Post by KC on Aug 14, 2006 23:53:58 GMT -5
August 15, 2006 - LOS ANGELES - Police Chief William Bratton said Monday that shooting attacks on officers are increasing, with the latest incident nearly costing a rookie his hand during a shootout Saturday night.
There were a total of 16 assaults on police officers last year, compared to 15 so far this year, Bratton said.
The latest shooting occurred in an area northeast of downtown when Officer James Tuck, 26, was struck by bullets from an AK-47 assault rifle in his wrist, back and elbow while holding a police radio.
His partner, Officer John Porras, an 18-year-veteran, was struck in the face by broken glass. Both officers were able to return fire, Bratton said.
"This unprovoked attack was nothing short of an attempted assassination," Bratton said.
The shooting began after the two officers stopped a black Honda with a faulty headlight and paper license plates. Police later determined the car had been stolen.
Police said a passenger, identified as 31-year-old Jose Perez of Los Angeles, began shooting even before the officers got out of their car.
"The bottom line is what he did made no sense, no sense at all," said Kyle Jackson, commanding officer of the Robbery Homicide Division.
Perez was shot in the leg and apprehended by police as he tried to crawl away, police said. The suspected driver of the car, 36-year-old Alfredo Escobedo, also of Los Angeles, was arrested about 90 minutes later in the neighborhood, police said.
Both men were being held on $2 million bail for investigation of attempted murder of a police officer.
Bratton said both officers did the right thing in shooting back, and that no amount of training would have helped them deal any better with the situation.
Tuck, three months away from completing his probationary period with the department, will need extensive skin grafting on his left wrist.
Bratton said he spent a half-hour with the officer at USC University Hospital. He described Tuck's hand injury as "horrific."
Bratton said he asked Tuck if there was anything he could do for him, and the officer replied, "'Can you get us some water coolers at the Hollenbeck station?'"
Bratton said the request would be honored.
www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/15273552.htm
There were a total of 16 assaults on police officers last year, compared to 15 so far this year, Bratton said.
The latest shooting occurred in an area northeast of downtown when Officer James Tuck, 26, was struck by bullets from an AK-47 assault rifle in his wrist, back and elbow while holding a police radio.
His partner, Officer John Porras, an 18-year-veteran, was struck in the face by broken glass. Both officers were able to return fire, Bratton said.
"This unprovoked attack was nothing short of an attempted assassination," Bratton said.
The shooting began after the two officers stopped a black Honda with a faulty headlight and paper license plates. Police later determined the car had been stolen.
Police said a passenger, identified as 31-year-old Jose Perez of Los Angeles, began shooting even before the officers got out of their car.
"The bottom line is what he did made no sense, no sense at all," said Kyle Jackson, commanding officer of the Robbery Homicide Division.
Perez was shot in the leg and apprehended by police as he tried to crawl away, police said. The suspected driver of the car, 36-year-old Alfredo Escobedo, also of Los Angeles, was arrested about 90 minutes later in the neighborhood, police said.
Both men were being held on $2 million bail for investigation of attempted murder of a police officer.
Bratton said both officers did the right thing in shooting back, and that no amount of training would have helped them deal any better with the situation.
Tuck, three months away from completing his probationary period with the department, will need extensive skin grafting on his left wrist.
Bratton said he spent a half-hour with the officer at USC University Hospital. He described Tuck's hand injury as "horrific."
Bratton said he asked Tuck if there was anything he could do for him, and the officer replied, "'Can you get us some water coolers at the Hollenbeck station?'"
Bratton said the request would be honored.
www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/15273552.htm