Texas deputy to pay price for defending self

Washington Times ^ | 2 February 2007 | Jerry Seper

[Aussie Dasher]

A Texas deputy sheriff who fired shots at a fleeing vehicle after the driver tried to run him down faces 10 years in prison for injuring one of the passengers, a Mexican national being smuggled illegally into the United States.

The U.S. attorney, who won lengthy prison terms last year for two U.S. Border Patrol agents in the shooting of a drug-smuggling suspect, also prosecuted Edwards County Deputy Sheriff Guillermo F. Hernandez, who is to be sentenced next month.

The deputy's boss, Sheriff Donald G. Letsinger, said his officer -- who had been on the job for a year -- "followed the letter of the law" in defending himself in the April 2005 incident and questioned why the government brought charges.

"This is a fine young man, and I just don't believe he committed the wrong of which he was accused," Sheriff Letsinger said. "I have never had anything hurt me so badly as this prosecution. We've got to make this right."

Rep. Ted Poe, Texas Republican, called the prosecution and conviction of Hernandez, known to his friends as "Gilmer," "another example of how the federal government is more concerned about people [who are] illegally invading America than it is about the men who protect America."

"Once again, our government is on the wrong side of the border war," Mr. Poe said.

[wolfcreek]

Why is it OK for LAPD to fire hundreds of shots into an SUV escaping authority with an American citizen as the driver but, when there are illegals driving, it suddenly becomes something completely different?

I think that is a question for all to ponder.

[crghill]

It is time to rise up!

[WTSand]

Is anybody starting to see a pattern yet?

[aimhigh]

U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton, appointed in October 2001 by President Bush . .

So, it really is Bush's fault.

[Buzzy]

Yeah, the pattern is plain as day and so is the solution.

[twonie]

And when you lay down with pigs, you are lucky to get up at all. I am so angry that that's all I can say here without being banned.

[radar101]

http://www.freegilmer.com/articles.html


http://www.freegilmer.com/writetogilmer.html

be a young man in "Search of the American dream", with a recently married wife and newborn baby girl, having your world come crashing down around you overnight and call it depressing would be the understatement of the year. It is vital for Deputy Gilmer Hernandez's state of mind to receive letters from you to let him know he won't be forgotten.



Please send letters to:

UM73969180H5A106
Guillermo F. Hernandez
Val Verde Correctional Facility
P.O. Box 426011
Del Rio, Texas 78840-6011

[newcthem]

Hopefully when the US. Attorney meets his end, it will be by another Mexican Criminal that his actions allowed into this country. However, his end by any other means will be a improvement in our nation.

[Cailleach]

ping

[DH]

That's what you get when you shoot a soldier of the Democratic party. We simply can't have our law enforcement officials shooting at fleeing criminals. It could actually hurt them and cause traumatic stress or worse yet, loss of self-esteem.

[radar101]

Bush is CEO-He can hire-and he can fire!

[WTSand]

Sheriff Letsinger, with three deputies to handle all law-enforcement matters in a 2,000-square-mile county, called the Texas Rangers after the incident to investigate what happened. He said he also called the Mexican Consulate because Mexican nationals were involved, and the consulate later notified the FBI.

You did know your AG is an "anchor baby" didn't you.

[ZULU]

The fact here is that in addition to Bush II being directly responsible for this, Gonzales ALSO was OUTSPOKEN advocate of illegal invaders BEFORE Bush II appointed him.

So Gonzales concurs with his boss's philosophies on this subject.

[ASOC]

Yup

Hispanic cops getting busted for excessive or illegal use of deadly force.

Pretty straightforward, thanks for bringing it up.

BEFORE you flame - please note. BP agent tried to butt stroke (with shotgun) the Mexican smuggler, missed, the guy escaped. This guys shoots at a car driving away and kills someone. Not the kinda cops I want around.

YMMV

[spectre]

A Texas deputy sheriff who fired shots at a fleeing vehicle after the driver tried to run him down faces 10 years in prison for injuring one of the passengers, a Mexican national being smuggled illegally into the United States.

" The U.S. *attorney, who won lengthy prison terms last year for two U.S. Border Patrol agents in the shooting of a drug-smuggling suspect, also prosecuted Edwards County Deputy Sheriff Guillermo F. Hernandez, who is to be sentenced next month."

Sutton is that rogue..

How many people are going to come on here and continue to defend the invaders over our own LE?

sw

[zeugma]

If this was Joe Citizen I'd agree, but in this case, the driver tried to run over a uniformed police officer and then fled.

???

Is it o.k. for a cop to defend himself, but not "Joe Citizen"? 

[art_rocks]

Heres a scenario. Say the police office made the stop. Driver tried to run cop over and flees down the highway. Lets say the cop doesn't fire weapon but makes report to dispatch. It the fleeing car gets into an accident a few miles down the road and killed some US citizens, what do you think poster on FR would be saying? Would the US citizens sue the police officer for not detaining the driver when he was stopped. Just curious.

[Texas Federalist]

So, it really is Bush's fault.

Absolutely.

[Wallace T.]

The Border Patrol and the state or local police officers in a border area will likely "get the message" that the convictions are supposed to send - no aggressive pursuit of illegals or drug smugglers. The net effect will be to turn the border into a modern day version of 1920s Chicago or a north of the border version of Mexico. The gangsters will rule openly, and their hit men will be the law enforcers from Brownsville to San Diego. In due time, Anglos and assimilated Mexican-Americans will move northward to escape the narco-gangsters. Perhaps even the U.S. Armed Forces will abandon long standing bases like Fort Bliss and Fort Huachuca.

I do not know if this is the intent of President Bush and Attorney General Gonzales. But it will happen if the Border Patrol and local and state police are neutralized.

[spectre]

You are describing what is taking place in Los Angeles right now.

My own Mother is buried at Ft. Huachuca and my father will be laid to rest there when he's called home. I've often worried about the base being abandoned.

I don't know what is going on in Bush's mind when it comes to assimilating all of Mexico, but it doesn't appear normal to me.

sw