Two Cops and a Dispatcher Slain in Alabama. Were procedures followed?

[Mr. Skinny]

According to the newspaper article here (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/orl-aseckiller08060803jun08,0,2467495.story?coll=orl-news-headlines) , two officers were killed when a suspect grabbed an officer's gun while being fingerprinted.

FAYETTE, Ala. -- A suspect being booked at a small-town police station grabbed an officer's gun and opened fire early Saturday, killing two officers and a dispatcher before fleeing in a police car, authorities said.

The dark blue Crown Victoria police cruiser was spotted about 31/2 hours later, just across the state line in Mississippi, and the driver was arrested,Deputy Tony Mulligan of the Lowndes County, Miss., Sheriff's Office said. Mississippi authorities in jail records identified the driver as Devan Darnel Moore, 18, of Jasper, a town about 30 miles northeast of Fayette.


Why does this jurisdiction allow officers to wear their weapons in the booking area?

This seems totally preventable. Most jails/detention facilities do not allow officers to take their weapons into the facility beyond the "sally port" of the intake facility; or at minimum have procedures in place to prevent prisoners from having access to weapons. Locking up weapons, knives, etc. before bringing a prisoner into jail was standard procedure when I was a cop 15 years ago.

I'm going to follow this one to see how this one goes.

I predict the Chief of Police/Sheriff/politician responsible for the jail will be fired.

It's sad seeing three people dead over the inability of seemingly smart people to evaluate the risk.

So who's responsible in your opinion? The jail? The officers? Both?

[Jedi Knight]

Originally posted by Mr. Skinny
According to the newspaper article here (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/orl-aseckiller08060803jun08,0,2467495.story?coll=orl-news-headlines) , two officers were killed when a suspect grabbed an officer's gun while being fingerprinted.




Why does this jurisdiction allow officers to wear their weapons in the booking area?

This seems totally preventable. Most jails/detention facilities do not allow officers to take their weapons into the facility beyond the "sally port" of the intake facility; or at minimum have procedures in place to prevent prisoners from having access to weapons. Locking up weapons, knives, etc. before bringing a prisoner into jail was standard procedure when I was a cop 15 years ago.

I'm going to follow this one to see how this one goes.

I predict the Chief of Police/Sheriff/politician responsible for the jail will be fired.

It's sad seeing three people dead over the inability of seemingly smart people to evaluate the risk.

So who's responsible in your opinion? The jail? The officers? Both?

The officer who lost positive control of his weapon is responsible.

There is a simple technique that you can do with a holstered weapon that prevents anyone from removing it from the holster. That is the training those police officers should be trained on. It was a careless mistake.

JK

[Mr. Skinny]

Originally posted by Jedi Knight


The officer who lost positive control of his weapon is responsible.

There is a simple technique that you can do with a holstered weapon that prevents anyone from removing it from the holster. That is the training those police officers should be trained on. It was a careless mistake.

JK
I agree that the officer is ultimately responsible for his weapon Jedi, but it's entirely uncommon for an officer to be allowed to take his weapon into a jail. That's what's got my jaw hanging a bit.

Maybe it was such a small town hick jail that they didn't have any procedures in place. I dunno, but it's common knowledge IMO, that you don't have your gun on inside a jail.

edited to add: yes, I was taught at least one technique. Probably the one you are thinking of.

[Monketey Ghost]

I agree with JK that this sounds like a careless mistake.
Tragic. Most cops I have met and spoken with have been very cool, wonderful people, ordinary folks with ordinary lives, and for something like this to happen is heartbreaking.

[corplinx]

Yet another example of why some municipalities might want to go to a mostly unarmed police force.