Posted on 03/11/2010 7:54:48 PM PST by marktwain
Concerns about an Oregon Department of Transportation employee who purchased several guns after being placed on leave prompted law enforcement across Southern Oregon to step in. Negotiators and a SWAT team from Medford police safely took a man — whose name wasn't released — into protective custody Monday morning in the 500 block of Effie Street, Medford police said in a news release. He was taken to Rogue Valley Medical Center for a mental-health evaluation. The man recently had been placed on administrative leave from his job and was "very disgruntled," the news release said. ODOT Communications Director Patrick Cooney said there were administrative, personnel matters involved that limited what the department could discuss. However, the state agency had reported concerns about the man to law enforcement agencies, who started monitoring him, officials said. "We had concerning information regarding a personnel issue and were watching the subject," Jackson County Sheriff Mike Winters said. In two days, the man bought a Heckler & Koch .45-caliber universal self-loading handgun, a Walther .380-caliber handgun and an AK-47 assault rifle, Medford police Lt. Bob Hansen said. All of those firearms were purchased legally, with required record checks by the Oregon State Police. Authorities were "extremely concerned" that the man may have been planning to retaliate against his employers, the news release said. "Instead of being reactive, we took a proactive approach," OSP Sgt. Jeff Proulx said. Douglas and Jackson County sheriff's departments, OSP officers based in both counties and police in Medford and Roseburg collaborated, he said. Medford police watched the man's home overnight, starting at about 9 p.m. Sunday, Hansen said.
(Excerpt) Read more at mailtribune.com ...
Reading between the lines, it sounds like there may have been a fairly aggressive interchange with his employer and the employer was concerned, and maybe rightly so. I’m inclined to give this the benefit of the doubt.
I'd have hated as much as the next guy to see him pop a gasket and do something stupid but there would have to have been threats or calls from his friends and neighbors or something to warrant this action.
AH yes mind crimes we think you are about to do something bad,so we will protect you...
Concerns about an Oregon Department of Transportation employee who purchased several guns after being placed on leave prompted law enforcement across Southern Oregon to step in.
Negotiators and a SWAT team from Medford police safely took a man — whose name wasn’t released — into protective custody Monday morning in the 500 block of Effie Street, Medford police said in a news release.
He was taken to Rogue Valley Medical Center for a mental-health evaluation.
The man recently had been placed on administrative leave from his job and was “very disgruntled,” the news release
This doesn’t sound legal. I smell a law suit.
Based on the information given, I am not.
Yep, someone just won the lawsuit lottery.
Yup, and beleive me dozens if not over 100 lawyers are itching to defend this guy in a civil suit.
Well... he’s got no reason to be disgruntled anymore. He’s going to be able to retire very wealthy now.
10 million from ODOT and another 15 or 20 million from the city police ought to do it. Maybe they’ll think before doing it to anybody else.
You are giving the benefit of the doubt to the side that is controlling the release of information. He has been charged with nothing and was detained for exercising his second amendment rights. A person should not be detained for crimes they might commit.
Maybe. But most people are not put on leave for no reason. I hate to see the thought police but this might be a time when the police acted prudently. If nothing else, the guy goes home in a few days and rethinks what he might have been planning.
Well this is what people that find themselves unfairly accused or targets my LEO need to start doing. Chances are the police will return his guns, apologize and hope this quietly goes away. Best thing this guy could do is get attached to a lawyer with the NRA-ILA and bring suite against the city and county.
While we’re at it, innocent victims of no-knock warrants need to sue the responsible county and/or city. While I’m LEO, the no-knock practices need to end.
The placed on “ administrative leave” piece is the key. If I were laid off due to budget cuts I might go purchase some recreational items to go spend my new found leisure time with- none of their business. If I had a threatening blow-up with a supervisor or co-workers and was relieved of duty it could and should be viewed differently.
Most of us want the authorities to be responsive to the Islamic radical or the abusive live-in so we have to give them some gray area to operate.
A Libertarian on the surface could proclaim police state abuse but if it was your sister’s ex one might perhaps be less dispassionate.
Perhaps he got the severance pay and decided to spend it on some fun stuff?
I am a state official in the midwest who has had to make mental health referrals on LEO’s on active duty and relieve them of their armed positions. Its a tough call but I know public safety, err on the conservative side if you’re an official. No crime (yet) but not so simple.
This is where our government is heading. I am kind of wondering what would have happened if he had stood his ground in his own home and waited for them to commit themselves to a dynamic entry, him taking out at least one or more SWAT team members, with the rest of the gang shooting him 150 times or so - all to prevent a crime law enforcement that hadn’t taken place?
The police state is here now.
I don’t envy you! I’m sure you are a good person and am glad the decisions you make are in your hands, however, no man is above the law no matter how wise and good his intentions. I have refused to sell guns to people who make me uneasy. I am not a government official and that is my right. An agent of the government, however, does not have the luxury of going by their instincts. You must follow the law so that we are protected from government officials who are not good people.
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