chief Jon] Josten made an appearance in Allegan District Court on a misemeanor domestic violence charge involving his wife, an Allegan County Sheriff's deputy... Josten was given probation for a similar misdemeanor assault complaint in Portage in 1978...



POLICE CHIEF ARRESTED FOR DOMESTIC ASSAULT
May 22, 2009
The Bloomingdale Police Chief has been arrested by the Allegan County Sheriff's Department. Chief Jon Josten was arrested Friday on a misdemeanor domestic assault charge. He has posted a $500 bond and been released. Details of what led to the arrest have not been released. He will be back in court on May 29th for his arraignment. [LINK]


WRONG SIDE OF THE LAW
May 23, 2009
[Excerpts] ...The apparent victim was his wife, who happens to be a Sheriff’s Deputy. He is free on 500 dollars bond... The court has ordered him to surrender his sidearm while he is on bond which could make it tough for him to do his job. Josten was given probation for a similar misdemeanor assault complaint in Portage in 1978. [Full article here]

BLOOMINGDALE POLICE CHIEF ARRESTED
Charged with midemeanor domestic assault
WOODTV
Friday, 22 May 2009
[Excerpts]bA Van Buren County police chief was arrested Friday morning on a misdemeanor assault charge. The Allegan County Sheriff's Department took Bloomingdale Police Chief John Josten into custody. Josten made an appearance in Allegan District Court on a misemeanor domestic violence charge involving his wife, an Allegan County Sheriff's deputy... The village president today had just heard about the charge and had no comment but said Josten's future as chief is up to the village council. If found guilty Josten could serve a maximum of 93 days in jail. A look at Josten's criminal background reveals an assault conviction in 1978. [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement "cop on cop"]

[IL] No charges for Police Chief "Mike" Brockway after arrest for domestic violence

...Woodford County State's Attorney Mike Stroh said no charges were being filed against Brockway...

From the news:
ROANOKE POLICE CHIEF PLACED ON LEAVE
WEEK-TV
May 22, 2009
The police chief of Roanoke is on paid administrative leave after being arrested Thursday night on a domestic violence charge. Chief Mike Brockway was taken into custody and spent some time in the Woodford County jail before he was released. Woodford County State's Attorney Mike Stroh said no charges were being filed against Brockway. However, the Roanoke Village Board placed Brockway on administrative leave until trustees can meet next week. During this Memorial Day and Roanoke Festival weekend, Village President Bob Huschen said police protection was being provided by the Woodford County Sheriff's office.

Video:

[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement illinois politics teflon]

[LA] DANGEROUS ex-Sheriff's Lt. Allan Wayne Schaeffer GETS PROBATION after he pleads DOWN to 2 BRUTAL felonies (against women).

Wayne Schaeffer
Former St. John the Baptist Sheriff's Lieutenant

... "We took an offer that was too good to pass up versus life in prison, " Schaeffer's attorney, Paul C. Fleming, said Friday evening. "The verdict gives Mr. Schaeffer a chance at a future. He's been stagnant"...

Tracey Mutz
Ex-girlfriend

..."It absolutely worries me that Judge Becnel did not order him on home incarceration," said Tracy Mutz, a former girlfriend who claimed Schaeffer raped and repeatedly hit her during their two year relationship beginning in 2004. "He threatened to kill me. He held his loaded service weapon to my head." Mutz feels Shaeffer's sentence was too lenient considering he was facing life behind bars...

FORMER ST. JOHN PARISH LIEUTENANT PLEADS GUILTY
Women Accused Wayne Schaeffer Of Multiple Attacks
POSTED: 11:19 am CDT May 22, 2009
UPDATED: 11:48 am CDT May 22, 2009
[Excerpts] A former lieutenant in the St. John the Baptist Sheriff's Office pleaded guilty Friday to two felony counts and received a sentence of 10 years of probation. Wayne Schaeffer was indicted in January 2008 on charges of aggravated rape, battery and attempted sexual battery. The felony counts were filed after several women came forward during an I-Team investigation into Schaeffer's conduct. He pleaded guilty to two counts: malfeasance in office and second-degree battery. If convicted on all of the original charges, Schaeffer could have received a sentence that would have kept him in prison for the rest of his life. By pleading guilty to the limited charges and adhering to the judge's conditions, he avoids prison time. Schaeffer's accusers included a former girlfriend who told I-Team senior investigative reporter Richard Angelico she suffered abuse that at one point sent her to the emergency room. "Mostly, I became a punching bag... in my face, my legs," Tracey Mutz said in late 2007. Mutz said she was also raped at gunpoint and suffered a broken hip. Two other women described instances of abuse at the hands of Schaeffer. "The straw that broke the camel's back was when he crushed a wine glass in my hand," one of them told Angelico. Another said she was groped by Schaeffer at a local bar. "I slapped his hand and told him to get the hell off of me and he went berserk," said the woman, identified as "Jessica" in the WDSU report. "He started calling me a slut and a whore and I didn't even know him." Schaeffer was fired shortly after the first I-Team reports aired. State Police conducted an investigation into the allegations. They said Schaeffer failed a polygraph test administered as part of the probe. [LINK]

Video:


FORMER ST. JOHN PARISH DEPUTY CHARGED WITH RAPE PLEADS GUILTY TO REDUCED CHARGES
The Times-Picayune
by Joy Hirdes
Friday May 22, 2009, 3:45 PM
...Judge Mary Hotard Becnel ordered Schaeffer to complete anger management and sensitivity counseling, as well as domestic violence counseling and to submit to random drug and alcohol screenings at his own expense and to pay fines and court costs totalling $4,718.50. Judge Becnel also released Schaeffer of his electronic monitoring and ordered him to have no contact with his victims and their families for the duration of his probation. "It absolutely worries me that Judge Becnel did not order him on home incarceration," said Tracy Mutz, a former girlfriend who claimed Schaeffer raped and repeatedly hit her during their two year relationship beginning in 2004. "He threatened to kill me. He held his loaded service weapon to my head." Mutz feels Shaeffer's sentence was too lenient considering he was facing life behind bars. Seated one row behind Schaeffer on Friday, Mutz said she jumped at the chance to give a victim's statement in the courtroom. "I let him know that he had done some terrible things to people," said Mutz, who met Schaeffer when he coached her son in little league baseball. "And that even though our bruises have healed there are still lots of terrible scars left behind... He did not look at me... He kept his head down the throughout the hearing."
"I have been waiting for this day for a very long time," Mutz said. The judge set a proof of compliance hearing for August 5, 2009. [Full article here]

PLEA LETS EX-ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST COP AVOID PRISON
The Times-Picayune
by Joy Hirdes
Friday May 22, 2009, 8:48 PM
...Allan Wayne Schaeffer, 48, of LaPlace, pleaded guilty to second-degree battery and malfeasance in office on Friday and received five years of probation on each count. Schaeffer, a former lieutenant with the Sheriff's Office, had been charged with aggravated rape, second-degree battery and attempted sexual battery. He was fired from the sheriff's office in October 2008 after a State Police investigation, which stemmed from a domestic dispute complaint filed by a former girlfriend [Tracey Mutz]. Schaeffer faced a possible life sentence on the aggravated rape charge and a maximum of five years on both the second-degree battery and attempted sexual battery charges. "We took an offer that was too good to pass up versus life in prison, " Schaeffer's attorney, Paul C. Fleming, said Friday evening. "The verdict gives Mr. Schaeffer a chance at a future. He's been stagnant." The prosecution was handled by the Ascension Parish district attorney's office after the state recused itself, citing a deteriorating rapport with the victims. According to the indictment against him, Schaeffer was charged with one count of aggravated rape in a November 2005 incident and one count of second-degree battery in a May 2006 incident, both involving a former girlfriend. The attempted sexual battery charge, according to the indictment, stemmed from an incident involving another woman who said Schaeffer tried to force her to perform a sex act after parking his patrol car behind the Sherman Walker Correctional Facility in LaPlace... [Full article here]

Previous entries:

• [LA] Lt. Schaeffer accused of dv, rape, sex assault by 3 women - ...Schaeffer was just fired in October after Tracey Mutz, his ex-girlfriend, filed domestic violence charges on him. He's charged with aggravated rape and 2nd degree battery on her. Two other women are accusing him as well...
• [LA] Fired Deputy Schaeffer's victims have reason to fear - ...Mutz said Monday that the ruling did little to ease her fears since the monitoring device has to be ordered. "I'm 100 percent terrified and devastated," she said. "To know that man is walking free to do whatever he deems necessary, it doesn't seem logical. It doesn't seem like our justice system would allow this."

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ONLINE:

[MA] State Supreme Court reverses: ("C*nt"-mouthed) Officer Sean Moran WILL face charges for trying to kill his police officer girlfriend

...The defendant called her a "c*nt"... He grabbed her arms, threw her on the couch, and continued to yell at her. He then threw her on the floor where she landed on her back and hit her head... the defendant took her radio, threw it on the ground, and threatened to kill her and himself... wrestled the gun away from her. He faced [K.C.], pointed the gun at her head... grabbed her arms, shook her, and yelled, "I hate you"...

THERE SHOULD BE YEARLY PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING AND LIE DETECTOR TESTS.

STATE'S TOP COURT REINSTATES ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE AGAINST FIRED DUXBURY COP
The Patriot Ledger
Posted May 22, 2009 @ 12:37 PM
Last update May 22, 2009 @ 01:38 PM
BOSTON -The state's highest court has reinstated an attempted murder charge against fired Duxbury police officer Sean Moran, who is accused of trying to kill his girlfriend, a Milton police officer, in Quincy. Superior Court Judge Janet Sanders dismissed the attempted murder indictment against Moran in April, but the Supreme Judicial Court reversed that decision on Friday. "We conclude that the evidence before the grand jury was sufficient to prosecute the defendant," the court said. Moran, 30, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charge, armed assault with intent to murder. He was arrested after allegedly slamming his girlfriend's head against a metal fence Nov. 9 after leaving a surprise 30th birthday party she threw for him in West Quincy, at the Common Market Restaurant. The woman also told Quincy investigators about another assault, on Oct. 18. In that incident, she alleged, Moran stripped her of her police-issued gun and put it to her head, threatening to both kill her and himself. A Norfolk County grand jury indicted Moran last May on charges of threatening to kill, malicious destruction of property, witness intimidation, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and three counts of assault and battery. Moran was fired last May for violating a rule against "acts of immoral, improper, unlawful, disorderly or intemperate conduct, whether on or off duty." [LINK]

Previous entries:

• [MA] Cop-on-cop terrifying dv attacks of Officer Moran - ...She never filed a complaint because, she said, she feared he would kill her or himself...
• [MA] Judge & Chief protect Officer Moran 's officer ex-girlfriend - ...[Judge Mark] Coven ruled that the alcohol played no role in the domestic violence. He said the abuse was based on anger and control problems... [Milton Deputy Police Chief Paul] Nolan said the incident shows that every person in society - even a police officer - can become a victim...
• [MA] Cop-on-cop dv - Officer Moran indicted for intent to murder - ..."It appears all of these factors contributed to the indictment being sought by the district attorney, and we applaud him for taking them seriously," she said. "Too often, we see those risk factors go without due diligence on the part of the court system."...

I have removed the victim's name from the following excerpts, and added an asterisk to replace the letter "u" in one word:

COMMONWEALTH VS. SEAN P. MORAN.
SJC-10252
February 3, 2009. - May 22, 2009.
Armed Assault with Intent to Murder. Practice, Criminal, Dismissal, Indictment, Grand jury proceedings. Intent.
CIVIL ACTION commenced in the Supreme Judicial Court for the county of Suffolk on May 6, 2008.
[Excerpts] ...The defendant's thirtieth birthday was October 18, 2007. Several of the defendant's friends took him out for an evening celebration on October 17, 2007. [K.C.] did not attend the celebration, but was instead on duty as a patrol officer in Milton during the night shift. Around 1:30 A.M., the middle of her shift, [K.C.] took a break and returned home to let her dog out. She arrived in her police uniform, and was carrying her department-issued, loaded gun holstered in her uniform safety belt, as well as her police radio. When she entered the house, she met the defendant in their bedroom, and they argued. The defendant called her a "cunt," and she slapped him across the face. The defendant responded by pulling the alarm clock from the wall and throwing it at [K.C.], who then ran out of the bedroom and down the stairs with the defendant chasing after her. He grabbed her arms, threw her on the couch, and continued to yell at her. He then threw her on the floor where she landed on her back and hit her head. She managed to get up and move away from the defendant. The defendant went into the dining room where he turned over the glass-top dining room table, which shattered on hitting the floor. [K.C.] attempted to take a photograph of the property damage using her cellular telephone, but the defendant tore the telephone away before she was able to do so. The defendant then ran upstairs to grab his police-issued gun from the "lock box" in a spare room. He went downstairs with his gun, held it to his head, and threatened to kill himself. [K.C.] asked him to put down the gun; he unloaded his gun and threw it down hard enough to leave a dent in the floor. [K.C.] then ran to the breezeway, where the defendant followed her and continued to yell at her. She warned the defendant that she was going to call her lieutenant on her police radio. In response, the defendant took her radio, threw it on the ground, and threatened to kill her and himself, telling [K.C.] that the lieutenant would not be able to get into their house. Then the defendant moved behind [K.C.], grabbed for her gun holstered in her belt, and wrestled the gun away from her. He faced [K.C.], pointed the gun at her head, and ordered her "to get out of the house or else he would f'ing kill [her]." [K.C.] said, "Sean, stop. Drop the gun. Sean, please stop." The defendant dropped the gun, [K.C.] grabbed it, took her dog, got into her police cruiser, and left the house. She returned to work. Around 7:30 A.M., [K.C.] returned to the house after her shift and attempted to get some sleep. The defendant woke her up, grabbed her arms, shook her, and yelled, "I hate you." She ran outside the house; the defendant chased and caught up to her and then twice attempted to throw her into their covered pool. The defendant went inside and yelled for [K.C.] to join him there so the neighbors could not see them. [K.C.] telephoned her mother, requesting that she come over. [K.C.]'s mother arrived, and told the defendant to leave the house and stay with his parents for a few days. The defendant left... [Full document here]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement attempted murder misogyny massachusetts]

[IL] Sgt. Merritt held accountable for half of what he's accused of doing to his wife

...A 9-1-1 recording played in court contained Merritt’s sobbing wife telling a dispatcher that Merritt had hit her on the side of the head and had threatened to kill her...

Previous post:
[IL] Which officer's wife is recanting today? Sgt.'s Merritt's. - I was mad. I had too much to drink. I hadn't taken my meds. I can be quite dramatic. Details? I don't remember.

JUDGE CONVICTS OFFICER OF DOMESTIC BATTERY
Northwest Herald
By Jillian Duchnowski - jduchnowski@nwherald.com
May 22, 2009 1:15 a.m. CDT
[Excerpts] A judge convicted a veteran Algonquin police sergeant of domestic battery despite the alleged victim’s testimony that it never happened. Wade Merritt, 46, of the Oakwood Hills area, will be banned from carrying a gun unless the conviction is overturned, said his attorney... “Effectively, this will put him out of a job,” [Merritt's attorney, William] Hellyer said. “He can’t apply to be a police officer anywhere else”... Both Merritt and his wife of seven years denied that he hit her on the left side of her head hard enough that she fell to the ground March 4. Rather, Merritt’s wife testified that she wasn’t thinking clearly after having had a few drinks and not taking anti-anxiety medication for five days. She said she called police that night because she thought Merritt had been drinking behind her back... But Merritt’s 10-year-old son testified that he saw his father raise his hand and saw his stepmother lying on the hallway floor soon thereafter. He said his view of any impact was obstructed from where he was – kneeling in the bathroom with the door open. The boy had been ill and vomiting that evening. A 9-1-1 recording played in court contained Merritt’s sobbing wife telling a dispatcher that Merritt had hit her on the side of the head and had threatened to kill her... [Judge Gordon] Graham convicted Merritt of having “contact of an insulting and provoking nature,” but acquitted Merritt of a domestic-battery count alleging that he had caused “bodily harm.” He faces up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine when he is sentenced for the misdemeanor June 25... Assistant State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally denied that Merritt’s profession influenced prosecutors’ decision to take the case to trial. “The [negotiated settlement] offer that was provided was the same that would have been provided in any other case,” Kenneally said. “He exercised his constitutional right and rejected that offer.” [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement illinois recant recanting]

[IN] South Bend Police Sgt. Eric Downey contesting the wife-battery and dui charges against him

A VETERAN CITY POLICE OFFICER WAS ARRESTED WEDNESDAY AT HIS HOME, ACCUSED OF DRUNKEN DRIVING AND DOMESTIC BATTERY... IT WAS THE FOURTH CALL FROM SGT. ERIC DOWNEY’S HOME IN THE PAST 13 MONTHS... MRS. DOWNEY TOLD OFFICERS HE PINNED HER ON THE BED, THEN HELD HER DOWN IN A CHAIR — BEFORE SHE STARTED TO FIGHT BACK. BUT SGT. DOWNEY TOLD OFFICERS A VERBAL ARGUMENT ESCALATED TO HIS WIFE HITTING AND CHOKING HIM FIRST... DOWNEY'S NEXT COURT DATE IS MAY 26...

UPDATE: SOUTH BEND OFFICER DOWNEY ARRESTED, ACCUSED OF BATTERY ON WIFE
Police had been called to home three times before
South Bend Tribune
By Dave Stephens dstephens@sbtinfo.com
May 20. 2009 6:49PM
[Excerpts] A veteran city police officer was arrested Wednesday at his home, accused of drunken driving and domestic battery. According to police records, it was the fourth call from Sgt. Eric Downey’s home in the past 13 months. Police arrested Downey, a 20-year veteran and an afternoon shift patrol supervisor, at his home on the city’s south side, after his wife called police with a battery complaint... The exact details of the complaint were not released, but it alleges that Downey battered his wife. As officers interviewed her, Downey reportedly arrived at home, driving his own vehicle. Officers reported they talked with Downey, who appeared to be intoxicated. A later test at the St. Joseph County Jail revealed a .09 percent blood-alcohol level. Police booked Downey into the jail, accused of domestic battery and driving under the influence. A $500 bond was set for Downey on Wednesday afternoon, and he is scheduled to appear in court Friday... Trent said police were aware of the previous calls involving Downey but that without charges being filed or allegations being substantiated, there’s little the department can do that wouldn’t have violated his rights.... [Full article here]
Video:


POLICE CALLED TO OFFICER'S HOME 3 TIMES PRIOR TO ARREST
WSBT
By Kelli Cheatham (kcheatham@wsbt.com)
Story Created: May 20, 2009 at 6:06 PM EDT
Story Updated: May 20, 2009 at 11:07 PM EDT
[Excerpts] ..."The officers at the scene had reason to believe there had been a domestic violence incident, an actual physical confrontation," said Capt. Phil Trent, public information officer for the South Bend Police Department... Downey's wife called police around midnight. An officer was at the house around 2 a.m. investigating when Downey pulled up. Another officer smelled alcohol on his breath and arrested him. A breath test showed Downey's blood alcohol content was at 0.09. The legal limit is 0.08. According to police records, Downey's wife called the front desk at the police department, not 911. On Sunday May 17, Downey's wife told police her husband threatened to hurt her animals. She called right back and told them to disregard the call. In December, Downey's wife told police her husband assaulted her. Police sent that case to the Family Violence Unit. In April, 2008, a third-party caller told police Downey's wife was having problems with the off-duty officer... [Full article here]

OFFICER DISPUTES ARREST, RECORD
Downey says other officers watched him drink beers before blood-alcohol test.
South Bend Tribune
By DAVE STEPHENS
May 21, 2009
[Excerpts] A police officer accused of domestic battery and driving under the influence on Wednesday contests both claims, saying he drank two beers as police interviewed him in his yard. Sgt. Eric Downey, a 20-year member of the force, said Thursday that he has filed a complaint with the department because of his arrest... Downey, an afternoon shift supervisor, told The Tribune that although he did have a few drinks before driving home early Wednesday morning, he wasn’t intoxicated. Instead, he said, he drank two beers as he stood in the yard talking with police... Downey also downplayed the allegation that he battered his wife, saying that he believes an investigation will show he is innocent. “I would never hit a woman,” Downey said, “but I would hit a guy”... Downey said he was arrested after he got into an argument with another officer, Lt. Dave Newton. Downey said he asked Newton to leave his property and was arrested for the DUI only after Newton allegedly offered to fight him... Downey said his dislike for Newton, in part, stems from an earlier allegation of domestic battery made by Downey’s wife. On Dec. 11, 2008, police were called to Downey’s home after his wife called and reported a verbal and physical fight. Newton was one of the police officers who responded to the call and filed a police report of the incident. Newton’s police report contends that both Downey and his wife were in a verbal fight that then became physical... Downey said the case was investigated by the Indiana State Police and that, after two months, he was allowed to return to work because the allegations were determined to be unfounded... Although he doesn’t know the exact details of his wife’s most recent allegations, Downey said he’s sure the Indiana State Police investigation will exonerate him. Downey contends his wife’s allegations stem from problems in their marriage, problems that she, a former police department employee, tries to fix by calling his employer. “I do love my wife,” Downey said, “and I wouldn’t hurt her. She just thinks she’s justified calling police when there’s a problem.” [Full article here]

COP DENIES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, BATTERY ACCUSATIONS; FORMAL CHARGES FILED
by Kelli Cheatham (kcheatham@wsbt.com)
wsbt
Story Created: May 22, 2009 at 4:01 PM EDT
Story Updated: May 22, 2009 at 5:28 PM EDT
[Excerpts] A South Bend police officer is telling his side of the story after he was arrested for battering his wife and driving drunk. Sgt. Eric Downey says he did nothing wrong... “[I] came home with a six-pack, knowing I was going to be home,” he told WSBT. “I was going to drink it, or some of it, then go to bed... If a policeman is going to give [a] person a DUI, the last thing a policeman needs to do is stand there and let them drink until they are over the legal limit.” Instead, Downey claims that's exactly what officers did just before they arrested him... In response to a question about why his wife would have called police making those allegations three other times in the past 13 months, Downey replied “She’s not making ‘all these’ allegations. I don’t know what she's saying because I haven't discussed that with her.” When asked if she’s ever hit him, Downey said, “I’m not going to get into that, please. I love my wife, OK?” In a police report from a December 11 call to Downey’s home, Mrs. Downey told officers he pinned her on the bed, then held her down in a chair — before she started to fight back. But Sgt. Downey told officers a verbal argument escalated to his wife hitting and choking him first. Downey told WSBT he doesn’t think he’s a bad guy or a bad cop. “I think every marriage has problems,” he said. “I think this is a new marriage, we're still working through it.” The St. Joseph County prosecutor’s office filed formal charges against Downey Friday afternoon. He’s being charged with one count of domestic battery and one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. The probable cause documents say Downey grabbed his wife’s wrists so hard he caused injury and pain. Downey is on paid administrative leave from the department... Downey has already filed a formal complaint against all officers on the call for excessive force and false arrest. He says he filed an additional complaint against Newton for intimidation and provocation... [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement indiana repeat offender]

[NY] Wife of Fire Marshal Douglas Mercereau found guilty of murder

The widow of a city fire marshal was convicted Thursday of second-degree murder for shooting him to death with his own service pistol while he slept. Janet Redmond-Mercereau, 40, faces 25 years to life when she is sentenced June 25...



WIFE OF FDNY MARSHAL GUILTY IN HIS SHOOTING DEATH Newsday
By COLLEEN LONG, Associated Press Writer
May 21, 2009
[Excerpts] NEW YORK - The widow of a city fire marshal was convicted Thursday of second-degree murder for shooting him to death with his own service pistol while he slept. Janet Redmond-Mercereau, 40, faces 25 years to life when she is sentenced June 25. The Staten Island Supreme Court jury deliberated three days before returning the verdict. Douglas Mercereau, 38, was found in bed in their Staten Island home on the morning of Dec. 2, 2007. He had been shot three times in the head... "His murder was a cold and calculated execution," District Attorney Daniel Donovoan said. Defense attorney Mario F. Gallucci insisted his client was innocent and called the trial a "witch hunt"... Mercereau was a 12-year veteran of the fire department... Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta called the supervising fire marshal a "rising star" within the FDNY's Bureau of Fire Investigation... [Full article here]


S.I. WIDOW FOUND GUILTY OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER NY1
By: Amanda Farinacci
May 21, 2009
...They deliberated for four days, listened to more than four weeks of testimony, and in the end, a jury found Janet Mercereau guilty... Prosecutors said Mercereau fired three shots into her husband's head as he slept in their home in Oakwood that Sunday morning. They say she cleaned the crime scene before calling police to cover her tracks. Prosecutor Yolanda Rudich believes Janet Mercereau's motive was years of verbal abuse about her weight... Defense attorneys argued the killer was someone else, citing an unidentified palm print on the back strap of Douglas Mercereau's service revolver... Janet Mercereau's attorneys say they plan to appeal, though it's unclear on what grounds... Mercereau is due back in court June 25 for sentencing and faces 25 years to life in prison. [Full article here]
[public safety domestic violence Fire Department of New York official department murder execution fatality fatalities fdny ]

[IL] Which officer's wife is recanting today? Sgt.'s Merritt's.

...A 911 recording played in court contained Merritt's sobbing wife telling a dispatcher that Merritt had hit her in the side of the head and had threatened to kill her... Merritt's 10-year-old son later testified that he saw his father swing his arm toward Gappa followed the sound of her falling to the ground...

I WAS MAD.
I HAD TOO MUCH TO DRINK.
I HADN'T TAKEN MY MEDS.
I CAN BE QUITE DRAMATIC.
DETAILS?
I DON'T REMEMBER.

COP’S WIFE SAYS SHE LIED
By Jillian Duchnowski - jduchnowski@nwherald.com
Northwest Herald
May 21, 2009 1:15 a.m. CDT
The wife of a suspended Algonquin police sergeant testified that she lied to police about her husband hitting her March 4 because she was mad about his drinking. She was the first witness prosecutors called Wednesday in a trial for Wade Merritt, 46, of the Oakwood Hills area. He faces two misdemeanor counts of domestic battery and a single misdemeanor count of attempted obstructing a police officer. Later Wednesday, Merritt’s 10-year-old son testified that he saw his father raise his hand and saw his stepmother laying on the hallway floor soon after, but he said his view of any impact was obstructed from where he was kneeling in the bathroom with the door open. A 911 recording played in court contained Merritt’s sobbing wife telling a dispatcher that Merritt had hit her in the side of the head and had threatened to kill her. She refused to tell the dispatcher where he worked as a police officer but said he had hit her before. “He hasn’t done it for a couple of years, but tonight he’s out of control,” Merritt’s wife said on the March 4 recording. The recording became muffled, and then Merritt’s wife said: “I’m on the phone with 911, because you hit me for the last time.” But on the stand, Merritt’s wife denied that he hit her. Rather, she said she wasn’t thinking clearly and had wanted to get him in trouble when she called 911... She said she was upset and disappointed in her husband, because she thought he had been drinking more than the martini and beer she had seen him drink. She also had a martini and about three beers... On March 4, Merritt’s wife had not taken prescription medication for anxiety for five days... Merritt’s wife said she had been agitated and drunk at the time... When she testified Wednesday, she said she didn’t remember telling a sheriff’s deputy that she was concerned earlier in the evening when Merritt became drunk and belligerent. She also didn’t remember telling the deputy that Merritt shook his fist at her and threatened to kill her. The bench trial is expected to finish this afternoon before Judge Gordon Graham. In a bench trial, the judge evaluates the evidence and determines the verdict. [Full article here]


WIFE OF ALGONQUIN COP SAYS SHE LIED ABOUT BEING BATTERED Daily Herald
By Charles Keeshan
Published: 5/20/2009 2:07 PM
Updated: 5/20/2009 5:58 PM
...Jacqueline Gappa, his wife of seven years, testified that when she learned he had consumed far more vodka that night than he had led her to believe, she became angry and called 911... Prosecutors interrupted Gappa's testimony by playing a recording of the 911 call she made. During the call - which she called the "stupidest thing I could have ever done" - she repeatedly tells a dispatcher that Merritt struck her in the head, and that it wasn't the first time one of their disputes turned violent... When pressed about the call by Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney Patrick Kenneally, Gappa said she "can be quite dramatic" and denied she was changing her story to save her husband's job. "He'll lose his job, but we'll stay married," she testified. "I'm not here, Mr. Kenneally, because of his job. I'm here because I made a mistake that night." Merritt's 10-year-old son later testified that he saw his father swing his arm toward Gappa followed the sound of her falling to the ground, but never saw him make contact with her... [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement illinois recant recanting]

[IL] Ex Police Sgt. Drew Peterson NOT indicted for murder of Stacy Cales Peterson

Stacy Cales Peterson

(Yes I heard about the body in the river. I'll wait.)

NO INDICTMENT IN STACY PETERSON DISAPPEARANCE
Daily Herald
By Christy Gutowski
Published: 5/20/2009 2:26 PM
Updated: 5/20/2009 4:58 PM
A special Will County grand jury has completed its work without handing up an indictment in the disappearance of Stacy Peterson. The same panel issued a May 7 first-degree murder indictment against her husband, Drew, for the 2004 drowning death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. State's Attorney James Glasgow confirmed Wednesday the grand jury's 18-month tenure ended Tuesday, two days earlier than anticipated, without further action. Members also heard evidence in the unrelated 2007 suspicious disappearance of Lisa Stebic, 38, of Plainfield, who grew up in Libertyville. Prosecutors said both investigations still are ongoing and a regular grand jury that meets weekly still could be used to indict... Drew Peterson, 55, a former longtime Bolingbrook police sergeant, is due back in court Thursday as lawyers try to agree on a presiding judge... [Full article here]

ON MYSPACE:

www.myspace.com/findstacypeterson

[PA] "Police do not have a constitutional obligation to protect an officer's wife..."

IS THIS REALLY HOW WE LEAVE THIS? NOTHING HAS CHANGED FOR JILL BURELLA, SO NOTHING HAS CHANGED FOR ANY OFFICER'S SPOUSE:

"Police do not have a constitutional obligation to protect an officer's wife from her husband's abuse..."

In chronological order:

PHILA. OFFICER KILLED, WIFE HURT IN DISPUTE
OFFICER GEORGE BURRELLA WAS SHOT ONCE, AND HIS WIFE SEVERAL TIMES. POLICE SAID IT APPARENTLY WAS "A DOMESTIC SITUATION."
The Philadelphia Inquirer, (PA)
Robert Moran
Wednesday, January 13, 1999
A shooting inside a Somerton home yesterday afternoon left an off-duty city police officer dead and his wife seriously wounded. Police responded to a report of a shooting in the 600 block of Poquessing Avenue shortly after 2 p.m. and found George Burella, 35, on the floor of his foyer dead from a gunshot wound, said Capt. James Brady of the Homicide Division. Brady said police found his wife, Jill Burella, 33, lying next to her husband, suffering several gunshot wounds to the upper body. The gun was found at the scene, Brady said, but he declined to give more details... "We believe it to be a domestic situation," Brady said of the shooting... If George Burella's death is ruled a suicide, it would be the second connected to the city's police department in less than a week... [LINK]

COP SHOOTS WIFE, SELF OFFICER DEAD
Philadelphia Daily News (PA)
Nicole Weisensee
Wednesday, January 13, 1999
...Police had been called to the scene at 2:16 p.m. in response to several 911 calls, possibly including one from Jill Burella . She was found holding a phone when police arrived. She was taken to Holy Redeemer Hospital, then by helicopter to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She was in critical condition, but after surgery her condition was upgraded to serious... Homicide Capt. James Brady said, "There was an ongoing domestic discord in the situation. We're still trying to sort out exactly what happened"... Jill Burella had obtained a restraining order against her husband [Philadelphia Police Officer George Burella] and was "happy and optimistic" about the situation, said Michele Leatherman, who said she had become friends with Jill about eight months ago. She said Jill had told her that her husband beat her frequently and once put a pistol barrel in her mouth... Then on Sunday, she said, Jill called her and told her about the restraining order and that there would be no more violence... Burella 's fellow officers in the 19th District in West Philadelphia said they were too upset by the incident to talk about it. [LINK]

GUN RULE FOR POLICE OFFICERS TIGHTENED
ANY OFFICER UNDER A PROTECTION-FROM-ABUSE ORDER MUST GIVE UP HIS SIDEARM, COMMISSIONER TIMONEY SAYS.
The Philadelphia Inquirer, (PA)
Robert Moran
Friday, January 15, 1999
Two days after an off-duty officer who had allegedly abused his wife shot her and then killed himself, Police Commissioner John F. Timoney ordered yesterday that department-issued sidearms be taken from any officer who is the subject of a protection-from-abuse order... "Right now, its pretty much of an honor system" Timoney said... [LINK]

PROTECTION ORDER WOULD DISARM COPS DOMESTIC-VIOLENCE DIRECTIVE ANNOUNCED
Philadelphia Daily News (PA)
Tonya Pendleton pendlet@phillynews.com
Friday, January 15, 1999
...[Police Commissioner John] Timoney said he had been preparing an eight-page directive to all officers on the subject of domestic violence before the Burella case, but it was delayed by a printing backup... "We've been reviewing officers to see if there are officers out there who aren't fit to carry guns," Timoney said... [LINK]

OFFICER'S WIFE SUES CITY OVER ATTACK
JILL BURELLA SAYS POLICE KNEW OF GEORGE BURELLA'S VIOLENT HISTORY BUT FAILED TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT HER.
The Philadelphia Inquirer, (PA)
Robert Moran
Thursday, February 17, 2000
The wife of a Philadelphia police officer who shot her and then killed himself has sued the city, alleging that the Police Department knew her husband had a history of violence and mental problems but repeatedly failed to take action to protect her. Jill Burella filed the complaint in Common Pleas Court last week, 13 months after George Burella, 35, shot her in the chest at their Somerton home and then turned the gun on himself. Just days before the shooting, she had obtained a protection-from-abuse order... Jill Burella, 35, alleges in her complaint that her husband beat her for several years, leading to numerous 911 calls for help. "On each such occasion, [police] refused to arrest, discipline, supervise, or otherwise address the situation," the complaint states... Jill Burella 's three children are listed as plaintiffs... [LINK]

JILL BURELLA, individually and as parent and guardian of BETH ANN BURELLA, DANIELLE BURELLA, and NICHOLAS BURELLA v. CITY OF PHILADELPHIA; ROBERT REAMER
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
September 13, 2007
This appeal concerns whether the police officers had a constitutional obligation to protect Jill Burella from her husband's abuse. Despite our grave concerns about the Philadelphia Police Department's alleged conduct in this case, we hold that the officers did not have such an obligation... [LINK]

Court: Police guarded by immunity in abuse case
Philadelphia Inquirer,
By Kathleen Brady Shea
610-701-7625 or kbrady@phillynews.com
Fri, Sep. 14, 2007
Despite the "unquestionably tragic" failure of Philadelphia police to protect the wife of a colleague from long-standing violence that ended when he shot her and killed himself, a federal appeals court ruled yesterday that the officers have immunity. The 34-page opinion, which reversed a lower-court order, was the latest development in a civil suit filed by Jill Burella. She was married to George Burella, a 10-year veteran of the Philadelphia force when he shot her in the chest and then killed himself on Jan. 12, 1999... ...the city was gratified that the court backed the city's legal analysis... In the suit, originally filed in February 2000, Jill Burella alleged that the Police Department knew her husband had a history of violence and mental problems but consistently failed to take action to protect her... According to the suit, George Burella was twice hospitalized for psychiatric treatment, once after a suicide attempt; was suspended without pay from the police force twice for incidents not related to his wife; and repeatedly violated protection-from-abuse orders, at least twice in the presence of other officers. Four days before the shooting at the family's Somerton home, Jill Burella had obtained a third - and final - protection-from-abuse order, the opinion said. The shooting prompted then-Police Commissioner John F. Timoney to revise department policy by requiring that police-issued sidearms be taken from any officer who is the subject of a protection order. Timoney said then that his policy change would not have prevented the incident, noting that George Burella had used a privately owned gun. [LINK]

Court - Police not obligated to protect abusive officers wife
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA
By MARYCLAIRE DALE
Despite "grave concerns" about the alleged failure of police to arrest an abusive officer who later shot his wife, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday that she cannot seek damages from the officers. Jill Burella did not have a constitutional right to police protection from her husband's abuse, according to a decision by a three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The ruling overturned a lower court's decision. The panel, citing U.S. Supreme Court precedent, said in part that state employees have qualified immunity from alleged failures to act, even if they can be sued for overt actions that cause harm... "Although the Philadelphia Police Department's apparent disregard of Jill Burella's numerous pleas for help raises a serious question as to whether this was but one example of a larger pattern of mishandling domestic violence complaints, we cannot agree that the factual allegations and evidence... satisfy the requirements" for relief, the court said. Jill Burella had obtained several protection orders during the several years of physical and emotional abuse that she says preceded the shooting. Her husband first attempted suicide and was convicted of stalking her in 1996, according to court papers. In one incident from 1998, Jill Burella called the department's Internal Affairs Division to report being abused, a call that led to her husband being assigned a peer counselor. Another time, suburban officers who arrested Burella for allegedly assaulting his wife in Bucks County released him to his department supervisor, a captain who escorted him home, the ruling said... [LINK]

3rd Circuit: POLICE HAVEN'T DUTY TO PROTECT OFFICER'S WIFE
Washington Crime News Service
Crime Control Digest
Sep 28, 2007
Police do not have a constitutional obligation to protect an officer's wife from her husband's abuse... The wife in a civil rights lawsuit alleged Philadelphia police officers knew about the abuse, but nevertheless failed to act, thereby violating her due process and equal protection rights... the officers' failure to arrest her husband, or to handle her complaints more competently, did not violate her constitutional right to due process or equal protection of the law. [LINK]

Previous post:
[PA] U.S. Appeals Court: Jill had no right to protection from cop husband
Behind the Blue Wall blog
Friday, September 14, 2007

[LA] After officer's self-inflicted gunshots, his brother hopes this will warn others

...WAYNE RAYBURN SAYS HIS OLDER BROTHER [HOMER POLICE OFFICER MICHEAL RAYBURN] FELL INTO DEPRESSION AFTER SEPARATING FROM HIS WIFE. "ANYTIME THEY WANT TO BE BY THEMSELVES, FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON." HE SAYS HE HOPES THEIR STORY WILL BE A WARNING TO ANYONE WATCHING... [HAYNESVILLE POLICE CHIEF ANTHONY] SMITH SAID THIS IS NOT THE FIRST CONFRONTATION BETWEEN RAYBURN AND MILLS, AND IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME RAYBURN HAS THREATENED TO HARM HIMSELF... HAYNESVILLE ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF JASON BRANCH TELLS KSLA NEWS 12 THEY TREATED THE INCIDENT AS A "DOMESTIC SITUATION" INVOLVING AN ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. HOWEVER, NEIGHBORS TELL US IT WAS DEFINITELY A STAND-OFF BECAUSE OFFICERS EVACUATED THEM FROM THEIR HOMES AND EVENTUALLY USED TEARGAS TO GET RAYBURN OUT... POLICE DID NOT ELABORATE ON THE REASON BEHIND THE SHOOTING EXCEPT TO SAY IT WAS RELATED TO DOMESTIC ISSUES FROM THE PAST FEW DAYS...

Videos:



HOMER OFFICER SHOOTS HIMSELF AFTER BARRICADING HIMSELF IN HOME
KTBS
By Chris Redford credford@ktbs.com
May 19, 2009 06:12 PM
[Excerpts] HAYNESVILLE - Shortly after a confrontation with his boss, a Homer police officer went home, barricaded himself inside and eventually shooting himself, the police chief said this afternoon... Homer Police Chief Russell Mills said he had a discussion with Rayburn this morning about a complaint that had been filed against the officer. Rayburn got mad, threatened to resign, stormed out of the police station and got in his truck and drove away, Mills said. Mills said he was concerned Rayburn would harm himself and called the Claiborne Parish sheriff's office... Mills, who would not provide details about the complaint he was addressing, said the officer had personal problems as well [Full article here]

HOMER OFFICER SHOOTS SELF AT HAYNESVILLE HOME
KSLA
May 19, 2009
[Excerpts] HAYNESVILLE - Haynesville Police say a domestic issue led a Homer Police Officer to attempt suicide with his service revolver... Police did not elaborate on the reason behind the shooting except to say it was related to domestic issues from the past few days. [Full article here]

PART-TIME HOMER OFFICER SHOOTS HIMSELF, FAMILY SPEAKS ONLY TO KTAL
KTAL
Karen Hopkins
May 19, 2009
[Excerpts] ...Michael Rayburn’s brother spoke only to KTAL about what led his brother to shoot himself. The family tells us Mike Rayburn dreamed of saving lives as a police officer, but today he tried to take his own. “He told my dad that he loved him. Dad said, “Mike don't do this.” Mike said, “I just can't take it anymore,” Wayne Rayburn said... “Dad went outside to talk to the Haynesville police and my brother shot himself." Wayne Rayburn says Haynesville police shot tear gas inside his brother's home, catching it on fire. “My brother crawled out the door and HPD tased him and handcuffed him”.... Rayburn says officers thought his brother had a gun. “My dad said he hollered out I’m not going to fight.” Wayne Rayburn says paramedics airlifted his brother to LSU health sciences center. He says Tuesday night Mike Rayburn remains in stable but critical condition. “I never got to tell my brother hey I love you until now.” He says his older brother fell into depression after separating from his wife. "Anytime they want to be by themselves, find out what’s going on.” He says he hopes their story will be a warning to anyone watching. “If you see something don't turn a blind eye" [Full article here]

HOMER OFFICER ON SUSPENSION AFTER SHOOTING SELF
Shreveport Times
By Vickie Welborn vwelborn@gannett.com
May 20, 2009
[Excerpts] HAYNESVILLE — A Homer police officer is on suspension and recovering in a Shreveport hospital from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a dispute with the Claiborne town's police chief. Officer Mike Rayburn was in intensive care following surgery Tuesday night after shooting himself in the abdomen earlier that day... Rayburn reportedly said he was going to quit and go home and harm himself. He barricaded himself in his Haynesville residence. Haynesville police, Claiborne sheriff's deputies and Wade Correctional Center officers set up a perimeter around the residence until the entry team could make its move. Attempts also were made to talk Rayburn out of the house. Officers heard a gunshot from inside the dwelling and fired tear gas through a window. The canister started a small fire, prompting Rayburn to begin to crawl out... [Haynesville Police Chief Anthony] Smith said this is not the first confrontation between Rayburn and Mills, and it's not the first time Rayburn has threatened to harm himself. Rayburn formerly was employed by Pafford Ambulance, where his wife works. He also had applied for a job with the Haynesville Police Department. [Full article here]

POLICE OFFICER ATTEMPTED SUICIDE INVESTIGATION
KSLA
By Ben Wolf
Posted: May 19, 2009
[Excerpts] We have new developments in the case of an Ark-La-Tex police officer who allegedly tried to kill himself. Nurses at LSU Hospital list homer police officer Mike Rayburn in serious condition after doctors performed surgery on him this evening. Police say Rayburn shot himself twice in the chest inside his home near the corner of McDonald and Dawson in Haynesville, Louisiana. They say he used his .40 caliber handgun -- the same gun he uses while on duty. Haynesville assistant police chief Jason Branch tells KSLA News 12 they treated the incident as a "domestic situation" involving an attempted suicide. However, neighbors tell us it was definitely a stand-off because officers evacuated them from their homes and eventually used teargas to get Rayburn out of his home. Medics landed a helicopter at a nearby high school football practice field and then flew him to LSU-Hospital... [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement fatality fatalities suicide attempt louisiana liability]

Video: Police Officer "Amy" was stalked with GPS by her husband

I just came across this recent video, and it didn't take long to know who it was. But who it is doesn't matter. It's about being aware... and that it happens to officers too.
Video:


Video text blurb:
Stalking Made Easy
CBS
With small webcams and GPS technology becoming more common, it is easier than ever to stalk someone. Daniel Sieberg reports.
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement stalking gps]

[GA] WIFE-MURDER SUSPECT, EX-POLICE SGT. SAM PARKER, DENIED BOND

...Mr. Parker is accused of killing his wife, former Walker County 911 operator Theresa Parker. Mrs. Parker has been missing since March 2007, and her body has never been found...

BOND DENIED FOR SAM PARKER
WRCB-TV
May 19, 2009 08:10 AM
[Excerpts] A judge in Walker County, Georgia denied bond Monday for a former LaFayette cop charged with murder. Sam Parker is suspected of killing his estranged wife Theresa. She vanished more than two years ago and her body has never been found... Parker was scheduled for trial next month, but the judge has a conflict. No new date has been set. [Full article here]



WALKER COUNTY: JUDGE DENIES BOND FOR PARKER
Chattanooga Times Free Press
Chloé Morrison
May 18, 2009
Walker County Superior Court Judge Jon “Bo” Wood denied a renewed bond request for former LaFayette, Ga., police officer Sam Parker, and one of Mr. Parker’s lawyers said he isn’t sure when another request may be made... Mr. Parker is accused of killing his wife, former Walker County 911 operator Theresa Parker. Mrs. Parker has been missing since March 2007, and her body has never been found. Mr. Parker also is charged with three other felonies — computer invasion of privacy, obstructing justice and violation of his oath as a law officer... Judge Wood still has a number of motions left to hear, ranging from a change of venue request from the defense to a motion to allow witness testimony via deposition from District Attorney Leigh Patterson... In his request for bail, Mr. Woodruff argued that the cost to house and transport Mr. Parker was a burden on the county and that his client should be released to his family... Not even the promise that Mr. Parker would wear a GPS tracking device was enough to sway the judge... [Full article here]l

Previous entries on the blog:

• [GA] Reward offered for finding officer's wife, 911 dispatcher Theresa Parker
• [GA] Eddie's here from the UK to help find Theresa Parker
• [GA] Theresa Parker & OTHER missing police officer's wives
• What it sounds like when their women are missing
• [GA] Fired Sgt Parker gives 2nd interview - 9 months after Theresa vanished
• [GA] Police Sgt. Parker 's wife Theresa disappeared 9 months ago
• [GA] Mom of missing cop's wife Theresa Parker
• [GA] FINALLY! Fired Sgt Parker arrested for murder of Theresa
• [GA] Others were afraid of missing-Theresa Parker's Police Sgt. husband
• [GA] Theresa, wife of Sgt. Parker, disappeared 1 year ago
• [GA] The sad search continues for Theresa, wife of fired Sgt. Parker
• [GA] Fired LaFayette Police Sgt. Parker's wife Theresa has been missing 14 months today
• [GA] Fired Police Sgt. Parker finally indicted for murdering wife , dispatcher Theresa
• [GA] Fired Sgt. Parker's murder-of-wife-Theresa case moving slowly
  

[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement fatality fatalities murder georgia state politics tactics jail]

[TN] Officer Melody Pierce who shot her ex, loses her job, accused of filing a false police report on him later

...The board determined that Pierce swore out a warrant against a former boyfriend using false information...

HUMBOLDT ALDERMEN FIRE PIERCE FROM POLICE FORCE
The Jackson Sun
By MARIANN MARTIN
mmartin10@jacksonsun.com
May 19, 2009
[Excerpts] The Humboldt Board of Aldermen voted 4-1 to fire police Officer Melody Pierce Monday night in a special called meeting that lasted more than two hours. The board determined that Pierce swore out a warrant against a former boyfriend using false information. The firing is the latest in a chain of events that began when Pierce shot former boyfriend Robert Kendall in a scuffle Nov. 29 at her home in Milan. Alderman Bobby Barnett was the only board member voting against the firing on Monday... The termination was done at the written recommendation of Humboldt Mayor Allen Barker, Police Chief Ray Simmons and Assistant Chief Bill Baker... Pierce has been suspended with pay since February. Pierce has admitted that she shot Kendall after a scuffle at her home. The incident also involved another Humboldt officer, Hunter Stewart. Pierce has since married Stewart. Kendall spent several days in the hospital recovering from a gunshot wound to his leg. The district attorney general decided not to press charges against Pierce or Stewart after Milan police concluded their investigation of the shooting... Kendall was charged with criminal trespassing, assault and two counts of vandalism in the incident. He later pleaded best interest to a charge of simple assault and one count of vandalism. The board hearing Monday focused on a Jan. 14 incident at the Humboldt Wal-Mart in which Pierce accused Kendall of violating an order of protection... When two officers arrived and investigated the matter, they determined Kendall had not violated the order of protection... Later that same day, Pierce swore out a warrant stating "Robert Kendall followed her around Wal-Mart and watched the doors so she couldn't leave"... Kendall was arrested and jailed on allegations in that warrant. The District Attorney General later determined the allegation were not true... The district attorney also expressed concern that Pierce would not be a credible witness as a police officer because of her action... "She caused someone to be arrested on information that is clearly incorrect," Burleson said. "A man was jailed because of this affidavit"... [Full article here]

EXCERPTS FROM EARLIER SELECT JACKSON SUN ARTICLES:

OFFICER PUT ON PAID LEAVE
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
[Excerpts] A Humboldt police officer is on paid administrative leave after she shot her ex-boyfriend in the hip outside her Milan home... Humboldt officer Melody Pierce 31, told Milan police she shot Robert Kendall shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday after a scuffle over a gun. Hunter Stewart, another Humboldt police officer, also was involved in the incident. Stewart was back at work Monday, said Humboldt Police Chief Raymond Simmons... Milan police Commander Bobby Sellers said Monday the incident is still under investigation and no one has been arrested. [Milan police Commander Bobby] Sellers said he was trying to get in touch with Kendall to interview him about the shooting... he did not know what Kendall's condition was Monday... The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, which sometimes assists with investigations of officer-related shootings, is not involved in this case... According to the initial police report, Milan police responded to a call of someone breaking a window on South First Street on Saturday night. When police arrived at Pierce 's home, they found Kendall lying in the carport with a gunshot wound to his hip, according to the police report. Pierce was standing about eight feet from Kendall, holding a handgun. She was still on the phone with a police dispatcher, telling the person she had shot Kendall, the report said. Pierce told police that Kendall, who is her ex-boyfriend, and Stewart were fighting in the carport when Kendall reached for Stewart's gun, the report said. She then shot Kendall to protect Stewart, Pierce told police. Pierce said Kendall had harassed her in the past, according to the report. Earlier Saturday, Kendall entered her home without permission and also locked her into a bedroom with him, she said. She asked him to leave and he did... Stewart told police that after the window to the house was broken, he walked outside with his handgun and saw Kendall walking away, the report said. Stewart told Kendall to stop, and Kendall turned around and walked toward him, the report said. Stewart then pointed his gun at Kendall and told him to stop. Stewart told police he then put his gun behind his back. At that point, Kendall hit Stewart and pushed him into the carport wall, Stewart said. The two began wrestling for the handgun... Both Pierce and Stewart were carrying their department-issued handguns, Sellers said...

HUMBOLDT OFFICERS FACE NO CHARGES IN NOV. SHOOTING
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The Humboldt police officer who shot her ex-boyfriend [Robert Kendall] in the hip in November will not be charged in the incident, according to Milan police Commander Bobby Sellers... Kendall was charged Tuesday with criminal trespassing, assault and two counts of vandalism... Pierce was placed on paid administrative leave after the shooting. Humboldt Police Chief Ray Simmons said Tuesday that she was on leave a few days in December before returning to work at the department...

SHOOTING DEFENDANT SIGNS WARRANTS
Thursday, February 19, 2009
[Excerpts] The Humboldt man who was shot by an off-duty Humboldt police officer in Milan last November has signed three warrants for her arrest. Robert Kendall swore out three warrants against his ex-girlfriend, Melody Pierce...
The warrants signed by Kendall charge Pierce, 31, with aggravated assault, aggravated perjury and filing a false police report...

SENTENCING; SUSPENSION
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
[Excerpts] The Humboldt police officer who shot her ex-boyfriend has been suspended with pay after three warrants charged her with criminal wrongdoing in the shooting. Melody Pierce was suspended last Thursday, according to Humboldt Police Chief Ray Simmons... Last week, Kendall said what happened is quite different from details that had been released so far and that Pierce 's actions since the shooting have called her police statement into question...

OFFICER FACES FALSE REPORT CHARGE
Thursday, March 12, 2009
[Excerpts] The Humboldt police officer who shot her ex-boyfriend last November has been charged with filing a false police report against him. Melody Pierce, 31, of Milan, was charged after Madison County sheriff's deputies responded to a call reporting a violation of an order of protection at the Farmer's Merchant Bank around 5 p.m. Friday...
When deputies arrived, Pierce accused her ex-boyfriend, Robert Kendall, of Humboldt, of violating an order of protection that was put in place after the Nov. 29 shooting. After questioning witnesses, deputies concluded that Pierce 's complaint was unfounded... Pierce 's lawyer, Cynthia Chandler-Snell, said police did not interview all of the witnesses to the incident... Chandler-Snell said Pierce and Kendall came to the bank with others who were there to exchange a child as part of a visitation agreement. Pierce is married to Humboldt police officer Hunter Stewart, who was exchanging his child with his ex-wife, Chandler-Snell said. Kendall was with Stewart's ex-wife, she said...

MAN SHOT BY OFF-DUTY OFFICER ENTERS 'BEST INTEREST' PLEA
Thursday, April 9, 2009
[Excerpts] A Humboldt man who was shot by his estranged girlfriend, an off-duty Humboldt police officer, entered a "best interest" plea Wednesday to charges that stem from the shooting incident. Appearing Wednesday afternoon in Milan Municipal Court, Robert Kendall agreed to plead to a simple assault charge and one count of vandalism in an incident involving his ex-girlfriend, Melody Pierce . A sentence of 11 months and 29 days on the two counts was suspended, and he will be on unsupervised probation during that time. After completing his probation, the charges will be expunged from his record. Kendall agreed to pay $500 restitution and court costs for one of his appearances. The other court costs were dropped. After the court appearance, Kendall's lawyer, Brandon L. Newman, said Kendall was not admitting guilt in the incident. The decision to plead in the case was to end what would likely be a lengthy legal process and was in Kendall's best interest, Newman said. "He won't spend any time in jail, and it won't go on his record," Newman said... Kendall, who was injured in the shooting, swore out three warrants against Pierce on Feb. 18, charging her with aggravated assault, aggravated perjury and filing a false police report. The aggravated assault charge was dismissed because of lack of evidence. The aggravated perjury and filing a false police report charges were dismissed because the charges were filed in an improper court...

HUMBOLDT OFFICER WILL SOON GO BEFORE PERSONNEL BOARD
May 12, 2009
[Excerpts] A case involving a Humboldt police officer, her ex-boyfriend and an incident at a Humboldt Wal-Mart will soon be heard by a personnel board, according to Humboldt Police Chief Ray Simmons. The hearing will be about the officer's employment status... Robert Kendall, [Officer Melody] Pierce's ex-boyfriend, told the Jackson Sun that while he was shopping in a Humboldt Wal-Mart in January, Pierce walked past him and then called Humboldt Police Department. When officers investigated the matter, they determined Kendall had not violated an order of protection that was put in place after a Nov. 29 shooting. Kendall was not arrested. Pierce then filed a violation of order of protection in the incident. The district attorney's office later ruled there was lack of probable cause and dropped the case. In March, Pierce was charged with filing a false police report in Madison County after Madison County sheriff's deputies responded to a call reporting a violation of an order of protection at the Farmer's Merchant Bank.... After questioning witnesses, deputies concluded that Pierce's complaint was unfounded. Pierce appeared on the false police report charge Tuesday in Madison County General Sessions Court, where it was announced that an agreement had been made... the case will be passed for six months and if Pierce does not get into any more trouble, the case will be dismissed. Pierce will also have to pay court cost. The case will go before the judge next on Nov. 12...

OFFICER'S CHARGE MAY BE DISMISSED
Melody Pierce to appear before Humboldt personnel board
May 13, 2009
[Excerpts] A Humboldt police officer who is charged with filing a false police report in Madison County will have the charge dismissed if she does not get into any more trouble for six months... Pierce remains suspended with pay... Police Chief Ray Simmons said Tuesday that she will have a hearing with the city's personnel board about her employment status in the next week or so. The Board of Aldermen serves as the personnel board for the city... Simmons said that the hearing concerns an incident that occurred at Wal-Mart but that he could not discuss the details...

[AL] Ex-Deputy Britton indicted for murdering his daughter's boyfriend

...Deputies had responded to a call at the same address around 9:00 P.M. the night before... "It appears that the incident is a result of an ongoing domestic dispute"...

EX-DEPUTY INDICTED ON MURDER CHARGE
Mike Britton arrested on same charge last year
By Alan Riquelmy - ariquelmy@ledger-enquirer.com
Tuesday, May. 19, 2009
[Excerpts] A former Russell County sheriff's deputy who had a murder charge against him dropped was arrested again on the charge Monday. Mike Britton, 57, turned himself in at the Lee County Detention Center at 11:40 a.m... A grand jury indicted Britton Wednesday on one count of murder. "It was re-presented," [Lee County Sheriff Jay] Jones said. "There was more information." Britton was first arrested Oct. 7 and accused of fatally shooting Bryan Hurst, 32, whose body was found with a gunshot wound to the chest... Britton, Hurst and Britton's daughter lived together at 899 Lee Road 292 in Smiths Station, Ala. Hurst and Britton's daughter have a child together. Britton spoke with deputies and was charged with murder. He later made bond and a grand jury dropped the charge. The case, along with more information, was presented to another grand jury last week, and Jones said this time the panel decided that the evidence supported an indictment. Britton's case now proceeds to an arraignment, Jones said... [Full article here]

LAST OCTOBER

FORMER DEPUTY ACCUSED OF MURDER IS OUT OF JAIL ON BOND
wtvm
Posted: Oct 9, 2008 07:35 PM
[Excerpts] ...911 received the call around 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday indicating that a shooting had taken place on Lee County Road 292 in Smiths Station. Arriving deputies were met by Britton. They later found 32-year-old Brian Hurst dead with a gunshot wound to the chest inside the home. Deputies had responded to a call at the same address around 9:00 P.M. the night before. "Mr. Britton in that particular instance was the caller and indicated that his daughter had been assaulted by Brian Hurst," Jay Jones, Lee County Sheriff said. "It appears that the incident is a result of an ongoing domestic dispute," Jones added [Full article here]

Thank you to the law enforcement officers who...

Thank you to all the law enforcement officers who put youselves in harms way for us, who have died for us, and who treat you loved ones well.

I can't imagine our lives without you.

[IN] Kathryn murdered

Kathryn "Kat" Rebeka Minton-Tucker
January 9,1980 - May 18,2009
(Photo from her Myspace page)

Indiana State Police say a Bedford police officer broke into his ex-girlfriend's home, shot her and then turned the gun on himself...

UPDATE ON FUNERAL: Services will be held Friday at Ferguson Lee at 11am with burial to follow at Cresthaven Memory Gardens. Visitation will be Thursday from 2-8pm at Ferguson Lee.

BEDFORD POLICE OFFICER, WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN HOME
WTHR
May 18, 2009 09:27 AM
Lawrence County - Indiana State Police say a Bedford police officer broke into his ex-girlfriend's home, shot her and then turned the gun on himself. Officers found Kyle Brown, 36, and Kathryne Tucker, 29, dead of gunshot wounds at a home in the 1000 block of Trenton Circle in Bedford early Monday morning. Police say the couple had recently gone through a break-up. Tucker's two children, ages 9 and 14, were at school at the time of the shooting. Indiana State Police are working on the case. [Article here]

BEDFORD OFFICER, WOMAN FOUND DEAD
Officer apparently shot woman, then himself
WISHTV
Mary McDermott
Andrew Bonner
18 May 2009
[Excerpts] Two children are without their mother after she was found dead in her home, along with a police officer. Investigators found their bodies in the woman's Bedford home Monday morning. The Bedford Police Department isn't talking publicly about one of their own apparently killing someone else, and then himself. Officers came to the home on Trinton Circle a little after 8:30 Monday morning after a neighbor reported hearing gun shots. Inside, they found the body of the woman who lived there, 29-year-old Kathryn Tucker... Then they found 36-year-old Kyle Brown, an officer with the Bedford Police Department. Police say he had shot himself... Police said Tucker had two children, ages nine and 14. Officer Brown at once worked for the nearby Mitchell Police Department. [Full article here]

FROM THE INDIANA STATE POLICE
BLOOMINGTON DISTRICT
1500 N. Packinghouse Rd., Suite 200
Bloomington, Indiana 47408
www.in.gov/isp
INDIANA STATE POLICE RESPOND TO AN APPARENT MURDER SUICIDE INVESTIGATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sgt. Don Gregory dgregory@isp.in.gov
Public Information Office
(812) 332-4411 OR (800) 423-1286
May 18, 2009
Bedford – At 8:36 a.m. the Lawrence County Sheriffs Department responded to a shots fired call at 1051 Trenton Circle, Bedford. Upon their arrival deputies discovered a male and female subject deceased from apparent gunshot wounds. The male subject was recognized by deputies as a Bedford Police Officer, an agency the Sheriffs Department works closely with. This prompted the Lawrence County Sheriff to contact the Indiana state Police Bloomington Post to head up the investigation. Preliminary investigations indicate Kathryn R. Tucker, 29 had recently ended a relationship with Kyle Brown, 35. This morning Mr. Brown drove his personal vehicle to her residence at which time he made entry into her home. According to the Lawrence County Coroner, John Sherrill, both subjects died from apparent gunshot wounds. Mr. Brown’s fatal wound appeared to be consistent with a self inflicted one. Family members have been notified.

Deceased:
Kathryn R. Tucker, 29
1051 Trenton Circle, Bedford, IN

Kyle Brown, 35
Bedford, IN

Comments I noticed:
...she was my wife.rip baby your husband ron tucker will always love you....
...A friend of mine said he used to work at G.E., and he was a psycho then. I just hope the Bedford Cops don't try to pin this rap on the guy who hid in the closet at the time of the shooting. This guy was trying to get back with his ex-wife/girlfriend when all this took place. But knowing the cops here in Bedford that is just what they will try to do -- ramrod an innocent person -- just to cover up one of their own...
...He shot her 8 times....she had made several calls to BPD reporting his stalking. and threats...that should be evidence thats trackable....right? Poor husband who tried to save her...I hear he was questioned "EXCESSIVELY". When help finally arrived it was to late to save yet another woman from violence...

[CO] Denver Police kept Officer Perez despite his wife's injuries - and guess what!

"Highly decorated" Denver Police Gang Unit Officer Danny Perez has been arrested and suspended AGAIN for domestic violence against his wife. His charges THIS time are 2nd and 3rd degree assault & "obstruction of a telephone".

In 2001 Perez's charges - domestic violence assault & lying about it - were reduced to a non-dv charge - so he got to keep his weapon and job.

According to a 2001 news article I found in my library's news archive, Perez was accused back then of assaulting his wife three times. According to the article, by the time the responding officers were looking the victim over she had a cut on her face and bruises across her body. During the assaults, Danny Perez reportedly "knocked her down" a couple of times, covered her airways with his hands while pushing her face down into the rug, and then wept his apology.

Covering the airways and pushing any human being's face into a material surface, face-down, sounds to me more like attempted murder. I am thankful that no one has died.

I look to Denver Police Department BRASS and ask, given the wife's injuries in the first case, how did you did determine to keep him as an armed Denver Police Officer

with the powers of arrest over your citizens,

and what have you done to protect and support his wife?

Not enough.

[IL] Lindsy Lyons' vehicular aggravated domestic battery of her police officer ex-husband

OFF DUTY SANDOVAL POLICE OFFICER STRUCK BY CAR; EX-WIFE ARRESTED
5/16/09
A Sandoval Police Officer was reportedly hit by a car driven by his ex-wife early Saturday morning. Marion County Sheriff's Deputies say the incident occurred in the driveway of the home of Joe Lyons in Sandoval. 22-year-old Lindsey Lyons of South Locust in Centralia then reportedly struck a parked car owned by Samantha Duncan of Oak Tree Drive in Salem, crashing it through one wall of the garage causing substantial damage. Joe Lyons was taken to St. Mary's/Good Samaritan Hospital in Centralia for treatment of injuries. Lindsey Lyons was arrested for alleged aggravated domestic battery and felony criminal damage to property. She remains in the Marion County Jail. [LINK]

[IL] Drew Peterson's mouth

DREW PETERSON'S MOUTH COULD COMPOUND HIS TROUBLES
By DON BABWIN - Associated Press Writer
May 16, 2009
[EXCERPTS] Drew Peterson may not take the stand if he goes to trial for killing his third wife, but his words could still play a big role as prosecutors try to put him away. The former police officer, set to be arraigned Monday on first-degree murder charges in the 2004 drowning death of ex-wife Kathleen Savio, has never shied from the media that has followed his every move since his fourth wife Stacy vanished in 2007 and he became a suspect in Savio's killing. In fact, he's seemed to relish the spotlight... And that, attorneys say, could be one of Peterson's biggest problems. "If one wife goes missing [Stacy Peterson[ and another wife is dead, those aren't usually the subject of jokes," said Roy Black, a defense attorney whose clients have included Rush Limbaugh and William Kennedy Smith. "People are going to think this is a very bizarre person, who's more likely to have committed murder than someone who is in mourning." Peterson is accused of drowning Savio, who was found dead in a dry bathtub in 2004 with a gash on the back of her head. Her death originally was ruled an accident, but after Stacy Peterson went missing, Savio's body was exhumed and authorities ruled it a homicide staged to look like an accident... Peterson's attorney said joking around is how Peterson deals with stress. "In a tight, uncomfortable situation, you're gonna get humor and wisecracks," said attorney Joel Brodsky, who is expected to ask a judge Monday to reduce Peterson's bond, which is now $20 million. Peterson said he wouldn't behave any other way. "Would it be better if I hid my head down and tried to hide my face and hunched and had tears in my eyes?... I mean, no, that's just not me"... [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement fatality fatalities murder illinois stacy peterson]

(typos)

Too often I fix my typos after I post. So if you get the posts sent directly to your email, and wonder if I'm literate, come by the blog to see that I caught the error(s). And if I DON'T, please let me know.

[OH] Exemplary 2008-deputy-of-the-year Carder arrested for domestic violence

...Carder has been an "exemplary deputy," even being named 2008 Deputy of the Year award for "outstanding contributions."...

BOONE CO. DEPUTY CHARGED WITH ASSAULT
local12.com
5/16/2009
A Boone County Sheriff's deputy is free on bond after his arrest early Saturday. Other deputies took Christopher Carder into custody around 6 a.m. and charged him with Assault (domestic violence) after a domestic altercation with his wife just hours earlier. The 36 year old Burlington man has been with the Sheriff's Department for 4 1/2 years. He is suspended without pay until the charges are resolved. A department spokesman says Carder has been an "exemplary deputy," even being named 2008 Deputy of the Year award for "outstanding contributions." Carder posted a $2,000 bond and was released from the Boone County Detention Center. He is scheduled to appear in court Thursday to face the assault charge. [LINK]

I am not making any assumptions about this incident, but when I read these kind of articles I always wonder, isn't his wife exemplary at something too? There is nothing here about what SHE does well, her safety, and no comments from her friends or co-workers to speak in behalf of HER character. What about her?

[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement victimless crime ohio]

[NC] Suicide-by-cop attempt not as easy for the ex-mayor

...A WOMAN HAD CALLED 911 THREATENING TO SHOOT HERSELF, THEN THREATENING TO KILL ANY POLICE OFFICER WHO CAME TO HER HOUSE... SHE PERIODICALLY SHOOK THE WEAPON IN THE AIR AND IN THE DIRECTION OF OFFICERS...

Because it was a suicide attempt and because I want her to be okay, I am not posting the identifying info or the photo I found of her with the assault rifle over her shoulder - so that this post does not pop up on Google searches. To read the whole article you can follow the link below.

FORMER _______ MAYOR HOLDS POLICE AT BAY WITH ASSAULT RIFLE BEFORE BEING TACKLED
Salisbury Post
By Steve Huffman
Saturday, May 16, 2009 3:00 AM
[Excerpts] An armed standoff involving a former _______ mayor ended without serious injury in the woman's backyard Friday afternoon. _______ _______ 42, who served as mayor from 2005-2007, held law enforcement officers at bay for about an hour before officers tackled her in a storage building behind her house... _______ Police initially went to the scene in response to a reported suicide threat. Transmissions heard across a police scanner indicated a woman had called 911 threatening to shoot herself, then threatening to kill any police officer who came to her house. _______ 's name was eventually mentioned on the scanner, then the fact that she was in her backyard holding police at bay with an assault rifle. Numerous officers — both uniformed and in plain clothes — rushed to the scene wearing bullet-resistant vests. During the standoff, _______ had what appeared to be an assault rifle slung across her shoulders. She periodically shook the weapon in the air and in the direction of officers, then alternated between screaming, throwing her hands above her head and moving in and out of the storage building. Officers sneaked around the corner of the building, then rushed and tackled _______ inside the structure. She could be heard screaming above the crash of bodies hitting the floor of the small building... Sgt. _______ of the _______ Police Department said Friday night that no charges have been filed, though they may be forthcoming. "Luckily, it turned out good for everyone," _______ said. "Hopefully, she'll get the help she needs"... _______ said the first officers to arrive didn't get a response at the front door, then went to the back of the house where they encountered _______ holding an assault-type rifle. _______ said he was told the gun was "an AR-15 type," similar to that used by police. _______ said numerous officers conversed with _______ , trying to get her to drop the gun. He said she alternated between screaming at officers and asking them to kill her... several of the responding officers were acquaintances of _______ 's, and tried to talk sensibly to her about the situation... [Full article here]

One article commenter wrote:
"She got VERY lucky that a bullet didn't end this. I wonder what would have happened if it had been a man or a man of color pointing a assualt rifle at the police and threatening to kill them?"

[NC] Ex-Officer Rector gets probation & dv class for assaulting his wife Kelli

..."She came at me first. It was self-defense"... When asked to explain what happened in detail, Ridgeway said Rector stated, "She bruised easily"...

Previous post:
[NC] A special exception for Officer Rector after he hits his wife in the face - ...Rector, 29, was arrested Saturday, April 4 and charged with assault on a female. Rector was charged with striking [his wife] in the eye, according to court records...

EX-OFFICER IS FOUND GUILTY OF ASSAULT
blueridgenow.com
By James Shea
Published: Thursday, May 14, 2009
Last Modified: Wednesday, May 13, 2009
[Excerpts] A district court judge found former Hendersonville Police Officer Travis Rector guilty of assault on a female Wednesday stemming from an altercation with his wife, Kelli. Rector said he will appeal the conviction... Rector said he had an argument with Kelli because "(I) wasn't faithful to my wife." The argument became heated and Rector said he attempted to leave the room. Kelli threw a snack cake in his face, which made it difficult for him to breathe and caused him pain. Rector said he pushed Kelli away but never hit her... James Patterson, Kelli's brother, said Kelli pulled into his driveway and got out of the car. "She walked up, and I could tell she had been crying," Patterson said. He noticed that Kelli "had a black eye." She was shaking and not coherent... Henderson County Sheriff's Deputy Steve Ridgeway contacted Rector and met him at the apartment later in the evening. Rector jumped out of his truck and spoke with Ridgeway. "He said ... 'She came at me first. It was self-defense,'" Ridgeway said... When asked to explain what happened in detail, Ridgeway said Rector stated, "She bruised easily"... Rector was cooperative during the conversation and when he was placed under arrest, Ridgeway said. A magistrate allowed Rector to bond immediately after the arrest, waving the normal 48-hour period because of concerns of Rector's safety in the jail... Judge Patricia Young sentenced Rector to 12 months supervised probation and ordered him to complete a 26-week domestic violence course. With the appeal, Rector has the right to a jury trial and will not serve Young's sentence if he gets a new trial. Rector and Kelli are supposedly [?] back together. A court order had barred him from having contact with Kelli. The order was dropped at her consent. [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement north carolina]law enforcement

[WA] Chief Reed not charged regarding foster child, yet is resigning

ASOTIN POLICE CHIEF RESIGNS
Lewiston Tribune
May 15, 2009, 9:52 am
[Excerpts] Asotin Police Chief Lee Reed resigned Thursday afternoon, said Mayor James Miller. "He did not state any reasons to us for his resignation," Miller said... "We will be appointing a replacement to serve in a temporary capacity, but that interim replacement has not been identified at this time," Miller said... Reed has been the police chief in Asotin for four years. He was recently under investigation by the Washington State Patrol in reference to a foster child, but no charges were filed in the case... [Full article here]

[TX] Ex-Officer Fratta found guilty again of capital murder in hit-man death of his wife Farah

... The prosecution says it was Fratta's own gun that Guidry used to shoot Farah Fratta.,, "He didn't actually pull the trigger, but it was his bullet that tore through her brain"...

Previous post:
[TX] Ex-Officer Fratta getting new wife-murder-plot trial

(Please see the comments section for excerpts of older articles)

Ex-cop convicted of hiring hitmen to kill wife
The Associated Press
May 15, 2009, 3:59PM
[Excerpts] HOUSTON - A former suburban [Missouri City] Houston police officer was found guilty of capital murder Friday for hiring two hitmen to kill his estranged wife 15 years ago. A jury returned a guilty verdict Friday in the retrial of 52-year-old Robert Fratta, who prosecutors said was motivated by money and bitter custody battle. Fratta now will again face the death penalty. The sentencing phase of the trial is set for May 26. It was the second time Fratta has been convicted of the 1994 murder of Farah Fratta. The former Missouri City police officer was originally convicted of the crime in 1996 and sentenced to death but was granted a retrial after the jailhouse confessions of his co-conspirators were ruled inadmissible. Farah Fratta, 33, was found dead in the garage of her home in November 1994, shot twice in the head... Prosecutors said Fratta had his wife killed after she filed for divorce and tried to collect on her life insurance policy days after her death. Payment for her death was to be $1,000 and a Jeep... The man named as the triggerman, Howard Paul Guidry, was convicted in 1997 and sentenced to death. He was granted a new trial, was tried in 2007, convicted and sentenced to death a second time. A third defendant, Joseph Prystash, who prosecutors said Fratta enlisted to hire Guidry, also is on death row. [Full article here]


Ex-cop awaits jury's decision
ABC13 (KTRK)
Thursday, May 14, 2009
[Excerpts] ...The prosecution admitted much of the evidence against Robert Fratta is circumstantial. Assistant Harris County District Attorney Mia Magness told the jury their deliberations should be like a puzzle. You don't need all the pieces to see the whole picture. Magness said Fratta's demeanor in 1994 after the murder of his wife Farah Fratta is compelling. "The man comes up on the scene, he doesn't ask, 'Is she OK? Is she still alive?' He doesn't get upset. He doesn't cry. He doesn't get choked up. He's not worried for the kids," Magness explained. "His position is, 'Can we hurry this up?' And then later on, 'I'm hungry'"... The prosecution says it was Fratta's own gun that Guidry used to shoot Farah Fratta. That's a gun Mary Gipp testified she saw her boyfriend Joseph Prystash carry the day of the murder. At the time, she wrote down the weapon's serial number... "He didn't actually pull the trigger, but it was his bullet that tore through her brain," said Assistant Harris County District Attorney Denise Bradley. "It was Bob Fratta who put it all in action and it was Bob Fratta who killed his wife"... [Full article here]

GUILTY VERDICT VIDEOS:

[TX] (1) EX-COP FRATTA GUILTY AGAIN OF PLOT THAT KILLED WIFE FARAH


[TX] (2) EX-COP FRATTA GUILTY AGAIN OF PLOT THAT KILLED WIFE FARAH


[TX] (3) EX-COP FRATTA GUILTY AGAIN - VERDICT READ


TRIAL VIDEOS:

[TX] It was bullet from ex officer Frattas gun that killed his wife Farah

[TX] Ex Officer Fratta approached gym buddies to kill wife Farah

[TX] Gym buddies say ex cop Fratta approached them to kill wife Farah

[TX] Ex cop Fratta hired kill of wife trial - killer's ex-girlfriend testifies

[TX] Friends of slain cop's wife Farah Fratta testify at retrial

[TX] Ex Officer Fratta's son Bradley Baquer testies what he remembers

[TX] Ex Police Officer Fratta murder-hit on wife trial - reenactment for the jury

[TX] Closing arguments begin in ex Officer Fratta murder-hit on wife Farah trial (1)

[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement fatality fatalities murder plot hire]

[NY] Thursday May 14th Oprah Show will include battered Barbara Sheehan who shot her ex-NYPD husband 11 times

VIDEO IS SHORT PREVIEW OF SHOW:

xx

PREVIOUS ENTRIES:

• Retired NYPD Sgt. Sheehan killed by bruised & broken wife Barbara - ...The couple frequently argued, neighbors said, and she was seen with what appeared to be a broken nose and bruises while praying in church on Sunday... "There were all these times when she would come back here with a black eye or a cut on the head. She would cover for him and say she fell"...
  
• Barbara Sheehan, who killed ex-NYPD officer husband, has specialty lawyer
• Barbara Sheehan on why she killed her NYPD Sgt. husband
• [NY] Interview with murder-charged Barbara Sheehan & her daughter Jennifer - ...Barbara Sheehan said her family lived in fear of her husband, Raymond. That is, until February 2008, when Sheehan snapped and police say she admitted to shooting and killing her husband with 11 bullets from his own gun...
• [NY] Barbara Sheehan extends her defense publicly for why she killed husband, Ret. NYPD Sgt. Sheehan

[domestic violence officer involved new york murder self defense]

[NY] Ex NY Police Officer Bowens ruled "UNFIT" to stand trial for killing his ex girlfriend Catherine D'Onofrio

Previous posts: HERE

EX-COP'S RULED UNFIT TO STAND TRIAL FOR MURDER
NY Daily News
BY Scott Shifrel sshifrel@nydailynews.com
Wednesday, May 13th 2009, 4:00 AM
[Excerpts] A disgraced ex-cop accused of killing his girlfriend and wounding another woman has been declared mentally unfit to stand trial, the Daily News has learned. Jerry Bowens, 43, will be transferred to a psychiatric institute instead of facing a possible life sentence for the March 8 murder of Catherine D'Onofrio and wounding of her friend Melissa Simmons, his lawyer said Tuesday. "They said he's depressed, well that's too bad," Jane D'Onofrio told The News. "He put a .357 magnum bullet in my daughter's head and now he's depressed? I'm depressed that I don't have my daughter." Bowens, had pleaded guilty and was set to testify against fellow officers in a drug scandal when he compiled a "hit list" that included D'Onofrio, Simmons, both 28, several and cops and his lawyer, prosecutors said. He later told cops he was "in a trance" at Simmons' Brooklyn apartment and meant to commit suicide, but "accidentally" killed D'Onofrio and wounded her best friend... Bowens was placed under psychiatric observation after his arrest. Justice Matthew D'Emic ruled last week that he was mentally unfit following the recommendation of a psychologist... Bowens is in isolation and cannot have visitors... [Full article here]

TODAY ON BLOGTALK RADIO: "MARRIED TO A COP? NO PLACE TO TURN FOR HELP?"

"Married to A Cop? No Place To Turn For Help?"
Where Do You Turn When Your Husband is A Cop?
Susan Murphy Milano on Blogtalk Radio
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Call-in Number: (347) 326-9337
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SusanMurphyMilano

[OIDV OFFICER INVOLVED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RADIO RENEE HARRINGTON CLOUD WRITER DEON GATES]

[NY] Fired, reinstated, ARRESTED FIVE TIMES, suspended Officer Lewis is rejecting the plea deal

Previous entries:

• [NY] Fired, reinstated Officer Lewis arrested for assault on his wife
• [NY] Fired, reinstated, arrested Officer Lewis arrested a 2nd time in 2 months
• [NY] Fired, reinstated, then twice arrested Officer Lewis CLEARED of dv charges
• [NY] Fired, reinstated Officer Lewis arrested 3rd time - after alleged death threats
• [NY] Officer Lewis arrested 4th time - (How much will it take?)
• [NY] Cop-on-cop domestic violence is FIFTH ARREST in 9 months for STILL-A-COP John Lewis
• [NY] Fire Officer Lewis? We'll believe it when we see it.
  

Schenectady police officer rejects plea deal
LEWIS CHARGED IN 4 INCIDENTS
By Steven Cook (Contact)
Gazette Reporter
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
[Excerpts] SCHENECTADY - Suspended city police Officer John Lewis, charged criminally in four separate incidents, rejected a plea offer Monday, setting the case on course for possible grand jury action... Prosecutor Christina Tremante made the people's position clear: "Any offer that may have been made in this case is withdrawn." Details of a plea offer were not discussed in court. Prosecutors declined to discuss it later, including whether it included any resignation provisions. Lewis has been off the job since at least April 2008 on varying stints of paid and unpaid suspension. He has received 30 days' unpaid suspension after each arrest. He's been arrested five times... Lewis' next court date is June 8... He was served in February with papers informing him that a disciplinary hearing would be held. City Corporation Counsel John Van Norden confirmed Monday that hearing has yet to happen. [Full article here]

[NJ] Suspended Police Chief Castagna to be retried for wife-murder plot

CHIEF RETRIED IN ALLEGED SCHEME TO KILL EX-WIFE
By Artemis Coughlan
Trentonian
Published: Tuesday, May 12, 2009
[Excerpts] MOUNT HOLLY - Suspended Bordentown City police chief Philip Castagna will face another trial on charges that he conspired to kill ex-wife Joyce Leopold in 2005. Castagna, 46, of Burlington, was found not guilty of conspiring with chief prosecution witness and admitted liar Gary Hall to set fire to the Fawn Hollow home that Castagna and Leopold once shared, but jurors were deadlocked on the conspiracy to commit murder charge. A juror told The Trentonian that all but one juror wanted to convict Castagna on that charge... "I think that this display by the state to retry me is a form of harassment and it is a form of conspiracy against me. I think Gary Hall's and my rights are being violated"... Hall admitted during the last trial, which ended March 30, that he set the fire at the home on July 4, 2003, but at the urging of Castagna. Hall was granted immunity from prosecution on the aggravated arson charge in exchange for his testimony against the chief. The charges Castagna faces during the next trial are for allegedly conspiring with Hall to kill Leopold over the months following the arson because she caused him to lose his job and pension for violating a protection from abuse order she held against the chief... Castagna said he will seek a change of venue for the trial because he believes he can't get a fair jury trial in Burlington... [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement new jersey murder for hire plot]

[TX] The clock is ticking down on Police Chief Tyrone Morrow's "private matter"

Time is running out on the city taking action against Bryan Police Chief Tyrone Morrow's domestic violence against his wife. There's an internal investigation, an Attorney General's investigation, and a Grand Jury investigation:

"...According to the Civil Service code, a city has to take action, if any, against someone within six months of an incident, and we're about three weeks from that point..."

THAT was published on April 3rd. This is the 12th, 9 days later. Another week or so, and he walks by default?

Posted last November:
[TX] The black eyes & "unconfirmed" broken nose of Chief Morrow's wife Cindy are from sex. (Is ANYone believing that?) - "As far as I'm concerned, the incident with [City Manager] David [Watkins] and his wife is between them -- no charges were filed and it was a private situation," [Mayor Mark] Conlee said... "It's unfortunate that a private matter has been made public because of my position at the police department," Morrow said...

Chief Morrow's estranged wife Cindy said last month:
"...I am fearful that nothing will be done due to my husbands previous standing within our community. I have separated and filed for divorce... I bring this forward as an opportunity to share with you the extreme distress my family suffered for an extended period of time."

Video:


NEW ACTING BRYAN PD CHIEF STEPS IN MONDAY
kbtx.com
Reporter: Steve Fullhart fullhart@kbtx.com
May 3, 2009
[Excerpts] A lot of things can get done in 161 days, but apparently, two investigations and a grand jury's look into Bryan's police chief can't all be completed in that time. Bryan residents continue to wait for an internal investigations' completion, this after a grand jury no-billed Chief Ty Morrow for a domestic disturbance based on an attorney general's investigation. That internal probe got underway around or about March 12. Former Interim Bryan Chief Bobby Whitmire will begin as acting chief Monday to oversee any action taken in the wake of that investigation. According to the Civil Service code, a city has to take action, if any, against someone within six months of an incident, and we're about three weeks from that point. Morrow has indicated he wants to remain on as chief. In these 161 days since his administrative leave began, he's been paid nearly $51,000. [Original article here]

INTERIM CHIEF RETURNS TO FAMILIAR ASSIGNMENT
kbtx.com
Reporter: Joe Brown brown@kbtx.com
May 4, 2009
[Excerpts] It was déjà vu Monday for Bryan's new interim police chief. Bobby Whitmire reported for work much like he did when he was interim chief two years ago. But there have been some big changes since then. The person hired after Whitmire's first fill-in assignment happens to be the person he's filling in for now. Chief Ty Morrow is the subject of an internal investigation over a domestic incident between he and his wife. Depending on the findings, Whitmire will have a role in what happens to Morrow. "My job is to review the investigation once it's completed by the outside investigator and see what needs to be done at the point in time"... [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement texas brass official fear afraid child abuse]

[TX] Deputy Norris - allegations of assault / family violence

Not much is publicly known except that there is an investigation opened on last month's arrest of Rusk County Sheriff's Office Deputy Darryl Norris. He's being investigated for assault and family violence by the Texas Rangers.

Charges? On administrative leave or patrolling the streets? Recanting victim(s)? Strong evidence or near to none?

[NY] Firefighter Wright charged with domestic 3rd degree assault, harassment, forcible touching, and endangering the welfare of a child

TROY FIREFIGHTER ARRESTED IN A DOMESTIC INCIDENT
The Troy Record
Monday, May 11, 2009
[EXCERPTS] A city firefighter was arrested on several charges early Sunday morning after an apparent domestic incident in his East Greenbush home. Jeffrey Alan Wright, 33, was arrested after police were called to 17 Huntswood Lane just before 5 a.m. for a domestic fight. Upon arrival, according to a police report, Wright was physically engaged in a fight with a member of the household. He complied with orders to stop fighting and was taken into custody... Wright faces charges of third-degree assault, forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child, all misdemeanors. He also faces a lesser charge of harassment... [Full article here]

[MD] Officer Bannerman accused of punching, choking girlfriend

Baltimore Police Officer Joseph Bannerman was arrested for allegedly choking and punching his girlfriend in the face. He is scheduled for a suspension hearing next Monday.

UPDATE: JULY 2009

...Joseph Bannerman was convicted... He was sentenced to three years in prison, with all but 10 days suspended...



BALTIMORE CITY COP CONVICTED OF BEATING GIRLFRIEND - JUDGE GIVES A BREAK
The Baltimore Spectator
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Joseph Bannerman of the Baltimore Police's Violent Crime Impact Division seems to have had some violent impact of his own. At least to his former girlfriend. But no worries, after being convicted of second degree assault for punching her in the face and shoving her to the ground; Judge Halee Weinstein gave him a huge break. Incidentally, Judge Weinstein is the same judge that once questioned whether The Baltimore Spectator's A.F. James MacArthur was a real journalist or not.

CITY POLICE OFFICER GETS 10 DAYS FOR ASSAULT
baltimoresun.com
Brent Jones
July 30, 2009
A Baltimore police officer was convicted of second-degree assault and sentenced to 10 days in prison Monday after he punched a woman in the face during an argument in May, according to the city state's attorney's office. Joseph Bannerman, 31, of the 6600 block of Spring Mill Circle in Gwynn Oak, had been assigned to the department's Violent Crime Impact Division. He was suspended from the department and could be fired pending the outcome of an internal investigation, according to a police spokesman. The incident occurred May 8 on the porch of the woman's home in the 2900 block of W. Mosher St., according to prosecutors. Bannerman punched, choked and pushed her to the floor during the argument, prosecutors said.

POLICE OFFICER CONVICTED OF ASSAULT
wtop.com
July 28, 2009 - 7:44pm
BALTIMORE (AP) - Prosecutors say a Baltimore city police officer has been convicted of second-degree assault. Thirty-one-year-old Joseph Bannerman was convicted on Monday. He was sentenced to three years in prison, with all but 10 days suspended. Bannerman was arrested in May after his girlfriend said he punched and choked her at their home.
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement teflon preferential treatment hand slap maryland]

[VA] God please BLESS the words Ellen Abruzzese left behind, FORTIFY the work of her brother, & IGNITE CHANGE in us individually & as A PEOPLE. Amen!

Ellen Kathryn (McCarthy) Abruzzese

I was going to explain why I am posting a link to an article that is not about officer-involved domestic violence here on this very specific blog - but let's just say I AM.

Read, bloom, make the world a better place.

Video:


Letters left by abused woman foretold her death at husband's hands
Eagle Tribune
By Mike LaBella mlabella@eagletribune.com
May 10, 2009 07:31 am
[EXCERPTS] "If something happens to me within the next 7 days, please make sure you look into my death. My husband has threatened me with a gun on several occasions, even pointing it at me in front of our children."' That is how a letter written by Ellen Abruzzese begins... [Ellen's brother] James McCarthy is now on a mission to form an organization called the Hugs Unlimited Foundation Inc. Its goal is to support victims and their families, from encouraging them to recognize abuse to giving them ways to deal with it. McCarthy said he hopes to work with other organizations in the region that help abused women. "I'm dedicated to providing education about domestic violence, battered women syndrome, low self-esteem and the effect of domestic violence on children," he said. "We need to offer the proper support to women so they have choices that allow them to leave their abuser. And we need to recognize the signs of an abusive relationship so we can be proactive and intervene in liberating the victim." Dubus said it would be a powerful thing for men who have this as a cause and a mission to come together and tell their stories to other men. "For so long women have fought this fight," she said. "It can't just be women"... A second letter written by Ellen (McCarthy) Abruzzese was discovered after her death. It was written to her family and friends and described what she learned over her 20-year relationship with her husband: Never allow anyone... [FULL ARTICLE HERE]

Four children lost their parents. Contributions can be made to the Abruzzese Children's Fund, c/o C & F Bank, 2651 New Market Rd., Richmond, Va. 23231

[NH] Police Sgt. Guthrie & wife Karin fined $250 for beating son bloody

...Police say Guthrie punched the 16-year-old and hit him in the leg with a flashlight, causing swelling, bleeding and bruising. Mrs. Guthrie hit him in the face with a belt...

PREVIOUS POST:
[NH] Police Sgt. / Ex-Chief Guthrie and wife Karin charged with assaulting son - ..."The indication is the boy just submitted in hopes of getting it over quicker"... "..."He was prevented from going to school for couple days because of the injuries..."

NH VA OFFICER, WIFE, SENTENCED FOR BEATING SON
Saturday, May 9, 2009
NEWPORT, N.H. — A former New Hampshire police chief and his wife have avoided jail time by not contesting charges that they beat her teenage son bloody last month. VA Medical Center police Sgt. Anthony Guthrie and his wife, Karin, who also worked at the center, were fined $250 and received suspended 10-day sentences for simple assault. They won’t see jail time if they stay out of trouble for a year. Police say Guthrie punched the 16-year-old and hit him in the leg with a flashlight, causing swelling, bleeding and bruising. Mrs. Guthrie hit him in the face with a belt. The medical center told the New Hampshire Union Leader Mrs. Guthrie doesn’t work there anymore. Guthrie is in — what it called — "non-duty status." Guthrie was chief Washington, N.H., from 1995 to 1999. [LINK]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement CHILDREN CHILD ABUSE NEW HAMPSHIRE]

Inside the NYPD - Domestic Violence Unit

Video:

[NY] Police were waiting when Officer Horn showed up to violate the protection order again

...[Lancaster Police Officer Dale] Horn, 52, is accused of violating a series of stay-away orders that [State Supreme Court Justice Deborah] Haendiges issued on behalf of his estranged wife...

STATE SUPREME COURT
LANCASTER OFFICER ACCUSED OF VIOLATING PROTECTION ORDER TO REMAIN IN JAIL
The Buffalo News
By Matt Gryta - mgryta@buffnews.com
05/09/09
Town of Lancaster Police Officer Dale R. Horn was ordered to remain jailed without bail Friday for allegedly violating an order of protection granted to his estranged wife. State Supreme Court Justice Deborah C. Haendiges issued the ruling following a bail hearing on Horn's April 22 arrest. He was ordered to remain in custody pending a June 8 jury hearing that he and his attorney, Richard J. Sherwood, requested in the criminal contempt case. Prosecutor Karen A. Korkuc said Horn, who also spent 31 days in jail following an initial contempt arrest last December, has been in custody since his arrest in the parking lot of the Elks Lodge on Legion Drive in Lancaster at about 4:30 p. m. April 22. Korkuc also played for the judge a recording of an allegedly menacing telephone call made by Horn more than a month ago to his estranged wife's workplace. Suspended from the police force since last August, Horn, a 28-year police veteran, faces a jail term of up to four years if convicted of four criminal complaints lodged against him since late last year, Korkuc said. Horn, 52, is accused of violating a series of stay-away orders that Haendiges issued on behalf of his estranged wife. On Friday, Capt. Timothy Murphy, head of the Lancaster Police detective bureau, testified about arresting Horn in the Elks Lodge parking lot. Murphy testified that police had been alerted that the estranged wife would be attending a function in the lodge that afternoon and set up a patrol to see if Horn would show up. Murphy testified that Horn pulled into the parking lot the first time at about 3:30 p. m. April 22 but drove off after spotting him in an unmarked police car. The detective also noted he has known Horn since they were in high school together years ago. Horn was arrested when he returned to the parking lot an hour later, Murphy said. [LINK]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement repeat repeated new york]

[PA] I want to know the name of the Sgt. promoted "after he allegedly battered his wife"

Tempers flare in East Hempfield debate over public access to records

Intelligencer Journal
By Tom Knapp tknapp@lnpnews.com
May 07, 2009
A question about public access to police records exploded into a firestorm of debate among residents and supervisors Wednesday in East Hempfield Township. At the center of the storm were charges that a police officer in the township was promoted to the rank of sergeant despite a protection from abuse order filed against him after he allegedly battered his wife. That officer, supervisors said, is now up for promotion to lieutenant... When a resident asked Bagnoli if the officer in question was promoted after the PFA order was filed against him, the chief sat down without response... Wheaton said the board previously approved a policy for the review and testing of police officers that has not been uniformly followed.

FULL ARTICLE HERE:
http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/237235

Excerpts rearranged (so I could get it straight):

SUPERVISOR DOUGLAS BRUBAKER
"We have an officer who, in my opinion, committed an egregious crime against a co-worker who happened to be his wife... I am furious, I am beside myself and I am embarrassed for this township... In my opinion, this has been shoved under the rug." Brubaker, a member of the public safety committee that oversees police operations, said it took several months for him to obtain a copy of a police arbitration report. "We need to seriously reconsider … who the people are who are making these decisions... I want this to be a strictly open and transparent, merit-based process … and in my opinion I am being thwarted in doing that."

SUPERVISOR HEIDI WHEATON
Supervisor Heidi Wheaton quickly made a motion asking the solicitor to look into the issue. "We don't need any more litigation in this township... The people have a right to know... I don't appreciate any laws not being followed properly in this township. Wheaton, noting there was no discipline taken against the officer, requested an independent investigation by the state Attorney General's office into the matter.

CHIEF DOUGLAS BAGNOLI
Chief Douglas Bagnoli said reports on criminal investigations are exempt from open-information laws because they can contain personal information about victims and suspects in a case. Bagnoli supported [Supervisor Heidi Wheaton's] motion [for an independent investigation by the state Attorney General's office]. "I totally agree with you," he said. "It's the only way to find out the facts. I think you're going to find out you're wrong." However, he noted the alleged incident of violence in question occurred outside the township and told Wheaton, "I wish you'd come to me and talked to me before you brought this up in a public forum." When a resident asked Bagnoli if the officer in question was promoted after the PFA order was filed against him, the chief sat down without response.

[IL] When I heard Ex-Sgt. Drew Peterson had been arrested my mother soul clapped into the air

...He was arrested during an evening traffic stop Thursday near his Bolingbrook home and was held on $20 million bond, Illinois State Police Capt. Carl Dobrich said. "We are very confident in our case," Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow said...

When a woman senses she is about to be killed by her spouse, almost always her predominant concern is that her killer will not have custody of her children. When I heard that Peterson had been arrested - that is all I cared about - that the children were freed. I had feared for them, with crazy scenarios of a possible grand finale that included their sweet lives.
The $20M that it would take to spring this man gives my mother heart solace.

Thank you to everyone!!!!!

Here's a round-up of videos.

===================
[IL] Drew Peterson arrest press conference - PART 1
MAY 7 2009
BOLLINGBROOK
MAY 7 2009 BOLLINGBROOK EX POLICE SGT DREW PETERSON ARRESTED. THIS IS THE PRESS CONFERENCE. THANK YOU TO ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT, MEDIA, FAMILY, AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL WHO BROUGHT THIS DAY TO BE. AS A MOTHER - I THANK YOU ALL WITH TEARS FOR THE PEACE FINALLY COMING TO THE RESTLESS SOULS OF THE TWO MOTHERS WHOSE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN IN DREW PETERSON'S CARE UNTIL NOW. THANK YOU!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7Bfp5a7Ctk

===================
[IL] Drew Peterson arrest press conference - PART 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c54nKDdL-KI

===================
Raw video of Drew Peterson arrest
Raw video of Drew Peterson arrested for the murder of Kathleen Savio. Visit http://petersonstory.wordpr... for more info.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDMjsn5iIMU

===================
CNN Ex Cop Drew Peterson Arrested For Murdering Ex Wife
Drew Peterson, the brash, mustachioed former police sergeant who found tabloid fame after his fourth wife's disappearance more than 1 1/2 years ago, was indicted Thursday in the drowning of an ex-wife found dead in an empty bathtub in 2004.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcK8UI4Achc


===================
Authorities say former Illinois police sergeant Drew Peterson has been indicted on a murder charge in the death of his third wife.
Authorities say former Illinois police sergeant Drew Peterson has been indicted on a murder charge in the death of his third wife. His also a suspect in the disappearance of his 4th wife, Stacy. (May 7)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7Kf9wcU0R8


===================
Drew Peterson charged with murder
Drew Peterson, the brash, mustachioed former police sergeant who found tabloid fame after his fourth wife's disappearance more than 1 1/2 years ago, was indicted Thursday in the drowning of an ex-wife found dead in an empty bathtub in 2004. Peterson, charged with first-degree murder in the death of Kathleen Savio, was arrested during an evening traffic stop near his Bolingbrook home and was being held on $20 million bond, Illinois State Police Captain Carl Dobrich said.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iMe_tYOFbE

===================
[IL] DREW PETERSON ARREST THE MORNING AFTER
MAY 8 2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibe1QpvuwEU

===================
Previous blog entries on Behind the Blue Wall:

• [IL] Stacy Peterson, wife of Police Sgt. Peterson, is missing
• [IL] 18 domestic reports before cop's wife - Kathleen's - "accident"
• [IL] The price for blue silence - Stacy and Kathleen
• [IL] Murder suspect Sgt. Peterson reaches out to attorneys of America
• [IL] Sgt. Peterson says he's a very misunderstood man
• Sgt. Drew Peterson Still Free Despite Killing Kathy and Stacy
• [IL] Woe is Drew - He'd rather be a celebrity for something good
• What it sounds like when their women are missing
• [IL] How cops handle colleagues' domestic violence charges
• [IL] Peterson case: What about the kids?
• [IL] Birthday for missing ex sgt.'s wife Stacy Peterson & optimism from Chief.
• [IL] Ex-Sgt Peterson shocked Kathleen's death is ruled homicide?
• [IL] In Kathleen Savio's own words
• [IL] Ex-sgt Peterson's neighbor: "In the event that anything happens to me..."
• [IL] See blog calling for action on ex-Sgt. Drew Peterson crimes
• [IL] Resigned Sgt. Peterson - the problem is everyone & everything but him
• [IL] Stacy's still missing, Kathleen's still murdered, & Ex-Sgt Peterson is jailed, released on weapons charge
• [IL] A voice for missing Stacy, a new book's released, Drew's folding gun & his vacation with the kids
• [IL] Ex-Sgt. Peterson's friends were wired for sound.
• [IL] Kathleen Savio's fingernails were cut short, & Stacy was Sgt. Peterson's alibi
• [IL] November brings a new, retroactive law with ex-Sgt. Drew Peterson at it's heart
• [IL] I refuse to post more ex-sgt. Drew Peterson news or pictures of his external face until he is arrested
• [IL] Ex Sgt. Peterson sued over death of his 3rd wife Kathleen Savio
• [IL] Cassandra Cales tells ex-Police Sgt. Drew Peterson what time it is
  

===================
DREW PETERSON ARRESTED IN 3RD WIFE’S DEATH
Indictment alleges ex-police officer caused spouse 'to inhale fluid' in 2004
MSNBC
May 8, 2009

LOCKPORT, Ill. - Drew Peterson, the former police sergeant who went on a high-profile media blitz after his fourth wife's disappearance, is due to make his first court appearance Friday in the drowning death of an ex-wife found dead in an empty bathtub in 2004.

Peterson, 55, was scheduled to be arraigned on charges of first-degree murder in the death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio.

He was arrested during an evening traffic stop Thursday near his Bolingbrook home and was held on $20 million bond, Illinois State Police Capt. Carl Dobrich said.

"We are very confident in our case," Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow said.

Savio's body was found in a dry bathtub, hair soaked in blood from a head wound, just before the couple's divorce settlement was finalized. Her death originally was ruled an accidental drowning but authorities later said it was a homicide staged to look like an accident.

The indictment alleges that "Peterson on or about Feb. 29, 2004 ... caused Kathleen Savio to inhale fluid," causing her death.

Savio's family has long voiced suspicions, saying she feared Peterson and told relatives if she died it would not be an accident. Their fears resurfaced after the October 2007 disappearance of Stacy Peterson, then 23.

Drew Peterson is a suspect in the disappearance, which police have called a possible homicide. But he has not been charged and has repeatedly said he thinks Stacy Peterson ran off with another man.

"I guess I should have returned those library books," a handcuffed Peterson said as state police led him into headquarters following his arrest, according to The (Joliet) Herald-News.

'Lock-tight alibi'
One of Peterson's attorneys, Andrew Abood, said the indictment was not a complete surprise.

"There was tremendous pressure for the government to do something in this case," Abood said Thursday evening. But Abood said one of Peterson's sons with Savio has "provided a lock-tight alibi" for his father, who faces up to 60 years in prison if convicted.

In an appearance on CBS' "The Early Show" last month, 16-year-old Thomas Peterson appeared alongside his father and defended him.

"I highly do not believe that my dad had murdered my mom. Because, first off, he wasn't there, he was with us during that period of time," Thomas Peterson said on the show.

Peterson has seemed to relish the spotlight since Stacy Peterson's disappearance, appearing in a People magazine cover story and on multiple national talk shows — most recently to tout his new engagement to a 24-year-old woman.

From the day Stacy Peterson was reported missing, her husband, a cop of nearly 30 years, knew if investigators weren't focused on him, they soon would be. And it wasn't two weeks before the Illinois State Police made it official, calling Peterson a suspect and her disappearance a possible homicide.

When at the same time authorities announced they believed Savio's death looked like it was a homicide, Peterson knew authorities were looking closely at him as well.

"The husband is always a suspect, whether you declare him so or not," another of Peterson's attorneys, Joel Brodsky, said when authorities revealed an autopsy on Savio's exhumed body showed she was murdered.

Savio's body was found by a friend of Peterson after the police sergeant called him to say he was worried because he had not talked to or seen Savio for a few days. The couple had recently divorced.

The friend, Steve Carcerano, has said he went to the house and went upstairs while Peterson waited downstairs. When he found Savio's body in the bathtub, he called downstairs to Peterson, who has said he then ran upstairs, took Savio's pulse, but found none.

Peterson's next wife was Stacy, who was 30 years younger. They had two children, who lived with the couple along with Peterson's two children from his marriage to Savio.

On the morning of Oct. 28, 2007, Stacy Peterson talked to a friend. Stacy's sister, Cassandra Cales, tried to call her in the middle of the afternoon, and did not get through. Late that night, Cales went to Peterson's home, but neither Drew nor Stacy was there. A few minutes later, she reached Peterson on his cell phone, with Peterson telling her that Stacy had left him.

Cales didn't believe it and reported her sister missing the next day.

Pamela Bosco, a friend of Stacy's family who has acted as an unofficial family spokeswoman, said "we're just happy for the Savio family."

"We always said that Stacy and Kathleen had one thing in common ... Drew Peterson," Bosco said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30630652/
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement fatality fatalities murder ILLINOIS POLITICS news round up]

[MN] If you are living with or dating Officer Geving - RUN

He doesn't need your support. He needs LOTS OF ROOM
because
tick, tick, tick,
anything could happen right now.

STILLWATER OFFICER ACCUSED IN ANOTHER STALKING CASE
On-duty Stillwater officer charged with sexual conduct
KSTP
By: Nicole Muehlhausen, Web Producer
05/07/2009
[Excerpts] A Stillwater Police officer is facing serious charges for the second time in seven months. Officer Scott Geving is accused of harassment, stalking, and fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct... Stillwater Police Chief John Gannaway declined to comment on camera, but gave a statement. "We wish to remind the community that this is the exception to the rule, as there are 21 other officers who do fine and commendable work for the City of Stillwater," he said. [Full article here]

[WI] LAWSUIT: Deputy/Officer Peterson who killed ex girlfriend, her friends, & self had mental condition & raped girl before being hired

...“Giving Peterson police powers, the possession of the assault rifle, and training in its use exacerbated Peterson’s anti-social mental condition as it emboldened him to exert anti-social power and control over others and thereby increased the risk of harm to the public”...

AMENDED COMPLAINT: CRANDON SHOOTER HAD A MENTAL CONDITION
Rhinelander Daily News
By Heather Schaefer
May 5, 2009
[Excerpts] The families of four young people killed by off-duty police officer Tyler Peterson Oct. 7, 2007 are claiming the officer had a mental condition and should never have been hired by the city of Crandon and Forest County. In an amended wrongful death complaint filed April 29, the families of Bradley Schultz, Lindsey Stahl, Katrina McCorkle and Lianna Thomas, as well as shooting survivor Charlie Neitzel III, claim Peterson was suffering from an “anti-social mental condition” when he was recruited by the two departments and should not have been appointed to Forest County’s Special Emergency Response Team (SERT). Early on the morning of Oct. 7, 2007, Peterson, 20, showed up at the home of his estranged girlfriend, Jordanne Murray, apparently looking to reconcile... The two argued and Murray asked Peterson to leave. He complied but came back with an assault rifle and started shooting, firing about 30 shots at the people at the party... Through his participation in SERT, Peterson was issued an assault rifle and was taught how to shoot at human targets, the complaint states. “Giving Peterson police powers, the possession of the assault rifle, and training in its use exacerbated Peterson’s anti-social mental condition as it emboldened him to exert anti-social power and control over others and thereby increased the risk of harm to the public,” the amended complaint states. The amended complaint also states the city of Crandon and Forest County had a duty to determine that Peterson was free from any emotional or mental condition that could affect his job performance and Forest County had a duty to appoint only experienced officers with the ability to maintain self-control as SERT members. Peterson was 19 years old and had only one year of experience in law enforcement when he was appointed to SERT... [Full article here]

LAWSUIT: TYLER PETERSON COMMITTED STATUTORY RAPE
Newsradio 620
May 6, 2009
[Excerpts] WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) -- The lone survivor and parents of four young people killed in a shooting rampage by an off-duty sheriff's deputy claim in their multimillion-dollar civil lawsuit that the officer admitted as a teen he had sex with an underage girl. An amended lawsuit filed in Forest County Circuit Court last month adds the allegation that Forest County Deputy Tyler Peterson committed statutory rape in 2005 when he was 17. "Although he admitted to his actions, he was not prosecuted at the request of the victim and her father," the lawsuit said. The amended lawsuit, first obtained by The Daily News in Rhinelander, provided no other details about that allegation... [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement fatality fatalities suicide wisconsin]

[GA] Deputy Travis Kiser arrested for (cop-on-cop) criminal trespass

...The ex-boyfriend is identified as Travis Kiser, who worked as an officer for the Valdosta Police Department until resigning three weeks ago. He is currently a deputy with the Lanier County Sheriff's Office...

LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICER ARRESTED IN DOMESTIC DISPUTE ISSUE
The Valdosta Daily Times
By Malynda Fulton
May 06, 2009
[Excerpts] An area law-enforcement officer was arrested Tuesday following a reported domestic dispute between two off-duty officers. Valdosta police officers were dispatched to Woodstone Apartments regarding a dispute reportedly involving an off-duty, female Valdosta Police Department officer and a male Lanier County Sheriff's Office deputy, said Valdosta Police Department Cmdr. Brian Childress... The ex-boyfriend had left the scene before authorities arrived. The ex-boyfriend is identified as Travis Kiser, who worked as an officer for the Valdosta Police Department until resigning three weeks ago. He is currently a deputy with the Lanier County Sheriff's Office... He was then arrested and charged with criminal trespass under the Georgia Family Violence Act... Kiser bonded out of jail later the same day... Lanier County Sheriff Nick Norton released a statement saying, "Following policy and procedure, Officer Kiser has been suspended without pay until further investigations prove his innocence or guilt"... [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement georgia]

[WA] It's everyone's fault except Seattle Police Officer Rob Mahoney's

Accusation against him are trumped up. The young lady who accuses him of sticking his public servant tongue in her mouth is a flirt and a liar. Seattle Police are unfair and misguided in disciplining him for it. One of the investigators and the chief have personal grudges against him. There are police that hold it against him that he supports some actions against the department, and - my favorite - they don't like him because he has an advanced college degree.

I've been watching Seattle Police Officer Rob Mahoney because he's in my area - and after immersing myself in officers who control their personal relationships beyond the legal boundaries, I often think I know what hasn't yet be said. Ask me if I was surprised that there were some domestic violence accusations that finally surfaced.

I expected it.

Accused officer hits back at top brass
Records show officer subject of prior investigation
seattlepi.com
By Scott Gutierrez
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
[Excerpts] ...While Mahoney alleges department officials were searching for reasons to ruin his career, they didn't do so three years ago when Mahoney was accused of threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend and her fiance, which triggered a criminal investigation, according to court records. SeattlePI.com obtained court records this week showing that Mahoney's ex-girlfriend, [ST], filed for a court protection order against him in March 2006. Her then-fiance, [BK], a doctor at Harborview Medical Center, also said in a sworn statement that Mahoney made threats to kill him. Both said Mahoney was jealous, verbally and physically abusive to Thompson, and had used his authority as a police officer to reach her at work... [Full article here]

AS A MAN THINKETH (1902)
BY
JAMES ALLEN
...A man only begins to be a man when HE CEASES TO WHINE AND REVILE, and commences to search for the hidden justice which regulates his life. And as he adapts his mind to that regulating factor, HE CEASES TO ACCUSE OTHERS AS THE CAUSE OF HIS CONDITION, and builds himself up in strong and noble thoughts; CEASES TO KICK AGAINST CIRCUMSTANCES, but begins to use them as aids to his more rapid progress, and as a means of discovering the hidden powers and possibilities within himself...
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement washington state blame]

[CT] Imprisoned ex-Officer Crespo is stuck with his conviction for repeatedly raping his ex

CONN. COURT UPHOLDS POLICE OFFICER RAPE CONVICTION
Hartford Courant
Associated Press
May 6, 2009
HARTFORD, Conn. - Connecticut's appellate court has upheld the rape conviction of an East Windsor police officer charged with sexually assaulting a Yale student. The state's second highest court Wednesday rejected the appeal of Rafael Crespo Jr., who appealed on several grounds including a claim the jury should have heard testimony on the victim's prior sexual experience. Crespo was arrested on Feb. 3, 2005, by Yale University police. He was accused of raping and assaulting his former girlfriend several times while off duty. Crespo was fired after his conviction and is serving a 14-year prison sentence. The victim had claimed that when she was first raped by Crespo she did not report the attack because he was a police officer and she feared he would retaliate against her. [LINK]

EXCERPTS FROM A COUPLE OF OLDER ARTICLES:

E. WINDSOR POLICE 'SHAKEN' BY OFFICER'S ARREST
Journal Inquirer
By: Mike Cummings
February 04, 2005
...Yale University police arrested Crespo at about 4 p.m. Thursday at the East Windsor police station on charges arising from a domestic violence situation in New Haven. Crespo, 29, was charged with two counts each of first-degree kidnapping with a firearm and first-degree sexual assault and single counts of third-degree assault, second-degree unlawful restraint, and threatening...

ALLEGATIONS OUTLINED IN RAPE CASE AGAINST OFFICER
February 8, 2005
By KIM MARTINEAU
Hartford Courant
A Yale student said she was raped in her dorm room last June by her former fiance, an East Windsor police officer, who became enraged after he spilled juice on his shirt... claiming that her former boyfriend had physically and sexually attacked her several times over the past year, as well as repeatedly threatening her with a gun, according to the warrant... Many of the woman's allegations were corroborated by notes jotted down by the nurse and psychiatrist at Yale who saw her over that time, the warrant states. Several rapes are described, along with a pattern of psychological abuse that led the student to shuttle from one apartment to another and, finally, to a dorm room as she tried to end the relationship... Crespo dragged her out of his car, hurting her elbow and breaking her sunglasses, while on a shopping trip to Milford. Wielding a gun, he threatened to smash her face and kill her, she said. That night, the woman stayed at Crespo's home in East Hartford. He went to work and became angry when he found her still at home when he returned, she said. He put her in handcuffs and threatened to drag her home to New Haven, she said. At one point, he kicked her in the stomach and she screamed, she said. Crespo's father woke up and came into the room. Eventually, both men drove her back to New Haven and dropped her off at work... Detectives confirmed that the woman had been repeatedly treated at Yale University Health Services for injuries arising from what she termed an abusive relationship, the warrant states. The woman had asked the nurse who treated her not to contact police, citing fear of Crespo's power as a police officer. The nurse told police the woman had bruising, depression and fear seen in victims of domestic abuse. She referred the woman to a psychiatrist who noted she was afraid of the man she was seeing but too frightened to end the relationship...
[police officer involved domestic violence connecticut]

[FL] Sheriff's Sgt. Patzanakidis arrested for beating pregnant mother of his child

...The woman told police that he pushed her face into a counter top, causing her to hit her teeth, mouth and left wrist on the counter, then grabbed the phone away from her as she tried to call 911... Patzanakidis, a sergeant with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's office is on paid administrative leave...

DEPUTY CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING GIRLFRIEND
MiamiHerald.com
May 7, 2009
[Excerpt] Authorities say a Palm Beach Sheriff's Office corrections deputy has been charged with assaulting his pregnant girlfriend. The sheriff's office reported Wednesday that 47-year-old Konstandinos Patzanakidis had been placed on paid administrative leave. Jupiter police say Patzanakidis and his girlfriend, who is already the mother of one of his children, were arguing Saturday night when Patzanakidis pulled off her glasses and grabbed the back of her neck. She told police that Patzanakidis pushed her into a counter and took the phone away from her when she tried to call 911... [Full article here]

PBSO CORRECTIONS DEPUTY ARRESTED IN ASSAULT ON PREGNANT GIRLFRIEND
Palm Beach Post
By Jason Schultz
May 6, 2009
[Excerpt] ...The woman told police that he pushed her face into a counter top, causing her to hit her teeth, mouth and left wrist on the counter, then grabbed the phone away from her as she tried to call 911, according to the report. The woman was taken to Jupiter Medical Center but did not suffer any serious injuries. Patzanakidis was arrested and then released on his own recognizance later Saturday, according to jail records... [Full article here]

911 CALLS FROM PREGNANT GIRLFRIEND ALLEGEDLY BATTERED BY DEPUTY BOYFRIEND
WPEC
John Bachman
May 5, 2009 - 9:37 PM
[Excerpts] ...Dispatcher: "911 emergency"
Victim: "Um- I just got slammed on the counter."
Dispatcher: "Who slammed you?"Victim: "Um, my significant other, or my ex, or boyfriend, whatever."
Dispatcher: "Do you need medical attention?"
Victim: "yeah".
...Dispatcher: "Are you bleeding?"
Victim: "A little yeah."
Dispatcher: "Did he slam you head on the counter?"
Victim: "Yeah."
During that same call, the victim told police that Patzanakidis snatched the phone from her hand and told her he loved her and apologized. The sheriff's deputy then begged the victim not to call police. But the call had already been made. The victim also told police that she was approximately 8 weeks pregnant with Patzanakidis's child a that he knew that she was pregnant... Patzanakidis, a sergeant with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's office is on paid administrative leave. [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement children florida]

[MI] Deputy Carl Jones - who escaped dv charges - gets probation for assaulting his then-girlfriend's son

Previous entry:
[MI] Deputy Jones guilty of assaulting girlfriend's son (but not girlfriend?) - ...guilty of assault and battery for shoving the son of a woman he was dating. Carl Jones, 46, was acquitted of a related charge of domestic violence against the woman...

DEPUTY SENTENCED TO PROBATION FOR ASSAULT
St. Joseph Herald Palladium
May 5, 2009
[Excerpt] A Berrien County sheriff's deputy was sentenced Monday to serve nine months on probation for assaulting a man in a domestic violence situation. As part of the sentence, Carl E. Jones, 46, of St. Joseph Township was ordered to pay a fine, costs and restitution totaling $1,426. Jones was sentenced under a law that provides for the misdemeanor offense to be erased from his record if all probation terms are met... [Full article here]

[NJ] Ex-Police Sgt. husband who murdered Barbara can get his pension payments back

Barbara Elke Getz Vanaman

No pension for convicted Millville police Sgt. Robert Vanaman
The News of Cumberland County
by By Matt Dunn
May 06, 2009
[Excerpts] ...Robert Vanaman, 40, has applied, however, to be reimbursed $40,000 he paid into the state pension system during his years as a police officer in Millville, according to one of Vanaman's attorneys, Charles Coant of Vineland... It is expected $5,000 will be used to reimburse the Victims of Crime Compensation Office for expenses the office paid toward the funeral of Robert Vanaman's wife, 37-year-old Barbara Vanaman... [Full article here]

[WV] Officer's wife who said she was hit 20 times in the head now sues the hospital for reporting her husband

WOMAN SUES HOSPITAL OVER POLICE OFFICER HUSBAND'S ARREST
West Virginia Record
By Justin Anderson -Kanawha Bureau
4/30/2009 7:30 AM
[Excerpts] An unidentified woman is suing Thomas Health System, saying health care workers at St. Francis hospital breached confidentiality and caused the arrest of her police officer husband on a domestic battery charge. The woman, identified as A.R., filed a lawsuit April 9 in Kanawha Circuit Court. The woman says she came to the St. Francis emergency room on July 13, 2008 complaining of a persistent headache. After an evaluation, workers at the hospital became suspicious that the plaintiff was the victim of domestic violence, the complaint says. A.R. says workers contacted the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department and reported their suspicions. The department then contacted the State Police, the complaint says. Troopers came to the emergency room and interviewed the plaintiff against her wishes and eventually arrested her husband, a police officer, on a domestic battery charge... A.R.'s complaint charges the defendant with negligence, breach of confidentiality, intentional infliction of emotional distress and punitive conduct... [Full article here]

[PREVIOUS POST HERE]
[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement RECANT]

[Russia] During divorce argument police officer shoots wife 3 times then kills himself

POLICEMAN GRAVELY WOUNDS HIS WIFE IN SAMARA REGION
ITAR-TASS
04.05.2009, 15.21
[Excerpt] A police officer gravely wounded his wife and committed suicide after that in Russia's Samara region, the press service of the regional investigating committee told Tass on Monday. The accident took place on May 1 at an individually owned plot of land. The police officer made several shots during a quarrel with his wife. She was hospitalised in a grave condition. The man died at the site. Investigators are looking into the accident... [Full article here]

RUSSIAN POLICEMAN SHOOTS WIFE, KILLS SELF IN DIVORCE ARGUMENT
mosnews.com
4 May, 11:58 PM
A police sergeant opened fire on his wife and two-year old son during a divorce argument... When relatives tried to stop the man he shot and killed himself... The policeman arrived at the country house where the whole family had gathered for the weekend and asked to speak to his wife in private. They entered the country house together with their 2-year-old son and minutes later relatives heard gun shots from inside. They rushed in and tried to wrestle the man down but before they could do it he shot himself in the head and died. The policeman's wife has been admitted to a local hospital with three gunshot wounds... According to investigators, the policeman's wife had filed an application for divorce and this was the most likely reason behind the tragedy... [Full article here]

[NE] Ex-Officer Haynes' armed family assault trial scheduled

TRIALS SET FOR FATAL ACCIDENT, JAILER CHARGED WITH DOMESTIC ASSAULT
The Independent
By Sarah Schulz sarah.schulz@theindependent.com
Monday, May 4, 2009
[Excerpt] ...In a separate case, former Hall County corrections officer David E. Haynes, 49, is charged with terroristic threats, using a handgun to commit a felony, strangulation and misdemeanor third-degree assault for a Nov. 28, 2008, incident. According to police, David Haynes pointed a gun at his stepson, Nicholas Holder, and threatened to shoot him. He also choked his wife, Stephanie. At the time of the incident, Haynes worked at the jail. He is no longer employed there. Jury selection for his trial is scheduled for June 8 with the trial to start the following day... [Full article here]

[SC] Ex-Deputy Poole and wife Jodie federally indicted on charges related to the murder of his parents

Indicted by a federal grand jury:
Ex-Florence County Sheriff's Deputy Timothy Poole & wife Jodie Ann Poole

Slain: William Henry Bubba Hilton Jr
& Linda Bright-Poole Hilton

SON INDICTED IN NESMITH HOMICIDE CASE
From local reports
May 4, 2009
[Excerpts] United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins announced on Friday, May 1, 2009 that Timothy James Poole, 35, and Jodie Ann Poole, 33, both of Florence, South Carolina, are in federal custody after a federal grand jury issued an indictment against them yesterday. The Pooles will make an initial appearance in federal court in Florence either Friday or Monday. The indictment charges the Pooles with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, seventeen counts of mail fraud, and two counts of wire fraud... The indictment charges that as part of the conspiracy Timothy Poole shot and killed his mother and step-father, William Henry Hilton, Jr., at their Lakewood Plantation at Nesmith in Williamsburg County, and then caused mailings in order to fraudulently benefit from her trust and estate. The indictment further alleges that Timothy Poole and Jodie Poole concealed Timothy Poole’s involvement in the murder to preserve his status as an heir and to insure his eligibility to receive income from various trusts and estates immediately, rather than at the end of his mother’s natural life. Timothy Poole served as a deputy with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office from 1997 to 2002. Poole was earlier arrested and charged with two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime by the Williamsburg County Sheriffs Department in November 2006. Linda Bright-Poole Hilton, 60, and her husband of about two years, William Henry “Bubba” Hilton Jr., 64, were found shot to death Aug. 2, 2006 in the Nesmith community of eastern Williamsburg County... On December 15, 2006, Circuit Judge Clifton Newman on Dec. 15 denied bond. But a few days later, Williamsburg County magistrate William Driggers presided over Poole’s preliminary hearing and dismissed the charges against him, ruling there was not enough probable cause to pursue the case... [Full article here]

[OH] Face-breaker Officer Gary indicted for felonious assault, kidnapping, intimidation of victim, and domestic violence

...The alleged incident left the victim unconscious. Police say she woke-up, and Gary told her he was going to work and if he lost his job, he would kill her. The victim went to the hospital and underwent surgery for a fractured orbital. Jionta Gary is scheduled to be arraigned on May 15th...

Previous entry:
April 11, 2009 - [OH] Officer Jionta Gary charged with breaking girlfriend's eye bone then threatening to kill her if she told anyone

CLEVELAND POLICE OFFICER JIONTA GARY INDICTED IN ASSAULT CASE
Plain Dealer
Posted by Donna J. Miller
Reporter May 04, 2009
Cleveland patrolman Jionta Gary was indicted today on charges of felonious assault, kidnapping, intimidation of a crime victim and domestic violence. Prosecutors say Gary, 23, argued with his 23-year-old girlfriend at their home April 9, when he choked her and punched her in the eye, leaving her unconscious. When she came to he said he was going to work and if he lost his job, he was going to kill her, prosecutor's spokesman Ryan Miday said. She underwent surgery for a fractured left eye socket. Gary received three warnings for improper behavior while he was training to be an officer. He will be arraigned May 15. [LINK]

CLEVELAND POLICE OFFICER INDICTED FOR ASSAULTING GIRLFRIEND
Fox 8
May 4. 2009
A Cleveland Police Officer is facing a list of charges after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend. Jionta Gary was indicted Monday on charges of Felonious Assault, Kidnapping, Intimidation of Crime Victim, and Domestic Violence. The Cuyahoga County Prosecutors office says Gary choked and punched his 23-year-old girlfriend at their home, on April 9th. The alleged incident left the victim unconscious. Police say she woke-up, and Gary told her he was going to work and if he lost his job, he would kill her. The victim went to the hospital and underwent surgery for a fractured orbital. Jionta Gary is scheduled to be arraigned on May 15th. [LINK]

CLEVELAND OFFICER FACING A FELONY IN TROUBLE BEFORE
Plain Dealer
Posted by Gabriel Baird
April 18, 2009 04:26AM
[Excerpt] The Cleveland patrolman accused of fracturing his girlfriend's face last week had three run-ins with police in the months he was training to be an officer. Jionta Gary, 23, was let go each time with warnings because he was a recruit in the Cleveland Police Academy... [Full article here]

[OH] Officer Michael Lawson arrested for, but not charged with, domestic violence

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGES DECLINED AGAINST OFFICER
WHIO Local News
By Nick Zeigler
May 1, 2009
DAYTON, Ohio -- A Dayton police officer arrested overnight on domestic violence was released without any charges being filed. Michael Lawson, 30, who is an officer at Dayton International Airport, was arrested at a home on Deeds Avenue after an apparent fight with a woman. Lawson had initially been charged with unlawful restraint. Police said the woman was not injured. This incident comes within two months of when Dayton officer Phillip Mordick was charged with domestic violence and aggravated menacing. Mordick was placed on restricted employment status until the case is resolved and had to turn in his gun after his March 6 arrest. [LINK]