Post by WaTcHeR on Sept 20, 2006 15:02:44 GMT -5
09.20.2006 - Aurora police have refused to release the names of two officers involved in the fatal shooting of an armed suspect last weekend because of concerns about officer safety.
Sgt. Rudy Herrera cited a previously unpublicized rule that he said was put into place about two years ago after investigators found "flow charts" with cops' personal information in the homes of gang members.
The "flow charts" included what Herrera described as family trees of officers who had been involved in high-profile police shootings. The information - displayed on boards and also found on computer hard drives - was detailed, including full names of the officers, their spouses and their children, he said.
Herrera said releasing the names of officers involved in shootings "could place them and their families in danger" from people who may want to build a reputation.
Police outlined the policy Tuesday in response to questions about the officers involved in the fatal shooting of a man wanted on drug charges.
The suspect was killed Sunday after he allegedly pointed a handgun at officers who had approached him in his vehicle.
The man was wanted on felony warrants. His name has not been released, police said, because they are having difficulty locating his next of kin.
The department has said both of officers - who were put on routine administrative leave with pay pending the results of an investigation - have at least 10 years' experience.
One of the officers is under a grand jury investigation for his involvement in a previous shooting, but Herrera declined to provide any information about that incident.
Law enforcement agencies throughout the metro area have differing policies on whether to release the names of officers involved in shootings. Denver, for example, typically releases the names as part of an incident report, although not always on the day of the shooting.
Metropolitan State College criminal justice professor Joe Sandoval said the fact that the suspect allegedly pulled a gun on police likely means no charges will be filed against the officers.
"That's a death warrant," he said of the suspect's actions.
But Sandoval said he is puzzled by Aurora police's rationale for withholding the officers' names.
"I'm not sure where the danger lies - unless this police officer is notorious on the streets," he said. "Certainly, officer safety is a concern, and should always be a concern, but how is it that there is going to be a danger today, and when their names are released (after an investigation is completed) that the danger is subsided?"
Aurora Police Association President Don James said the appropriate time for the names to be released is after an investigation is finished.
"There are oftentimes individuals who are emotionally charged with these types of incidents," James said.
He said there have been cases where officers have been targeted.
"We have had officers in our department who have been the target primarily of gang members and narcotic traffickers," James said. "Anything we can do to minimize that is advantageous to the officer and his family."
This weekend's incident began after a bail bondsman, who had been trying to find the fugitive, notified Aurora police Sunday that the man was going to be in a white Ford Explorer on Oswego Street.
Police spokesman Robert Friel said the bondsman contacted police because he considered the fugitive too dangerous to apprehend himself.
www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5006814,00.html
Sgt. Rudy Herrera cited a previously unpublicized rule that he said was put into place about two years ago after investigators found "flow charts" with cops' personal information in the homes of gang members.
The "flow charts" included what Herrera described as family trees of officers who had been involved in high-profile police shootings. The information - displayed on boards and also found on computer hard drives - was detailed, including full names of the officers, their spouses and their children, he said.
Herrera said releasing the names of officers involved in shootings "could place them and their families in danger" from people who may want to build a reputation.
Police outlined the policy Tuesday in response to questions about the officers involved in the fatal shooting of a man wanted on drug charges.
The suspect was killed Sunday after he allegedly pointed a handgun at officers who had approached him in his vehicle.
The man was wanted on felony warrants. His name has not been released, police said, because they are having difficulty locating his next of kin.
The department has said both of officers - who were put on routine administrative leave with pay pending the results of an investigation - have at least 10 years' experience.
One of the officers is under a grand jury investigation for his involvement in a previous shooting, but Herrera declined to provide any information about that incident.
Law enforcement agencies throughout the metro area have differing policies on whether to release the names of officers involved in shootings. Denver, for example, typically releases the names as part of an incident report, although not always on the day of the shooting.
Metropolitan State College criminal justice professor Joe Sandoval said the fact that the suspect allegedly pulled a gun on police likely means no charges will be filed against the officers.
"That's a death warrant," he said of the suspect's actions.
But Sandoval said he is puzzled by Aurora police's rationale for withholding the officers' names.
"I'm not sure where the danger lies - unless this police officer is notorious on the streets," he said. "Certainly, officer safety is a concern, and should always be a concern, but how is it that there is going to be a danger today, and when their names are released (after an investigation is completed) that the danger is subsided?"
Aurora Police Association President Don James said the appropriate time for the names to be released is after an investigation is finished.
"There are oftentimes individuals who are emotionally charged with these types of incidents," James said.
He said there have been cases where officers have been targeted.
"We have had officers in our department who have been the target primarily of gang members and narcotic traffickers," James said. "Anything we can do to minimize that is advantageous to the officer and his family."
This weekend's incident began after a bail bondsman, who had been trying to find the fugitive, notified Aurora police Sunday that the man was going to be in a white Ford Explorer on Oswego Street.
Police spokesman Robert Friel said the bondsman contacted police because he considered the fugitive too dangerous to apprehend himself.
www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5006814,00.html