so the cop says the guy pulled his gun first, then just exactly WHY... was he pointing HIS gun at the woman and children???
Posted on 06/08/2007 4:03:44 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo
The man who shot and wounded an undercover Robbinsdale police officer is now out of jail, and may not be charged with any crimes.
Martin Treptow walked out of the Anoka County Jail Friday afternoon, and told reporters he shot the officer because he feared for his family's safety.
Treptow says he got into a dispute on the road with a man who turned out to be the undercover officer. He says he did not know the man was a cop.
"We're about three feet away from each other and he's pointing the gun at my wife," Treptow said. "I had to defend my family."
Treptow, who used to work as a security guard and has a permit to carry a gun, pulled his own weapon and fired.
Treptow, his wife and two children, then drove to a nearby convenience store and called police.
Police say some witnesses back up parts of Treptow's story, but the officer says it was Treptow who pulled his gun first.
Coon Rapids Deputy Police Chief Timothy Snell says both drivers could have brought the situation to a better conclusion. "I think there were points in this incident when either side could have backed off," he said.
Treptow is now free, can resume carrying a gun, and can travel anywhere he likes.
Prosecutors say it may take weeks to finish the investigation.
The officer could not be reached for comment. Authorities declined to provide his name on Thursday, because he works undercover and has several cases pending.
I've had my permit since '03. Not a lifetime, compared to some here, but here's what has changed for me, since '03.
I drive like a sane human being. I avoid altercations. I don't drink and drive.
My permit to carry has made me a MUCH better driver.
Ping.....
so the cop says the guy pulled his gun first, then just exactly WHY... was he pointing HIS gun at the woman and children???
Treptow isn't out of the woods yet.Iexpect that the locality will press him pretty hard.
Well, they say that an armed society is a polite society. The average person will assume that this saying means that everyone will fear each other. I believe the exact opposite is true. A mature individual will understand that he has lethal force at his immediate disposal, and will thus endeavor to avoid trouble when he can. None of us who carry firearms regularly want to shoot someone. OTOH, if it becomes necessary to draw a weapon I believe the vast majority of citizens are even more careful about the application of lethal force than your average police officer is, because there are real consequences for doing so even if you are completely in the right and justified.
I agree with most of what you say, but the police are supposedly trained to not escalate situations. I assume that would also include not purposefully inflaming one as well. The guy had no way to know what he was confronting ... the cop should have been more restrained.
If there really were a law infraction, the cop should have identified himself before the situation got out of hand.
I have had a carry permit for a long long time, and try to avoid any and all situations unless really threatened. Carrying a gun brings with it heavy responsibilities.
“then just exactly WHY... was he pointing HIS gun at the woman and children???”
He never should have let himself get into this situation in the first place. Permit holders are taught to NEVER push a situation to the point where deadly force is used. Should be no different for LEO’s.
If he lived here in Connecticut he would be in jail without the availability of bail.
You and I are in total agreement.
Cops should act like cops, 24/7, and look like cops.
I was working the register one day, a guy came in wearing jeans, a plaid shirt and cowboy boots, with several days of beard. As he passed he started to turn, and pulled his shirt tail up. When I saw the tip of his holster I hauled out the old S&W. He froze like a deer in the headlights, someone yelled “he’s a deputy”. How was I supposed to know? I never was trained to let someone get a first crack at me. The damn fool was one wrong move away from shot.
I heard later that the sheriff had a talk with him, never said a word to me.
I was actually shocked that they gave him back his weapon and told him he could go anywhere he liked.
The eyewitness testimony must be pretty solid.
I’m a strong LEO supporter but, based on this information only, I’d have to side with Trepow.
Due to the lack of details surrounding the entire situation, I would have to say it's any individual willing to publicly voice their verdict based on a piecemeal article that really hasn't said anything......
There are many other articles on this story. Each one has different pieces of the story. Rather than post them all, I chose this one.
true. my point was, i was taught that your gun always moves in sync with you eyes... ALWAYS!!! and i'll be damned if i saw a gun come out, and KNOW it's prolly gonna be pointed at me and NOT be pointing my gun at him and fire on cause.
but that's just me...
“I heard later that the sheriff had a talk with him, never said a word to me.”
When you’re right, you’re right.....
The eyewitness testimony must be pretty solid.
Are the cop is one piece of dirt and has a back ground as a hot head.
Anyway the cop is a public employee and he is the professional, this one needs to be fired.
Sorry, missed you point completely.
Cops lie.
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