Constable Shelby Patton, a six year veteran of the Indian Head RCMP detachment, was murdered while performing a traffic stop outside Wolseley, SK, on June 12, 2021. Constable Patton pulled over a truck reported stolen from Manitoba. After he exited his RCMP cruiser the driver of the stolen vehicle hit him and ran him over, killing him. Assistant Commissioner … [Read more...]
Officers Down: Deputy Sheriffs Samuel Leonard and Stephen Jones
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. On May 10, 2021, Concho County Sheriff's Office Deputy Sheriff Samuel Leonard, Deputy Sheriff Stephen Jones and an unidentified in Eden, Texas, city employee responded to a disturbance call about a dog. When they arrived the got into an altercation with Jeffrey … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Mississippi Highway Patrol Trooper John Harris
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. Mississippi Highway Patrol Trooper John Harris died on May 28, 2021, when he was hit by a transport truck while performing a traffic stop on another motorist. "The Mississippi Highway Patrol mourns the loss of Trooper John Harris," said Col. Randy Ginn, … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Detective Luca Benedetti
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. San Luis Obispo Police Department Detective Luca Benedetti died May 10, 2021, while executing a search warrant. Detective Benedetti and Detective Steve Orozco identified themselves as they approached the residence with three other officers. Hearing no … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Stockton Police Officer Jimmy Inn
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. Stockton Police Department Officer Jimmy Inn gave his life in defence of a stranger on May 11, 2021. “He gave the ultimate sacrifice and he came to work every day, putting his life on the line for strangers he’d never met — coming to work to protect members of … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Champaign Police Department Officer Chris Oberheim
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. Shortly before 3:30am on May 19, 2021, the Champaign Police Department received a call about a domestic disturbance. Officer Chris Oberheim responded, as did a second officer. Both were met with a hail of gunfire as they exited their squad cars. They responded … [Read more...]
Officer Kristin Mitrisin: Hero Cop Saves 9-day-old Baby Olivia’s Life
Pleasant Hills Police Officer Kristin Mitrisin found more than she bargained for when Joe and Jody Schleicher flagged her down on Pennsylvania Route 51 on April 27th. The frantic parents told Officer Mitrisin their 9-day-old baby girl Olivia stopped breathing. Today Olivia is alive because of Officer Mitrisin's quick thinking and excellent training. “I just was doing … [Read more...]
LAPD Captain Jonathan Tom’s Home Searched for Stolen Firearms
On March 20, 2020, Archi Duenas, the manager of the Los Angeles Police Academy gun store, was arrested and charged with stealing 35 firearms from his employer and selling them to members of the Academy, all police officers. In September 2020 the LAPD announced they recovered 24 of the stolen guns, leaving 11 outstanding. On September 15, 2020, Archi Duenas pleaded not guilty … [Read more...]
Police Officer Latoya Dythe Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchasing Firearms
Tulsa, Oklahoma, Police Officer Latoya Dythe was suspended without pay after a federal grand jury indicted her for illegally purchasing a firearm for her boyfriend, Devon Jones. That announcement came in a press conference with U.S. Attorney Trent Shores, FBI Special Agent in Charge Melissa Godbold and Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin on December 10, 2020 She pleaded … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Chandler P.D. Officer Christopher Farrar
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. On April 29, 2021, Chandler Police Department Officer Christopher Farrar was struck and killed by a violent moron driving a stolen vehicle. Gilbert Police Officer Rico Aranda was also struck and suffered a traumatic brain injury. He remains in … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Delmar Police Corporal Keith Heacook
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. On April 28, 2021, Delmar Police Department Corporal Keith Heacook passed away from injuries suffered when he responded to a 911 call from an elderly couple being attacked by a stranger. "Our community, my department, his family — we all mourn," Delmar Police … [Read more...]
Officer Terry Spence: Autism Awareness Training in Action
April was Autism Awareness Month in Tennessee and the Murfreesboro Police Department is one of the first departments in the state to deliver autism awareness training to its officers. Little did Officer Terry Spence know that, shortly after his training, he would need to put what he learned into practice. In a story published on April 24, 2021, Officer Terry Spence pulled … [Read more...]
Use-of-Force Up 27 Percent by Lethbridge Police Service
The Lethbridge Police Service tabled their annual report before the Lethbridge Police Commission on April 8, 2021. Among other things, this report shows use of force by Lethbridge Police officers is up 27% since last year. (see PDF) Every year the Lethbridge Police reviews all Subject Behavior Officer Response (SBOR) Reports to determine any trends or patterns that may … [Read more...]
Officers Down: Sergeant Chris Ward and Deputy Sheriff Logan Fox
When someone is so distraught they want to end their own life, why do they insist on involving others? Just kill yourself already and save the rest of us the grief and anguish. That's how I felt when I read the story of how two great police officers died last week in Boone, North Carolina. On April 28, 2021, an individual called in a welfare check on their … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Decatur County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Justin Bedwell
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. On March 1, 2021, Decatur County Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Justin Bedwell died from a gunshot wound to the chest he suffered on February 28. Lt. Bedwell was a 19-year veteran of the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office. A deputy in Seminole County attempted to … [Read more...]
Former Police Officer Cariol Horne wins 15-year battle with Buffalo Police Department
It took 15 years, homelessness, depression and PTSD, but Cariol Horne, the former Buffalo Police Department police officer who was fired for saving Neal Mack's life in 2006, finally won her battle with her former employer. "I got punched in the face, was not allowed to file criminal charges, fired and lost my pension. I continue to advocate against the beatings and killing of … [Read more...]
Officer Down: LADP Officer Jose Luis Anzora
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. On February 26, 2021, Los Angeles Police Department Officer Jose Luis Anzora was struck by a vehicle while conducting traffic control in downtown L.A. He was standing beside his police cruiser near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Trinity Street at about … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Tampa Police Department Officer Jesse Madsen
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. Tampa Police Department Master Patrol Officer Jesse Madsen gave his life so others may live, but how many lives he saved will never be known. In the early morning hours of March 9, 2021, Tampa Police began receiving calls about a white vehicle driving … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Memphis Police Department Officer Nicholas Blow
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. Making it to the end of your shift is the goal of every police officer. Once you've made it back to the precinct, changed into your civvies and made it to your personal vehicle for the drive home, all the dangers are over for the day, right? For Memphis PD … [Read more...]
Should We Amend Hate Speech Laws to Protect Police Officers?
I read an interesting article in the Winnipeg Free Press last week where a retired Winnipeg Police Service member pitched the idea that police officers needed to be protected under Canada's hate speech laws. Hate speech is handled in Section 319 of the Criminal Code of Canada. [emphasis added] 319 (1) Every one who, by communicating statements in any public place, incites … [Read more...]
Municipal Police to Doug Ford: Never Go Full Retard
2021-04-18 18:45 Updated to include the 43 municipal police agencies who refused to obey Doug Ford's illegal/unconstitutional order. It's now clear (if it wasn't before) that Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his so-called 'conservative' government has completely lost the plot. While more and more American states end their lockdowns and mask orders, Doug Ford decided … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Washington County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Kyle Jeffrey Davis
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. On March 25, 2021, Corporal Kyle Jeffrey Davis was assaulted by an inmate while booking one of 16 suspects into the Washington County Correctional Facility in Oklahoma. An inmate identified as 37-year-old Athine Henderson struggled with Corporal Davis, striking … [Read more...]
Officer Down: U.S. Border Patrol Agent Alejandro Flores-Bañuelos
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. U. S. Border Patrol Agent Alejandro Flores-Bañuelos was struck by a vehicle and killed while rendering aid to a broken down motorist on March 15, 2021. "It is with a profound sense of loss that we mourn the passing of one of our own, Border Patrol Agent … [Read more...]
Officer Down: New York State Trooper Joseph Gallagher
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. On Friday, March 26, 2021, New York State Trooper Joseph Gallagher died as a result of traumatic brain injuries suffered on December 18, 2017. On that fateful day, Trooper Gallagher stopped to assist a motorist whose vehicle broke down on an entrance ramp from … [Read more...]
France: Off-Duty Police May Now Carry Concealed Weapons
On March 18, 2021, the French Senate passed Article 25, a ‘security measure’ allowing off-duty police officers to concealed carry of their police-issue firearms in public. Article 25 also states that police who carry may not be refused access to museums, cinemas, shopping centers and schools - places France deems 'open to the public.' Denis Jacob, Secretary-General of … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Texas State Trooper Chad Walker
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. When Texas State Trooper Chad Walker pulled over to assist what he thought was a motorist having car trouble on the evening of Friday, March 26, 2021, the thought of a violent encounter was probably the furthest thing from his mind. Yet, before the trooper's … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Boulder Police Department Officer Eric Talley
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. Boulder Police Department Officer Eric Talley is arguably the most high-profile law enforcement death so far this year. On March 22, 2021, 51-year-old Officer Talley was the first officer to respond to an 'active shooter' call at King Sooper grocery store. He … [Read more...]
American Law Enforcement Line of Duty Deaths in 2020
Last year 264 federal, state, military, tribal, and local law enforcement officers died in the line-of-duty - the highest number of line-of-duty deaths since 1974. The 2020 Law Enforcement Fatalities Report (download PDF) notes COVID is blamed for 145 of those deaths, another 48 police officers were deemed 'firearms-related fatalities' and 44 were killed in traffic incidents … [Read more...]
Officer Down: Orlando P.D. Officer Kevin Valencia
This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down - in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty. The most dangerous call police officers ever respond to is the 'domestic dispute'. Passions are already raging out of control, hence the call to police for help, and responding officers are expected to douse those flames in short order. It's the hardest of jobs … [Read more...]
Shane Donovan Files $2.5 Million Lawsuit against Ontario SIU and Crown
Niagara Regional Police Detective Sergeant Shane Donovan filed a second lawsuit, this time for $2.5 million, against Ontario's Special Investigations Unit, its former director and the Crown Law Office. Det. Sgt. Donovan's lawsuit seeks damages from the SIU for a negligent investigation that violated his Charter rights and resulted in a false arrest. It’s no secret where I … [Read more...]