Maybe I need glasses or an explanation
I took a great interest in following the unfortunate shooting by Officer Bird on 17 February 2010, because I knew Gary Wheeler. I am not anti cop by any means, but I do believe right is right and wrong is wrong. 1.) I realize it was 5:30 in the morning, very dark and very foggy, with at least 12" of fresh snow on the ground. 2.) Officer Bird has been with the Roosevelt Police for less than (1) year. Because of your limited budget expenditures, I assume Officer Bird has not yet been thru the police academy. 3.) I do believe the Big "O" tire is situated at least 120 feet from the road. 4.) By careful inspection of photos of the scene, it looks like someone was trying to pull the standard pit maneuver with the front of the police vehicle. 5.) If a vehicle is immobilized in a snowbank and the driver is trying to get the vehicle unstuck, there should have been some other alternative method of apprehending the suspects. 6.) From the newspaper reports of previous occurrences throughout the basin, it seems as thou the police departments are leery of suspicious people, to the point of shooting first and asking questions later, (if anyone is able to answer). 7.) The newspaper stated officer Bird was scared the suspect might try to run him down with the pickup truck, funny I have the same feeling every time I use the crosswalk. I believe he could have side stepped a vehicle coming at him, but the vehicle was stuck. 8.) It seems like Police Chief Harrison immediately concluded Officer Birds actions were justified. 9.) Because of what happened on routine stops in the past, I would like to know if the patrol car was equipped with a dash cam? 10.) Was Officer Bird hired for his position because he was a Physic, was he positive the vehicle was leaving a burglary scene or could the people been a couple of drunks just looking for a place to sleep it off.
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Welcome!
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Sounds like meldamonedero is trying to drum up some inpropriety to make the officer out to be the bad guy here. I am no cop, but perhaps these answers may give you some pause for thought: 1- Yes, crime does also happen at 5:30 in the morning when it's dark, foggy, and snowing! 2- Officer Bird's perception of the danger is just that.. his perception, however, he is being investigated as he should. 3- So what? 4- If a police officer is chasing someone who is obviously trying to evade them through the streets of Roosevelt I say 'pit 'em if you can' cause the longer the chase continues the more likely it is that an innocent person will become a victim. 5- I would think that a police officer with weapon drawn approaching your vehicle, probably yelling commands to stop, would be enough warning for anyone with common sense. 6- I dont think this is entirely true, however, if I were a cop in a place where a majority of the citizens still rode around with rifles mounted in the rear view windows of their trucks.. I would tend towards being a little on the leery side. 7- your opinion as to whether or not he could have 'sidestepped' the vehicle means absolutely nothing, you weren't there staring into the headlights. 8- I believe the Chiefs comment was that it 'appears' to have followed procedure, he made no judgements and was not dismissive in any way. As for the final 2 statements, again I think you are reaching. If there was a dash cam I am sure it will be an integral part of the investigation and the correct procedures will be followed, and it sounds like Officer Bird had probable cause to seek to, at least question, a vehicle that was leaving from a burgled business.
I am sorry for the loss of your friend, but unfortunatlely, it sounds to me like he was a victim of his own bad decisions.
I am wondering is there roosevelt city police that have not finished the police accademy? SHOULD THEY BE A POLICE OFFICER WITH A GUN? I BELIEVE NOT.