In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
LPD officer arrested after suicide threat
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
LPD officer arrested after suicide threat
by Shannon Filonczuk
Lebanon Express
Brent Richmond, a seven-year patrol officer with the Lebanon Police Department (LPD), was arrested the evening of September 3 after he threatened to commit suicide. He was charged with menacing and unlawful use of a firearm.
He was held in the Linn County Jail until Sept. 5, when he was moved to a hospital in southern Oregon for a psychiatric evaluation and care.
Police Chief Mike Healy said Richmond has been going through difficult personal issues.
The incident began when Richmond appeared at the Lebanon Fire Department station on the afternoon of Sept. 3 with a handgun, threatening to kill himself, said Linn County Undersheriff Tim Mueller. Richmond's wife works at the fire department.
Richmond left the fire station, went to his home in Lebanon and called LPD at 6:47 p.m., stating "he was in the house and not coming out," Mueller said.
Sheriff's deputies, state troopers and Lebanon police officers responded to the call and set up security around the house. Residents on each side of Richmond's home were evacuated. The road by Richmond's home was closed off to traffic.
The security precautions were taken "just because it was so close to the residence, for safety and to keep tabs on who was coming and going from the residence," Mueller said.
Negotiations with Richmond began when members of the Linn-Benton Inter-agency SWAT team relieved the state troopers. They continued for nearly five hours until midnight, when a peaceful resolution was reached and Richmond exited his home without a handgun to go into custody.
During negotiations, Richmond stepped in and out of his home several times, but officers did not approach him, assuming he had a handgun on him, Mueller said.
"We were afraid he was going to commit suicide ... (or) that he was going to try to push us to do it for him. Fortunately, that didn't happen," Mueller said. "Negotiators did a good job with him."
Two negotiators, one from Benton County and the other from Linn County, who knew Richmond through work contacts, kept the line of communication open and tried to constantly talk with him.
"He had time to reflect and decided it was best for everyone to come out and call it a night," Mueller said.
"The Lebanon Police Department realizes this is a very difficult situation and we regret the circumstances under which officer Richmond has been placed on leave," Healy said.
Richmond is the son of Lebanon's former police chief, Walt Richmond.
When Richmond finishes psychiatric care, he will return to the Linn County jail, Mueller said, as his arrest charges carry a $50,000 security bond and Mueller has not made bail.
http://www.lebanon-express.com/leonline_news/headline/le_headline-04.html#TopOfPage
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
by Shannon Filonczuk
Lebanon Express
Brent Richmond, a seven-year patrol officer with the Lebanon Police Department (LPD), was arrested the evening of September 3 after he threatened to commit suicide. He was charged with menacing and unlawful use of a firearm.
He was held in the Linn County Jail until Sept. 5, when he was moved to a hospital in southern Oregon for a psychiatric evaluation and care.
Police Chief Mike Healy said Richmond has been going through difficult personal issues.
The incident began when Richmond appeared at the Lebanon Fire Department station on the afternoon of Sept. 3 with a handgun, threatening to kill himself, said Linn County Undersheriff Tim Mueller. Richmond's wife works at the fire department.
Richmond left the fire station, went to his home in Lebanon and called LPD at 6:47 p.m., stating "he was in the house and not coming out," Mueller said.
Sheriff's deputies, state troopers and Lebanon police officers responded to the call and set up security around the house. Residents on each side of Richmond's home were evacuated. The road by Richmond's home was closed off to traffic.
The security precautions were taken "just because it was so close to the residence, for safety and to keep tabs on who was coming and going from the residence," Mueller said.
Negotiations with Richmond began when members of the Linn-Benton Inter-agency SWAT team relieved the state troopers. They continued for nearly five hours until midnight, when a peaceful resolution was reached and Richmond exited his home without a handgun to go into custody.
During negotiations, Richmond stepped in and out of his home several times, but officers did not approach him, assuming he had a handgun on him, Mueller said.
"We were afraid he was going to commit suicide ... (or) that he was going to try to push us to do it for him. Fortunately, that didn't happen," Mueller said. "Negotiators did a good job with him."
Two negotiators, one from Benton County and the other from Linn County, who knew Richmond through work contacts, kept the line of communication open and tried to constantly talk with him.
"He had time to reflect and decided it was best for everyone to come out and call it a night," Mueller said.
"The Lebanon Police Department realizes this is a very difficult situation and we regret the circumstances under which officer Richmond has been placed on leave," Healy said.
Richmond is the son of Lebanon's former police chief, Walt Richmond.
When Richmond finishes psychiatric care, he will return to the Linn County jail, Mueller said, as his arrest charges carry a $50,000 security bond and Mueller has not made bail.
http://www.lebanon-express.com/leonline_news/headline/le_headline-04.html#TopOfPage
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Comments
Guidelines are flexible enough that local groups can tailor them to their individual circumstances
By Kristi Belcamino
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
The shooting death of an 11-year-old Modesto boy two years ago has sparked new recommendations to improve safety during SWAT team operations.
Attorney General Bill Lockyer released a report Tuesday from a statewide group, the Attorney General's Commission on Special Weapons and Tactics, that reviewed tactical operations, training, policy and equipment.
During a September 2000 pre-dawn raid in Modesto, a SWAT team entered a house looking for a man wanted for drug dealing. After ordering the family to the ground as they searched for the father, a team member's shotgun accidentally discharged and killed Alberto Sepulveda Jr.
The boy's death prompted Lockyer to form the task force.
"Innocent bystanders are rarely killed in SWAT team actions, but these deaths destroy families, tear apart communities and hurt law enforcement agencies by eroding the community's confidence," Lockyer said Tuesday in Modesto.
The 25-member task force surveyed state law enforcement agencies and held public hearings in six cities, including Oakland, before coming up with the recommendations.
Rather than order a statewide mandate, Lockyer asked that the task force come up with recommendations, said spokeswoman Hallye Jordan. That's because in a state like California, one size doesn't fit all, she said.
"One county may have two SWAT operations a month and L.A. County may have one a day. Because of those differences, the task force didn't recommend a statewide standard," she said. "This just gives agencies something to think about and to look at when they are developing their own local standards."
The Contra Costa Sheriff's Office's already has most of the recommendations in place, said spokesman Jimmy Lee.
"We have had most of those things in place for some time," he said. "The recommendations will improve the way things are done, enhance public safety and help protect agencies and officers from liability."
The recommendations:
Define a SWAT team as a unit specifically trained and equipped to respond to critical incidents, including hostage taking, barricaded suspects, snipers and terrorist acts.
Set standards defining a team's capability, such as a Level 1 team helping line-level officers and a Level III being an advanced team that works SWAT full time.
Develop mandated training standards that also specify the responsibilities of each member and include safety protocols.
Develop standards for determining whether a situation warrants SWAT response, shooting policies and debriefings after every deployment.
Develop response policies based on the agency's capabilities.
Develop guidelines for the type and use of SWAT equipment, including clothing that clearly identifies the members as law enforcement.
Develop a public education program to ensure that the community understands that the primary mission of these teams is to preserve human life.
"I believe (the recommendations) will go a long way in ensuring the safety of the public and of law enforcement officers who are involved in some of the most dangerous law enforcement duties."
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/4049062.htm
Kristi Belcamino covers police, crime and public safety. Reach her at 925-945-4782 or kbelcamino@cctimes.com
QUESTION:
If a regular citizen shot a little boy in the back and the boy died, would this newspaper be merely saying the "shotgun accidentally discharged"?
NOTE:
This news rag not only failed to remind people of the boy-slaughtering officer's name and violent background, but they've also failed to mention that no drugs were found in this death-producing "drug" raid. Instead, they say the gun did it and suggest that AG Lockyer's non-binding "recommendations" have some relevance.
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
The Associated Press
9/11/02 7:34 AM
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A judge has ruled that the city of Inglewood can take disciplinary action against two police officers involved in the videotaped beating of a handcuffed teenager during an arrest.
Officers Bijan Darvish and Antoine Crook could face a short suspension and a written reprimand for their role in the July 6 arrest of Donovan Jackson, said their attorney, Cory Glave.
He said he has not decided whether to appeal Tuesday's ruling.
Amateur video shows fellow officer Jeremy Morse slamming the teen's head down on a police car and punching him in the jaw. Morse has pleaded innocent to an assault charge.
Crook is still on duty with the Inglewood Police Department and Darvish is on administrative leave, their attorney said. Darvish pleaded innocent July 18 to charges of filing a false police report following the beating and is free on $25,000 bond.
The officers' attorneys previously filed motions to dismiss the charges, arguing there were flaws in the grand jury indictment. A judge delayed a hearing until Oct. 31 so prosecutors can respond.
http://www.nj.com/newsflash/national/index.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?a0584_BC_BRF--PoliceVideo&&news&newsflash-national
Copyright 2002 Associated Press
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Nicole Gull
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
ARLINGTON - Auto dealers, frustrated by vehicle theft and missing parts and accessories, met with police Tuesday to share ideas on preventing auto theft.
The meeting was called by police to try to reduce auto theft along Division Street and Interstate 20.
During the meeting, dealers spoke of missing auto parts, such as stolen wheels and stereo equipment. They talked about the dangers of riding with potential customers during test drives and the theft by drivers unaccompanied by a sales person.
Police suggested dealers improve lighting and increase visibility near their lots and have random inventory checks.
Police also encouraged dealers to share security costs with each other and block driveways to their lots after closing.
Sgt. Jimmy Salinas said the department does not have the resources to combat the problems alone and needs the help of the dealerships.
"If there's a hot spot, we can focus on that area and make an arrest, but if not it is like a needle in a haystack," Salinas said.
Since Jan. 1, 53 vehicles were reported stolen from auto lots, according to police records.
Although there were 52 reported cases last year, police are concerned about the rise since 2000 when 41 were reported stolen.
Eight of the 125 dealers contacted attended Tuesday's meeting.
Al Swayze, a corporate service and parts coordinator for Don Davis Auto Group, said his company spends about $53,000 monthly for security at eight locations, six of them in Arlington.
"We lost eight television systems in one night," Swayze said, recalling a recent break-in. He said stereos, wheels and tires are among the most popular items stolen.
Detective Brian Johnson encouraged the dealers to fingerprint and scrutinize the identifications of potential buyers, so they could not buy or test drive vehicles under an assumed or stolen identity.
Reuben Flores, a salesman at DFW Auto Ranch Inc. on West Division Street, said his company was inundated with wheel and tire theft last year.
"We really got hit," he said. "I was missing tires constantly."
This year, the company has increased lighting in the lot and began parking vehicles farther apart, making it harder for potential thieves to hide between them.
"Before, without the lighting, it was dark. It was like an invitation for them," said Flores, who did not attend the meeting. "But now with the lighting and spacing, it's a lot better. So far this year, we have been very fortunate."
http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/local/4049927.htm
Nicole Gull, (817) 548-5421 nmgull@star-telegram.com
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878