Three officers dead on a "routine" traffic stop

[CO19]

This is one of the reasons some of us get torqued when we hear the media begin a story with, "It was a routine traffic stop" ... today it was four officers ... in the last few years I have lost one friend and a number of "brothers of the badge" to similar incidents. There ain't nothing "routine" about them.

>There is no such thing as a "routine" call, as you know. Unfortunate - Stay Safe.

 

[AHA]

Oakland, California

All, from a "routine" traffic stop ...

Three Officers, Suspect Die In Oakland Shootings - News Story - KTVU San Francisco

The suspect: a wanted parolee-at-large with prior convictions for weapons and assaults.

The victims: Four officers (three now deceased) ... two on the initial traffic stop, two more when they attempted to take the rat b astard into custody.

Another f'ing funeral ....

- Carl

I'm so sorry, Carl.

What a horrible event. I get teary-eyed just thinking about the families of those officers, and how they suffered the worst day of their lives while my day was just as usual. It always blows my mind how quickly and easily one's life can totally change.
It makes me feel quilty that people who's desire is to protect us, can be so senselessly killed doing just that.
The moron who shot them got off easy by being killed IMHO. He should have had to suffer hard in prison for the rest of his life for what he did. What a total waste of a human being.
I completely agree with what has already been said, that there is no such thing as a "routine traffic stop", and I hope that this finally is understood by those who always whine about police measures when being pulled over.
I have understood that police officers worldwide are a "band of brothers/sisters", so any loss is felt by all. It must be so hard to come to terms with events like this, and to go to work the next day.

Again Carl, my sympathies to you and your "brothers" and "sisters".

 

[CdwJava]

What a horrible event. I get teary-eyed just thinking about the families of those officers, and how they suffered the worst day of their lives while my day was just as usual. It always blows my mind how quickly and easily one's life can totally change.

Standing at these memorials and watching as the widow/widower, and children file forth in silence to lay wreaths, flowers or sentiments at a memorial or casket is the worst ... I do it every year in Sacramento as a reminder never to be complacent.

I have been asked why I used to approach cars on traffic stops with my hand on my weapon either canted forward ready to be drawn, or actually out of the holster behind my right thigh as I contacted the driver ... this is the reason why I did it. Most the time the driver does not even notice that little precaution, but since traffic stops are among the most dangerous activities in law enforcement, I would very often approach with my weapon out. I do not do that so much any more, but that's due to my complacency and employment in pseudo-Mayberry.

The moron who shot them got off easy by being killed IMHO. He should have had to suffer hard in prison for the rest of his life for what he did. What a total waste of a human being.

Don't worry, we'll inevitably be entertained by those who will claim he was murdered or that he was a "victim" of the racist and evil police ... it will happen, and lawsuits will be filed - it's a guarantee. Within 12 months, we'll see the lawsuits filed.

I have understood that police officers worldwide are a "band of brothers/sisters", so any loss is felt by all. It must be so hard to come to terms with events like this, and to go to work the next day.

Oddly, you are right. Even though NONE of us knew any of those four officers, officers here were glued to computers and TVs all night ... of course, that was between the flurry of fights, drunks, and break-ins we had while this was coming over the air waves. The small town north of us had about 8 in custody within 2 hours! That's amazing given our size, and just dealing with their problems last night tied up all but two cops in the entire county (CHP included). There was but me and one of my officers clear to cover the entire south half of the county as everyone else (including two of my officers) was up north!

Again Carl, my sympathies to you and your "brothers" and "sisters".

Thank you.

- Carl

 

[AHA]

Standing at these memorials and watching as the widow/widower, and children file forth in silence to lay wreaths, flowers or sentiments at a memorial or casket is the worst ... I do it every year in Sacramento as a reminder never to be complacent.

I have been asked why I used to approach cars on traffic stops with my hand on my weapon either canted forward ready to be drawn, or actually out of the holster behind my right thigh as I contacted the driver ... this is the reason why I did it. Most the time the driver does not even notice that little precaution, but since traffic stops are among the most dangerous activities in law enforcement, I would very often approach with my weapon out. I do not do that so much any more, but that's due to my complacency and employment in pseudo-Mayberry.


Don't worry, we'll inevitably be entertained by those who will claim he was murdered or that he was a "victim" of the racist and evil police ... it will happen, and lawsuits will be filed - it's a guarantee. Within 12 months, we'll see the lawsuits filed.


Oddly, you are right. Even though NONE of us knew any of those four officers, officers here were glued to computers and TVs all night ... of course, that was between the flurry of fights, drunks, and break-ins we had while this was coming over the air waves. The small town north of us had about 8 in custody within 2 hours! That's amazing given our size, and just dealing with their problems last night tied up all but two cops in the entire county (CHP included). There was but me and one of my officers clear to cover the entire south half of the county as everyone else (including two of my officers) was up north!


Thank you.

- Carl

Carl, I was wondering, does something like this make you want to leave your profession or does it make you more encouraged to stay on the job and get criminals off the streets?

 

[CdwJava]

Carl, I was wondering, does something like this make you want to leave your profession or does it make you more encouraged to stay on the job and get criminals off the streets?

It more or less steels one's spine and encourages him or her to remain on the job. Cops have egos, and being scared off the street indirectly is generally not an option. It's why even in places like Mexico where good cops are getting killed every day, there are still officers willing to go to work.

I think it concerns our families more than any of us ... my mother generally doesn't want to hear about my scrapes, and she only recently found out that I had been shot at a couple of times. My wife is not too concerned, but then she was a Marine Corps brat with a father that went to Vietnam four times, and she and I met before i started the academy, so she's not too susceptible to the same worry.

- Carl

 

[CdwJava]

The four dead ....

Sergeant Ervin Romans, Oakland Police Department

Sergeant Mark Dunakin, Oakland Police Department

Sergeant Daniel Sakai, Oakland Police Department

Police Officer John Hege, Oakland Police Department

I am told that at least two left behind wives and young children ...

And, apparently in the carnage there was a glimmer of hope for the people of Oakland to stand in contrast to the vermin that taunted officers at the scene of the original slayings, witnesses who saw the shootings called 9-1-1 and rendered aid to the fallen officers even as the suspect was still in the area. There are decent people out there, in spite of the perceptions that those twenty or so SOBs might provide.

- Carl

 

[tryingtoplease]

Carl, I came across this in todays local paper regarding funds set up for the slain officers families. Thought I'd pass it along. Keep strong!

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_11977785?nclick_check=1

 

[CdwJava]

Yes, those seem to be good accounts. Thank you for the information.

- carl

 

[swrdmbo]

I just read about this. I am so sorry for you and your comrades Carl,and of course their families.

I absolutely do not understand what is happening to our human race...there seems to be so little regard for people like you, that risk their lives everyday(Thank-you for that from the bottom of my heart) and I just do not get it.

I think this is so sad, and such a sad commentary on our country. Sandy

 

[fairisfair]

just thinking of you Carl.... and the families of these fallen heros.

so sorry for your loss and for the loss to us all.

Thank you... for what you do.. every day.

 

[Destick]

Carl if it wasn't for Sheepdogs like you and your brothers the wolfs would be in our houses. Stay Vigilant

 

[tammy8]

Carl if it wasn't for Sheepdogs like you and your brothers the wolfs would be in our houses. Stay Vigilant

Big hugs and lots of prayers coming to your dept family.

Signed,

Daughter of (first female Officer in our town ever) safely retired Sherriff's Deputy

 

[salbert]

Makes it worse for us

This is the exact reason the cops see us good citizens as combatants, becasue of a-holes like this. This is why we get the treatment and resentment and unlawful tickets we get as americans. Now they will be saying see, guys this is why we teach you in your training that americans are our adversaries...Good job a-hole...
sa

 

[CdwJava]

This is the exact reason the cops see us good citizens as combatants, becasue of a-holes like this. This is why we get the treatment and resentment and unlawful tickets we get as americans. Now they will be saying see, guys this is why we teach you in your training that americans are our adversaries...Good job a-hole...
sa

No training in the United States in ANY academy or agency I have ever been acquainted with teaches that citizens are "combatants" or even "adversaries" to law enforcement ... none ... zippo ... zero. Unless, of course, you have proof that this is on the curriculum anywhere.

- Carl

 

[tranquility]

To salbert and the link, WTF?

Vigil Held For Oakland Cop Killer Suspect - cbs13.com