ANOTHER UNDESERVING COP FACES PRISON
Maybe it’s time to just let criminals, gangs, thugs and thieves take over and tell the cops to sit in the station house, play video games, eat donuts eight hours a day and collect their pay. Sure would be a lot safer for them, in more ways than one.
Most of you have read my rants about the terrible fate of K-9 cop, Stephanie Mohr, and Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean, and more. Each are serving ten or more years in a federal prison, their lives in turmoil and their family’s lives wrecked while career criminals and social parasites laugh all the way to the bank, showered with favors compliments of the U.S. government.
Now comes Richard Thompson, age 55, serving his community in law enforcement for 23 years, seven of them as chief of a small town agency in Crawford, Nebraska. Thompson is a husband, father and grandfather. He may be going to prison for five years. Why? For shooting an armed criminal in defense of his own life, and the lives of others.
I gathered as much information as possible from a number of sources. Here’s what happened:
Apparently, Jesse Britton was a disturbed 16 year-old high school drop out who had a long history of criminal behavior, regularly a guest of the juvenile justice system. He had recently made threats to kill a school superintendent, another teen, and — of all people — Chief Thompson. He was also the suspect in a series of twelve burglaries, one of which resulted in the theft of a Lugar handgun.
The chief received a tip that the youngster was hiding out in an abandoned bar in downtown Crawford. As cops are supposed to do, he followed up and secured the assistance of other law enforcement officers. Two officers formed a perimeter outside while the other accompanied him inside. Good police work, I’d say.
Chief Thompson found the kid crouching down behind an old desk. “Show me your hands!” shouted the chief. Still good police work.
Britton rose slowly and pointed a pistol directly at the chief’s head. Thompson twice yelled, “Drop it!” He refused.
Just as all police officers are trained to when facing the muzzle of a firearm in the hands of a criminal, and with concern not only of his own life, but the life of his partner, Chief Thompson pulled the trigger. Then, his partner fired. Britton lay dead. A tragedy to be sure.
The chief not only did his job, he ostensibly saved his own life and the life of his partner.
Nebraska law requires a review by a grand jury in all violent death matters. Grand Juries are guided by the county prosecutor who sets the tone and the objective, presenting evidence to support his/her position. Special prosecutor Jean Rhodes did just that, and instead of vindicating the career cop, sought — and obtained — an indictment charging Thompson with a felony that could land him five years in prison.
Nebraska Attorney General John Bruning saw it differently, saying he fully expected the officer to be exonerated. Clearly, Britton has been shot after pointing a gun directly at a law enforcement officer’s head and being ordered to drop his weapon. But the Grand Jury claimed — with the guidance of the prosecutor’s office — that Chief Thompson had time to cut and run, not fire his weapon. Did Prosecutor Rhodes ever walk in the shoes of a cop confronted with a bullet?
Perhaps the members of the Grand Jury should try a re-enactment, and see what it feels like to suddenly be facing instant death at the hands of a nut ball, and you’ve only got a split second to make a decision. In my thirty-year career, and in most police agencies, self-preservation and protection of life, comes before any other consideration.
I have no problem with hammering abusive cops and even locking up those who clearly break the law. I arrested a few myself. But something is happening in our society as good law enforcement officers become a trophy for rabid prosecutors, while crooks and violent criminals are lionized as victims.
I had my own moment in 1965, confronted by a hysterical woman waving a rifle directly at me. Totally caught by surprise, no weapon in hand, I raised my hands and started backing away…but she fired anyway. Fortunately for me, a bad shot. My wound was in the leg. Had the trajectory of the muzzle been a half-inch higher, I would have been dead. And, if I had my gun in hand, I would have taken her down in a nano-second. At least I’d be alive to tell the story.
I suspect Chief Thompson will be acquitted. But not before he and his family suffers greatly from humiliation, fear, enormous pressure and the high cost of defense which will leave him utterly broke.
It is any wonder why police agencies have a hard time hiring officers these days?
Anyone interested can read the whole story on line. Click here: The North Platte Bulletin
Chief Thomson’s wife has made an appeal for assistance, asking for donations to the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund. See her heart-wrenching letter at: Click here:
When the nation’s heroes are seen as demons and demons are seen as heroes, we’ve arrived at the slippery slope.
Marshall,
The case you cite is proof of something we cops have known for years: “A prosecutor can get a grand jury to indict a bologna sandwich”!!! Lunatic prosecutors, with a political ax to grind, are a danger to us all. The Mohr case and Campion/Ramos are examples of law enforcement being targeted by the raqdical left. Those same lefties have been trying to gain the release of Mumia Abu-Jamal who killed Philly Officer Daniel Faulkner. The radical political left (nee San Francisco values) continues to gain power, and now that their standard bearer has captured the nomination, their is more to fear from their agenda!
Marshall: I am sure you must realize that there is more than meets the eye here. It sure appears that there was a prior history between the chief and the prosecutor or his office. Seems like it is get even time. Like we know a prosecutor can get an indictment on any case he wishes. Of course the job is to prove the allegations in the indictment.
Regards,
Vince
As you said Marshall,
“I suspect Chief Thompson will be acquitted. But not before he and his family suffers greatly from humiliation, fear, enormous pressure and the high cost of defense which will leave him utterly broke”. That’s the irony of these legal assaults on LEO’s.
I think that You,Vince and Joe pretty much covered this one. I’d like to see a follow-up on this.
Marshall,
Hard to believe a prosecutor would make a case against a seasoned and highly experienced police officer for doing his duty. As in this case and the Ramos and Campeon case. Some people in responsible positions have their values mixed up. It’s a tragedy. Is anybody besides you raising cain about it?
Good blog on a horrible case Marshall:
I would hope Chief Thompson will have this
insane case dismissed, by the reviewing judge. If not and the Lincoln County, NE, DA pushes it to trial, an acquittal is highly likely.
Should a trial fail to find a not guilty verdict, a hung jury is a near lead pipe cinch. How the hell can anyone convince 12 jurors that Chief Thompson was not in immediate fear for his life?
I smell a recall effort in the works here, if the D.A., who appointed the looney left special prosecutor lady, is not up for re-election this November 2008?
I will help you follow this case Marshall!
> http://www.youtube.com/user/edioparausa <
Thank you, Marshall, for again shining a light on Another miscarriage of “Justice”–As a Nation, we are killing ourselves in our race to be “politically correct” and giving More than the “Benefit of the Doubt” to the bad guys–Other cases involve even citizens who have defended themselves in life-threatening situations and have been Convicted! Some years ago, female cabbie was beaten, raped and robbed–Her assailent was then going to kill her–After her restraint from violence through all of this, she finally killed him–SHE was charged with Murder–Really?! WOW! These cases of the “Poor Perpatrator” are becoming so common as to be revolting–Where has “Common Sense” gone?? I would really like to know–N.
Well, maybe it boiled down to a case where the Chief could have backed away and reduced the conflict…maybe he shot first when he could have diffused it all. Yes, if someone points a gun at you you then have the right to fear for your life. But before taking a life all other options must be given a try. In this case maybe nothing else could have been done…in many others obvious deaths that could have been prevented..see the Youtube section on cop’s killing people….sickening.
Thank you Marshall for the message; do let me know the final result; I hope Chief Thompson will be OK; we all have a big problem on 04 November; I hope the people are alert.
Richard Plager
and then the punlic will cry out that they are not protected by the law enforcement community!!!!!
GO FIGURE….
Well once again, Rich Moore has all the answers. While considereing all of the alternatives and options, the little miscreant blows the chief away and we are going to another funeral.
One moments hesitation and all of the years spent in training and in everyday situations goes out the window, and another officer dies, needlessly.
Rich spends too much time watching Youtube and other blogs and is obviously the resident exprert on police shootings. The real world doesn’t work like that.
Here’s hoping Chief Thompson will be exonerated by some clear thinking judge and/or jury if it gets that far.
Marshall…I too suspect that the Chief will be exonerated. Especially based on what has appeared to be a “you don’t have to run” laws which have been codified in many states. I believed that Florida was the first state to pass such a law sighting that conceal weapons permit holders do not have to “try” and run away from apparent threats on their life.Surely, police officers must have the same consideration. Even though some propose that there has been abuse of the law with a subsequent increase in shootings based on that concept I would support a sworn, trained police officer on face value.
This is a tragedy for the whole country. It is hard to figure out what exactly is heppening here. To blame it solely on the prosecutor is too simple. There must be some half-way intelligent jurors out there. The prosecutor could be removed, sued and even disbarred as in the infamous Duke University case in North Carolina. Police work is turning into an impossible job. I am glad to be retired. My very best to you and thanks for bringing this important matter to our attention.
I ceratinly hope that the DA in this case gets a taste of his own medicine one day real soon…obvioulsy a complete idiot. As for Mr. Rich Moore, he is obviously another complete idiot on a larger scale and obviously has only experience such situations at the hands of his video game console or some dream in his unstable mind. You can be absolutely certain Mr. Moore has never faced a peron with a weapon in hand. Under any circumstance when one person makes a threating move against another person with a weapon, someone needs to die without any question. Hooray for the officer, give him more rounds… Any DA that would even entertain the idea of this type indicment needs to be removed from office.
Marshall, you have once again brought to our attention the trials of a police officer in this country.
We saw it first hand in Miami when Janet Reno consistently looked for any reason to indict a police officer. She personally caused the McDuffie trial to be lost because she overreacted and tried to place blame on every officer even remotely connected to the case.
The prosecutor in the case at hand seems to be the same type of person. Bring charges against an innocent police officer in the belief she is serving justice. She, no doubt feels a police officers scalp will prove what a champion of justice she is, when in reality she’s a meaningless twit.
Marshall, thanks for giving the honest police officers a voice.
Hey Marshall:
I think I’ve handled as many police shootings as any body else on the MDPD and have yet have anybody successfully challenge “I was in fear for my life”. As long as the facts support that, there is no way that case would even go to Grand Jury. Inquest hearings seem to provide the necessary review and are open to anybody who wishes to attend. Seems like the place to begin with this issue is the Nebraska Legislature.
I have never met a police officer that went to work that morning, looking to shoot someone. Quite the contrary; after reviewing most of the shootings I’ve investigated, the shooting officr waited longer than necessary before using deadly force. On one occasion, the offender’s weapon had a dented primer, indicating the weapon mis-fired.
My heart goes out to this guy but as somebody else pointed out, he’ll never be found guilty.
We have many police officers that died in the line of duty because they hesitated that mili-second before taking action.
Be good.
MARSHALL:
LIKE JOHN KING, I HAVE ALSO HANDLED MANY POLICE INVOLVED SHOOTINGS. YOU WERE MY BOSS DURING SOME OF THAT TIME PERIOD. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING ELSE NOT BROUGHT OUT OR AN UNKNOWN ON SCENE WITNESS GIVING CONTRARY TESITMONY AS TO THE EVENTS. MARSHALL WE GOT INVOLVED IN THE FLORID CASE INVOLVING THE OFFICEER CHARGED WITH MURDER AND GOT BIT IN THE ASS WHEN HE WAS CHARGED WITH OTHER 31′S AND THEN CONFESSED. AGAIN THER HAS TO BE MORE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT YOU HAVE GATHERED. IF THIS IS THE STORY I DON’T MIND TRAVELING TO NEBRASKA AND TAKING RIVERS WITH ME POR BONO AND RAISING HELL WITH THE DA’S INVESTIGATION AND WORKING FOR THE DEFENSE TEAM PRO BONO ALL THE WAY. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO READ THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE BEFORE GETTING INVOLVED IF THEY WOULD WANT ME. DO YOU KNOW WHO HIS DEFENSE ATTORNEY IS.
YOU KNOW HOW TO GET HOLD OF ME.
BILLY V
Marshall,
All to often, situations like this that give the criminal the upper hand, go directly against all that is right and good for the one who is being treated unfairly. Jean Rhodes has to be a complete moron and a true asshole to pull this stunt, and she needs to be put into that situation and see how she would react. I bet she would be on her knees begging for mercy. How in the hell did she get that frigging job anyway, with her mental attitude the way it is.
Now, if I was in charge, this is what I would do. Have you ever seen the movie, “The Star Chamber” with Michael Douglas. Well, my friend, I can tell you this, this is what we need in this country to get rid of the thugs that cause so much despaire and grief. Judges who know the difference between right and wrong. That asshole 16 year old was a product of his environment and the U.S. Governemnt and the justice system and his parents and the system should be punished.
The justice system needs to have its own hit man and if the person who committed the crime is guily, snuff them out period. This would keep the prisons empty and save the tax payer billions of dollars wasted on their sorry asses.
I also believe that all criminals need to be sent to Iraq and bring the troops home. Let them assholes stay there and fight it out until the war is over and if they survive, then we can put them in jail.
Believe me, Marshall, I have hundreds of ways in mind to get rid of useless form of life criminals in this country who cause honest people despare and grief.
The U. S. Government and the Supreme Court Justices have this country so fucked up that people don’t dare to open their mouth, but I can tell you this, i will open my mouth and say what I damn well please and if they don’t like it, they can kiss my ass in the groove.
They don’t realize that police officers are only doing a job, not unlike a Veteran and if they have to shot some sorry assholes face off for screwing up and putting their life in danger, so be it, I’m all for it.
Do you think that Jean Rhodes would have ducked out of the way in this case, do you really think that bitch has a brain that can think that fast. I say NOPE. I haven’t seen a dumb bitch yet that has any brains and can think on their feet that fast.
Please keep me informed, I would like to know what happens to Chief Richard Thompson.
Also, does she think that Chief Thompson started working the streets today or what. Did she really do her home work or what. To have 23 years doing the job, does not make him a frigging Rookie, he is a seasoned Veteran and knows what he is doing.
Do yo, by any chance, have an email address for her, I would love to write her an email and tell her what I really think, but keep it politically correct. I could make her look like a real asshole and she wouldn’t even realize it was happening.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS BLOG MARSHALL!
Your blog in support of Chief Thompson and
his family, now suffering from irresponsible
grand jury tactics now tops today’s Google Blogs Alert for: Ramos & Compean. See >>
http://bl142w.blu142.mail.live.com/mail/ReadMessageLight.aspx?ReadMessageId=62df05b5-c5df-49a3-9f96-732c55c360f2&n=510177000
Marshall,
Another story to make me sick. I only disagree with you on one point–shooting Jesse Britton was not a tragedy, it was simple justice.
I think “blue flu” should spread throughout the police department until the charges are dropped. Let the libs protect themselves.
In cases like this I feel strongly that the law officer has to be considered innocent until actually proven otherwise. Also, I do not think prosecutors should use any “tricks” or use any information unless they know it to be true and accurate to get a conviction. They are not playing a game for points; they are dealing with the life of a man and his family, and they would be less than human if they put their emphasis on getting a conviction regadless of what it takes. If they don’t have a case against the officer, the only thing to do is to go into court and present what they have and admit it does not support a guilty verdict. In court or not, people are still people, and when a prosecuting team gets an undeserved guilty verdict against a good man they have commited a worse crime than murder.
I hope there are people in that community who will not put up with that sort of thing.
P.S.
I once stood with my rifle pointing at a prisoner’s chest(American GI)and faced that decision myself. A friend of mine had been serving as gaurd of a work crew the day before, and they had jumped on him and beat him severely, putting him in the hospital. I was gaurding a similar group and they told me they were walking out on me. I pointed my rifle at the chest of the man talking, and told him to get to work. He kept talking and inching closer. I kept my rifle covering his heart. Finally he said, “If you take the safety off that rifle I’ll kill you with this pick-axe.”
Meanwhile, I had been doing some soul-searching. No, I did not want to kill the fellow. But I had to know what I would do if I had to. OK. He is the one causing the problem, not me. Wouldn’t I be stupid to stand there and let him split my head just because I was afraid to pull the trigger? No. I was not going to back down. I reached up to the safety switch on my rifle and very openly flipped it off, starring into his eyes the whole time. He stood there for a moment. I had fully decided that the instant he began raising that pick I was pulling the trigger.
He backed off. The three or four of the prisoners that had bunched around him in obvious support melted away. My man turned his back to me and went back to work.
You know, I would have probably been in some trouble if I had killed him. But I would have been foolish to let him and his cohorts split my head open and beat my face in. I knew what I had to do.
Was I right?
Joe
CORRECTION: My apologies to all; The link
I posted above, on Google Alerts for Ramos
& Compean having Marshall’s Blog on top is
only active through my hotmail. So, here is
a paste in of that Google Alert:
Google Alert – Ramos & Compean
From: Google Alerts (googlealerts-noreply@google.com)
Sent: Sat 6/07/08 12:01 PM
To: hensley1138@hotmail.com
Google Blogs Alert for: Ramos & Compean
ANOTHER UNDESERVING COP FACES PRISON
By marshallfrank
Most of you have read my rants about the terrible fate of K-9 cop, Stephanie Mohr, and Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean, and more. Each are serving ten or more years in a federal prison, their lives in turmoil and their family’s …
Marshall Frank – http://www.marshallfrank.com/articles
Marshall & Billy V.
In my 1st post to this blog I told MF I would help follow this story. If Billy V.
and Rivers would consider a pro bono trip
to Nebraska, I best get digging in web.
First, it appears Nebraska Law on mandatory
Grand Jury investigations, of all deaths in
police custody or under the process of apprehension, must surely date from the 1800’s. I have a NE news article on grand
jury call ups on 2 other recent deaths in
NE, one a suicide by the prep while being
arrested and the other an apparent heart
attack, while in jail. This is NUTS!
In California and most states I believe, if
the County D.A. signs off on “justifiable”
and the dead suspects family fails to involve the State AG or FBI,; Case Closed.
Get a cup of coffee, tea or even a stiff
drink, before you click on this story. If
it does not boggle your mind, I’m stumped!
STAR-HERALD 06/06/2008
Prosecutors impaneling juries to probe deaths
By MAUNETTE LOEKS , Staff Reporter
Nebraska state law requires that a grand jury review the death whenever a person dies while in custody of law enforcement or being apprehended. …MORE…@ >>
http://www.starherald.com/site/news.cfm?dept_id=553251&PAG=461&newsid=19751560 – 69k -
M.F. & Qualified Investigators,
Welcome to the smell of small town politics.
FYI; Crawford Pop. 1,100 PD Chief + 2FT 1PT.
I excerpt from a Omaha World-Herald Article.
“Sheriff deputies patrolling in Crawford”
By PAUL HAMMEL (10-06-2007)
…..Thompson, who was hired as chief in 1999, has been the subject of criticism while in Crawford.
Four years ago, then-Mayor Georgia Keightly suspended Thompson for issuing an unauthorized press release.
Earlier this year, a Crawford resident, Dennis Lyons, took out a full-page ad in the Chadron Record newspaper criticizing the chief and the town’s decision to employ him……….MORE. Full story @ >
http://www.starherald.com/site/printerFriendly.cfm?brd=484&dept_id=553251&newsid=18890304
I’m not a retired police officer like the rest of you. I don’t own a gun. The last time I shot a rifle, it was a .22 and I was in North Miami Beach with Marshall.
If I were faced with a psychopathic 16 year old (an oxymoron?) pointing his Glock at me, I hope that Marshall (or an officer about 40 years younger) would be by my side shooting to kill.
The town better give the Chief a medal and pay his legal expenses, if there is still justice in the U.S.A.
The trouble with rushing to support a cop accused of acting badly is that we do NOT have all the details, now do we? The grand jurors heard a hell of a lot more than we do here. The MOHR case is typical: The lady cop had a history of allowing her dog to attack the innocent and had been disciplined before but still loosed the dog at the slightest opportunity. She let her dog bite and wound a totally innocent man laying in a hammock…and as always because she ‘ felt ‘ he ‘ might ‘ do something!!
The suspects had ZERO burglary tools and there was no evidence of them committing any crime except for trespassing. As they were coming down with THREE cops standing there with guns drawn MOHR loosed her dog yet again because she felt that one man ‘ might ‘ make a move. She must have psychic powers to always know when something is about to happen, huh?
Ramos and Compeon were just as guilty; shooting an UNARMED man in the back used to be called dry gulching and was considered cowardly. The man was smuggling some pot, for God’s sake, and ran away when stopped. To try and kill a man because you cannot run him down on foot is a crime and a shame, and then the cop’s FALSIFIED the reports and lied many times.
Reading the trial transcripts gives the details that the thug supporters never seem to want to talk about; details that show why a JURY of his peers found convincing enough to convict on.Was the border patrol officer believable when he said that he always wore gloves when on duty against his superiors orders because the ‘ station was gross”? Hardly. A Harley riding cop is a sissy about dust at the station? Gimme a break.
Maybe this case has details we know nothing about. I am GLAD that that state has a law that all killings by cop’s must be investigated. It is a SICK joke to imagine that some DA, always a lackey for the cop’s anyway, would find cause to question any actions by a cop. Most prosecutors would cover up for a cop if they could and we all know it.
Ron Kenerly: Sionce you know me so well that you can make assumptions, here is a wake up: I was a sworn officer with the City of Miami back in the 70’s and ran the security detail at the downtown Jeffersons store for years. I made personally over 100 arrests, mostly for larceny and have foot chased and taken down some really scummy Liberty City and Overtown types, many times after a fight.
I engaged a violent felon in the City graveyard after attacking an old woman right in front of me and stood up for a gunfight trying to take him down….he got away but dropped his gun and her purse…she had a broken shoulder where he had slung her down but was very glad I got her purse back for her.
My Dad was with Miami Shores police for 20 years and I grew up in that station as a kid. I have seen it all and done mostr of it. I was uniformed on patrol for a year with an armed security service and also worked armored cars in Miami as well, and that is a job with high stress, believe me. I know the streets.
I also know how many cop’s will push the limits and often cross them, and that is NOT kosher. We must all play by the rules and when cop’s cross the line it has consequences beyond the obvious in many cases. Maybe the Chief did the right thing, maybe he did not. But we sitting here did NOT hear nall the details, so why assume at all?
The border patrol cases were stone cold enough for jail as they tried to gun down a man fleeing who was NOT armed…and anyone who believes the old and standard line about” I thought he was reaching’ should realize that they teach that in the academies now: just say he went for his waistband and get a pass on a bad killing…..and that is wrong.
If they had allowed the man to escape what harm would have been done? He got away anyhow, shot but alive, and a few tokers had to go to another dealer to get their weed that week…so what good was done? Careers ruined and all for nothing. If the people would demand decrim and regulation of drugs we would see this nation change for the better right away.
The smartest and most honest cop’s on earth belong to L. E . A . P . !!
Looking down the muzzle is a scary thing. I think the chief did the right thing.
looks like another nifong lefty in a skirt. i hope the defence not only wins this case but mskes a fool out of this feminazi.
a
Hey tell the cop…and all dirty cops that if you can’t do the time don’t do the crime…send him to jail….
Whether Richard Thompson was “guilty” or not, the point that kids and parents of kids need to understand is that the kid is DEAD. That is what happens to these little runts when they can’t see what will happen to them if they don’t stay in school, settle down, and become nice adults one day. It is the parent’s fault too that the kid was killed, not the cop. But, kids and parents alike, notice this; THE KID IS DEAD! So wise up or yours will be DEAD or end up killing someone themselves. This has got to stop.
until he is aquitted that police chief thompson is gonna be at risk from the other prisoners!
Until chief thompson is aquitted he is still at hight risk from the other prisoners
to speak about cops in prison,
there was a case in texas about almost five years ago involving a drug smuggler from mexico who was shot and killed while crossing back over the border into mexico by two border patrol agents and they were both arrested tried convicted and in prisoned they were locked up with the other prisoners by mistake in the general prison population and both agents were attacked by the other prisoners and one of the agents died at the hands of the prisoners and the other nearly lost his own life as well and he was transfered to mississippi prison isolation unit for his own safety and now he fears that his own life is now in jeaprdy from the prisoners there!