Rookie officer fired shot that killed Delray Beach teen [Dance shooting]

Sun Sentinel ^ | 3-01-05 | Tal Abbady, Nancy L. Othón and Leon Fooksman

[OXENinFLA]

DELRAY BEACH -- The officer who fatally shot a 16-year-old boy outside a school dance Saturday had less than a month's experience patrolling the streets on his own, according to information released by officials Monday.

Officer Darren Cogoni, 23, was hired by the Police Department in March. He was placed on administrative leave after the Saturday night shooting of Jerrod Miller on the campus of the Delray Full Service Center, a school for students with behavioral problems. Officials said Miller drove onto the campus after being approached by the officer.

Cogoni had completed his field training, where he worked under the supervision of an experienced officer, on Feb. 3, according to police spokesman Jeff Messer. Since then, he had been working solo. His 18-month probationary employment period is not due to end until September.

On his department job application, Cogoni, a graduate of Atlantic Community High School, described himself as having "excellent" interpersonal skills. "I have learned to dif- fuse tense situations, and find a reasonable solution for everyone," he wrote last year.

[OXENinFLA]

Update on the Dance Shooting..

[OXENinFLA]

Teen Shot To Death by Florida Police at High School Dance

Update on this story.

[OXENinFLA]

PING...

[American_Centurion]

Dam! don't you hate it when I'm right.

[Bones75]

On his department job application, Cogoni, a graduate of Atlantic Community High School, described himself as having "excellent" interpersonal skills. "I have learned to dif- fuse tense situations, and find a reasonable solution for everyone,"

Clearly he demonstrated that here.

Bones

[Happy2BMe]

rut-roh

[GBA]

"The officer who fatally shot a 16-year-old boy outside a school dance Saturday had less than a month's experience.....Officer Darren Cogoni, 23, was hired by the Police Department in March."

Today is March 1st. So, did they hire him after he shot that kid last Saturday?

[OXENinFLA]

had less than a month's experience patrolling the streets on his own

Sounds like he was hired last March.

[GBA]

Got it. Thanks.

[zygoat]

How did this article prove you correct? This article provided the fact that our little paragon of innocence was driving without a license and panicked when questioned. He then took to tearing through the school grounds in in what was an apparent attempt to escape. I've seen enough police chases to say that there was a 80/20 chance that Miller wasn't going to stop until his car was crashed and disabled. Perhaps with a half dozen of his fellow halfwits underneath it. All I can say is-Hey man, nice shot!

[beeler]

This story reeks of a propaganda piece. For example, why would the school officials suggest that this kid had no disciplinary problems when he is attending a school for children with behavioral issues. Something's missing here.

[American_Centurion]

Never did I defend the half-wit kid. Can't defend his stupidity. But Barney Fife here endagered many.

Even so, some critical thinking clearly shows that though stupid the kid was not endangering anyone. Kids on the steps weren't in danger, the car obviously wasn't tearing (in the sense of high speed) through the grounds. The police officer over-reacted and killed a civilian. The article even says that officers aren't to fire at moving vehicles unless lives are threatened. That wasn't the case.

Clearly the officer should not have fired, I will be shocked if he faces charges. He will walk because he is of the "protected" class of people in our country.

[American_Centurion]

Jerrod Miller, the dead teen, went to Olympic heights school, he was at the special school for the dance.

Though obviously the kid did have disciplinary problems if the best thing he could think of was to drive away from a cop through school grounds.

[zygoat]

And of course you know where the kid was heading after safely negotiating the school grounds? I am tired of watching innocent people being killed or injured, and having to replace property every time one of these idiots decides to play catch me if you can. It happens every day. The penalty for fleeing and eluding should be raised to 25 years to life, without parole. If a few more of them catch immediate fatal lead poisoning, maybe the rest will get the message. This is not a goddamn game.

[American_Centurion]

Just fine in your opinion for police officers to shoot at objects that are well known to cause extremely erratic changes in bullets' paths.

This yahoo endangered every one of those kids on the steps, the very people he claimed to be protecting. I'm not faulting his intentions, but his method was patently wrong.

[brytlea]

I watched his mom and twin brother interviewed on our local station last night. Of course they were upset, and I suspect they will file a lawsuit, and probably win (I haven't lived here long enough to know how juries out here will go, but it is a bastion of Kerry supporters). While I watched them talk tho, I imagined what they would have been saying had the police NOT stopped this kid and he had killed someone. The interview would have been with one of their loved ones complaining that the police didn't do enough to stop him before he killed/injured someone. It's hard for me to fault the police without alot of evidence they did the wrong thing and knew at the time it was the wrong thing, since they can never seem to win.
sundero

[zygoat]

"Just fine in your opinion for police officers to shoot at objects that are well known to cause extremely erratic changes in bullets' paths."

I don't know how to explain this, but cars that hit objects (ie. pedestrians, other innocent drivers) have been known to take extremely erratic paths also. Usually into oncoming traffic. Then the perp will either try to run or hit the dirt and spread eagle, pleading "Please don't hurt me Mr. Officer!...I'm done now...game over!" My family or yours could be the victim of one of these sociopaths, don't you understand that? You're a good person, I guess we'll just have to disagree on this one. It's just that this behavior enrages me, even more than Ward Churchill or his fellow liberals, because too many innocent people die.

[zygoat]

The kid made the decision that escalated this situation to its tragic end. I wish he would have just gotten out of the car and taken his slap on the wrist. They NEVER get away, but they usually injure someone else.To put a stop to it before it gained lethal acceleration is a good thing IMHO.

[brytlea]

I haven't heard if they did blood test to determine alcohol or drugs in his sytem. That might explain it. But yes, I don't understand why he didn't get out of the car and give up. I'm just glad no one else was hurt.

susie

[Gilbo_3]

This is not a goddamn game.

Sorry but if the 'law' stops you for a BS reason, please explain to me after your detainment, how it isnt a 'GAME'.

"Papers Please "...