In the Line of Community and Duty: A Question pegged to Sacramento Case
Setting aside all colors, tribes, pageantry and hysterics, my question
is this: Are police officers not given special pre- and in-service training in
(a) Service weapons’ capability,
(b) Service weapons’ use, and
(c) Shooter precision, targeting (practice and proficiency), care in
the discharge of their weapons?
And if the answer to a-b-c is yes, is it not also true that a trained
police officer’s “fear” is far less than an ordinary person’s fear? And would the
officer’s (the professional’s) skill and precision in using, discharging, and
directing fire not be far superior to any ordinary person or civilian (or
“threat”)? And given this, wouldn’t an officer be fully capable of disabling a
“threat” (person or cellular phone), targeting a limb or organ other than a
vital organ—without drilling multiple bullets into a person or killing (shooting
to kill) a person?
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n the final analysis, whatever hearings or prosecutors or courts decide
after the fact of a police officer’s (law enforcement professional’s) deadly
strike against an ordinary person, if the officer has undergone (and continues
to undertake) rigorous pre- and in-service training with his firearms(s), there
would seem to be no reason (surely less
likely a chance) — barring officer impairment by some dormant or undiagnosed
psychological problem—for an officer to shoot dead anybody.
I pose these questions and offer these thoughts as someone who has
never wanted, owned, been threatened by or even seen a firearm up close. But I
am a professional (as police officers are professionals in their work) who was
trained prior to entering a profession and periodically retained in in-service
studies and activities.
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Lists of people killed by law enforcement
in the United States, both on duty and off.
List of killings by law enforcement
officers in the United States, 2019 (listed: 25)
List of killings by law enforcement
officers in the United States, 2018 (listed: 383)
List of killings by law enforcement
officers in the United States, 2017 (listed: 136)
List of killings by law enforcement
officers in the United States, 2016 (listed: 198)
List of killings by law enforcement
officers in the United States, 2015 (listed: 849)
List of killings by law enforcement
officers in the United States, 2014 (listed: 634)
List of killings by law enforcement
officers in the United States, 2013 (listed: 343)
List of killings by law enforcement
officers in the United States, 2012 (listed: 609)
List of killings by law enforcement
officers in the United States, 2011 (listed: 173)
List of killings by law enforcement
officers in the United States, 2010 (listed: 297)
List of killings by law enforcement
officers in the United States, 2009 (listed: 73)
List of killings by law enforcement
officers in the United States prior to 2009 (listed: 178)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States
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List of Killings by Law Enforcement
Officers by Countries
Philippines
(Southeast Asia) - 3,451 - Year listed 2016
Brazil
(South America) - 5,012 - Year listed 2017
South
Africa (Sub-Saharan Africa) - 409 - Year listed 2013
Kenya
((Sub-Saharan Africa) - 193 - Year listed 2018
United
States (North America) - 996 - Year listed 2018 - Population:
328,485,000
Sudan
(Sub-Saharan Africa) - 37+ - Year listed 2018
France
(Western Europe) - 14 - Year listed 2017
Germany
(Central & Western Europe) - 14 - Year listed 2017
India
(South Asia) - 135 -Year listed 2016
United
Kingdom (off northwestern coast of Europe) - 3 - Year listed 2015
Poland
(Central Europe) - 2 - Year listed 2016
China
(East Asia) - 4 - Year listed 2016 - Population: 1,394,140,000
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_by_countries
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ist of U.S. Police Officers Killed in the Line of Duty
Excluding incidents in which officers were killed in accidents in the
line of duty, “an average of 85 law enforcement officers were feloniously
killed each year during from 1980–2018 (FBI data in Uniform Crime Reports)
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January – February
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2019-01-05:
Master Police Officer Joseph Shinners - Provo Police Department, UT – by
Gunfire
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2019-01-07:
Police Officer Dale Woods - Colerain
Township Police Department, OH - Struck by vehicle
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2019-01-08:
Police Officer Clayton Townsend - Salt River Police Department, AZ - Struck
by vehicle
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2019-01-10:
Police Officer Natalie Corona Davis Police Department, CA - by Gunfire
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2019-01-12:
Trooper Christopher Lambert Illinois State Police, IL - Struck by
vehicle
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2019-01-13:
Sergeant Wytasha Carter Birmingham Police Department, AL - by Gunfire
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2019-01-20:
Police Officer Sean Tuder Mobile Police Department, AL - by Gunfire
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2019-02-12:
Police Detective Brian Simonsen New York City Police Department, NY - by
Gunfire
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers_killed_in_the_line_of_duty#Lists_of_officers_killed
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Current California
Incident
On the night of March 18, 2018, Sacramento Police Department (SPD)
officers responded to a call regarding vandalism. They arrived on the scene and
engaged in an incident that resulted in “an officer-involved shooting.”
This week the office of the California Attorney General announced that
no charges will be filed against the police officers involved in the incident.
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hese deadly shootings are too many and too often and they
must not be brushed aside or adjudicated on one side or another depending upon
the course of the wind, the social standing, the club in blue, or the relative wealth
of individuals or communities.
Communities in the United States are troubled and have been troubled
for many years, in severity extending at least to the 1980s—from the influx of
illicit drugs to emptied out mental institutions, returning even-more-impaired
veterans and prison releases, to homelessness, lack of rehabilitation and poor
education and training, joblessness and meaninglessness.
Communities in trouble need mending not a worsening of problems.
Anywhere, anytime, in any town or city or hamlet, it is essential that communities
not fear; but trust and respect the law enforcement establishment. It is
equally important that a well-staffed and rigorously trained law enforcement
establishment diligently serve, respect and protect all communities.
Sources
News Peg Sacramento, California
Sacramento Bee “In their own words: Sacramento officers who shot
Stephon Clark give their side of the story” Sam Stanton, March 06, 2019 02:40
AM, https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article227160064.html
Sacramento Bee “Stephon Clark: No charges to be filed against police
officers by California attorney general” Sam Stanton, Darrell Smith, and Sophia
Bollag, March 5, 2019 12:07 PM, Updated March 05, 2019 04:27 PM https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article227127344.html
Sacramento Bee “Sacramento mayor, City Council want independent
investigation of Stephon Clark protest arrests” Tony Bizjak, Ryan Sabalow,
Michael McGough, and Theresa Clift March 05, 2019 10:21 AM Updated March 05,
2019 04:01 PM https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article227124634.html
Sacramento Bee “Police end Stephon Clark protest in East Sacramento
with arrest of 84 people” Benjy Egel, Dale Kasler, Sam Stanton, Ryan Sabalow,
and Tony Bizjak March 05, 2019 01:45 AM, Updated March 05, 2019 03:46 PM
https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article227116519.html
Sacramento City Sources
OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING: March
18, 2018
Summary
On Sunday, March 18, 2018, at 9:13 p.m., officers from the Sacramento
Police Department (SPD) were dispatched to the 7500 block of 29th Street
regarding a subject breaking into vehicles. The caller stated that the male
subject had broken car windows and was now hiding in a backyard. The caller
described the subject as a male, 6’, thin, wearing a black hoodie and dark
pants. SPD Officers arrived on scene at approximately 9:18 p.m. This incident
resulted in an officer-involved shooting.
Due to the severity of the event, Detectives conducted a thorough
canvas of the neighborhood. During the canvas, investigators identified at
least three vehicles with damage believed to have been caused by the suspect.
In addition, an adjacent and occupied residence had a sliding glass door
shattered. Orbiting deputies in the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department’s law
enforcement helicopter had witnessed the suspect shatter the door and run from
one property and jumped the fence into another property where the shooting
occurred.
Prior to the shooting, the involved officers saw the suspect facing
them, advance forward with his arms extended, and holding an object in his
hands. At the time of the shooting, the officers believed the suspect was
pointing a firearm at them. After an exhaustive search, scene investigators did
not locate any firearms. The only items found near the suspect was a cell
phone.
The Sacramento Police Department (SPD) recognizes the significance of
this incident and the impact it has on our community. We are committed to
providing timely information and communicating openly with our community. https://www.cityofsacramento.org/Police/Transparency/Officer-Involved-Shootings/Incidents/March-18-2018
SPD #18-82449INVESTIGATIVE BENCHMARKS
- 03/18/18Officer-Involved Shooting Call-Out / Investigation started.All body-worn cameras and additional videos were collected and downloaded for later analysis.Sacramento County Crime Lab requested to process scene for trajectoryevidence.
- 03/19/18Sacramento County Crime Lab processed involved officers’ handguns.
- 03/20/18Evidence processing on involved vehicles completed.Stephon Clark’s autopsy was conducted at the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office.
- 03/21/18Sacramento County Crime Lab completed involved officers’ handguns. Additional witness identified and interviewed.
- 03/22/18Major case prints obtained from Stephon Clark.
- 03/23/18Additional area surveillance video obtained from the neighborhood.Detectives obtained information that Stephon Clark’s Probation Officer received text messages from him prior to the shooting. Detectives attempted to obtain information and interview his Probation Officer.
- 03/27/18Department of Justice was assigned to perform a parallel investigation.Their work space was identified, and logistics started to get investigators access to all needed work areas and computer programs.Search warrant for Stephon Clark’s cell phone was signed by a Sacramento Superior Court Judge. Detectives contacted FBI for potential assistance with unlocking/downloading of Stephon Clark’s cell phone.Stephon Clark’s toxicology results were received.Investigators began the review of over 100 body-worn camera videos.
- 03/28/18State of California Death in Custody Form (BCIA 713) completed and sent to the Department of Justice.03/29/18Stephon Clark’s cell phone was shipped to a third-party company(Cellebrite) to try and unlock the password protection.
- 04/02/18Detectives met with DOJ agents and briefed them on the case.04/05/18 Detectives interviewed Stephon Clark’s Probation Officer.04/10/18Detectives continued to review body-worn camera videos.
- 04/11/18Detectives wrote a search warrant for Stephon Clark’s Facebook account.
- 04/16/18Additional officer interviews were conducted as a result of body-worn camera video review.
- 04/17/18 Search warrant for Stephon Clark’s Facebook account signed by a judge and served on Facebook.
- 05/08/18Stephon Clark’s prior Sacramento County jail phone calls/emails were downloaded. The review of over 500 calls and emails began this week. Detectives received results from the search warrant served on Stephon Clark’s Facebook account.
- 05/10/18. SPD Detectives and DOJ Agents met with SPD Forensic Investigators who provided a preliminary overview of the scene diagrams, trajectory for review.
- 06/04/18. DOJ Agents contacted a family member of Stephon Clark in Elk Grove, CA to attempt an interview. The family member refused to be interviewed without an attorney. DOJ agents contacted the family member’s attorneyand scheduled the interview for the week of 6/25/18.DOJ Agents contacted two additional family members of Stephon Clark to attempt an interview. Both refused the interview without their attorney present. DOJ Agents contacted the attorney of these family members and scheduled the interview for 06/05/18.
- 06/05/18DOJ agents interviewed two family members of Stephon Clark at their residence. 06/20/18DOJ Agents contacted Attorney Crump and requested Dr. Omalu’s autopsy report. DOJ Agents attempted to confirm a time to interview a family member of Stephon Clark during the week of 6/25/18, voice message left.
- 06/21/18 SPD Detectives authored a search warrant for Stephon Clark’s probation file and sent it to the DA’s Office for review/approval.
- 06/27/18 Search warrant signed for limited information from Stephon Clark’s probation file.
- 06/28/18 Served search warrant on Sacramento County Probation for Stephon Clark’s probation file.
- 07/02/18 SPD received Stephon Clark’s probation file as a result of the search warrant dated 6-27-18.
- 07/03/18Detectives were advised that Cellebrite was successful in accessing and downloading Stephon Clark’s cell phone; company sent cell phone and content back to SPD.
- 07/10/18 Detectives received Stephon Clark’s cell phone back from Cellebrite. DOJ and SPD detectives conducted independent download reports of the content. DOJ made another attempt to schedule an interview with a family member of Stephon Clark. Contact was made with the attorney-no interview scheduled.
- 07/11/18 Review and summary of Stephon Clark’s cell phone report began by detectives; the PDF of the cellphone report is over 1300 pages.
- 07/18/18DOJ received a call from the attorney of a family member of Stephon Clark, who requested dates in August for an interview. Several potential dates in August were provided. No interview was scheduled.
- 08/01/18 DOJ made another attempt to schedule an interview with a family member of Stephon Clark. Contact was made with the attorney’s office, but no interview scheduled. Tentative dates were set for 8/13/18 or 08/14/18.
- 08/03/18 Sacramento County Crime Lab report released for DNA evidence in Toyota Camry. 08/09/18 Detectives obtained a search warrant for subscriber records from (3) separate cell phone carriers related to numbers identified from Stephon Clark’s cell phone.
- 08/14/18 Detectives received subscriber records from a cell phone carrier resulting from a search warrant dated 8-9-18 (Sprint).
- 08/16/18 Detectives received subscriber records from a cell phone carrier resulting from a search warrant dated 8-9-18 (Verizon).
- 08/17/18 Detectives interviewed the registered owner of the Toyota Camry.
- 08/17/18 Sacramento County Crime Lab report released for the crime scene (3DScan and bullet strikes-trajectory).
- 08/21/18 Detectives conducted (4) additional witness interviews after having analyzed the cell phone report and cell phone records.
- 10/02/18 Sacramento County Crime Lab report released for shell casings/bullet comparisons to Officers’ firearms.
- 10/03/18DOJ compiled all reports, photographs, notes, and other pertinent information from the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office concerningStephon Clark’s Autopsy.
- 10/04/18 Sacramento County Crime Lab report released for physical evidence (Stephon Clark’s clothing/metal security bars, glass comparisons and paint transfer comparison, etc).
- 10/09/18 Sacramento County Crime Lab report released for DNA from the Ford Explorers. 10/09/18 Sacramento County Crime Lab report released for the brick (inside white Explorer) and earbuds, chap stick and cinderblock.
- 10/09/18 Detectives received subscriber results from a cell phone carrier (T-Mobile) from a search warrant.10/15/18 Detectives conducted additional officer interviews.
- 10/25/18Detectives delivered the investigation to:Sac County DA’s Office-Special Investigations and Public Integrity UnitCA DOJSacramento City Attorney’s OfficeSPD Professional Standards Unit
- 12/05/18DOJ received a letter from the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office with an independent review of the Sacramento County Autopsy.
- 1/17/19DOJ delivered their investigation to SPD.
https://www.cityofsacramento.org/-/media/Corporate/Files/Police/Transparency/Officer-Involved-Shootings/03182018_OIS_Records_and_Findings/Investigative-Benchmarks.pdf?la=en
Public records released as of March 29, 2018 pertaining to the
Officer-Involved Shooting involving two Sacramento Police Department Officers
and Stephon Clark. This incident
occurred on Sunday, March 18, 2018 at the 7500 block of 29th Street. http://www.cityofsacramento.org/Clerk/Services/Public-Records/Proactive-PRAs
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