The above robbery by four black males happened several months ago, then this happened yesterday and they may be related to a string of armed robberies:
ROCKFORD, Ill. — A three-year veteran of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department was visiting a friend at a pizza delivery restaurant Saturday when he unwittingly became the centerpiece of an explosive drama that left one dead and three others injured.
The officer was in a small office area inside Marie’s Pizza, talking with the son of the business owners, when three men entered the tiny business. One pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the off-duty officer and the employee, neither of whom were identified today. A fourth suspect stood outside near the door.
A struggle ensued, and the officer was able to wrestle control of the suspect’s handgun. There was another struggle, over another handgun in the employee’s waistband. The fourth suspect then entered the business to assist, even as the officer got control of the employee’s handgun and used it to shoot all four suspects.
A 16-year-old died at the scene. The other suspects, in their early 20s, are being treated for life-threatening injuries, Rockford police Chief Chet Epperson said.
Ooooh, I’ll bet your “hero” gets seriously chewed out for that. Talk about endangering the public!
A life or death struggle with four robbers over two hand guns and Libby chastises the police officer for “endangering the public!”
I’m sorry kids, but just how stupid is that? It is so unbelievably stupid I am completely nonplussed.
Evidently Libby thinks the police officer should have allowed the robbers to shoot him and the pizza parlor employee so as to avoid “endangering the public.”
Libby, are you in the care of a mental health professional? If not I think you should seriously consider getting some help.
“Ooooh, I’ll bet your “hero” gets seriously chewed out for that. Talk about endangering the public! ”
Libby, you have to be kidding, right? The cop seizes the moment of opportunity to disarm an armed robber, fights over a weapon, finally retrieves it and cuts down four felons in the commission of a robbery. His action stopped these criminals and may have prevented his death and or the death of the pizza manager. Further, and this is yet to be proven, this may have solved a string of similar armed robberies and saved someones life down the road! As anyone knows an armed robbery is an extremely violent crime and it has a high likelihood of producing major injury to innocent victims or death. Police officers will tell you its only a matter of time until some innocent person is shot by these criminals.
The law provides that a police officer is required to use the force necessary to overcome resistance to apprehend a felon. When the persons are armed felons this usually leads to somebody getting hurt. Thank God it was not the cop or an innocent person. This makes the police officer a genuine hero. Thankfully, he knew weapon retention and recovery tactics, he knew the law, he had could handle an unfamiliar weapon and he was trained well enough to act with courageous calm in the face of great adversity.
You seem to be saying, always place your trust in fate. Cooperate or stay out of the way everything will be fine. Unfortunately, the graveyards are filled with people who thought that same way and did nothing until it was too late.
Very nicely put Post Script and Pie!! There you guys go spreading that common sense thing again. Darn you two 🙂 Glad to read that there is still justice in the world. When you play with the BULL you often deserve to get the HORNS!
Thanks John!
You were a cop? I’m starting to doubt this. Initiating the wrestling for firearms in the presence of civilians? No.
“As anyone knows an armed robbery is an extremely violent crime and it has a high likelihood of producing major injury to innocent victims or death.”
I’m sorry, this simply isn’t true (as long as you don’t go initiating wrestling matches for weaponry). You hand them the money, call it in, and tail them til the cavalry shows. And if the cavalry doesn’t show, you wait til next time.
Were you a cop?
Libby, you’re coming from a “wishful” or “hopeful” kind of logic. You’re relying on your personal sense of what would be best, under the circumstances. But, you’re not really taking into account the all facts here. This is unfortunately a reoccurring flaw.
Now consider this and use an open mind: The officer sized up the situation, measured his abilities against the potential consequences and made the decision to fight back. He was right and we know he was right, because he won and they lost. 4 armed robbers are out of commission and society is better for it.
To condemn him for winning is a fools errand. Do you understand this Libs? It’s foolish to criticize a heroic victor who did the right thing as his duty called him to do it.
The cop felt he had the right opportunity, so he seized the moment and he succeeded.
By doing nothing he was trusting his life to four people with guns who at that moment exercising incredibly poor judgement. That’s bad odds. Further, they gave every indication they were prepared to do extreme violence.
A robbery where the witnesses are killed is not an anomaly Libs. Hold that thought as you read on.
There are evil people in this world who would kill you over a small amount of money, you surely must realize this? And there are also persons who should not have done what this cop did – I’ll grant you that much. But, he was up to the job. He took them down and harmed no innocent people. He quite possibly saved lives either at that moment or in the future at another robbery or would deny this tiny leap of logic? This is what you’re failing to see Libs and it’s a shame, because its so obvious to most of us out here.
You have held yourself up to scorn and ridicule on this one and I take no pleasure in seeing that. I’m only responding here to set you straight for your own good and give you some pause to think about what you think, because what you think is not always so. Sorry Libs, it’s true.
One last thing, yes I was a cop for many years in a tough little town with a rep for violent crime. I never faced such bad odds as this guy, but I was in dangerous situations that could have ended badly. Yes, it scared the heck out of me at the time, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do, it’s not being heroic, it’s about doing your duty as you see it.