 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| Shots Fired! |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
"Two U.S. Border Patrol agents were sentenced to prison terms of 11
years and 12 years for shooting a drug-smuggling suspect in the
buttocks as he fled across the U.S.-Mexico border.
U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Cardone in El Paso, Texas,
sentenced Jose Alonso Compean to 12 years in prison and Ignacio
Ramos to 11 years and one day despite a plea by their attorney for a
new trial after three jurors said they were coerced into voting guilty
in the case, the Washington Times reported." ~ WorldNetDaily.com
years and 12 years for shooting a drug-smuggling suspect in the
buttocks as he fled across the U.S.-Mexico border.
U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Cardone in El Paso, Texas,
sentenced Jose Alonso Compean to 12 years in prison and Ignacio
Ramos to 11 years and one day despite a plea by their attorney for a
new trial after three jurors said they were coerced into voting guilty
in the case, the Washington Times reported." ~ WorldNetDaily.com
Let's start with the only thing that is undisputed in the tragic case cited
above...those two Border Patrol agents did not prepare and submit
administrative reports regarding the discharge of their weapons. I assume
there was an incident report regarding the seizure/recovery of the drugs
involved, and -- evidently -- there was no mention in that report
referencing the shots fired.
Also...if reports regarding the number of agents responding to the incident
is somewhat accurate, I find it monumentally hard to believe that no
supervisor was aware that shots had been fired. When you make your
first response to "shots fired" involving a police officer, you'll know
exactly what I'm talking about.
As your police career progresses, you're going to see some prosecutions, as
well as non-prosecutions, that have more to do about politics than about
justice. You'd think that since police officers are the most frequent
defendants in the political prosecutions, cops would have a better
understanding of their jeopardy...especially when it comes to discharging
their service pistols.
If I were to speculate, I'd assume that the Border Patrol agents, more
than just the two going to jail, concluded that since the shots didn't hit the
guy, or so they thought, why go through all the paperwork? Of course, my
speculation is only based upon many years of experience involving a lot of
police officers who think that way. Circumventing what many believe to
be needless rules and procedures is all fun and games; until, somebody
gets fired, or worse...goes to jail!
Here's what you've got to get through your head. There are many, many
people who don't like police officers. They dislike you most for the power
and authority you possess. Many of these people are themselves in
positions of power, and they believe that cops must periodically be sent to
jail to keep the rest of you under control. Of course, you'll really be
fighting cynicism when you see real criminal cops enjoy the mercy, and
sometimes even the protection, of those powerful cop haters and their
allies within law enforcement agencies.
Had the Border Patrol agents submitted the proper and complete reporting
stating the same reasons for discharging their weapons as they would later
explain to a jury, that would have been the end. Had the drug dealer come
forward complaining about the bullet in his butt, the only thing he'd have
gotten for his trouble was a felony drug charge as well as charges for
assaulting the agents.
You'd think by now that police officers would understand how excited
prosecutors get when they suspect a cover-up. Once they realize that they
can actually prove a cover-up, they become ecstatic. There's no more
fertile circumstances provided for cover-ups than cops too lazy to write
reports.
If you ever have to fire your service pistol in the line of duty, [aside from
training] you'll be required to submit a written report. There are no
exceptions. If a supervisor ever tells you that you don't need to write a
report, reference that stupid direction in your report as well. Of course,
you'll be asked to remove that reference when your report is reviewed.
Those Border Patrol agents certainly didn't do the right thing after their
confrontation with that drug dealer. Whatever the reasons for not making
the proper reporting, they were certainly candidates for punishment. The
government had the evidence and means to subject the agents to any
number of administrative punishments up to and including termination of
their employment.
If the government wanted to send a message to all Border Patrol agents,
firing the two agents would have accomplished that goal. However,
circumstances and political climate will always affect how police officers
are disciplined, or prosecuted, when they fail to follow procedures.
Like the Boarder Patrol agents, this officer failed to report the discharge
of his service revolver. What this officer had going for him was a
competent supervisor who conducted an immediate, competent and
thorough investigation. In the end, after interviewing the suspect,
responding officers, the desk sergeant, and turn-key, it was clear that the
only violation by the officer was his failure to report the discharge of his
weapon. All the interviews, including that of the suspect, made it clear
that the officer believed the bullet he'd fired had been discharged
harmlessly into the ground. In fact, the suspect turned out to be the best
witness of all in supporting the officer's reason for resorting to deadly
force, and his [suspect's] belief that the officer did not know he'd shot him.
The officer, being so new an inexperienced, used poor judgement.
However, he made no effort to cover up anything, and he was really lucky.
Aside from having a good sergeant, the same suspect, who had no qualms
about choking out a police officer, ended up displaying some pretty good
character by being completely truthful. Because he had so much going for
him, this police officer would go on to enjoy a productive police career.
You're going to make mistakes during your career, but don't let any of
those mistakes be stupid and totally preventable ones. Failing to report
your discharge of your service pistol is certainly stupid and preventable.
above...those two Border Patrol agents did not prepare and submit
administrative reports regarding the discharge of their weapons. I assume
there was an incident report regarding the seizure/recovery of the drugs
involved, and -- evidently -- there was no mention in that report
referencing the shots fired.
Also...if reports regarding the number of agents responding to the incident
is somewhat accurate, I find it monumentally hard to believe that no
supervisor was aware that shots had been fired. When you make your
first response to "shots fired" involving a police officer, you'll know
exactly what I'm talking about.
As your police career progresses, you're going to see some prosecutions, as
well as non-prosecutions, that have more to do about politics than about
justice. You'd think that since police officers are the most frequent
defendants in the political prosecutions, cops would have a better
understanding of their jeopardy...especially when it comes to discharging
their service pistols.
If I were to speculate, I'd assume that the Border Patrol agents, more
than just the two going to jail, concluded that since the shots didn't hit the
guy, or so they thought, why go through all the paperwork? Of course, my
speculation is only based upon many years of experience involving a lot of
police officers who think that way. Circumventing what many believe to
be needless rules and procedures is all fun and games; until, somebody
gets fired, or worse...goes to jail!
Here's what you've got to get through your head. There are many, many
people who don't like police officers. They dislike you most for the power
and authority you possess. Many of these people are themselves in
positions of power, and they believe that cops must periodically be sent to
jail to keep the rest of you under control. Of course, you'll really be
fighting cynicism when you see real criminal cops enjoy the mercy, and
sometimes even the protection, of those powerful cop haters and their
allies within law enforcement agencies.
Had the Border Patrol agents submitted the proper and complete reporting
stating the same reasons for discharging their weapons as they would later
explain to a jury, that would have been the end. Had the drug dealer come
forward complaining about the bullet in his butt, the only thing he'd have
gotten for his trouble was a felony drug charge as well as charges for
assaulting the agents.
You'd think by now that police officers would understand how excited
prosecutors get when they suspect a cover-up. Once they realize that they
can actually prove a cover-up, they become ecstatic. There's no more
fertile circumstances provided for cover-ups than cops too lazy to write
reports.
If you ever have to fire your service pistol in the line of duty, [aside from
training] you'll be required to submit a written report. There are no
exceptions. If a supervisor ever tells you that you don't need to write a
report, reference that stupid direction in your report as well. Of course,
you'll be asked to remove that reference when your report is reviewed.
Those Border Patrol agents certainly didn't do the right thing after their
confrontation with that drug dealer. Whatever the reasons for not making
the proper reporting, they were certainly candidates for punishment. The
government had the evidence and means to subject the agents to any
number of administrative punishments up to and including termination of
their employment.
If the government wanted to send a message to all Border Patrol agents,
firing the two agents would have accomplished that goal. However,
circumstances and political climate will always affect how police officers
are disciplined, or prosecuted, when they fail to follow procedures.
Like the Boarder Patrol agents, this officer failed to report the discharge
of his service revolver. What this officer had going for him was a
competent supervisor who conducted an immediate, competent and
thorough investigation. In the end, after interviewing the suspect,
responding officers, the desk sergeant, and turn-key, it was clear that the
only violation by the officer was his failure to report the discharge of his
weapon. All the interviews, including that of the suspect, made it clear
that the officer believed the bullet he'd fired had been discharged
harmlessly into the ground. In fact, the suspect turned out to be the best
witness of all in supporting the officer's reason for resorting to deadly
force, and his [suspect's] belief that the officer did not know he'd shot him.
The officer, being so new an inexperienced, used poor judgement.
However, he made no effort to cover up anything, and he was really lucky.
Aside from having a good sergeant, the same suspect, who had no qualms
about choking out a police officer, ended up displaying some pretty good
character by being completely truthful. Because he had so much going for
him, this police officer would go on to enjoy a productive police career.
You're going to make mistakes during your career, but don't let any of
those mistakes be stupid and totally preventable ones. Failing to report
your discharge of your service pistol is certainly stupid and preventable.
| A Police Officer discharging a firearm is a big deal |
Many years ago, a very new police officer [no...it wasn't me this
time] was trying to arrest a man for a relatively minor crime.
The man resisted the officer, and they got involved in a violent
struggle. As they rolled around on the ground, the suspect got
on top of the officer where he applied a very effective choke hold.
The officer could not break the choke hold, and he felt himself
losing consciousness. The only means of defense left to the
officer was his service revolver. Just as he was about to pass
out, the officer got his revolver out of the holster, and he pulled
the trigger. As soon as the weapon discharged, the suspect rolled
off the officer onto his knees and surrendered.
The officer held the suspect at gunpoint; until, help arrived, and
the suspect was transported to the station house. The suspect
went through the booking process with the desk sergeant as the
turn-key (cell block officer) made a thorough search of the
suspect's clothing. After booking, the turn-key fingerprinted
the suspect and placed him into a cell.
About two hours passed when the suspect called out the familiar
cell block refrain, "Turn-key." "Yea, what do you want," asked
the turn-key? "I need to go to the hospital." The turn-key
asked the obvious, "Why?" "I'm shot," replied the suspect.
People in police cell blocks often come up with some good ones,
and the turn-key didn't believe the suspect. After much
insistence that he was telling the truth, the turn-key said,
"Okay, show me." The suspect dropped his pants and pressed
his thigh against the bars to give the turn-key a close look.
The turn-key had seen enough bullet wounds to realize that he
was looking at one now. When he asked the suspect who'd shot
him, he had to pause to comprehend the suspect's reply. The
turn-key then chastised the suspect, "Why didn't you say
something sooner?" The suspect answered, "It didn't hurt at
first, but now it's really hurting."
time] was trying to arrest a man for a relatively minor crime.
The man resisted the officer, and they got involved in a violent
struggle. As they rolled around on the ground, the suspect got
on top of the officer where he applied a very effective choke hold.
The officer could not break the choke hold, and he felt himself
losing consciousness. The only means of defense left to the
officer was his service revolver. Just as he was about to pass
out, the officer got his revolver out of the holster, and he pulled
the trigger. As soon as the weapon discharged, the suspect rolled
off the officer onto his knees and surrendered.
The officer held the suspect at gunpoint; until, help arrived, and
the suspect was transported to the station house. The suspect
went through the booking process with the desk sergeant as the
turn-key (cell block officer) made a thorough search of the
suspect's clothing. After booking, the turn-key fingerprinted
the suspect and placed him into a cell.
About two hours passed when the suspect called out the familiar
cell block refrain, "Turn-key." "Yea, what do you want," asked
the turn-key? "I need to go to the hospital." The turn-key
asked the obvious, "Why?" "I'm shot," replied the suspect.
People in police cell blocks often come up with some good ones,
and the turn-key didn't believe the suspect. After much
insistence that he was telling the truth, the turn-key said,
"Okay, show me." The suspect dropped his pants and pressed
his thigh against the bars to give the turn-key a close look.
The turn-key had seen enough bullet wounds to realize that he
was looking at one now. When he asked the suspect who'd shot
him, he had to pause to comprehend the suspect's reply. The
turn-key then chastised the suspect, "Why didn't you say
something sooner?" The suspect answered, "It didn't hurt at
first, but now it's really hurting."
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Copyright © 2006 - 2010 - Barry M. Baker - CareerPoliceOfficer.com |
| Disclaimer |
| CareerPoliceOfficer.com is not responsible for the contents of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site, or any changes or updates to such sites. Links are provided only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by this site. |
| Online Video Learning Systems: Police Exam - U.S. Border Patrol Exam |