Posted on 10/21/2006 8:06:45 PM PDT by somniferum
OXFORD, Miss.-A University of Mississippi police officer was killed early Saturday morning while conducting a traffic stop near the university campus.
Officer Robert Langley, 30, had stopped a vehicle for speeding when the driver suddenly pulled away, dragging him approximately 200 yards. Langley suffered severe head injuries and was taken by helicopter to the Medical Center in Memphis where he was pronounced dead.
Within 30 minutes of the incident, Oxford Police detained 20-year-old Daniel Cummings, a second-year UM student from Germantown, Tenn. Cummings has been charged with capital murder of police officer and is being held in the Lafayette County Detention Center.
A four-year veteran of the University Police Department, Langley had returned in April from serving with the National Guard in Afghanistan. He is survived by his wife Lisa, two sons and two stepdaughters.
"There are no words to describe the heartache we feel. This is a tragedy for so many people in so many ways, and our hearts are grieving for Officer Langley's family," said Chancellor Robert Khayat. "He served his country when it needed him and, like police officers everywhere, he was dedicated to making our communities safe. This is a tragic event for us all."
The incident is the first death in the line of duty for a University of Mississippi police officer, said UPD Chief Jeffrey VanSlyke.
"We are a small department and something like this hits everyone very hard," said VanSlyke. "Every law enforcement officer knows the potential danger every time they go to work. Robert Langley was a devoted father, a respected police officer. He was our brother."
Just fyi. IIRC, the typical rules re: capital murder don't apply to the killing of a "peace officer."
see below...
Miss. Code Ann. Sec. 97-3-19 (2), "Murder" and "capital murder" defined:
(2) The killing of a human being without the authority of law by any means or in any manner shall be capital murder in the following cases:
(a) Murder which is perpetrated by killing a peace officer or fireman while such officer or fireman is acting in his official capacity or by reason of an act performed in his official capacity, and with knowledge that the victim was a peace officer or fireman. For purposes of this paragraph, the term "peace officer" means any state or federal law enforcement officer, including, but not limited to, a federal park ranger, the sheriff of or police officer of a city or town, a conservation officer, a parole officer, a judge, senior status judge, special judge, district attorney, legal assistant to a district attorney, county prosecuting attorney or any other court official, an agent of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the State Tax Commission, an agent of the Bureau of Narcotics, personnel of the Mississippi Highway Patrol, and the employees of the Department of Corrections who are designated as peace officers by the Commissioner of Corrections pursuant to > Section 47-5-54, and the superintendent and his deputies, guards, officers and other employees of the Mississippi State Penitentiary;
To all of you- those saying such things about Daniel, it saddens me that you've got nothing better to do than to sit in front of your computers and sling mud.
Take a moment to read the comment posted by Officer Langley's sister. She called him a "good Christian man"... and while she and her family have every reason to be consumed with grief and anger, no good Christian would call for words like the ones you all are using. You'll notice that even she did not make one insulting comment.
My father is a police officer... and its an incredibly admirable position. They know what they're doing. Let the law handle it. There's nothing any of you can do from behind your computer screen.
Yesterday I lost someone very dear to me. One of the greatest men I know. Someone who made me a better person for knowing him. I watch this man grow from being a child who had a very rough life, make something of himself. He had just his self to thank for his accomplishments. I'm not just saying this because he was my nephew, but I watch him grow into a man of honor, respect and a deep love of his family. Once he set his mind on something he did it. There was no stopping him.
And I know in my heart he would want us to continue to carry on. So many times has touched me and always had a smile on his face. I never saw him when he didn't. He always told me Aunt Lisa I love you and one day you will find your happiness. I take comfort in that and think of his smile when he said those words to me.
Even after a such a short life..he lived it to the fulless...he knew what he wanted and how to achieve it. He did all those things. A wonderful family and a great career. He wanted so much in life..and I think in the end he had it all.
I think if someone asked me today who my hero was it would have to be him. He showed me that no matter how hard life is..we can always do better. We can always achieve our dreams. He did that! And maybe just maybe even more than ever I can learn more from the man I called my nephew. To live life like there was no tomorrow...to go after my dreams. Make myself happy no matter what the odds.
Robert Langley you will be so greatly missed.... I know as I look back the thing I think of most was a fishing trip we took..you had your bait stuck in a tree, but that didn't stop you, just like everything else you never said never...and never gave up until you had it in the water again..I remember calling you a monkey..and I smile...as I did so many times watching you become a man....
I love you always ...
Lisa Dean
The Aunt to a great man..
thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers.
I Just wanted everyone to have a look at the man we loss.
Red State Alert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sarc. This is payback from the keg blowing up in a blue state. If you have not read it yet, you will soon....
over a traffic stop? heavens.
over a traffic stop. Sad huh? Sad what our world has come to.
Where is Germantown? Near Memphis?
Yes, Germantown is a suburb of Memphis, TN and it's about an hour & 15-30 minutes from Ole Miss.
I don't know the details of that night but I do know that in this article below, it states that he lived in the SAE house & not a dorm.
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061022/NEWS/610220412
Prayers.
Two funds are being set up in Robert Langley's name. One is a fund for his children, the other is a scholarship endowment for student's majoring in criminal justice. Information on how to donate to either fund is given on the University of Mississippi web page.
Thanks for the ping. Too sad.
That is such a horrible stereotype. Do you know ANYTHING about this family except what these articles tell you? Just because he lives in Germantown he is automatically "posh"?! I by no means justify or condone (or anything of the sort) what happened... but ignorant remarks in a time like this are completely unnecessary and help no one
you aren't posting accurate information. i am currently a student at the university of mississippi. daniel cummings was drunk and had done cocaine. he also had cocaine in his possession. the university has been mourning since friday night
i am currently a sophomore at the university of mississippi. it wasn't just over a speeding ticket. that was the original reason he was pulled over. but after being pulled over the officer realized that he was drunk.
What is not accurate about my post? I opined that he might have been on speed (an upper and cocaine is certainly an upper).
This is a reply to ALL... I have personally met the Cummings family (I am from Germantown). What happened was a TRAGEDY. I do not at all condone Dan's actions - Let that first be known. But all these stereotypes MUST STOP... Frat boy, rich kid from Germantown, etc. Not everybody fits the mold. I grew up in Germantown and am fully aware of how we are characterized.. I assume it's mostly adults on this website and would like to ASSUME that ADULTS know that stereotypes and ignorant remarks are completely unnecessary and of no help at all at a time like this. A like was taken that shouldn't have been. All of the energy you are putting into your hatred towards this person you do not even know should be put into prayers for the life that was taken and for the family that is left to go on without him. Dan was completely wrong, I know that... But just know that he has never been SCUM.. He was a good person that made a MISTAKE... the ABSOLUTE WORSE thing happened... I completely agree that he should recieve all the necessary consequences, but, as I said previously, convert your hatred into prayers that God is in control.
i am a student at the university of mississippi. you can't stereotype people. they have some of the similar traits as do all people when you group them with something they have in common. i take much disrespect to your comment. i am in a sorority here and would never in a million years consider myself a "typical sorority girl". the guy made very bad decisions that night and he will have to deal with the consequences. just because one person did something stupid here, you do not need to talk sh*t about ole miss greeks as a whole.
Okay, why is this thread suddenly attracting a bunch of newbies who joined just to post here?
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