A Dangerous Time We Live in

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 5023

Posted by: RStokes
Date: Mar 04 2016 12:19 PM

MONTGOMERY:     This is a dangerous time we live in to be a law enforcement officer.

First of all, citizens of all races and economic status, and the culture of today with no respect for law enforcement.

Some of that is created by the generation of today and how they were raised. Some of that is the way in which certain law enforcement officers treat people. Not all people are bad, citizens and law enforcement officers.

EXAMPLE:  Some law enforcement officers believe their role is to issue traffic tickets to everyone and make arrests of everyone. When that is not their role. The role is to attempt to correct bad behavior and when all else fails, make the arrest. Law Enforcement is not about how many tickets you can write or arrests you can make.

MONTGOMERY POLICE OFFICER ARRESTED

This week I watched WSFA press conference concerning the Montgomery Police Officer arrested for murder. The murder occurred when a white “on duty” police officer shot and killed a black man.

During the press conference the officer looked in total shock. He is 23 years old and been a member of the Montgomery Police Department for 4 years.

The only facts I know are from what I have seen in the court file and reviewing news reports.  And from what I have seen, there is a huge chance the leadership is hanging this officer out to dry in order to maintain race relations. And that makes being a law enforcement officer extremely dangerous.

FACTS FROM THE COURT SYSTEM CONCERNING THE ARREST OF THE OFFICER:

1. 
   

   Affidavit of State Bureau of  Investigation Officer:

   
   

   “ did intentionally shoot with a handgun ----which caused his death”. 

   
   


2. 
   

   Warrant of arrest: “with intent to cause the death of another person, he causes the death of ---- in Montgomery Alabama by shooting him with a handgun”.

   
   

The court record gave no other indications as to the facts and circumstances of the incident or arrest.

FACTS FROM THE COURT SYSTEM AS TO THE PHYSICAL SIZE OF VICTIM AND OFFICER:

According to court records, in 2005 the victim, Gregory Gunn, a black male weighed 185 pounds, and was 5’08 in height.

According to court records in 2016, the officer is a white male, weighed 140 pounds and is 6’0 in height.

FACTS FROM THE COURT SYSTEM AS TO THE VICTIM, GREGORY GUNN:

Gunn’s criminal history is: 2002 traffic case for overweight truck, 2013 driving while suspended, 2013 operating a vehicle without insurance, 2005 burglary in the third degree,2004 possession of forged instrument x 2, 2002 overweight truck x 2, 2001 overweight truck, 1996 overweight truck.

NEWS ARTICLES:

Some articles read the victim was not armed. Some read the victim was armed with a stick.

Some articles read the victim was shot 5 times; one bullet fractured his right wrist, another one grazed his upper right arm across the bicep and another one went through his upper right arm. Two bullets entered the victim’s chest. The victim also took bullets to his right hip and left buttock.

CONCLUSION

Training in law enforcement, as I understand, when the officer makes the decision that (1) his life or safety is in danger, and/or (2) the life or safety of another person is in danger; and deadly physical force is needed, the officer is to shoot until which time that threat no longer exists.

And the threat no longer exists when the person is down and incapable of a threat.

That is the reason for multiple shots.

The decision to use deadly physical force is often times made within seconds. And in those seconds an officer must make a judgment of all circumstances quickly.

What concerns me in this case, is the arrest based on the (1) facts and circumstances of decisions made within seconds, or (2) political leaders and law enforcement bureaucrats under fire for racial tension.

While I am against rogue law enforcement officers, and I have been the catalyst for some to no longer be law enforcement officers, I do not support officers being placed in a situation to hesitate and their not going home to their families.

A pause by an officer makes the difference if they live or die. And you have a share of over zealous officers who think they are superman. And that exists in all walks of society.

And that balance is difficult for law enforcement managers.

INVESTIGATIVE AGENCY

The investigative agency in the Montgomery shooting is State Bureau of Investigation. And that is the arresting agency.

 

 

 

 

<- back