Lessons learned from line-of-duty deaths Officer Down 2013 Ann R. Bumbak Dynamic Police Training...

Lessons learned from line-of-duty deaths

Officer Down 2013

Ann R. BumbakDynamic Police Training

DYNAMIC POLICE TRAINING presents…

Find us online at: www.dynamicpolicetraining.com

June 24, 2013Washington, DC

http://www.dynamicpolicetraining.com/

How do police officers get information

on line-of-duty deaths?

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How do we share information on lessons learned from line-

of-duty deaths?

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Let’s examine a recent case and ask ourselves:What did we learn?

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5

DYNAMIC POLICE TRAINING

A couple returning home

A condominium parking garage

A suspect armed with a handgun



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6



Killed together on February 3, 2013


CNN reports: Ex-LAPD cop gains sympathizers on social media

(C) 2013 Dynamic Police Training 7


3,819 likes for cop-killer Chris Dorner

Talk radio host: LAPD has a “racially hostile” culture

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What was his mindset?

What was the killer’s motive?

Was Chris Dorner an unusual cop-killer?



The answer might surprise you.

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Another former cop killed Officer David Dryer on a traffic stop on December 18,

2011.

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His name was Eli Myers. You probably don’t know his story.

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Some common themes in cop-killings

• Revenge

• Drugs and alcohol

• Gang membership

• Adrenaline

• Mental illness

• Obsessive relationships

• Desire for self-annihilation



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What if we could examine every cop-killer each year

with the same depth?

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Welcome to

Officer Down 2013

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Section 1 of 4

Overview of Officer Down 2013

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What is Officer Down 2013?



OD13 examines line-of-duty deaths (LODD) in 6 critical

areas.

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DYNAMIC POLICE TRAINING presents… OFFICER DOWN 2013


CIRCUMSTANCES

INJURIES & SHOT PLACEMENT

PRECIPITATING FACTORS

OFFENDERSMOTIVES

OUTCOMES


Circumstances in 2012 included:

• Warrant service

• Domestic disturbance

• Vehicle enforcement

• Eviction service

• In-progress calls (e.g. burglary, theft)

• Ambushes and assassinations



Shot placement trends in 2012:

• Head shots

• Chest shots (penetrated body armor)

• Chest shots (no body armor)



Most common site of fatal injury

Precipitating factors in 2012:• Drug and alcohol use

• Failed relationships, marriages or custody battles

• Suicidal ideation

• Fleeing a crime scene in a vehicle



Offenders in 2012:• 80% had criminal history

• 1 in 3 were hard-core criminals

• Concealed or lying in wait

• Prior statements such as: “I will shoot police”

• Mental illness histories

• Drugs and weapons possession histories



Motives of cop-killers in 2012:• Avoid arrest

• Revenge/hatred of police

• Delusional acts (mental illness)

• Prevent eviction or warrant service at home

• Seeking self-destruction or “suicide by cop”



Outcomes in 2012:• 25% of cop-killers were

killed by police

• 25% of cop-killers committed suicide

• All cop-killers who survived were captured



Section 2 of 4

A Closer Look at 2012

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There were

39 LODD in 2012 due to

gunfire.

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Police murders0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

20112012

- 35% from 2011




What was the most dangerous enforcement

activity in 2012?

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When examining only firearms-related deaths…




17 Officerswere killed

during vehicle-related

enforcement.OFFICER DOWN2013

Circumstances of LODD (2012)

Vehicle-related




2011-2012 Comparisons

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Vehicle-related


Vehicle-related

Warrant service


Questions or

Comments?

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Section 3 of 4

Four Fallen Heroes

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The 39 LODD incidents in 2012 were more

than just statistics.

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Let’s examine some of the stories behind the

numbers.

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Each of these officers was killed in a separate

encounter.

Each has a unique story to tell.

DEPUTY BARBARA PILLEOW 3/6/2012

“She was a fantastic deputy sheriff.”

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• 30+ years of police experience

• Served with Miami-Dade PD, and Brevard County (FL)

• Married with two sons, both law enforcement officers

About the Officer


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• Theft from motel

• Suspects: black male and white female in white Ford Explorer

• Suspect vehicle spotted less than two miles from scene

• Conducted investigative stop (traffic stop) on vehicle

Circumstances


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• Brandon Bradley, 24, had lengthy criminal history: robbery, drugs, and burglary

• Andria Kerchner, 19, had a history of mental illness

About the Suspects


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• High-speed chase ended with “stop sticks”

• Bradley told police “just shoot me”; both surrendered

• Both suspects involved in drug use and sales

Outcome


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• Was this a “high risk” traffic stop?

• How do we handle non-compliant drivers who refuse to exit a vehicle?

• Why did shooter believe he was in danger of being shot by police during the stop?

• When should we de-escalate use of force, especially after pointing a firearm at a suspect?

Lessons Learned


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Questions or

Comments?

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DEPUTY ROBERT PARISEOW 4/12/2012

“He paid the ultimate price.”

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• 16 years of police experience

• Served with Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department (CA)

• Survived by his two adult children

About the Officer


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• Notice of eviction

• Working with partner with 24 years of experience + 7 years of military service

• Partners began working together just three weeks before incident

• Red flags reported: M-16 weapons, “Weirdo,” “Be very cautious”

• Response: “Whatever”

• Knocked and announced; shot through the door

Circumstances


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• James Ferrario, 32, was described as a “paranoid recluse”

• Conducted “armed patrols” of his property and installed surveillance cameras

• 11 prior contacts with police

• Was in foreclosure

About the Suspect


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• Ferrario called 9-1-1: “This is Jim… I apologize, I thought it was a burglar and I just started shooting them.”

• Requested a pizza

• Remained barricaded for 11 hours

• Committed suicide during fire

Outcome


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• Suspect found dead in bathtub wearing body armor

• 30 firearms in reach

• Wearing tactical gear, gas mask and had three rifles, including an AK-47, and 1,000+ rounds of ammunition

Outcome


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• Are any policing activities “low risk” assignments?

• Do “cultures of complacency” exist within police departments?

• How can we prevent “red flags” from being ignored?

• How do experienced officers learn to anticipate danger?

• What role did this officer’s partner play in this incident?

Lessons Learned


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Questions or

Comments?

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OFFICER MOSES WALKEREOW 8/18/2012

“He was a blessing to be around.”

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• Served his entire career with Philadelphia PD (PA)

• Survived by his five siblings

About the Officer

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• Ended shift at around 6:00 am

• Changed into shorts, t-shirt and ball cap, left station carrying a backpack

• Turned down a ride to the bus stop

• Confronted by two men who attempted an armed robbery

Circumstances

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• Rafael Jones, 23, had a lengthy criminal history: weapons, robbery, and drug use

• Chancier McFarland, 19, was awaiting trial on drug distribution charges

About the Suspects

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• Tipster reported identity and location of Jones

• Jones confessed to shooting, implicating McFarland as lookout

• Both were captured without incident

Outcome

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• How do we prepare officers for off-duty confrontations?

• Is there a greater risk of death by firearms to police officers while on- or off-duty?

• What role, if any, does race play in line-of-duty deaths?

Lessons Learned

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Questions or

Comments?

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OFFICER PATRICK O’ROURKEEOW 9/9/2012

“He always did a fantastic job.”

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• Prior assignments included patrol, narcotics task force

• West Bloomfield PD (MI)

• Survived by his wife and four children, aged 10, 8, 4 and 10 months

About the Officer

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• Distraught man with gun threatening his family

• Upscale residence: 4,000+ sqft home

• Reported weapons: Uzi, rifle with scope, and handgun

• Team used a “wait and see” approach with negative results

• After more than a hour of attempted contact, team entered

Circumstances

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• Ricky Coley, 50, had recently lost a custody battle over 7-year-old

• Texted ex-wife with suicidal message

• Had fired a single round while barricaded inside bedroom

• Was believed to have committed suicide

About the Suspect

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• Suspect laid in wait and fired on team with Uzi on full auto

• Novel takedown: used a 26-ton CAT excavator to take down exterior wall

• Coley committed suicide

Outcome

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• What alternatives, if any, did this officer’s team have to making entry?

• What are the best tactics for making entry into a home where a suspect might be barricaded?

• Is it possible to do everything right and still be injured or killed in the line of duty?

Lessons Learned

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Questions or

Comments?

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Final Thoughts


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On Lessons Learned from Line of Duty Deaths in 2012



All of the LODD incidents in this presentation occurred in 2012.

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What can we learn to prevent similar incidents

in the future?

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OFFICER DOWN 2013: THE STATISTICS The trend in shot placement in violent encounters with officers continues: head shots are the primary reason that officers are killed by gunfire. In 2012, fewer officers were killed while seated in their patrol cars.

©Image courtesy of Gregory Motta, Motta Industries at http://www.mottaindustries.com. All copyrights reserved. Used with permission of the artist.

FATAL: More than 50% were killed by head shots.

ALSO DEADLY: 18% killed by chest wounds.

5 officers were not wearing a

vest.

COLLATERAL INJURIES RARE: 8% sustained initial gunshot wounds to non-

vital areas.

AMBUSHED: Only 1 officer fired his duty

weapon during the incident.

ON YOUR FEET: 92% were

standing when shot.

3 officers were in their patrol cars.

FATA

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OFFICER DOWN 2013: THE SHOOTERS This year, all shooters were male. There was a 20% increase in the number of white cop-killers, and the average shooter was 35 years old. The majority of incidents involved a single white male suspect killing a white male officer. Six female officers were also killed in firearms-related violence.

PREFERRED WEAPON: 70% used handguns.

APPEARANCE: 64% were white males. Most were alone.

DOMESTIC INCIDENTS:

Just 15% were involved in a

disturbance call.

VEHICLES INVOLVED: Nearly 50% of

shooters were the targets of traffic stops

or other vehicle enforcement actions, including half of all

black shooters.

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Most, but not all cop-killers use handguns.

Few guns used by cop-killers were acquired illegally.

Very few are assault-style weapons.

Shotguns are used by cop-killers more often in rural settings.

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How can we save police officers’ lives?

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What single act can prevent half of all

firearms-related murders of police officers?

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Issue a ballistic helmet to every police officer in the

United States.OFFICER DOWN2013


Educate others about the statistics of police officers

killed by head shots.

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Advocate for policies requiring officers to wear

helmets in high-risk circumstances.

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For more information

(C) 2013 Dynamic Police Training74


Available at www.dynamicpolicetraining.com

Coming in December 2013 from CRC Press…

(C) 2013 Dynamic Police Training75


PROFILING COP-KILLERS

ByAnn R.

Bumbak


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Remember their stories.

Honor their memories.

For more information, visit www.dynamicpolicetraining.com

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Officer Down 2013Lessons learned from line-of-duty deaths


Lessons learned from line-of-duty deaths Officer Down 2013 Ann R. Bumbak Dynamic Police Training...

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