[DC] Police Lt. Shahid has been shot by her husband Police Officer Shahid.

District of Colombia Police Officer Elijah Shahid has shot his wife Patricia Shahid - a Lt. for the same department. She's alive, he's arrested, had his police powers removed, and has been put on administrative leave.
No indication if he's in or out of jail.
Officer Shahid is being charged with first degree assault, attempt to injure with a deadly weapon and two counts of second degree assault.

[IL] I only know what DIDN'T happen to Moline Police SWAT Lt. Patrick.

This month I noticed Moline Police Lt. Jerome ("Jerry") Patrick in the news speaking in behalf of his department about a fellow officer's suicide. I had wondered what became of Patrick's own "incident" back in 2004. It bubbled up into the news and then disappeared. According to the one news article back then Lt. Patrick - then head of the SWAT team - had tried to run over his ex-wife and a "federal marshal" in an open parking lot - with mention of alcohol being "involved." After the (alleged) attempt to run them both down, a witness claimed that "...the off duty lieutenant then got out of the car, and began throwing punches."

Was he punching air? His wife? The fed?
It didn't say.

By the time Moline police got there Patrick had fled they say and was found later hiding in his ex's house! Cops blocked off the whole street because of a gun-concern that we learn no more about.

THEN, in the same lone article, "a friend and retired officer was called and Patrick left with him..."

Is that what happens under those circumstances?
Wow.

The police chief, Steve Etheridge, was quoted saying that the matter was a "domestic issue," their own department would handle it internally, and that the Lt. and his ex-wife were just "pushing each others buttons."

I know Lt. Patrick didn't lose his job, though maybe in a spokesman capacity now instead of heading SWAT - and that he can be occasionally seen being quoted in the news.

May angels abound.





SOME LOOSE THOUGHTS...

Throwing punches? Take me there.
Were there injuries? Who got hit?

I'm picturing his ex and the marshal winded
from leaping, dodging, or running
to not get hit with his "car".
(What kind of "car" does
the "head of the department's
SWAT team" drive?
A TINY CAR? A truck? An SUV?

How tall is it?
I want to get a picture in my mind.

And HOW does the head of the SWAT drive?
Timidly?

Pretty aggessively I would think.

I've never been punched by a man.
How does THAT feel?
How do the punches of the top SWAT feeeel?

I am absolutely POSITIVE
that ONE of the punches
would BE too much for me.
Just one.

What does the top SWAT SAY
when he's kicking your...

Oh I coil up.

I am so sorry for her.
Even if she wasn't hit.
Just to BE there.
Hated.
Someone wanting you spread
dead
on the pavement.
Someone who will leave you living
in the shadow of terror
until one of you is

dead.

How can she ever go anywhere?
Cross a street
without fear?

Is she like me giving
far abnormal amounts of my life
to wondering when?

Do Top SWAT's drive around
withOUT their weapon?

NOOOOOOOO.

Drunk with a weapon
trying to kill me with a "car"?

How does the lowered inhibitions
of being drunk affect
his judgement when he is throwing
the punches?

Aiming at homicide.

How does it effect
the use of your gun?
When you're this mad, and drunk?

And what is it called if
*I* try to run a woman down
with MY car?

Wait, wait, - what is it called
if I try to run down

a federal marshal?

AND THEN,
DRUNK, I GET IN MY CAR. DRIVE!
TAKE OFF
AND GO
HIDE IN THE HOUSE
OF THE FEMALE I JUST
TRIED TO KILL WITH
MY "CAR"
(Cloud suspects
this is at least
a very big car)

That sounds like,
to any reasonable person,
like I AM
MOST LIKELY
LAYING WAIT
TO TRY TO KILL OR
TORMENT HER

again.

I AM THE HEAD OF THE S W A T TEAM
SO I DO NOT

HIDE
WITHOUT
MY

GUN.

WHAT AN AWFUL NIGHT.

But let's say I am all pumped up with my
testosterone
my gun
my rage
and my alcohol
decide to try to kill my ex
and a federal marshall

hide out in the house
of my wanna-make-a-murder-victim ex

- ALLLLL THESE TERRIBLE THINGS.

Say I do.

Can a friend just come
take me home?

I TOO WANT AN EMPLOYER
WHO WILL PAY ME
TO STAY HOME WHILE WE WORK THIS OUT -

IN-HOUSE...

While we work out this domestic button pushing.

PAID.
NO DUI.
NO FEDERAL OFFENSE
ON THE ATTEMPTED MURDER
OF THE FED DUDE.
No civilian investigation
or courts.
Whew!

NO ATTEMPTED MURDER
OF THE EX WIFE.
LET'S NOT BUMP IT UP INTO
ALL THOSE FELONY TYPE CATEGORIES
THAT MIGHT RUIN HIS

CAREER,


RIGHT?

(Where is the reporter in this?
Sleeping?
Afraid?
In the department's back pocket?)

DID SHE LET HIM IN HER HOUSE?
DID HE BREAK IN? (BURGLARY/TRESPASS)
IF SHE DID WAS IT WILLINGLY OR
BY COMPULSION?

I HAVE QUESTIONS...

Like is she safe?

I asked how can she cross a street without fear...

but how can she even

ever enter
her own
home without the unseen
scent of ambush
wafting her thoughts?

Domestic terror.

[FL] Malabar Fire Lt. Brandy Hall is missing

Malabar Fire Lt. Brandy Hall, wife of Ex-Osceola Fire Chief Jeff Hall, is missing. She disappeared the night before her husband was due to be in court on marijuana charges and was supposed to speak for him. He went to court and pled for mercy from the court that he needed to help care for his wife who has a skull fracture. "He did not give details about the fracture, such as when or how it happened..."

The pond where her truck with blood & her floating fire equipment was found has been drained, but she was not there. They brought in the dogs. Now, on a tip, they are near a highway looking for anything that they can find.

She is considered a missing person.

Her Husband, Ex Osceola Fire Chief Jeff Hall who

according to the news is not a suspect.

Husband Of Missing Firefighter Talks To Channel 9
WFTV 9 Orlando
August 23, 2006
..."I'm begging. Somebody has to know something. They need to contact the authorities and let them know where she's at. We beg you. Your children need you. We really need you," Jeffery Hall said. For Jeffrey Hall, the last week has been unbearable. His wife, 32-year-old Brandy, disappeared the night before he was sentenced for a pot growing operation. Her husband told police she never came home from the Malabar Fire Department...

Link to Google News on Brandy here
Link to Google Search on Brandy here

[NY] Saying goodbye to NYPD Griselda Espinal - Death by murder-sucide

New York Police Detective Griselda Espinal was buried last week. Her husband killed her earlier this month. The children were there. After he stabbed her he left the room, one of the boys said he's going to get moms gun, dad came back into the room, the kids ran out screaming, "He's killing her! He's got her gun!" - except one. Their eight year old daughter was laying across her bleeding mother begging for someone to help her and shouting "No! No! No!".

He flung their daughter off, shot Griselda in the head, went out into the yard. When he put the gun to his face, their 12 year old son yelled out, "Papi, no, no!"

The police had been there before, for a knife incident where Griselda was cut, but there was no action taken and no report.

Could things have gone differently if it had not been treated lightly?

I don't know.

Good-bye Griselda - and blessings to your family - a prayer that they are surrounded with love and one day find their way past even some of the trauma and deep sorrow.

Amen.

"About 750 uniformed police officers gathered at St. Patrick's Cathedral Thursday to mourn Griselda Espinal, who was stabbed and shot to death last Friday by her husband, Francisco, 37, police said. The shooting took place in front of the couple's three children and their 65-year-old baby-sitter..." (Source: NEWSDAY, August 18, 2006)

[MI] Gun-to-wife's-head Deputy Harvey got to make a DEAL?

Last week Antrim County Deputy Michael Harvey pled guilty to assault charges and a misdemeanor count of domestic violence after having pushed his wife to the ground, striking her in the face, pointing his weapon at her (head?), and threatening to kill her "while on duty." (?) The most recent news didn't mention what happened to the original reports that he also pointed a taser gun at his two year old son. He HAD been charged with two felony counts of assault, a felony firearm charge, and two counts of domestic violence. (Those 2 dv charges were against another woman, not his wife, who the news doesn't tell anything more about.)

What Harvey's said to have said to his wife:

"If I get the (expletive) papers in the mail,

I am going to (expletive)

kill you

and your mother,

and I'm going to kill these two boys

and then I am going to kill myself...

You need to stop the attorney,

stop the divorce,

stop everything."

What did police carry out of his house? - What too many frightened spouses know - an arsenal: 57 firearms, both loaded and unloaded. (Pause and just iMAGine that!)

The DEAL that he got to make with the court? DROPPING "one count of felonious assault; one felony firearm charge; and a second domestic violence charge."

Sweet, hunh?

[NY] Buffalo Officer Roman's bail doubled on his FOURTH arrest

It was in the news 3 days ago that Buffalo Police Officer Antonio Roman's bail was doubled after the prosecutor and judge agreed that he was a serious risk to public safety - with the prosecutor bringing up "PAST INSTANCES" of problems. He pled not guilty to 2nd degree menacing and unlawful imprisonment - both from the accusations that he was holding a gun to his girlfriend's head.

IT'S THE FOURTH TIME HE'S BEEN ARRESTED.

When he was arrested for beating his wife the charge was dropped.

When he pulled a shotgun on another officer (male? female?) he was cleared.

Another time he barricaded himself in a house with a girlfriend and no telling what happened to that case - but I can say

he's still a cop!

(Roman's Erie County Sheriff's Deputy brother killed his own estranged wife Norma in 1998.)

[FL] Did I mention that Miami-Dade Detective Flynn got 35 years? I want to.

"I had a fully loaded firearm stuck in my mouth, somebody asking me if I was ready to die.
Only God decides that."
...Miami-Dade Police Narcotics Detective Michael Flynn's kidnapped and beaten girlfriend Elaine

Previous blogger post here.

This isn't my only police dv project so I don't usually follow up with the cases on Blogger. They are here just to let the world know that there IS a problem - but I think for Elaine I really want to follow up with Detective Flynn.

Back in June he left - expected to serve 30 of his 35 year sentence. This is rare and worth posting for sure. What SHOULD have happened DID:



Drug Dealing Officer Is Sentenced
Jun 16, 2006
Evan Bacon Reporting
A Miami-Dade Police officer convicted of peddling drugs while on duty and threatening to kill his own girlfriend was sentenced to 35 years... Michael Flynn, a 23 year veteran of the City of Miami Police force, had pleaded guilty to buying and selling heroin... while on duty. He also admitted to forcing the barrel of his gun down his girlfriend’s mouth, while threatening to kill her. “I did it and I take responsibility for what I did,” Flynn testified during Friday’s sentencing hearing. “I did it. I did it. I did it”... (more)

"...Only God..."

[IL] Drinking and domestic arguing preceded Trooper Schulte's suicide

What can we do to make things better?


From this month's news:

Clinton County Coroner's Jury Rules...
WJBDRadio.com, IL
EXCERPT:
"...The coroner's jury also ruled the July first death of 32-year-old State Trooper Chadwich Schulte of Aviston a suicide from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home. Schulte's wife of three weeks, Tammy, testified that the two had argued in a cell phone call and when he came home from Carlyle Lake that evening. She reported her husband became upset again just before the shooting when talking to an ex-girlfriend. Schulte had a blood alcohol level of point-085, over the legal limit of intoxication..."

Tammy and son are okay physically - missing Trooper Schulte, and full of questions.

[NY] Watertown says it's READY now for an officer-involved domestic violence policy

Watertown Police Officer Michael Vanwaldick

Watertown has been in media chaos since Officer VanWaldick kidnapped his ex-girlfriend, shot a man in the chest several times, and became the subject of a manhunt in December of 2004. What made it a NATIONAL scandal and opened the city to lawsuits was that Watertown police were already aware that VanWaldick had serious problems before he committed this more noticed set of crimes. The scandal was that his past domestic violence acts had been effectively pushed under the rug by his department.

VanWaldick most likely had become convinced, by the lack of response to his past acts, that he could do whatever he wanted to. He had come to live in a mental world of lawlessness because there was no consequence for his prior crimes. He could climb into his ex's window to kidnap her in camoflauge clothing, bulletproof vest, and a MASK with the intent of lethal harm to his ex's friend.

For example, just a couple of days before the shooting VanWaldick called in sick, came to his ex-girlfriend's JOB, and threatened to kill her and himself. Plenty of police came to the scene - using cell phones instead of police radios, not talking to the victim, letting it all just blend into the another day in Watertown. Now he's sentenced to 15 years and people's lives are changed. Covering for his past acts was no favor. He could be getting help while working a new job instead.

Because of a complaint filed by a city council member the New York State Commission of Investigation probed and reported on the incident.

According to the investigation results: ...many Watertown police officers who responded... "gave preferential treatment to VanWaldick because he was a police officer."It goes on to say investigating officers failed to properly document, review, or coordinate their investigations of the incidents... (Source: Feedback: State Says Watertown PD Response To VanWaldick 'Inadequate,' WWNYTV.net, July 20, 2006)

From yesterday's news: ...Monday night the council revealed a draft of a new policy stating how police will handle domestic cases involving one of their own in the future. The policy calls for more outreach to the District Attorney's office, and the families of the officer, as well as better training. Councilor's say they're ready to get a policy in place so something like this never happens again... (Source: Council comments on state's report of mishandling VanWaldick case, News 10 Now, August 22, 2006)

That's a big ideological leap for the city compared to 7 months ago: ..."I know absolutely nothing about it," Mayor Jeffrey E. Graham said. He downplayed the significance of the investigation. "What is it that you're going to find?" he asked. "A guy went out and did something stupid, it's tragic." He later said: "A finger-pointing session about what happened before isn't going to make my life or anybody else in the community's better than before"... (Source: A YEAR LATER, NO REPORT YET ON CITY POLICE, VANWALDICK, Watertown Daily Times (NY), Cory Nealo, February 9, 2006)

The hope is that Watertown will follow through with the report's recommendations, and also will put a specific policy in place to be a guide to them in officer-involved domestic violence cases - that they can move to being proactive and preventative in the future. Hopefully others will look to Watertown and benefit from what this city found itself learning the hard way.

Officer-Involved DV Document To All States!

Monumental Step Regarding
Officer-Involved Domestic Violence Policies

The powerful document below, a letter signed by top government representatives of Washington State, has been sent out INDIVIDUALLY to every United States Governor, every State Attorney General, and every State Insurance Commissioner in the nation. It is encouraging that all states join Washington State by implementing "strong and enforceable policy" regarding officer-involved domestic violence.

This Letter Is A Huge Step
In Fighting Domestic Violence.
Your Support Is Needed To Make It Work.

Please contact the officials for YOUR state to let them know your personal or agency's support for clear policy and procedure, and pass this document and request along to others who will also take action - helping it reach it's full potentially nation-sweeping effect. Let's get it done!

(Click to see full-sized scanned document)

(Recipient information has been removed from this document.)

Link to printable document:
http://www.policedomesticviolence.com/TOALLSTATES.jpg

To contact your State Governor
http://www.firstgov.gov/Contact/Governors.shtml

To contact your State Attorneys General

http://www.naag.org/ag/full_ag_table.php

To contact your State Insurance Department Commissioners
http://www.naic.org/state_web_map.htm


IMPORTANT NOTE: A policy would also protect and add services for the many law enforcement officers who are victims of domestic violence, or engaged in mutual family problems.