Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

 

The Graveyard Shift extends our condolences to the families of each of these brave officers.

Lieutenant Cliff Rouse, 39

Dougherty County Georgia Police Department

December 23, 2010 – Lieutenant Cliff Rouse was shot and killed after responding to an armed robbery at a convenience store. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Officer Ann O’Donnell, 24

University of Houston (Texas) Police Department

December 24, 2010 – Officer Ann O’Donnell was killed in an automobile crash while responding to a robbery-in-progress call. She is survived by her parents and sister.

Deputy Sheriff Michael Ray Schaefer, 55

Uvalde County Texas Sheriff’s Department

December 25, 2010 – Deputy Michael Schaefer suffered a fatal heart attack while struggling with a criminal suspect.

Officer John Maguire, 60

Woburn Massachusetts Police Department

December 26, 2010 – Officer John Maguire was shot and killed after responding to a robbery in progress. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Trooper First Class Chadwick T. LeCroy, 38

Georgia State Patrol

December 27, 2010 – Trooper First Class Chadwick T. LeCroy was shot and killed after a brief vehicle pursuit. Trooper LeCroy is survived by his wife and two sons.

Officer Jillian Michelle Smith, 24

Arlington Texas Police Department

December 28, 2010 – Officer Jillian Smith was shot and killed after responding to a domestic disturbance.

*As of this posting there have been 162 line of duty deaths in 2010.

Thanks to ODMP

Officer Jillian Smith

I remember the feeling of answering your first calls with your field training officer stuck to you like glue, making sure you didn’t do or say anything dumb. It was also the FTO’s responsibility to keep you safe. Sure, you’d been through months of training at the academy, but nothing could prepare you for the real street action.

Years later, I, too, became a field training officer, watching over the rookies as they learned the ropes and tricks of the trade. It’s a period in an officer’s career that’s not unlike a baby taking her first steps. They stumble around and mom or dad is always there to catch them when they fall. But there are some in this world who never trip. They never stumble. Those are the ones who hit the carpet running. And that’s the story of Arlington Texas Police Officer Jillian Smith.

Jillian was a typical girl in high school. A good student and a cheerleader. But there was one thing that set her apart from the other giggling  sixth-graders. She wanted to be a police officer, an interest sparked by the local D.A.R.E. program.

Smith, with her goals in mind, received a bachelors degree in criminology from the University of Texas where she graduated with honors in August of 2009. Six months later she was hired by the Arlington Police Department. She checked the first goal off her list and entered the police academy—Class 41. Again, her drive was evident. She earned top grades in many of the classes and she graduated on August 20, 2010.

With her academy training behind her, Smith breezed through the field training program, completing it on December 13, 2010. She now had another goal in mind. She wanted to get some street experience behind her and then, hopefully, sign on with the FBI. That was two weeks ago.

Tuesday night, fifteen short days after completing all her training, Jillian Michelle Smith was shot to death while protecting an 11-year-old child during a domestic dispute. Officer Smith had responded to a low-priority call where a woman wanted to file a report of abuse by her husband who had already left the residence.

Officer Smith was in the process of recording the necessary information when the husband returned and began firing a weapon. Smith placed herself between the gunfire and the child and was killed. The suspect also shot and killed his wife, but the child Officer Smith had protected was able to escape without harm. The suspect then shot and killed himself.

Officer Jillian Smith was a true hero, and if she were able to do so she could check one more item off her list. You see, Officer Smith firmly believed she was on this earth to protect and serve the community where she lived. And she was right. Because of her bravery a child lived to see another day.

Attacks leave 5 dozen Americans dead

If the headline read, Attacks Leave Five Dozen Americans Dead, would you be alarmed? Would you sit up and take notice? Would you want justice served? Sure you would. And rightly so. And I’ve heard the anger when Americans speak of our soldiers dying when they’re attacked while defending us. Again, we have a right to be angry at the barbarians who killed those brave young men and women. These are front page stories. Big headlines. And they make us mad. They make us sad. And some have even wanted to seek vengeance by blowing up entire countries. Yes, we want to stand by our own…right?

Then why is it when a police officer is shot and killed the story rarely makes the front page? When, or if, an officer’s death does make the headlines the article is normally buried beneath a story like the latest Sarah Palin adventure—her kid’s gutter mouths, a moose killing, or making smores.

Police officer on-duty deaths are on the rise at an alarming rate. There was a 37 percent increase in those deaths this year, and it seems like cop-killing has almost become a sport for some bad guys.

In 2010 alone, 160 police officers have lost their lives while enforcing our laws and defending our lives and property. Those 160 officers left home that morning fully expecting to return home to a nice dinner with their families, play a little catch with their kids, and maybe watch Castle on TV before turning in for the night. Instead, some thug decided that killing a cop to escape arrest was better than serving 6 months in jail for shoplifting.

Fifty-nine police officers were gunned down this year. Yes, someone pulled the trigger on a weapon while taking aim at a police officer. And those officers fell to the ground, bleeding, and died. Blood drained from their bodies, pouring out onto asphalt, concrete, carpeting, and stairways. The scenario is becoming a familiar one. It’s almost as if cop-killing is becoming another way of life—collateral damage. Or a badge of honor among street thugs. It’s sickening.

Yesterday, I attended a large family gathering. We enjoyed a nice meal together and catching up on the latest news led to a house full of loud chatter. One of the family members seated near me is a deputy sheriff and, of course, we talked shop. He’s a young man who loves his job. He loves the uniform and the badge and what they stand for. Listening to him reminded me of me thirty years ago when I was saying the same things to another retired police officer, a man I admired and who was largely responsible for igniting the “want to be a cop” fire in me.

During my conversation yesterday with Deputy Family Member, I noticed how quiet and soft-spoken he was. He’s a large muscular man, like many deputies, and I sensed that his size is in direct proportion to his compassion for the people he serves. I also noticed that he took the time to think before speaking. His words were measured and his statements were especially meaningful when we discussed officer safety. My thoughts quickly drifted to my Friday blogs honoring the officers who’ve been killed in the line of duty during those individual weeks.

I know that police officers have been trained to be as safe as possible. But I wonder if we haven’t somehow painted a bulls eye on their chests by forcing departments to cut back on manpower (backup), supplies, and training. Times are tight, yes, but is reducing officer safety the place to start pinching pennies? To me, five dozen dead police officers is unacceptable. And those are just the ones who were shot and killed this year. One-hundred-one more were run over by cars, beaten to death, killed in car crashes while chasing fleeing felons, and a few suffered fatal heart attacks while struggling with some punk who was attempting to escape arrest.

So, if the headline read,  Nearly Fourteen Dozen Americans Dead, would you take notice? You should, because that’s how many officers have died in the line of duty so far this year.

To all the officers out there…Please be careful. Wear your vests. And don’t take any chances. There’s no shame in a tactical retreat. Your family enjoys spending time with you. Even if it’s only once a year at the holiday gathering.

Case of the midnight prowler

A few years ago our Christmas vacation took an unexpected twist. It was unusual to say the least. First, we left fairly warm temperatures and sunny skies in coastal Georgia so we could spend some time at our house in North Carolina (near Mayberry, of course). Well, who would’ve expected that we’d be slammed with a pretty powerful winter storm, the same storm system that crippled much of the east coast. And who would’ve figured I’d have unexpected guests show up a little after midnight on our first night there.

The snow was coming down quite heavily and, unfortunately, placed a tremendous burden on the branches of several newly-planted evergreens in the backyard. The weight of the wet snow caused a few of the young trees to bend until their tops rested on the already white ground. And me, not wanting to lose either of those precious Deodar (Himalayan) Cedars, suited up and braved the cold and blowing snow to lend them a hand with survival.

Sounds brave, right? But what I actually did was simply slip on a jacket, boots, and gloves, and venture out into the moonless night to shake the snow from their branches (not so heroic after all, huh?).

Since I was already outside I also decided to clear a “restroom”spot for the family poodle. Then, with my chores complete I headed back inside to work on the rewrites of my book. I’m a late-night writer, which may account for the many errors seen on this blog.

http://www.thedogtrainingsecret.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/doorbell.jpg

Anyway, I settled into a comfortable chair with my laptop and was well into fixing a scene per my really sharp editor when my doorbell began to ring, quite relentlessly. Remember, this was well after midnight during a heavy snowstorm when the roads were nearly impassible (our N.C. house is well into the depths of the county in a lakeside community). Of course, since I’m writing a thriller, I began to think the worse.

Okay, it was late and I was really tired…

But, having lived the life of a trained observer and teacher of police officer safety and survival, I reverted back to my many years of training and did what any hyper-alert police officer would’ve done…I peeked outside through the blinds to see who, or what, was ringing my bell so late at night.

I was surprised to see not one, but two snow-covered police vehicles idling in my driveway. I was also a little stunned to see that the officers had lit up my house and yard with their spotlights and takedown lights. AND they had taken tactical positions around the house. The only thing missing was the bullhorn.

My first thought…hide the eggnog and rum cake. Second thought…put on something other than sleepwear. Third thought…Well, there was no third thought. I simply opened the door and stepped outside, in shorts, t-shirt, and barefoot. It was around 25 degrees, so I slipped my hands into my pockets for a little warmth.

One of the officers, the one in charge, decided to approach me, cautiously. It was at this point when I realized they were awfully serious about something. A second officer—backup—walked up with his hand resting on his sidearm. I noticed the thumb break on his holster had been unsnapped.

His other hand gripped a can of pepperspray.

Very nice, polite officers. Both of them. And they were all about the business at hand. But, you tell me how you think they handled this situation. Were their methods and questions appropriate? Were they safety-conscious? Anything wrong? Everything right? Here’s the basic conversation (questioning).

Officer #1 (speaking to me) – “Evening, sir. Wonder if you could tell me what you’re doing here?”

Me – “I live here.”

#1 – “But this house is vacant.”

Me – “No, I live here, but have a home in another state as well. We’re back and forth between the two.”

#1 – “How long have you lived in this house?”

Me – “Two years, or so.”

#1 – “How long have you been here on this trip?”

Me – “Since last week.”

#1 – “Who owns the house?”

Me – “I do.”

At this point Officer #2  abruptly chimes in. “You’re not black.”

I smiled. “No, I’m not.”

#2 – “You been outside tonight?” (Remember, I’d been out tending to the trees and to the doggy restroom, therefore, the yard was loaded with footprints in the snow).

Me – “I have.” (I explained).

#2 – “A neighbor called and said a black guy wearing a hoodie was walking around your house peeping in the windows. You seen anyone?”

Me – “No.” Tip…providing more information than what you’re asked can sometimes be the beginning of an all new black and white striped wardrobe.

#2 to #1 – She must have seen him (a nod toward me) outside and thought it was someone else.”

#1 uses his portable to call dispatch – “I’m talking to the owner. This is his house but he lives out of state and is in town here for a while. Everything’s 10-4.”

#1 to me – “Sorry we bothered you but we have to check these things out. Have a good night.”

Me to #1 and #2 – “Thanks for coming out. Makes me feel good knowing that you respond to these type of calls, especially since we’re not around all the time. (I didn’t bother to tell him about our alarm system and the neighbors who watch and check the place like Pinkerton guards).

#1 and #2 in unison – “No problem.”

Me again – “Wouldn’t you like to see some ID?”

#1 “No, we trust you. Have a good night, now.”

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4322190137_f97986bc9d.jpg

And with head-nods and waves they turned their backs to me and walked to their patrol vehicles leaving me standing on the front porch, shivering, as they drove away. They also left me with a few questions bouncing around inside my head. Anyone have an idea what those questions could be?

Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

The Graveyard Shift extends our condolences to the families of each of these brave officers.

Officer James Lister

Arizona State University Police Department

December 16, 2010 – Officer James Lister suffered a fatal heart attack one day after responding to a fight at the university.

Officer Andrew J. Rameas, 33

Harker Heights Texas Police Department

December 20, 2010 – Officer Rameas was leading a funeral procession when an SUV suddenly turned in front of his motorcycle. He was unable to avoid a collision with the SUV and died as a result of the injuries he received in the crash.

Officer Rameas is survived by his parents.

IAFIS and IDENT: Government BFF's

In the past, federal and local law enforcement agencies were like oil and water. They didn’t mix. There was no sharing of information and no real cooperation among agencies. And there was certainly no love lost between the two (Picture Rush Limbaugh in a room with President Obama. Yeah, that bad.). But not passing along vital information wasn’t a problem that existed just between the locals and the feds. Not at all. Those three letter federal agencies were just as tight-lipped with each other. And that’s a problem when it comes to catching bad guys.

But in the wake of  9-11 things changed. Officials quickly realized the importance of information sharing. Officer’s lives depended on it. Civilian’s lives depended on it. And the security of our country depended on it. And a good thing to begin sharing was vital information about criminals. After all, that’s common ground, right? All law enforcement agencies are after the crooks, so what do all crooks have in common that could/should be shared among LEO’s (law enforcement officers)? You guessed it…fingerprints and criminal histories.

Nearly everyone has heard of IAFIS (Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System). That’s the national fingerprint and criminal history system maintained by the FBI. In fact, IAFIS is home to the fingerprint and criminal history records of more than 66 million people/suspects. What you may not know is that IAFIS also includes mugshots, tattoo and scar information, and the prints of those who serve or have served in the U.S. military.

IAFIS response time can be as fast as ten minutes for criminal cases, and perhaps as long as an hour or so for civil inquiries. The system responds to over 160,000 requests each and every day.

Okay, that’s IAFIS. Now, for IDENT (Automated Biometric Identification System). IDENT was first used in 1989 by INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) as a means to collect and transmit data, such as fingerprints, date of birth, nationality, and photographs, in real time.

http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/10/24/PH2009102402324.jpg

Mobile Fingerprint Reader

The data collected for IDENT is normally gathered from persons whose citizenship status may be questionable, terrorists, or those persons involved in crimes/cases worked by ICE, Border Patrol, and other government agencies charged with protecting the U.S borders (Department of Homeland Security).

So, seeing the need to “compare notes,” the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)  have integrated the two systems. Now a check of a suspect’s prints, background, immigration and previous deportation status, etc. can be conducted in a timely manner. In the past, many suspects who were wanted for crimes by other agencies simply slipped through the cracks.

In the first four months of 2010, IDENT produced over 73,000 hits, or matches, of a suspect to a print in the system. As a result , nearly 3,000 illegal immigrants were removed from the U.S. during the month of January 2010 alone. Of that group nearly 500 had been charged or convicted of serious and/or violent crimes in the U.S.

The combined system is working well and will only improve as time goes on. Other agencies have begun sharing information and are experiencing similar results. Local law enforcement and the feds are finally working together on many projects.

And, for now, IAFIS and IDENT are BFF’s (best friends forever). OMG…

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site21/2010/1201/20101201__02dcadogw_300.jpg

Two more BFF’s.

Salvia Divinorum: Hannah Montana's Drug Of Choice?

But Mom, salvia’s got to be safe. Hannah Montana smokes it!

Actually, salvia, a common plant found in many gardens across the country, is in the mint family and produces lovely purplish-blue flowers. It’s great for borders and as an accent plant. It’s also great for producing extremely intense hallucinations. Therefore, smoking it has become an extremely popular way to get high. Don’t believe it? Ask Miley Cyrus.

Salvia smoking is not new to young people. In fact, it’s been around for years. But Billy Ray’s not-so-innocent little girl, Miley, recently brought salvia to center stage when a video surfaced of her “hitting a bong” filled with the plant.

Mazatec Indians smoked salvia to induce “visions.” Mazatec shamans in Mexico use it to explore a person’s illnesses in the supernatural world.  Kids today use it to get high. And the high they experience is like no other.

Salvia, unlike heroin and other drugs, does not produce a euphoric effect. Someone who smokes salvia can expect a very personal hallucinogenic experience that is often quite unpleasant. When smoked, a salvia high is rather short-lived, reaching its peak in under 30 minutes and tapering off rapidly thereafter. The effects are astounding. Users have described their experiences as:

– Becoming an inanimate object, such as a chair or tree

– A sense of total madness

– Being a part of multiple realities

– A total loss of control

– Time travel

– A feeling of being underground, or immersed in deep water

http://reason.com/assets/mc/jsullum/2010_04/salvia-divinorum-plants.jpg

One salvia researcher, Daniel Siebert, devised a scale for the various levels of a salvia experience.

* S – SUBTLE effects, Relaxation and increased sensual appreciation may be noted. This mild level is useful for meditation and may facilitate sexual pleasure.

* A – ALTERED perception, colors and textures are paid attention to. Thinking becomes less logical, and more playful.

* L – LIGHT visionary state. Closed eye visuals (clear imagery with eyes closed).

* V – VIVID visionary state. Complex three dimensional realistic appearing scenes occur. With eyes closed you experience fantasies. So long as your eyes are closed you may believe they are really occurring.

* I – IMMATERIAL existence. Individuality may be lost; one experiences merging with the Divine.

* A – AMNESIC effects. Loss of consciousness. The individual may fall, or remain immobile or thrash around. Dangerous!

To date, several states have already banned salvia possession and its use. Many of those states have classified salvia as a dangerous drug and placed it in the same category as heroin.

Legal status of Salvia divinorum in the United States (Wikipedia image)

Red – Banned by law

Brown – Ban being considered

Yellow – Sale to minors prohibited

HOWEVER, research is currently underway for salvia use for diseases that produce hallucinations, such as schizophrenia and dementia. It has also been suggested as a potential treatment for stimulant abuse. And it may help to alleviate depression.

*     *     *

Last Week In England With Paul Beecroft

My friend, Paul Beecroft, has spent a good deal of his life in law enforcement, in England. He’s worked Foot Patrol, Area Car, Instant Response Car and also as a Police Motorcyclist. He’s currently a coroner’s investigator and has traveled all over England, Wales, Scotland and even Germany to investigate crimes.

Today, Paul has taken some time away from shoveling snow (enough to shut down Heathrow) to fill us in on some of the crime in his neck of the woods. Thanks, Paul. As always, it’s good to hear from you.

Last Week In England

Man jailed for the attempted murder of police officer and robbery of betting shop – Bracknell

Kes Nattriss

A man who was released from prison on licence only days before stabbing a police officer in Bracknell and robbing a betting shop has been jailed for life.

Kes Nattriss, aged 28, of no fixed abode, was jailed for life for attempting to murder a police officer, with a determinate sentence of 25 years. He received life imprisonment for robbery and a four year sentence for being in possession of an offensive weapon. These are to be served concurrently.

The sentences were heard at Reading Crown Court this afternoon (10/12) and come into affect from today (10/12).

On Thursday last week (2/12), Nattriss was found guilty of attempted murder by a unanimous verdict following a trial at Reading Crown Court. He was remanded in custody to await sentencing today (10/12). Nattriss pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of an offensive weapon at an earlier hearing.

On Wednesday 19 May 2010, only five days after being released from prison having served a sentence for committing 11 robberies at off-licences and one bookmaker, Nattriss entered Corals, Liscombe, Birch Hill, Bracknell, shortly before midday.

The 28-year-old walked up to the counter and handed over a betting slip to a member of staff who initially thought that he had completed it incorrectly. However, upon second glance, she saw that the note read: “Give me all the money and their won’t be a seen” (sic). The staff member asked Nattriss whether he was joking, to which he replied: “No.”

Det Con Luke Simms – a plain clothed officer who was in the shop at the time with his colleague conducting enquiries into an unrelated matter- was standing nearby and caught a glimpse of the note. He quickly realised that there was a robbery in progress, recognised Nattriss from a recent police photograph and knew that he had previous convictions for armed robbery. The detective whispered to his colleague – Det Con Lisa Child – the situation and the fact that they needed to call for assistance. She immediately left the shop. However, moments later Det Con Child described Nattriss leaving the shop followed by Det Con Simms who tried to arrest him.

During the arrest attempt, Det Con Simms recalled being lunged at and Nattriss running off. Det Con Child noticed blood on Det Con Simms’ shirt and immediately thought that he had been stabbed. The pair went back into Corals where Det Con Child administered first aid before being joined by paramedics. The seriously injured officer was taken to Frimley Park Hospital. The consultant who saw Det Con Simms upon admission realised that his condition was critical and required immediate emergency surgery to stop a severe bleed to the abdomen.

Meanwhile, officers from Thames Valley, along with an off-duty police officer from another Force who was in the vicinity, conducted an area search for the offender. The Force’s helicopter and dog unit also provided assistance. As more information developed, the search widened to the Wokingham area, in particular Wokingham railway station. Officers sitting in an unmarked car conducting observations for the offender spotted Nattriss get off a train at approximately 1.30pm and into a taxi. The taxi was followed by these officers who provided a running commentary to officers from the Tactical Firearms Team, who stopped the vehicle in Nine Mile Ride and arrested Nattriss. A knife was found in some bushes not far from Corals.

In custody, Nattriss was presented with the full facts of the case, including CCTV evidence. He replied ‘no comment’ to all questions. He was later charged with one count of robbery relating to the incident at Corals, one count of attempted murder following the critical injuries sustained by Det Con Simms, and one count of being in possession of a knife.

Det Ch Insp Steve Tolmie, senior investigating officer, said: “I am pleased with today’s sentence which reflects the severity of the offences committed by Nattriss – a very dangerous man who deserves to be locked up for a very long time.

“I hope that today will hopefully go some way towards helping bring closure to the victims of these incidents and their families.

“Nattriss showed complete disregard for the safety of any individual who decided to confront him on the day. Detectives Luke Simms and Lisa Child acted courageously in tackling him and they should be commended for their actions. The severity of this incident illustrates the type of incidents police officers can be faced with.

“Nattriss has also shown a complete disregard for law and order, as he committed these offences only days after he was released from prison on licence.

He added: “When released from prison, Nattriss failed to meet probation officers as required. His licence was therefore immediately revoked and he was actively being sought by the authorities. On the day he committed the offences in May this year, he knowingly carried a knife which he was willing to use.”

CPS reviewing lawyer Adrian Roberts said: “DC Simms was subjected to a wicked and unnecessary knife attack by Kes Nattriss, who had been released from a lengthy prison sentence for other serious offences only days before the incident, and knew his victim was a police officer.

“This attack has caused a great deal of distress to DC Simms, who nearly died, and to his family and colleagues. Only the skill of the surgeon saved his life. We would like to commend the bravery of DC Simms, who was doing his duty to the public by trying to arrest a man for a very serious offence. By doing so, he placed his own life in jeopardy.

“Nattriss has been brought before the courts and the jury has convicted him of attempted murder, having concluded that he intended to kill the officer when he stabbed him. We will prosecute people who carry knives and use them to cause harm, intimidate others and most importantly, to threaten the lives of decent people doing their legitimate business.

“Today Nattriss has been sent to prison for many years and justice has been served. We hope this outcome means that DC Simms can now move forward with his life.”

In 2006, Nattriss, who was 23 years old at the time, was charged with 11 offences relating to robberies in the Woking, Addlestone, Wokingham and Bracknell areas in May that year. He was sentenced to seven years and nine months in prison.

An account from DC Luke Simms, stabbed during an incident in Bracknell this year

Scene of the attempted murder of LC Luke Simms

An account from DC Luke Simms, stabbed during an incident in Bracknell this year:

While I was conducting routine enquiries at a bookmakers in Bracknell, a robbery took place. I approached the offender to detain him, but, unknown to me, he had a concealed weapon – a knife – which he plunged into my side. After a brief struggle the offender fell backwards and ran from the scene.

Paramedics were called and I was taken to Frimley Park Hospital where emergency surgery was performed.

The knife used by the offender had entered my left abdomen area, cutting through the spleen, through the diaphragm and puncturing the lung.

I was not aware of the stab wound until after the offender had run from the scene. I didn’t feel any pain. When somebody told me I had been stabbed I did not at first realise how badly injured I was. It was not until a couple of minutes later that the effects of the stab wound took hold of me. I began to feel faint and was finding breathing very difficult. Unknown to me, my left lung had collapsed. At this point I was desperately trying to stay conscious and keep breathing properly. At times I felt like I was drifting away and at one stage thought I might not make it.

I spent four days in the intensive care ward and seven days in hospital in total.

Surgeons and nurses at the hospital did an incredible job in treating and caring for me.

The incident has made me aware of how big Thames Valley Police is and the support they can offer. I received hundreds of get well soon wishes and praise for my actions on the day in question from both colleagues and concerned members of the public. The attention I received from the welfare officer was vital in getting back to work. I was particularly impressed by colleagues at Bracknell who clubbed together to buy me a Playstation 3 to assist with my recovery at home, and a collection which allowed my partner and I to spend a few days away together to get our lives back on track. Off work for 3½ months, I returned in September, working restricted light duties.

On the day in question, soon after the note was passed to the cashier behind the counter I quickly realised that there was a robbery in progress, recognised Nattriss from a recent police photograph and knew that he had previous convictions for armed robbery. It was only after the incident that I actually discovered that he had previously committed 11 armed robberies in 2006, was sentenced to seven years nine months in prison, and was released on licence five days prior to committing the incidents in May this year. My family was disgusted that somebody who was clearly a threat to the public was allowed back out on the streets.

Mr Nattriss pleaded not guilty to offences involving my attack. The case was scheduled to be heard at Reading Crown Court on my 36th birthday. At court I was made aware that the defendant was represented by a QC and I was amazed at the efforts being made to exclude evidence from witnesses about Mr Nattriss’ previous bad character. Likewise Mr Nattriss seemed to be dismissive of the legal process and avoided giving evidence. Thankfully the jury came back after deliberation with a unanimous guilty verdict. I am pleased with the result and hopefully Mr Nattriss will be given a long sentence which reflects the crimes committed. This will allow my family and me to have some closure and move on.


*     *     *

Farmer accidentally shoots burglars

A disabled farmer trying to kill a fox accidentally shot and wounded two burglars raiding a cannabis farm he did not know existed.

Edward Tibbs, 62, fired his shotgun three times into the dark from the seat of his mobility scooter after being woken in the early hours.

He was aiming at a fox trying to steal geese from an enclosure on his 650-acre arable farm in Crays Hill, Billericay, Essex, but hidden in the darkness were two men trying to break into an outhouse he had rented out and which now contained a secret drugs factory.

They suffered gunshot wounds to their backs and legs and suspicious hospital doctors called in police.

Several hours later, a team of police marksmen, accompanied by a helicopter, stormed into Mr Tibbs’s home and arrested him on suspicion of attempted murder.

The extraordinary story only came to light after investigators told Mr Tibbs he would face no further action.

Mr Tibbs, who suffers multiple sclerosis and neuralgia, said the “horrendous” three-month Essex Police investigation “devastated” his family and business.

Speaking about the shooting, he said: “They must have been 50 or 60 yards away, probably further. If they had been 30 yards off I would have killed them.

“It was pitch black. Black as your hat. There are no lights here at all. I came out of lights, the house, and saw the fox. I know which way they go and saw movement and fired three times at it and that was that.

“I never knew I had hit anyone, no screams or hollering, no nothing. I just came back indoors.”

*     *     *

Man In Court Over Banbury Double Murder


A man has been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with murdering a woman and her son at the home they shared in Oxfordshire.

The bodies of Sally Cox, 43, and 22-year-old Martin Faulkner were discovered in a “horrific scene” at the terraced house in Banbury on Monday.

Michael Kelly was arrested by police at a residential address in Swindon hours after the victims’ remains were found.

The 45-year-old was charged with two counts of murder, Thames Valley Police said.

During a brief hearing at Banbury Magistrates’ Court, Kelly, from Swindon, spoke only to confirm his name and address.

He is due to appear at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday.

Kelly, who wore a light grey tracksuit, is also accused of one count of grievous bodily harm.

This charge relates to a 19-year-old girl who was badly injured in the incident, thought to be Mrs Cox’s daughter Amy.

Two teenagers, said to be Amy and Mrs Cox’s other daughter, 13-year-old Katie, were in the house at the time of the attack but managed to escape.

Amy is in a serious but stable condition at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital, while her sister Katie is “severely traumatised” but had no physical injuries.

A post-mortem examination on Mrs Cox revealed she died of multiple head injuries caused by a “heavy bladed instrument”, a spokesman for the police force said.

Results of her son’s post-mortem are yet to be revealed.

Officers who went to the house were confronted by a “horrific scene”, with two people “obviously dead or very close to death”, Detective Inspector Steve Duffy said.

He added: “All I can confirm is their injuries are consistent with blunt trauma and I can’t say if an axe was used, but a firearm was not used.”

Mrs Cox and her family are believed to have lived in their house for a year

Weekend Road Trips: Friends

 

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to meet your favorite writer? Do they act like their characters? Are their minds as twisted as those of the devious killers in their books? Are they shy? Outgoing? Hermits? Heck, some people simply want to know what their favorite authors look like. Well, here are a few snapshots of some of our writer-friends. No hermits or serial killers, but they sure know how to tell a story!

More to come.

 

Robin Burcell

*     *     *

As you know, during the past few weeks we were slammed by hackers, phishers, and other internet thugs. As a result, we made the decision to move to a new server and webhost, and I’m pleased to say that we’ve found a wonderful new home for The Graveyard Shift. We’re still rearranging a little furniture but basically the site is back to full steam with tons of security in place.

Thank you for your patience.

Friday's Heroes - Remembering the fallen officers

The Graveyard Shift extends our condolences to the families of each of these brave officers.

Sergeant Wesley Richard Whitmore Jr., 60

Polk County Florida Sheriff’s Office

December 12, 2010 – Sergeant Wesley Whitmore was struck and killed just after he’d exited his patrol car in a convenience store parking lot. The 79-year-old driver of the vehicle that struck Sgt. Whitmore told investigators that he’d blacked out just before the crash. Sgt. Whitmore is survived by his wife and grown children.

Sgt. Whitmore’s patrol car after the crash that killed him.

Border Patrol Agent Brian A. Terry, 40

United States Department of Homeland Security – Border Patrol

December 14, 2010 – Agent Brian Terry was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a group of armed men who were intending to rob illegal immigrants. Agent Terry was shot in the back with an AK-47. He is survived by his parents, a brother, and two sisters.

The road to the area where Agent Terry was killed is blocked by a Border Patrol vehicle