November - The Police News

Transcription

FREE…
TAKE ONE
PUBLISHED BY GULF COAST POLICE NEWS
www.gcpolicenews.com
VOLUME lll, NUMBER 11
FIRST IN AMERICA: SINCE 2004
Enforcing the Law, Then Breaking It
When officers go to prison, it shatters lives, forces, communities
By DIANE JENNINGS
The Dallas Morning News
is pasty prison complexion flushes
when a photographer pulls out a
camera.
The 18-year law enforcement veteran will
talk about his experience in one of Texas’
cookie-cutter prison units.
But he doesn’t want to be identified. And
no pictures.
He’s only told one fellow inmate about his
previous occupation. Even those he shared
a cell with don’t know he was an officer –
now serving a 25-year sentence for possession with intent to deliver cocaine, as well
additional sentences for burglary and theft
charges.
He intends to keep it that way.
”There are three types of inmates hated in
prison,” says another former officer who
served time. “The child molester, the snitch
and the cop.”
Law enforcement officers who break the
law crop up in departments big and small
across the state. And the reasons they do it
– frustration with the criminal justice system, greed and stress – are as varied as the
individuals.
At least 110 licensed Texas officers, from
jailers to police chiefs, have spent time
behind bars – for offenses ranging from
theft to sexual assault, on and off the job,
according to a Dallas Morning News analysis
of law enforcement records of the last four
years.
More than twice that many have been convicted, received deferred adjudication or
been placed on probation for felony charges.
That’s a tiny fraction of the more than
83,000 active licensed peace officers in the
Lone Star state. But when an officer goes to
prison, the experience is shattering. And if
he crosses the line on duty, he generally is
more reviled than if he had broken the law
as a civilian. The crime sends shockwaves
through his life, department and community.
Nationwide, more than 365 police officers
have been convicted of public corruption in
the last two years, according to the Federal
Bureau of Investigation.
In Texas, there’s former Dallas police officer Mark Delapaz, who is appealing two fiveyear sentences handed down in state court
in June for his role in the fake-drug scandal
that sent innocent people to prison; former
Life on The Beat with
Galveston’s Senior Cop
Breck Porter / The Police News
H
B
ack in the 1940’s and 50’s most
kids played sandlot baseball and
football, jumped rope, made
sling shots from old inner-tubes, and wore
hand-me-down clothes from their older sib-
drug task force deputy commander Julio
Alfonso Lopez, who pleaded guilty in Laredo
in July to conspiracy to extort money from
drug dealers and former Cameron County
Sheriff Conrado Cantu, who was sentenced
to 24 years in prison in December for taking
money to protect drug shipments.
No one can say definitively whether the
number of officers gone bad has risen or
decreased in recent years because the subject is rarely studied. But criminal justice
experts say attention to corruption on the
job has definitely increased.
”There’s much greater willingness for
police to come forward to report illegal acts,
for the public to report it and certainly for the
judicial system to go after these people,” says
Dr. Richard Ward, associate vice president of
research at Sam Houston State University
and a former New York City detective.
Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle has
aggressively rooted out problem officers in
recent months.
And the FBI is making public corruption a
priority. About half of the FBI’s public corruption investigations involve law enforcement officers.
”It’s not a matter of how many cops are
corrupt; it’s a matter of how many citizens
we hurt,” says Dr. Sam Souryal, professor of
criminal justice and ethics at Sam Houston
State University.
”One bad cop is one bad cop too many.”
Chief Kunkle agrees.”The majority of our
police officers, by far, have incredible work
records,” he says. “They go 30 years without having accidents, they don’t take any
sick leave, all you find are commendations
and virtually no kind of adversity. Then we
have another group of employees who seem
to be in trouble a good portion of their
career.
”Law enforcement officers, past and prescontinued on page 7 (Bad Cops)
November 2006
old he told me that he was going to go into
the Army. So early one morning I drove him
and his buddy, Ronnie Wilson, to the bus
station and put them on the bus. I told the
bus driver not to let them off until the
Sergeant got them off the bus in Houston,”
Bill Scott in his modern day, computer equipped patrol car.
lings or cousins. And most kids wanted to recalled Ekelund.
grow up to be policemen, firemen or nurs“He went overseas to Bitburg, Germany
es. There was one of these kids in and when he came home he went to work
Galveston during that era.
at UTMB for a year or so before coming on
Billy Scott was born and raised in a red the police force.
brick house near the corner of Broadway
Billy is an outstanding officer. He has
and 26th Street on Galveston Island. The always presented himself first class. He
son of a U.S. Customs Inspector, and a was the type of young man that would listen
Mom who worked in city hall, Billy had the to the people that went on before him. The
yearning to become a policeman early in people he worked under, the Sergeants,
life. According to those who knew him, Lieutenants, Captains, he listened to them
including Oscar Ekelund, who in those and learned from them. He came up under
days was the local juvenile officer for the Captain Moose Adams and Lieutenant John
city police department, says little Billy Wayne Jennings. He remembered how
Scott made a point of befriending the local they handled situations.”
police officers, as early as his years at
Ekelund still refers to him as Billy or Little
Goliad Elementary School.
Brother. “Guys around the station called
continued on page 20 (Senior Cop)
“Billy used to hang around policemen.
He was a lifeguard back when the city had
the lifeguard service instead of the Sheriff.
He worked the beach around 26th and
Seawall. That was his beat,”
said Ekelund who retired from
the
Galveston
Police
Department and is now a
Deputy Sheriff and Court
ON THE SCENE with
Baliff in Galveston County.
Gulf Coast Police News
“When he was about 17-years
Breck Porter Publisher
[email protected]
Anthony Jones
Special Correspondent
Gary A. Jones
Advertising Sales
[email protected]
409-632-0082
Bob McPeak
Graphics Artist
Editor/Art Director
[email protected]
Mirror Publishers, Inc.
Printing
[email protected]
The Police News is publishedmonthly on the first of the month
by Gulf Coast Police News LLC in
Galveston County, Texas. © 2006,
All rights reserved.
Send tips, story ideas or comments
to:[email protected]
Phone: 409-762-NEWS (6397)
Sales: 409-632-0082
Fax: 409-632-0103
Texas EquuSearch Holiday Party
Texas EquuSearch invites Galveston
County and surrounding communities
to our holiday party Sunday, December
3, 2006, 2-6pm, at the Hilton on Nasa
Rd 1. Please contact our office at
281/309-9500 to RSVP by November
10th.
Each year Texas EquuSearch hosts a
holiday party to express our thanks
and appreciation to those that have
helped us serve the community and
families of missing persons. Without
the help of law enforcement agencies,
fire departments, news media, Crime
Stopper groups, Citizen’s Patrol
groups, Medical Examiner and
Coroner Offices, cook-off teams, and
others that graciously volunteer their
time and expertise we would have little
or no success.
It’s also a time to come together and
support families of missing persons
that will have an empty chair at the
table this holiday season. For many of
these families every day is a sad day,
even more so during the holidays. We
want them to know they are not alone
and that Texas EquuSearch and the
community haven’t forgotten them.
We will not forget Brenda Jones,
Maria Johnson, Debbie Ackerman,
Gloria Gonzales, Colette Wilson,
Rhonda Johnson, Sharon Shaw, Alison
Craven, Kimberly Pitchford, Brooks
Bracewell, Georgia Geer, Christine
Wilson, Susan Eads, Sondra Ramber,
Heide Frye, Beth Wilburn, Ellen
Beason, Laura Miller, Jane & Janet
Doe, Michelle Thomas, Shelley Sikes,
Rene Richerson, Cheryl Martin,
Priscilla Welch, Krystal Jean Baker,
Jessica Cain, Tina Flood, Sarah Trusty,
and many others who have met violent
deaths over the past several years and
who’s killers have not been brought to
justice.
Texas EquuSearch will also sponsor a
benefit on Sunday, November 12,
2006, at Shenanigan’s, 820 34th St N,
in Texas City, TX, 12-6pm. Admission is
$10; includes fried catfish plate. Free
admission and hot dogs for kids 12
and under. Festivities include live
entertainment, auction, finger printing
for kids, and we’ll be raffling off a fishing trip for 4. Please visit us on our
website www.TXEQ.org for more
details.
Protect Your Community!
RE-ELECT JUDGE
SUSAN CRISS
212th DISTRICT COURT
The Judge Who Works for YOU!
Pd. Ad. Judge Susan Criss Campaign
P.O. Box 16474, Galveston, TX 77552 —
www.judgecriss.com
INDEX
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Page 2 - Gulf Coast Police News
Texas EquuSearch Holiday Party
Crossword Puzzle
Fugitives
The Mail Box
Shooting Simulation Illustrates Cops’ STRESS
School District Training Students in Internet Safety
Fraud Investigators Annual Conference
Son Searches for Missing Mom
Mayor Decries Gangs, Drugs in Galveston Schools
Why Our Schools?
October Executions
Sex Offenders
Page 2
Page 3
Pages 4&5
Page 6
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 18
Page 19
Page 21
Page 22
Pages 24 & 25
1
5
10
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53
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62
63
65
66
67
Across
Pike or perch
Letter before iota
Release forcibly
Queens, N.Y. tennis stadium
Medalworthy behavior
Game of chukkers
Ascend in a tree?
Old U.S. gasoline brand
Metronome setting
Upper-left PC key
Gave an “R” to, say
More mean-spirited
Far from dense
Exposes at a costume ball,
perhaps
Sweep under the rug
Pungent-smelling
Beach plaything
__ podrida (spicy stew)
Hi-__ graphics
Cinders of old comics
Open-__ shoes
Boxcars, in dice
Bell-ringing cosmetics company
Rock layer
Slap the cuffs on
Coffee or tea
Bound by oath
Tail motion
Horse in a harness race
Poor, as excuses go
Get rid of the stubble?
Light bulb, in comics
Kitchen fixtures
Hertz rival
68
69
70
1
2
3
4
5
6
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18
22
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32
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36
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43
44
47
49
51
Hang in the balance
Western Australia’s capital
Boxer’s prize
Down
Almanac tidbit
Vacation destination
Leveling wedge
Rope fiber
FDR power project
Rock’s Van __
Beethoven dedicatee
“Top Gun” actor
Wall St. figure
Stab a fruit cup morsel with a fork?
Place to trade
Choice word
Club selection
Bleachers serenade
Sleep activity, for short
Stephen of “Still Crazy”
Politically unaffiliated: Abbr.
Scotch servings
Chuck Yeager, e.g.
“Inferiority complex” coiner
Alfred
Check a loaf’s freshness date?
Soothing stuff
Drug bust units
Apply spin to
Concern for Batman
T. __ (fearsome beast)
Lincoln Aviator, e.g.
Mattress problem
Royal flush part
Gym iterations
Frenzied sort
52
53
54
55
58
59
60
G-man, e.g.
Go sprawling
Enjoy the kiddie pool
Black cat, to some
Ill-fated whaler of literature
Bat’s hangout
Like Darth Vader
61
63
64
Take five
Short flight
Cheroot residue
solution is on page 8
Gulf Coast Police News - Page 3
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UGITIVES
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If you have information on any of these wanted fugitives call the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office (979) 864-2392
or your local Crime Stoppers organization.
Arevalo, Edgar Osvaldo
W/M DOB: 05-15-1977, 5-5, 170,
bro/grn
17123 County Road 104 # 2 Pearland,
Texas 77584
Sex Offender – Failure To Register
Wrt # 5121
Balderas, Martin Belmares
W/M DOB: 1-18-1965, 5-9, 165,
gry/bro
LKA: 219 Prairie Lea, Angleton, Tx.
Charge: Wrt # A06-0206 - Alias
Capias Tamper - Fabricate Physical
Evididence
ESQUIVEL, Reynaldo Ramon
Martinez
W/M, DOB: 06/08/1987, 5-1, 140,
blk/bro
LKA: 1100 Fox Meadow Dr. # 226,
Alvin
MRP/Agg. Sexual Assault, Wrt #
49146
Flores, Antonio Vazques
W/M DOB: 4-17-1977 5-3, 148
blk/blk
LKA:111 E. Pecan Lane Clute, Tx.
Charge: Bail Jumping and FTA Felony Agg. Sexual Assault Child,
Wrt # 45269
GARCIA, Juan Jose
AKA: Garcia-Morin, Juan Jose,
W/M DOB: 10/17/1965, 5-5, 140
blk/bro
LKA: 345 N. Texas, Holiday
Lakes, Texas 77515
Aggravated Assault,
Wrt # 50712
MOORE, LANCE TERRILL
B/M DOB: 02-02-1978, 5-7, 225,
BLK/BRO
LKA: 8923 MILLS DR.
ZACHARY, LA 70791
UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A
FIREARMS BY FELON
WRT # 51972
PERRY, Paul Dwight
W/M DOB: 12/28/1942, 6-2, 180,
bro/grey
LKA: 324 Pecan St. Sweeny, Tx.
Poss of Child Pornography
Wrt # H030820
Romero, Jose Rogelio
W/M DOB: 1-24-1979, 5-6, 155,
blk/bro
LKA: 7214 Tanager St Houston, Tx
Assault w/deadly weapon
Wrt # D-042834
Solis, Juan Gabriel
W/M DOB: 5-8-1983 5-8 265
blk/bro
LKA: 727 Oleander Rosharon, Tx.
Aggravated Robbery
Wrt # D-042908
SOWELL, Kenneth Douglas
B/M DOB: 10/29/1959, 5-7
175, blk/bro
LKA: 8806 Beachnut #4,
Houston, Texas 77036
MTRP/Sexual Assault,
Wrt # 46055
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UGITIVES
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If you have information on any of these wanted fugitives call the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office (409) 766-2322
or your local Crime Stoppers organization
MARK J. KELLY
Criminal Defense
Former Assistant District Attorney
Board Certified - Criminal Law
Texas Board of Legal Specialization
1501 Amburn Rd. Ste 9
(409) 938-1000 or (281) 480-0505
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AKINS, MARILYN RENEE
B F 11/11/1960 5’06” 300lbs
BLK BRO
LKA LAMARQUE
INJURY TO CHILD OR ELDELY
MTRP
ALLEN, DEBRA LYNNE
AKA HUFFSTUTLER, DEBRA
AKA TERRY, DEBRA
W F 10/11/1959 5’02 “ 130 lbs
BRO BLU
TAT L. ARM TAT L. BREAST
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CREDIT CARD ABUSE
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409-789-1398
BRANDON, BILLY RAY JR
W M 11/05/1979 5’06”
140lbs BRO GRN
TAT L. ARM
LKA BACLIFF
REG SEX OFFENDER
VIOLATION SEX OFFENDER
DUTY TO REGISTER
CARAWAY,NYLICIA MONIQUE
B F 04/06/1984 5’01” 140lbs
BLK BRO
MOLE LEFT CHEEK (BIRTHMARK)
LKA GALVESTON
AGG SEXUAL ASSULT CHILD
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ENRIQUEZ, VINCENT RENE
AKA SIR LOCOW
M
07/19/1970 5’11”
165lbs
BLK BRO
TAT. ABDOM – TAT R. SHL.–
TAT BACK – TAT BOTH ARMS
TAT CHEST – TAT BACK OF NECK
LKA GALVESTON
MTRP / AGG SEXUAL ASSLT CHILD
HEBERT, RENEE C
AKA AVERY, RENEE ETHRIDGE,
RENEE, HERBERT, CHRISTINE,
SANDERFIER, RENEE
W
F
10/14/1964 5’06”
135lbs BRO BRO
LKA GALVESTON / CLUTE
CONTMEPT CHILD SUPPORT
CISNEROS, MARIOW
L M 06/26/1976 5’06”190lbs
BLK BRO
TAT. BACK – TAT R. SHLD –
TAT CHEST – TAT R. ARM
LKA GALVESTON
INJURY TO CHILD
MTRP*** ESCAPE RISK
✃
CHACHERE, TAWANA MONQUE
B F 08/17/1980 5’03” 160lbs
BLK BRO
TATS L. LEG TATS BOTH ARMS
TAT R. THIGH TAT NECK
LKA GALVESTON
FORGERY INDICTMENT
6506 Stewart Rd.–Galveston, Tx. 77551
ADAM LEE GOMEZ
M/M 04/03/1979 5’10” 153lbs
LKA; SANTA FE
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
GRAND JURY INDICTMENT
SANCHEZ, Rigoberto Ruiz
Wanted by the League City Police
Department on aGrand Jury
Indictment for four counts of
Intoxicated Manslaughter.
Fugitive Warrant held by
Galveston County Sheriff’s Office.
409.762.2400
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Dickinson: 2822 Main St. (F.M. 517 E.)
281-309-9797
“Children’s Fund Seeks
Applications for Funding”
GALVESTON – The 11th Annual World Wild Game Championship
and BBQ Cook-Off presented by the Yaga’s Children’s Fund is slated
for May 11-12, 2007.
Each year the Cook-off raises funds for local children’s charities. This
past year, proceeds exceeding $100,000 were raised and the twenty-one
charities that applied for funding were approved.
To find out if your organization qualifies and to apply online, please
visit our web site at www.yagaschildrensfund.org.
Deadline for submissions is December 15th, 2006. All applications
must be post-marked by that date in order to be considered.
The Yaga’s Children’s Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to
the moral, psychological, intellectual, vocational and physical development of Galveston’s boys and girls.
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Dear Editor;
I just wanted to say thanks for writing
the wonderful article about my cousin,
Ryan Batson, the Sheriff’s Detective from
Brazoria County who died back in
September in a boating accident.
My family lives in Smith County (Tyler)
and, just by chance, we got a copy of your
paper from a Smith County S.O. employee (Nan Ferguson) and were so happy to
see the tribute to Ryan on the front page.
Your article portrayed Ryan’s life in
such a personal way and really revealed
the love he shared with his family and
fellow officers.
As the wife of a peace officer myself, I
have witnessed firsthand the special
bond those officers share and how they
come together in a time of crisis. Seeing
this come about once again during Ryan’s
funeral was so awesome.
The officers who comforted the family,
served at the funeral home and the services, did so not out of duty, but out of love
and honor for their friend, their brother —
all the while dealing with their own pain.
The long line of law enforcement vehicles from the various cities and counties
was truly a sight to behold.
Words just cannot express how much
this family appreciates all that was done
to honor Ryan during this time.
Laura Meadows
Tyler, TX
Dear Editor:
Reference: Police Pursuits
Police pursuits have and always will be a
heated and disputed topic of discussion. I
am writing this not to address the pros
and cons of these pursuits. I would like to
note that other than officer involved shootings, pursuits place the most liability on
all law enforcement.
I would like to address a way to greatly
reduce the number of pursuits. As we all
know a large percentage of pursuits are of
stolen motor vehicles. An extremely high
percentage of these cars were stolen with
the keys left in them by the owner/driver.
We refer to this as owner involved theft.
At a recent meeting of the Texas Auto
Theft Prevention Authority in Austin investigators from around the state noted that
40%+ of stolen cars were taken with the
keys in them.
The Tarrant County Auto Theft Task
Force conducted a survey over the last
couple months of 2005 and discovered
that 50%+ of the cars stolen in Tarrant
County had the keys left in them.
Several issues come to hand with this
situation. Leaving your keys in the ignition
or your vehicle engine running is a violation of the Texas Transportation Code
545.404. This is only a class C and carries a mere fine of only $200.
I would like to ask all citizens who routinely do this, would you leave a loaded
gun lying on the dash of your car. The
usual response is, NO. Why? Someone
could get the gun and kill someone. Well
folks, that stolen car is a 4000 pound bullet traveling down the highways and city
streets looking randomly to strike and possibly kill an innocent citizen or cause
injury or death to the officer who was
merely doing their job.
Let’s talk liability…everything that happens with that car after it is stolen with the
keys left in it becomes the responsibility of
the owner/driver. Keep in mind that stolen
cars are also used for a number of crimes,
not only auto theft related crimes. Drug
smuggling, illegal alien smuggling, drive
by shootings, burglary rings, gang activity
and many other crimes.
Your insurance company can also deny
any claims that come about via owner
involved criminal activity.
Leaving your keys in your car is one of
the most irresponsible actions that a good
citizen could do. I ask everyone to think
about this daily scenario. You pull into the
parking lot of a local store. It’s hot and you
want to leave the air on. You come out and
the car is gone. Several hours later you
get a call from you local law enforcement
agency. They inform you that your car has
been recovered. It was spotted by an officer and a pursuit occurred. The stolen
vehicle hit a school bus and one officer
was also critically hurt in the pursuit. Was
that couple of degrees of heat worth it.
Other than officer involved shootings,
pursuits are one of the most dangerous
functions of law enforcement. They also
place a tremendous amount of liability on
the agency. Unfortunately, pursuits are a
necessary evil.
Law Enforcement and the Insurance
Industry need to step up to the plate on
this and begin taking action against violators. This would greatly reduce the number of police pursuits throughout Texas.
These types of crimes also cost law
enforcement and the insurance companies literally 100’s of millions of dollars
annually. Please remember, you pay for
this in increased taxes and insurance premiums.
Respectfully,
Lt. Tommy Hansen
Galveston County Sheriff’s Office
President – Intl. Association of Auto
Theft Investigators
Past President – Texas Association of
Vehicle Theft Investigators
Project Director – Galveston County
Auto Crimes Task Force
continued from page 1 (Bad Cops)
ent, don’t like to talk about officers gone
bad.
In some cases they can’t – one former officer serving 30 years in a federal penitentiary
agreed to an interview, but the warden
denied the request citing safety concerns if
the ex-officer’s identity became known.
Several former officers did talk to The
News, but for safety reasons, agreed to do
so only on condition of anonymity. For this
story, their assumed names are: “Joe
Smith,” a former officer who recently completed a two-year sentence; “Mike Jones,” a
former officer who served five years of a 10year sentence; “John Doe,” the inmate currently serving a 25-year sentence; and “Bob
Johnson” – the former officer whose interview request was denied, but who replied by
mail. Their stories afford a rare glimpse into
why they broke the law and what happened
after they did.
At 23, and fresh out of the Dallas Police
academy, Joe Smith had never broken the
law. He became a cop to fight criminals not
turn into one, he says. He couldn’t imagine
ending up behind bars.
Right and wrong
”I had a strong sense of right and wrong,” he
says. But “the lines become gray when you’re
fighting a war. That’s what it is – drug war.
”Now 34 and with prison behind him for
stealing more than $20,000, Mr. Smith says
his crime “really wasn’t about the money.”
He turned most of it in when he confessed.
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He blames a charismatic partner and disillusionment with the criminal justice system
for his downfall.
”It didn’t happen overnight,” he says. “It
happened gradually over the course of a
year.”
Mr. Smith says he began taking money at
the urging of his partner, who also went to
prison. If they seized $100,000 in a drug
arrest, the lion’s share went to the evidence
room – the rest into their pockets, with no one
the wiser and the drug dealer still facing
charges.
”He had a very, very strong personality,”
Mr. Smith says of his partner. “And I was
young.”
His experience is not unusual.
Criminologists say officers who cross the
line often do so in small, self-contained
groups, where a culture of acceptance flourishes. In May, for instance, three former
Cameron County constables were sentenced
for drug trafficking. In March, three former
Rio Grande City police officers were convicted of accepting bribes. And several years
ago, eight San Antonio police officers were
caught in an FBI drug sting operation.
Mr. Smith also attributes his downfall to
disappointment in the criminal justice system after three years on the force.
He speaks proudly about the decreased
crime rate on his beat. But, he says, “it’s
very discouraging when you arrest a drug
dealer, and you see all the violence drugs
cause, and a week later they’re back on the
6
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”You can’t justify what we were doing,” he
adds. “What we did was wrong. But ... basically because you see the system is not
working, you justify it.
”Manuel Mora, special agent in charge of
the FBI’s El Paso division, doesn’t buy the
rationalization. “They’re corrupt, they’re
greedy, they want the money.
”The FBI blames increased drug trafficking in Texas and the massive amounts of
money flowing through the state for the
increase in prosecutions of crooked cops.
Some experts cite low wages, particularly
in rural areas, as a contributing factor.
”In some of these small towns they’re [officers] eligible for welfare,” says Dr. Tom
Mijares, a former Detroit cop on sabbatical
from his job as professor of criminal justice
at Texas State University. “And what kind of
person are you going to have then? You’re
going to have someone who can easily be
tempted.
”Those most likely to be corrupted are vice
and narcotic officers, says Dr. Mijares.
“Let’s face it, you’ve got, in many cases, millions of dollars being exchanged, and the
officer gets this very cynical feeling of ‘all
this money is being exchanged, and I’m putting my life at risk. ...Why should I not take
advantage of my position?’ “
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family. He was also taking prescription
drugs for an anxiety disorder.
He began taking other pills to help him
cope with the unusual hours and “unorthodox” duty of the narcotics and vice unit.
His crime – stealing cocaine from the evidence room and selling it for hundreds of
thousands of dollars – was “an aberration,”
he wrote. “I probably did the job as good as
anyone did it for 99 percent of my career.
”But “it takes a special person to work certain jobs [narcotics and SWAT] for example,”
he wrote. “Me, I should never have had such
a position. I had enough problems to deal
with.
”When he started stealing he “never
thought about getting caught,” he wrote.
“For to do so would deal with one’s conscience.
”He ended up in a standoff with the FBI
and a SWAT team.
Octavio Salinas, a defense attorney who
previously served as a prosecutor in South
Texas, has heard similar tales. About half of
his law enforcement clients are in a financial
bind and see an easy opportunity to solve
their problems by taking drug money, he
says.
Others “have a lot of personal problems in
their life, whether its divorce or some sickness in the family, a child may have died,
and they just turned to drugs. And their judgment goes out the window.
”When officers are arrested, most of them
continued on page 11 (Bad Cops)
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SHOOTING SIMULATION ILLUSTRATES COPS’ STRESS
by Tim Potter
The Wichita Eagle
t was an exercise at the
Wichita/Sedgwick County firearms
range, designed to show reporters
how fast and stressful things can be in a
real police shooting.
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Page 8 - Galveston County Police News
I play an officer arriving at a front yard
where a man holds up a knife. It looks
real. He acts agitated and says something
about his job. I keep my hand on a plastic
handgun in a holster. It shoots hot-pink
paint cartridges that look like real bullets
and hit hard enough to leave a bruise.
I try to keep 30 feet between us. A person with a knife can close in rapidly. “Put
down your knife, then we can talk,” I tell
him repeatedly. I ease my hand off the
gun, still holstered, thinking I can defuse
the situation. That’s when he makes his
move.
I’m there because the Wichita Police
Department had invited reporters to the
range to show us how they train and to
answer the question of why two of its officers fired multiple rounds at a suspect on
Sept. 28 but struck him only once. The
answer, experts had told me for a story
published Sunday, is that even trained
officers miss more often than people realize because of the stress of having to
make a split-second decision in a tense
situation.
In the Sept. 28 shooting, in a residential
neighborhood, police say a man aimed at
an officer a plastic replica that looked like
a real gun. Police say the man will recover from a stomach wound.
Jared Cerullo, a KFDI radio reporter, is
the first to put the protective gear at the
range on. He plays an officer responding
to a call about a suicidal person, who
ends up shooting him three times, leaving
nasty welts on his arm and shoulder. In
real life, the wounds would have been
fatal, police tell us.
Cerullo says he didn’t realize the man was
holding a gun until it was too late. Although
it is only a simulation, Cerullo breathes
hard, he says, from the stress of it.
In another simulation, KAKE-TV reporter
Jeanene Kiesling and KWCH-TV reporter
Cliff Judy answer a call about shots fired
in a business. As Kiesling shoots at an
armed suspect stalking away from the
business, another suspect suddenly
shoots an automatic rifle. Judy suffers
several wounds.
Police tell us they have to be prepared
for situations where, as one suspect is
subdued, another suddenly strikes out.
In another exercise, KSN-TV reporter
Lauragail Locke fires at a suspect who
ignores repeated commands — a common
situation, police say — and pulls out what
looks like a gun.
She shoots nine rounds; several miss.
Officers miss the most in situations where
more than one officer is firing, the experts
had told me.
Then it’s my turn, when the man with
the knife suddenly springs toward me
from more than 20 feet away, I pull my
gun and fire twice without thinking about
it, just reacting.
One instant, I feel relief because I sense
that I fired in time, that I hit him. The next
instant, he sprints past me in a blur, still
carrying the knife.
Officer Rich McCluney, a Wichita police
SWAT member who critiques my reaction,
notes from a pink paint mark that one of
the two shots I fired struck the man
smack in the middle of his protective vest.
It was a lucky and deadly shot. I have no
firearms training.
McCluney also notes that the man, even
mortally wounded, closed the distance so
fast, “I guarantee you’d have been cut.”
I should have kept firing after the two
shots, and while still shooting, I should
have moved out of the lunging man’s way.
Only in the movies do lunging people fall
backward after being hit, the officers at
the range tell me.
Only afterward do I realize that my finger stopped pulling the trigger after the
second shot…I froze. And another thing,
McCluney says. I should have brought my
gun out of the holster and had it trained
on the man with the knife before he made
his move.
Fortunately, it was only a piece of dull
aluminum, not a sharp knife. And the man
coming at me is really a good guy — assistant range master Steve Griner.
Still, it happened so fast. It was stressful. It helped confirm what the experts
had told me.
solution to puzzle on page 3
Special to The Police News
GALVESTON
Galveston Independent School District
students are learning about Internet safety
through a program called NetSmartz.
GISD Police Officer Gene Wilganowski
attended an eight-hour workshop on the
program and is making presentations to
students across the district.
The NetSmartz Workshop is an interactive, educational safety resource from the
National Center for Missing & Exploited
Children and Boys and Girls Clubs of
America. The software includes workshops for kindergarten through second
graders, third- through sixth-graders, as
well as middle and high school students.
Presentations are also available for parents and community groups.
that not everyone is a friend on the
Internet.”
Clicky described as a “friendly and hip
spokesrobot” teaches young children in
very simple terms about “Webville
Outlaws.” While Nettie and Webster, two
Internet cyber-siblings talk about online
risks and introduce third- through sixthgraders to the “WizzyWigs” who are
creepy characters representing different
types of Internet dangers.
According to NetSmartz, the largest
group of students who use the Internet are
ages 12 to 17 which represents 73 percent of teenagers in the United States.
The presentation for this older age group
teaches Internet safety principles through
real-life stories told by teens.
“My goal is to first take this presentation
to our schools and then start making
rounds to our parents and community,”
said Wilganowski. “This is major safety
concern and our students and parents
should be more informed about the potential risks.”
For more information about scheduling a
presentation, please contact the GISD
Police Department at 409-766-5824. Visit
the NetSmartz web site at www.netsmartz.org
 
“Students really respond and interact
with the characters,” said Wilganowski.
“It’s important that our students realize
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Call: 409-762-6397 or Call Toll-Free: 1-888-788-8967
Or subscribe online at: www.thepolicenews.info
>
Galveston County Police News - Page 9
Galveston Crime Stoppers and the
Galveston Police Department are seeking
information in the following unsolved
cases which occurred in the City of
Galveston on the dates indicated. If you
have information which may be helpful in
solving any of these crimes, you are encouraged to contact Detective Fred Paige (409) 7653766 or Crime Stoppers (409) 763-TIPS (8477).
Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards for information resulting in the arrest and/or
conviction of persons charged with criminal offenses. You are not required to identify yourself in order to collect a reward.
• On October 3rd, 2001 at 12:15 am, in the 3900 Block of Sealy; Richard Jones,
Jerry Richards and Benson Winn were ambushed by several male blacks while
walking south on 39th Street, in Galveston, Texas. This ambush resulted in the
death of Richard Jones (also known as “head”) and was deemed gang related.
• On October 17th, 2001 at 8:00 am, the body of twenty-two year old Andre
McAllister was found dumped in the 4500 block of Post Office, in Galveston,
Texas. The homicide is believed to be gang related. Investigators believe that
Andre (also known as Billy-Bob) was murdered after sharing information with
friends about fellow Crip Gang Members who murdered Richard Jones.
• On May 12, 2004, at approximately 4:30a.m, Galveston Police Officers
responded to a robbery in the 900 block of Avenue K, in Galveston, Texas.
They located twenty-four year old Julio Bernabe, lying on his back in the
street. Bernabe had been shot several times. A friend with Bernabe at the time
of murder reported that three young black males approached them and
demanded money, before one of suspects shot Bernabe. The police department has identified several suspects in the murder, however more information
is needed.
• On October 6th, 2005 at 3:00 am, in the 1200 block of 34th Street,
Galveston Police Officers responded to an aggravated assault and found twenamal Lafayette Jefferson, lying face down on the ground.
ty-three year old Ja
Jefferson had been shot several times. Investigators believe this to be a drug
related robbery-homicide. Investigator’s believe that Jefferson knew his murderer and was in fact in phone contact with him prior to the homicide.
Fraud Investigators Annual Conference
Staff Report
GALVESTON — More than 250 fraud
investigators from law enforcement and
the business community recently met
here for the second annual joint conference of the Fraud Investigators
Association of Texas and The
International Association of Financial
Crimes Investigators.
Hosted by the Galveston Police
Department, the delegates were welcomed to Galveston by Police Chief
Kenneth Mack and Galveston County
District Attorney Kurt Sistrunk. The
three day conference at the Moody
Convention Center was coordinated
locally by GPD Fraud Investigator Tim
Galvan.
The F.I.A.T. originally started as the
Check Investigators Association of
Texas in 1965, but as it’s scope of investigations broadened, encompassing forgery and a wide array of frauds and
bunko schemes, the group adopted it’s
new name in 2002.
In 1968, a small group of law enforcement officers and special agents of the
credit card industry formed the
I.A.F.C.I.. It is a non-profit, international
organization which provides services
and information relative to financial
(L-R) Chip Bulin, Pres. F.I.A.T, Deana
Sellens, AFCI Sec. & Member Of The Year,
Galveston Police Investigator Tim Galvan.
(Police News Photo)
fraud, fraud investigation and fraud prevention methods to the business community.
Cathy Vance, a spokesperson for the
conference told The Police News, “We
hold a conference annually to provide
training to people in the private sector.
It’s a combination of law enforcement
and bank and retail people who investigate financial crimes.”
Selecting Galveston for a conference
site, Vance explained, “Tim Galvan
attended the conference in Dallas last
year and invited us to Galveston this
year and we took him up on it.”
To learn more about these organizations
visit
www.fiatx.org
and
www.iafci.org
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continued from page 7 (Bad Cops)
are “extremely remorseful,” says FBI Agent
Mora.
”Mike Jones” says his first reaction after
his arrest was to kill himself.
”That’s what went through my mind,” he
says. “I’ve embarrassed my family; I’ve
embarrassed the people I work with; I’ve
embarrassed myself.”
”You went against everything you believe
in,” he says.
On top of that is the sickening realization
that you’re now on the other side of the system.
’Let the system down’
The first time James McLaughlin – a former police chief who now serves as executive director of the Texas Police Chiefs
Association – heard a complaint had been
filed against one of his officers, charging
inappropriate sexual behavior with a young
girl, he was so angry he confronted the girl.
False accusations are common in police
work. And officers initially react with disbelief when one of their own is accused.
”I’ll see you in TYC [Texas Youth
Commission],” he remembers telling her. “I
... wanted to make sure she understood the
seriousness of her charges and the consequences of making false charges.
”To Mr. McLaughlin’s dismay, the officer
confessed.”It was one of those shocking
experiences, disheartening experiences,
that makes you very aware that you do not
know what people will do,” he says.
He later apologized to the victim and
made sure the officer lost his job and
license. Though he encouraged the girl to
press criminal charges, she declined.
Mr. Jones says he too initially sided with
accused officers.
”I was for ‘em at first, because I would
think maybe a lot of them get bum raps,” he
says. But if he found out the officers were
guilty, “It hurt.”
”They let the system down, they let you
down, they let your fellow officers down,” he
says.
His fellow officers rallied around him when
he was arrested. But when they found out
what he’d done, including shooting another
officer, “the friends that you have, you can
put them on one hand.”He says his law
enforcement contacts did not give him preferential treatment.
If anything, offenders in blue often are
treated more harshly, say former officers,
lawyers and criminologists.
Two of the men who talked to The News
say they did not expect to be found guilty.
The other two expected lighter sentences.
Plea bargains, reduced charges or lighter
sentences – which are common – often
result because the officer is a first-time
offender with good character references or
because he knows how the system works,
not because he’s part of the brotherhood,
experts say.
”You know enough not to say anything
until you have your attorney,” Dr. Mijares
says. “You know when to keep your big
mouth shut.”
Or, he adds, officers may get a reduced
charge if they provide information that helps
convict others higher up the chain.
In court, convictions can be difficult
because the witnesses are often criminals.
And jurors may give officers the benefit of
the doubt.
When the evidence is clear – an officer is
caught on tape or the witnesses are credible
federal agents – former officers probably are
held to a higher standard, lawyers for both
sides say.
”The reason that you have to take it more
seriously is that the public has to trust them
and has to trust that they are not going to be
above the law,” says former prosecutor
Michael Snipes.
When an officer is found guilty, community reaction is very angry, Mr. Salinas says.
After his client, the former drug task force
deputy commander, pleaded guilty, letters
poured in to the local paper.
”They were mostly ‘put him away and
throw away the key,’ “ he says. “If you’ve
been found guilty, you’re going to get
socked.
”The case of a police officer gone bad, he
says, is “kind of like a baby murder case.”
’Very dangerous’
”John Doe,” the former officer currently in
the Texas prison system, glances around the
visiting area nervously.
”It’s a very dangerous situation,” he
explains. “Most of the people that are in
here, it’s because of an officer,” he says.
”They have no love for authority. If someone were to find out ...
”Prison administrators know – initially
they offered him protective custody, he says.
He declined, saying he got along with people and thought he could stay safe.
Bill Habern, a defense attorney who counsels soon-to-be prisoners on how to survive,
estimates that he sees a half-dozen officers
a year. Generally he advises against requesting protective custody, which restricts
inmates to single cells 23 hours a day.
”It’s no way to live,” he says. “You can’t get
a [prison] job; you’re going to get bored.”
Prison officials say they consider previous
occupation when classifying and assigning
inmates. But they take no other special precautions unless requested. State officials say
protective custody generally is not necessary.
Mr. Doe’s biggest fear is running into people he arrested from the southeast Texas
communities where he worked.
Mr. Habern says that when he represents
“a cop, I have him make a list of folks he
knows that are still in prison ... folks who
might come after him.”
He forwards the list to the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice classification
department for consideration. And he advises
former officers, “don’t make friends too fast,
keep your mouth shut and just observe.”
That’s what Mr. Doe has done. But it’s a
constant struggle.
”There is guys that hung out on the beat I
walked for 12 years,” he says. “They sit
around and talk about life on the streets,
and I want to say something, but I don’t.”
Mr. Doe does feel comfortable talking to
another former officer he spotted in the
chow line.
”I was really surprised,” he says, but “it
was nice to see somebody you know.”
Despite his efforts to blend in, Mr. Doe says
several inmates “have told me, ‘You don’t
belong here. I don’t know what you did in the
free world, but you don’t belong here.’ “
Life in prison
It’s hard to lose the cop attitude, Mr. Jones
says. “After you’ve been a cop for 15 years,
everything in your mind is cop.”
Prison courtesy generally includes not
inquiring about an inmate’s crime. One warden advises former officers and child molesters to make up something rather than admit
their pasts. Though administrators are aware
when an officer is assigned to the unit,
guards aren’t necessarily informed, she says.
That’s good, Mr. Jones says, advising not
to “get friendly with the guards because
they’re the ones that are going to hurt you.”
For instance, after a visit, “They can do
either a pat-down search or really run you
through the mill,” he says.
”They really ran me through the mill,” he
says. And they put the word out that he was
“a dirty cop.”
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Ironically, prison officials and criminologists say ex-officers make good inmates.
”They’re like military people,” Mr. Habern
says. “They’re used to a structured environment. They understand the system, how it
works, and most of them have been around a
jail.”
Mr. Doe, who is appealing his case, is worried about going to prison. But the experience has been easier than expected.
”I know how to obey authority,” he says
without a trace of irony. “I don’t have any
trouble with that.
”E-mail [email protected]
409-750-8963
YEARS OF SERVICE
A driver was pulled over by a police officer for
speeding. As the officer was writing the ticket,
she noticed several machetes in the car.”What
are those for?” she asked suspiciously.”I’m a
juggler,” the man replied. “I use those in my
act.””Well, show me,” the officer demanded.So
he got out the machetes and started juggling
them, first three, then more, finally seven at one
time, overhand, underhand, behind the back,
putting on a dazzling show and amazing the officer.Another car passed by. The driver did a double take, and said, “My God. I’ve got to give up
drinking! Look at the test they’re giving now.”
Delmer and Bubba are out in the woods hunting when Bubba suddenly grabs his chest and
falls to the ground. He doesn’t seem to be
breathing; his eyes are rolled back in his head.
So Delmer whips out his cell phone and calls
911. He gasps to the operator, “I think Bubba is
dead! What should I do?”
The operator, in a calm soothing voice says,
“Just take it easy and follow my instructions.
First, let’s make sure he’s dead.”
There is a silence…then a shot is heard.
Delmer comes back on the line, “Okay, now
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Police News
Page 14 - Galveston
Police News
0
2
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The office of Criminal District Attorney
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Since 1990 I’ve been serving all the citizens of our County and maintaining good
working relationships with our law
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Page 16 - Galveston
Gulf CoastCounty
Police News
Police News
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Son Searches for Missing Mom
Disappeared from Hitchcock
by Sally Maxwell — Managing Editor
Sequoyah County Times
SALLISAW,OK - She
was a good mother, her
son said, until about 10
years ago. That’s when
everything
changed.
Now the family of Faith
Van Nortrick is trying to
find their missing mom
and daughter.
Her son, William Faith Van Nortrick
Felter, 29, said, “She was all right until I was
about 19 or 20. Then she changed.”
Faith Van Nortrick, Felter said, became
schizophrenic, and in 2004 she walked
away from home in Hitchcock, Texas. The
last place she was seen was in Sallisaw,
where she was arrested on suspicion of
being intoxicated. But police found she was
not drunk, and she was released shortly
after her arrest on Aug. 7, 2004.
No one has seen her since.
“She wasn’t drunk,” Felter said. “She
doesn’t like liquor.”
Felter’s cell phone didn’t crackle as he told
the story of his mom, but his voice did. “This
is hard,” he said. “Sometimes I find this very
hard to deal with. For a long time I couldn’t
deal with it.”
In his missing person report to Sallisaw
police, made on June 14 this year, Felter
wrote, “I was going to take my mother, Faith
Van Nortrick, to John Seally Hospital in
Galveston, Texas, to try to get her evaluated
for mental health issues.
“She has been mentally ill since 1997. My
mother, Faith, walks down the highway a lot
and ‘fights demons,’ in her words. When I
was talking with the police officer (about taking his mother for a mental evaluation) my
mother began walking down the street and I
haven’t seen her since. I waited 24 hours
from the time I last saw her and filed a missing person report (with the Hitchcock
police). The police department was aware of
her unstable mental health. This is the reason they allowed this (missing person
report) to be filed.
“Approximately one week later the
Sallisaw P.D. contacted Linda Bremer, her
mother, to let her know that they had Faith
in custody for drunk and disorderly conduct.
Faith Van Nortrick does not drink alcoholic
beverages. Mrs. Bremer could not pick her
up and I was out of town working and couldn’t get back before they released my mother.
No one has seen or heard from her since.
”I’ve checked with all family members and
still nothing. My greatest fears are that she
was picked up by the wrong person or asked
for help from the wrong person.
“My mother has always been in close con-
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other indicators I had seen were consistent
with other people I have arrested...for public
intoxication,” Murray reported.
Murray said Van Nortrick was jailed without incident, and a computer check on her
name and date of birth, which is Oct. 19,
1962, indicated a missing person’s report
had been filed on Van Nortrick in Hitchcock.
Murray contacted the family, but when no
one picked Van Nortrick up, she was
released.
Felter said he asked Sallisaw police to hold
his mother, but they couldn’t because she
has not been declared incompetent, was not
drunk, and wasn’t hurting anyone.
“I just want to find her,” Felter, who is now
a truck driver, said.
Felter said his aunt, Robin, did a computer
check looking for his mother, and her last
known address is his own in Texas. Felter
said he hopes to contact the television show
“America’s Most Wanted,” which has a segment for those missing. Felter wants to get
the word out nationally that his mother is
loved, and her family wants her to return
home.
“Today’s her birthday,” Felter said
Thursday. Faith turned age 44 on
Thursday.”I’m lost for words,” Felter concluded. “I just want to find her.
”Who to contact — Any one who knows
anything about Faith Van Nortrick’s whereabouts is asked to contact her son, William
Felter at (214) 402-2900 or her mother,
Linda Bremer at (409) 986-7777.
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tact with at least two or more of her family
members and now nothing for the last two
years. She is always asking anyone and
everyone if they have any work, just so that
she can make a buck. Someone stole her
purse while she was walking down the road
in Hitchcock...so she has no form of I.D.
She’s never been properly evaluated
because she won’t co-operate 100 percent.
“We are worried about my mother’s wellbeing. I figured that if she was O.K., she
would’ve contacted at least one of her family members by now. But still nothing.
“Please help.”
The police report filed by Sallisaw Police
Officer Houston Murray when he took Van
Nortrick up supports the statement made by
Felter. Murray reports he was called to a
Sallisaw convenience store to investigate a
report of a possibly intoxicated woman.
Murray reported he found Van Nortrick in
the bathroom.
In his report Murray said, “I could hear the
female in the bathroom. I heard her drop
something several times as she moved
around...and I heard her stumble into the wall
and door. When the female came out of the
bathroom I watched her walk and could see
her stagger.”When he spoke to her, Murray
reported, “...I could hear a slight slur to her
speech but could not smell any odor associated with alcoholic beverages. Murray reported
that Van Nortrick, although apparently not
drunk, still exhibited strange behavior.
“I could see that her eyes were very dilated.
She kept moving around a lot. These and the
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Mayor Decries Gangs, Drugs in Galveston Schools
GALVESTON — “We
have children in the
seventh and eighth
grades who are
having
children.
We have gangs
here who are intimidating, pressuring
our middle school
children to join
gangs. We have drug dealers who prevail upon our children as they come and
go to our schools on this island. It’s
important that our community come
together and begin to notice the gang
violence and the drug dealing that is
becoming more and more prevalent
upon younger and younger students.”
These were the remarks of Galveston
Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas during an
October, televised city council meeting
prior to her proclaiming October 12th,
Lights On After School Day in Galveston.
“The national call for leaving lights on
is something that I support,” she
declared. “Leaving a light on indicates
to a child or young student that should
he or she need help on the way home
from school, or feel threatened, that
those will take them into your home and
help them get to their own home safely,
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if indeed they have a home to go to.”
The Mayor’s action came on the heels
of a Kevin Moran story in the Houston
Chronicle on the sudden surge of violence among students from a middle
school leaving students beaten and
injured. The problem has grown so serious that school officials called for a
meeting with school and law enforcement officials and sent out 150 written
invitations to parents to attend. Only
five parents showed up.
According to the Chronicle report,
there have been many clashes since the
opening of school on August 21,
between various racial groups. One
fight involved as many as 40 students.
In another incident a middle school boy
was injured in a fights between former
New Orleans students and a couple of
local students.
Central Middle School Principal
Connie Hebert told the Chronicle,
“These kids will end up either dead or in
prison if we don’t do something to help
them and let them know there is hope.
Too many students don’t even have
hope of a better life.”
The school district’s acting police
chief, Lee Roy Amador, said his department, with some help from the
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Page 20 - Galveston County Police News
continued from page 1(Senior Cop)
him The Commander for a time then they
called him The Metro Chief and The Cruiser.
I’ve always called him Little Brother because
he’s like a kid brother to me.”
“Billy’s daddy was a Customs Agent so
he had that police blood in him all the time
he was growing up. I’ve got a grandson
that’s in the police business and I hope he
becomes as fine an officer as Scott is,”
said Eckland, who has served nearly 50
years in law enforcement himself and is a
virtual walking, talking history book of
Galveston County law enforcement.
Being a cop anywhere is much more than
just driving around in a patrol car and eating donuts. Bill Scott, like so many officers
throughout the country, has had his close
calls, tense moments, and those moments
where the thought flashed through his
mind, “Am I going to get out of this alive?”
One of those moments came in the mid
1970’s when Galveston officers were
called to assist Sheriffs deputies on the
deep west end of the island. It was Splash
Day, the islands biggest party day of the
year. Splash Day was widely known. It was
the early version of Spring Break which
over the years has transformed into the
present day Gay and Lesbian event.
A call went out that a large gang of men
had accosted two women on the west end
of Galveston Island. At that time the city
limits ended at about 75th Street. It was
Splash Day weekend. The beaches were
packed with revelers, swimmers, fishermen and people just cruising and the west
end was being patrolled by a handful
Sheriff’s deputies. The deputies soon discovered that the large crowd was too much
for them and called for assistance from
Galveston police. It was reported that a
gang of men had locked one woman up in
the trunk of a car and were gang raping the
other woman. Galveston police went
screaming west to help the deputies.
As they arrived, the gang estimated at
close to 100 black men, dispersed in all
directions. One of them who had been
identified as one of the attackers ran to the
nearby Downbeat Club and hid under the
building. When the smoke cleared and
some degree of order was restored, the
man under the club had suffered a shotgun
blast to his foot, courtesy of Officer Bill
Scott. Dozens more were arrested and the
two women were rescued from the gang.
More police officers are injured or killed
in the line of duty each year responding to
domestic disturbance calls than any other
type of call. They say that the family fight
call is the most dangerous call an officer
can make, and officer’s all know in the
back of their minds, when responding to a
family fight, to expect the worst and hope
for the best.
One of the thousands of domestic disturbance calls that Bill Scott has made over
his 42 years on the beat occurred somewhere on 23rd Street way back when, as
Scott recalls, “The guy was all juiced up on
drugs. When we got there I was on the side
of the house and Ernest Boyd (detective
now deceased) came down the driveway.
This guy came out of the house and took a
shot at Boyd with a shotgun. I yelled at him
and he turned the shotgun on me.” This
time Scott’s pistol found it’s mark.
The shot hit him in the arm and flipped
him. “I ran over to cuff him and he looked
up at me and said, ‘Scott, is dat you, aw
ahm sorry. You knows me, ahm Chawes. I
washes your car over to the caw wash.’
According to Scott the man had been in his
girlfriend’s house all juiced up and smoking marijuana and the girlfriend’s momma
called police. “If we hadn’t shown up she
probably would have never got him out of
her house,” Scott said.
Back when police headquarters was on
26th and Avenue H a particularly dangerous character had been brought into the
station after he had attacked a couple of
women in the downtown area. In those
days officers would take off their pistol
belts and hang them on a clothes rack or
coat tree in the office. On this day, the
man in custody noticed the pistol belt
hanging on the rack. “He took one of the
officer’s pistols from the holster and went
out the back door which was unlocked.
Scott explained, “He had attacked a
woman on 20th Street and was probably
going to kill her. He had her all tied up and
she dove out of a window. I caught up with
him and he made a move at me.” Again
Scott was instantly in the position that cops
dread. Within a split second the decision
had to be made to shoot or be shot.
Needless to say, Bill Scott walked away.
The bad guy went to the hospital.
There have been other similar instances
in Life on The Beat with Bill Scott. It is
doubtful that there is a policeman alive
who has worn the badge for 42 years and
never been in the position of having to
defend himself or others by use of his
weapon. It is no secret that there are people on the street who want to see policemen dead. The policeman must be ever
vigilant not to let that happen.
Life on the beat has not been all cops
and robbers for Bill Scott however. On
August 1, 1973 a man named George
Santos was very, very happy to see Bill
Scott arrive. Actually he didn’t see Scott
because for all practical purposes he was
dead when Scott and some other officers
arrived at 24th and Market Street. George
Santos had been electrocuted and was
showing no signs of life. Bill Scott, having
been a Red Cross trained life guard as a
teenager, knew immediately what to do
and he went to work on Santos administering artificial respiration. By the time the
ambulance arrived, Santos was breathing
again and lived to tell about it. Two months
later Officer William Scott was awarded the
American National Red Cross Certificate of
Why Our Schools?
By Dave Smith
Senior Street Survival Seminar Instructor
Calibrepress.com
From coast to coast we are seeing a terrible
phenomenon of school shootings. The heartrending stories from Colorado to Pennsylvania
remind us that we never know where or when
one of these incidents will occur. Much has
been made about these two incidents since
they were not students but “outsiders” who
entered and did their terrible acts.
A deeper truth is exposed here. Violenceprone random actors are finding an easy target for their various forms of rage and it is time
law enforcement and educational professionals come together and form an alliance to
defend our schools. Many think in the postColumbine world, educators are focused on
school protection, but my experience is that
this isn’t necessarily so. In recent months, at
least one large independent school district was
seeking to disarm its fully commissioned security officers.
Other schools do not allow their School
Resource Officers to wear their weapons
exposed on school property. These officers
have been forced to wear fanny packs if they
want to be able to protect the schools they
are assigned to. Newsline knows it is not Law
Enforcement’s fault that the two cultures are
so divergent in their beliefs, but Police leaders must call for a closer alliance and coordi-
nation to help secure our children’s safety
while in the care of those institutions.
As a law enforcement officer patrolling an
area with schools or where you may be a
responder to schools it is essential you learn
the various approaches to these locations.
Note if you have a blind approach that allows
you to invisibly deploy or advance on the
building without being observed. Talk to students and parents about calling if anything
suspicious or unusual occurs, even if it is
over and the subject or situation is gone.
Regularly do a crisis rehearsal in your
mind, doing all the tactics and movements
you would need to stop an active shooter in
your assigned area. Keep diagrams of your
schools available...you could be the key to a
successful resolution. This is a real threat
since we know terrorists, students, outsiders,
dysfunctional actors all see schools as valid
targets.
We need to train top to bottom on ways to
deal with this and that means starting with
training ‘call takers’ and ‘dispatchers‘ on
what critical questions to ask immediately,
having Supervisors contact and work with
School Security, Commanders need to lead
the effort to bridge the gaps between the law
enforcement community and the educational
establishment.
Finally, whatever your assignment, see
what you can do to improve the security of
our schools and educate the students, parents, teachers, and even custodians in what
steps to take to make our children safer.
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Donell Okeith Jackson
Born: December 11, 1972
Harris County, Texas
Occupation: Laborer
Education Level: 8th Grade
(409) 763-9036
See our Review at www.galvnews.com
Jackson was convicted for the August
Seawall at 89th street – Galveston
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Scheduled Execution - November 16th
Charles Anthony Nealy
Born: March 23, 1964
Dallas, Texas
Occupation: None Given
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Full-service Meat Counter - Custom Cut Meats
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Serving West Galveston since 1963 1 mile west of Jamaica Beach
409-737-1152
1993 murder-for-hire shooting death of
Mario Stubblefield in Houston.
He had been hired by co-defendant
Darryl Scott to kill Stubblefield in
exchange for $200 in cash.
Scott reportedly wanted Stubblefield
killed because he was scheduled to testify
against Scott in an Aggravated Assault
case.
Jackson was identified by an eyewitness
as the triggerman in the Stubblefield
shooting.
Following the murder Jackson was
involved in an armed robbery during which
he shot a high school friend and stole his
money.
With uncommon swiftness a jury in
Dallas County decided that Nealy should
die by injection for his role in the August
1977 shooting death of a sleeping convenience store clerk.
The jury deliberated only 35 minutes
before sentencing him to death. Nealy
used a shotgun to fire a blast into the
chest of 25-year old Jiten Bhakta who was
sleeping in the back room of the
Expressway Mart in South Dallas.
Another clerk, Vijakumar Patel was also
killed during the attack. The store videotape showed the shootings and Nealy
grabbing a bottle of wine and cold beer on
the way out of the store.
A witness testified hearing Nealy say that
he was going to “go back get those guys”
after the clerks refused to sell him cigarettes earlier.
Scheduled Execution - November 8th
Willie Marcel Shannon
Born: June 12, 1973
Harris County, Texas
Occupation: Laborer
kicked him out of the car, and drove off.
He was arrested in Beaumont when he
was spotted driving the stolen car.
Police said Shannon had raped a maid at
a nearby motel just 10 minutes before he
killed Garza.
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Shannon was convicted for the murder of
Benjamin Garza outside a Houston shopping center on July 19, 1992.
Garza was in his car outside the center in
southwest Houston waiting for his wife and
children.
Shannon jumped into the passenger side
of the car and a struggle ensued during
which Shannon shot Garza in the head,
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4901 Broadway – Galveston, Texas 77551
continued from page 20(Senior Cop)
Merit, signed by then President of the
United States Richard M. Nixon. The
Certificate of Merit is the highest life saving
award given by the Red Cross.
Following another act of heroism, Bill
Scott and five other officers were awarded
The Silver Star Award for Bravery by the
American Police Hall of Fame and Museum
in Miami, Florida. These awards were the
result of quick and decisive action during
the robbery of a downtown jewelry store by
three armed bandits
A man and his wife, who operated the
Tevault Jewelry Store in the 2200 block of
Postoffice Street, were being held hostage
by the gunmen but the man managed to
press the silent alarm button, even though
he had been pistol whipped by one of the
bandits.
As police arrived the man escaped outside and told the officers that his wife was
tied up inside. The officers were able to
get inside and rescue the woman but then
a gun battle broke out.
While officers were rescuing the woman,
the gunmen climbed into a crawlspace
above the store and opened fire on police
through a trap door. According to Officer
Joe Maffei, now a U.S. Deputy Marshal
assigned to Galveston, “They fired 50 or
60 shots. It was like a war zone.”
After the gun battle ended and the robbers had been captured, police discovered
that the jewelry store owner had gone back
inside the store, unnoticed by them, to rescue his pet poodle. He was lying in a pool
of blood, shot several times. He died in
Maffei’s arms while being rushed to the
hospital in a police patrol car.
Scott said he is still amazed that no police
officers were shot. “It was one of the best
planned capers we had seen up to that
point,” said Scott. “If the robbers had
escaped they would have gotten away with
thousands of dollars worth of jewelry.”
Along with Scott and Maffei, officers
Raymond Rubio, Victor Hegman, Dennis
Langford and Scott Curran were also
awarded the Silver Star.
We asked Scott to comment on all of the
different police administrations he has
worked for during his career.
“Well, you’ve got to look at the big picture
with us. They’re all good administrations,
but sometimes we think they’re bad
because the Chief works for the City
Manager and the council and they’re the
one’s who give and take away. And they
usually take away more than they give.
That’s why we’re always behind. It’s got
nothing to do with the police administration. They have to get along with what they
get.
“The police department is always being
cut. That’s why it’s in such bad shape.
They don’t buy enough cars. The officers
have to pay half to get a vest because the
city won’t buy one for us. Years ago they
would buy our vests, but not anymore.
“Now we have 25 vacancies so they can
divert that money back to something else
because it’s already budgeted. It’s not like
they have money left over because of the
vacancies and they call the chief and say,
‘Hey we’ve got this money left over, how
would you like to use it?’ That’s why we
don’t hire as we loose. They like to get
down short with vacancies because it gives
them surplus cash. They have the money
but they don’t have to pay for officers.
“Take-home cars used to be an incentive
for the officers to live on the island. Now,
nobody is living on the island. Everybody
is quitting and leaving so there aren’t
incentives there anymore. The ones that
live on the island have free rent for being
security in apartments so that’s why they
live here.”
Why have you chosen to be a patrol officer your entire career rather than a detective or some other specialized officer we
asked Scott.
In the old days we had to take a test to
become a detective but they would only
give a test when someone died or retired.
Well, by the time that would come around
I would have so much seniority it wasn’t
worth it. I would have a good shift, good
days off, so why give that up for $35 more
a month? Then I’d have to work weekends
and nights,” he explained. “We’ve got big
city problems with a small city police
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At The Traffic Light in Jamaica Beach
Police Officers
The City of Freeport
is accepting applications for the
position of Police Officer and
Reserve Police Officer.
TCLEOSE Basic certification is
required.
Applicants will be required to
pass a written, physical agility,
and physical/drug examination;
along with, a background investigation.
Applicants must also maintain
physical performance standards.
Entry level pay is commensurate to education and experience. Salary ranges are between 30,275 to 42,662.
Freeport Police Officers work close with federal, state, and local officials to
apprehend criminals; and, reduce crime and victimization while providing a
firm formidable deterrence to crime.
Duties may include beach patrol, bicycle patrol, and marine patrol.
Supervisory advancements are available; which include, investigations and
narcotics.
Excellent benefits are offered. Interested parties may obtain an application
by calling the HR Dept. at (979) 233-3526 or from our website at
www.freeport.tx.us. For testing and departmental details please contact Sgt.
A. Lawson at (979) 239-1211. EOE
Galveston
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Family Fitness Center
Offering
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MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNT
www.galvestonfitness.com
(409) 744-3651
2318 83rd Street
LOAN
COMPANY
2327 Broadway
Galveston, Tx 77550
(409) 765-8410
Convicted Sex Offenders are required by Texas law to
register with law enforcement in the city in which they reside.
These Sex Offenders are not wanted by the law…
they are published for Community Awareness in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies.
If you have information that any of these offenders are residing at an address other than the one shown, please contact the listed police agency.
DOYLE, CHAD CLIFFORD
White Male, Born 10/25/1983
LKA – 327 CR-486, Lot 8, Jones
Creek
Aggravated Sexual Assault of a
Child
Victim: Female Age 3
Brazoria County Sheriff
GERRICK, BRYAN ALAN
LKA – 4045 CR 659A, Brazoria, Tx
Sexual Assault of a Child
Risk Level: High
815 W. Main St.
League City, Tx 77573
(281) 338-4060
3307 Palmer Highway
Texas City, Tx
409-941-9403
Page 24 - Galveston
Gulf CoastPolice
PoliceNews
News
GARCIA, EZEKIEL VILLAREAL
NICKNAME: Zeek
Latin Male Born: 01/07/1953
LKA: 3802 S. Meadows CR 424A, Alvin
Indecency w/a Child by Sexual Contact
HANDY, VALENTENO CONELIOUS
White Male Born 07/31/1949
Indecency w/a Child by Exposure
LKA – 14202 Susie Ln, Alvin
Alvin Police Dept.
HUTCHERSON, TELLY DWAYNE
Black Male, Born 07/11/1976
LKA – 130 W. Jackson, West Columbia, Tx
Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child
West Columbia Police Dept.
JOHNSON, BOBBY WAYNE
White Male Born: 12/01/1966
Aggravated Sexaul Assault of a Child
LKA: 2109 Koster, Alvin
Alvin Police Dept.
KLIESING, RAYMOND E
3614 Dorothy, Pearland, Tx
Possession & Promotion of
Child Pornography (8 counts)
Pearland Police Dept.
ROGERS, ROBERT DANNY
101 E. Hospital Dr. Apt 11, Angleton
Indecency w/a Child - Sexual Exposure
Victim: Male Age 16
Angleton Police Dept.
SYLVESTER, JOHN HENRY
2123 Ave I, Danbury, Tx
Indency w/a Child by Sexual
Exposure
Danbury Police Dept.
WILLIS, ANTHONY QUINN
128 Huisache, Lake Jackson, Tx
Sexual Assault of a Child
Lake Jackson Police Dept.
SEX OFFENDERS — GALVESTON COUNTY
Convicted Sex Offenders are required by Texas law to
register with law enforcement in the city in which they reside.
VISIT US ON the WEB at
These Sex Offenders are not wanted by the law…
they are published for Community Awareness in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies.
If you have information that any of these offenders are residing at an address other than the one shown, please contact the listed police agency.
CORONADO, MANUEL
Latin Male, Born 10/26/1948
LKA – 1901 Caroline, League City, Tx
League City Police Dept.
GRIFFITHS, BENJAMIN DAVID
LKA – 4714 11th St. Bacliff, Tx
Galveston County Sheriff
MARTINEZ, JOE MANUEL
Latin Male, Born 11/20/1964
LKA – 500 10th St,. #B1, Kemah, Tx
Sexual Assault
Kemah Police Dept.
FRANCIS, FREDERICK GEORGE
LKA – 539 Broadway, San Leon, Tx
Victim: Age 14
Carnes Brothers
FUNERAL HOME
Where the family name
on the outside is the
same family on the inside.
(409) 765-8080
1201 Tremont
Galveston
INGRAM, CHARLES ALTON
LKA – 13505 28th St., Santa Fe, Tx
Possession & Promotion of Child
Pornography
Conspiracy to Commit
Galveston County Sheriff or
Santa Fe Police Dept.
MORRIS, DEWEY LEE JR.
Black Male, Born 04/29/1958
LKA – 2201 23rd St., Dickinson, Tx
Indecency w/a Child by Sexual
Contact
Victim: Age 13
Galveston County Sheriff or
Dickinson Police Dept.
SOUTHERN KEYS
LOCKSMITH
Quality Professional
Service
• Commercial
• Residential
• A u to
Dennis Fitzgerald
409-741-5397
License # C12249
Fine Steaks
and Seafood
Telephone:
(409) 744-0881
O’ROURKE, LLOYD
LKA – 32 16th Ave. N., Texas City, Tx
Texas City Police Dept.
POLLACK, RANDY JAY
LKA – 7428 Western Dr., Hitchcock, Tx
Victim: Male Age 8
Fax: (409) 744-9623
11126 F.M. 3005
Galveston, Tx. 77554
Lube & Tune
Featuring
THOMAS, JONATHAN ROY
LKA – 4431 Saffron, Friendswood, Tx
Indecency w/a Child
Victim Female Age 13
Friendswood Police Dept
TULP, MICHAEL LOUIS AKA:Tulip
LKA – 7730 Beaudelaire Circle,
Galveston, Tx
High Risk Sex Offender
Court/Prison Board Ordered Registration
45-Year Sentence
Galveston Police Dept.
Jim Enloe
281-554-8044
281-554-8878 Fax
2102 W. Main League City, Tx 77574
GulfCounty
Coast Police News - Page 25
Galveston
★ JON HALL for DA ★
GOTCHA
40 Year Galveston County Resident
✓ Integrity
✓ Leadership
✓ Experience
✓ All
Proven
www.electjonhall.com
Registered owner: Tim Molidor, Galveston. Didn’t park in the handicap zone but in the zone designated for
handicap persons to disembark from a vehicle. It is part of the handicap zone.
(Police News Photo)
The one who drives
❝When
he’s been drinking
Depends on you
to do his THINKING!
✭ 17 Years Criminal Law Experience
✭ 12 Years Military & State Prosecutor
✭ Active Community and Church Member
✭ 17 Years US Army and Army Reserve
✭ Desert Shield/Desert Storm Veteran
✭ Global War on Terror Veteran
✭ Current Rank — Lieutenant Colonel
❞
The Gulf Coast
Police News
Visit us on the Web
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409-763-0410
continued from page 23 (Senior Cop)
“They’re not hiring home grown kids any- and they either move back home or set out
department. That isn’t something I want to more. They’re hiring from all over. They looking for a better place to work. Other
do. I’ve got six to two with Saturday and come down here and get some training and police departments are stealing all our
policemen.
Sunday off.”
“These young policemen are the
Scott has worked an off-duty
backbone of the police department,
security job for the Galveston
but they’re all bailing out. We’re at
Housing Authority for the past 17
a critical point.”
years. He sometime also works
We learned many things talking
traffic at the ferry landing. All
with Officer Bill Scott. One of them
Galveston officers work off-duty
was that Bill Scott knows what he is
jobs, even the Captains, according
talking about. He’s been a cop in
to Scott.
Galveston longer than any other liv“Galveston wouldn’t have any
ing person. He has worked every
policemen if there weren’t any
beat, seen every type of crime,
extra jobs. You know, when you
worked for more chief’s and capcan go across the causeway and
tains, and lieutenants and sergeants,
make another $1500 a month,
been in more shoot-outs, saved more
that’s a pretty good incentive to
Legends in Galveston Law Enforcement during lighter people from the surf, and seen more
leave.”
“The
Galveston
Police moments. (L to R) Retired Captain Moose Adams, Bill politicians come and go.
“Why,” we asked. “Why are you
Department is just a training Scott, Oscar Ekelund.
ground and as long as the pay is where it is, we send them to school and get them cer- still here doing this?
tified and give them a year’s experience
“When I come to work it’s always someit’s going to continue to be.
thing new everyday. I’ve made a lot of
friends in this business, even some of the
people that I’ve had to arrest. This is what
I do, and I love it.”
When Bill Scott finally does decide to
hang up his pistol belt and handcuffs and
put his badge in his dresser drawer at
home, Galvestonians will never see another one like him. Not for many, many, many
years.
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November - The Police News

Transcription

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