Officer who shot Clemmons is hailed as a 'hero'

SEATTLEPI.com - SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER ^ | Last updated Tuesday, December 1, 2009, 6:37 p.m. PT | By VANESSA HO and CASEY MCNERTHNEY

[Cindy]

SNIPPET: "Seattle police officer Benjamin L. Kelly is being hailed as a hero for his actions early Tuesday morning, in which he single-handedly shot and killed Maurice Clemmons, the man wanted in Sunday's killings of four Pierce County officers.

After an intense, two-day manhunt for Clemmons, Kelly had stopped to check out a stolen car parked on the side of a road in Rainier Valley. Clemmons was outside the car. Kelly recognized him from police bulletins and ordered him to put up his hands, police said. When he refused, Kelly shot Clemmons."

SNIPPET: "The pistol found on Clemmons matched the serial number of a gun belonging to one of the officers slain in Pierce County. They were killed while working on their laptops in a Lakewood coffee shop.

On Tuesday, some Seattle police officers said they believed that the South Seattle incident - in which Clemmons had the hood up and motor running of a stolen car - may have been an attempted ambush of police officers by Clemmons."

[happinesswithoutpeace]

Only God knows Cindy. I think he did the right thing when he engaged that target. : (

[Cindy]

OFFICER DOWN MEMORIAL PAGE: "SERGEANT MARK RENNINGER Lakewood Police Department Washington"

OFFICER DOWN MEMORIAL PAGE: "OFFICER TINA GRISWOLD Lakewood Police Department Washington"

OFFICER DOWN MEMORIAL PAGE: "OFFICER GREG RICHARDS Lakewood Police Department Washington"

OFFICER DOWN MEMORIAL PAGE: "OFFICER RONALD OWEN Lakewood Police Department Washington"

Facebook page: "IN THE MEMORY OF THE LAKEWOOD OFFICERS"

POLICE.CITY OF LAKEWOOD.US: "CITY OF LAKWOOD IDENTIFIES SLAIN POLICE OFFICERS" (November 29, 2009)

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SEATTLEPI.com - SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER: "OFFICER WHO SHOT CLEMMONS IS HAILED AS A 'HERO'" (Last updated December 1, 2009, 6:37 pm PT)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com - blog: "Seattle Police Department on trail of Maurice Clemmons; Update: Family Ramily reportedly aiding Clemmons; Update: Seattle PD officer fatally shoots Clemmons; Update: Suspected getaway driver is former Arkansas cellmate" (November 30, 2009)

OFFICER.com (AP): Seattle - "SEARCH CONTINUES FOR WASHINGTON AMBUSH SUSPECT" (SNIPPET: "Authorities put up a $125,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.") (Updated November 30, 2009, 05:43 pm) (UPDATE: SUSPECT IS DEAD. -December 1, 2009)

KOMO NEWS.com: Seattle - "SARCH FOR CLEMMONS LEAD POLICE TO SEATTLE HOME" (SNIPPET: "Investigators on the scene said negotiators are trying to get the man inside to surrender.") (Updated November 29, 2009, 10:55 pm PST) (UPDATE: Clemmons not in the home.)

KHQ.com: Pierce County, Washington - "POLICE NAME PERSON OF INTEREST IN THE SLAYINGS OF 4 POLICE OFFICERS" SNIPPET: "The person of interest is identified as Maurice Clemmons, a 37-year-old man from the Parkland area of Pierce County. Clemmons is 5'8" tall, 235 lbs., with black hair, brown eyes, and a mole on his left cheek. Authorities say Clemmons has extensive violent criminal history from Arkansas, including aggravated robbery and theft. He has also recently been arrested and charged in Pierce County for Assault 3rd on a Police Officer and for Rape of a Child.") (Note: Photo included below article.) (Posted November 29, 2009, 5:57 pm)

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SEATTLEPI.com - SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER: "4 OFFICERS KILLED IN PIERCE COUNTY" (SNIPPET: "Authorities are looking a person of interest..." SNIPPET: "Police said the suspect may have been injured, perhaps shot before fleeing the scene...") (Updated November 29, 2009, 3:51 pm)

KING5.com: Parkland, Wa - "FOUR LAKEWOOD POLICE OFFICERS SHOT AND KILLED IN 'AMBUSH" (SNIPPET: "Send donations to LPIG Benevolent Fund at PO Box 99579 Lakewood, WA 98499. "I will personally make sure it goes where it is intended. May God bless you four who are in a place so much better than this; you are some of the finest professionals I have ever known. God bless our community today," Wurtz said.") (Updated November 29, 2009, 3:22 pm)

NEWSER.com (AP): "4 POLICE OFFICERS SHOT DEAD IN AMBUSH AT WASH. STATE COFFEEHOUSE; NO SUSPECT IN CUSTODY" "SNIPPET: "Brad Carpenter, founder and owner of Forza Coffee, said his staff was OK and being interviewed by police, and that his main concern was with the families of the police officers. "I'm a retired police officer, so this really hits close to home for me," said Carpenter, of nearby Gig Harbor.") (November 29, 2009, approx 1:50 pm)

KING5.com: "FOUR LAKEWOOD POLICE OFFICERS SHOT AND KILLED IN 'AMBUSH'" (SNIPPET: "SNIPPET: "Troyer said the suspect is a black male, 5-foot-7 to 6 feet tall, 20s to 30s, scruffy appearance, wearing a black coat with a gray sweatshirt underneath, and blue jeans. A $10,000 reward is being offered for information. Tips can be called in to (253) 591-5959 or 866-977-2362.") (November 29, 2009, 9:41 am)

SEATTLE FBI.gov - Contact Information

DINAH LORD - blog: "WA: 4 POLICE OFFICERS SHOT DEAD IN AMBUSH" (November 29, 2009)

LAKEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT

KIRO TV.com: "MAN SOUGHT IN OFFICERS' KILLINGS HAS LENGTHY CRIMINAL HISTORY" (Updated November 29, 2009, 8:52 pm)

ARKTIMES.com - ARKANSAS TIMES - Arkansas blog: "ARK. EX-CON OF INTEREST IN SLAYINGS" (SNIPPET: "My source says the man wanted for questioning is believed to be the same Maurice Clemmons as an Arkansas ex-con with an extensive record of armed robbery who became a subject of some controversy for political reasons. That Maurice Clemmons was among those who became controversial for having received a commuted sentence from then-Gov. Mike Huckabee in 2000 (of a 35-year armed robbery sentence), then went on to commit other crimes.") -Posted by Max Brantley (November 29, 2009, 19:44)

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[Spktyr]

“”Seattle police officer Benjamin L. Kelly is being hailed as a hero for his actions early Tuesday morning, in which he single-handedly shot and killed Maurice Clemmons, the man wanted in Sunday’s killings of four Pierce County officers.””

Good shoot, but next time he really should use a two-handed grip and not a single-hand stance. :D

[21twelve]

I was wondering about that - if it was a trap. Glad that cop was so observant!

[Cindy]

Well thank God it worked.

[Cindy]

(Remember kids, there is no such thing as a “routine” call of any type — including a car stop. -Cindy)

#

Note: excerpting doesn’t do articles justice, but here is a few more deails.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010400199_shootingmainbar02m.html

Originally published December 1, 2009 at 10:09 PM | Page modified December 2, 2009 at 1:42 AM

SNIPPET: “Kelly was on patrol when he saw a silver 1990 Acura Integra with its hood up, the engine running and nobody inside.

Seattle Assistant Chief Jim Pugel, without identifying Kelly, said the officer ran the license plate and determined the car was stolen.

It had been reported stolen from the 4800 block of South Chicago Street, only a few blocks away, about two hours earlier.

As the officer sat in his patrol car writing a report on the stolen car, he noticed a man approaching the driver’s side of the patrol car from behind, the department said.

The officer got out of his car and immediately recognized Clemmons, police said.

“He ordered the person to stop. He ordered the person to show his hands. That person would not show his hands, and also began to run away counterclockwise around the vehicle,” Pugel said.

The officer again told Clemmons to stop, and he didn’t comply, Pugel said.

As the officer drew his gun, Clemmons “reached into his waist area and moved,” the department said in a written statement.

The officer then fired several shots at Clemmons, striking him at least twice, the statement said.

Clemmons collapsed near some bushes on the north side of the street, the statement said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.”

[hoosiermama]

... He was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Saving the tax payers a great deal of money.

[Joe Boucher]

I’ve spoken to many cops about lethal force.
Each was traumatized by having to use thier firearm against another person.
Each who had done so say they would do the exact same thing again were the circumstances the same.
And the majority of cops I’ve asked say they have NEVER had to use a firearm in the line of duty, thank GOD.
But like any professional they keep practicing.

Good morning Cindy,
Your usual good job.

[Cindy]

Good morning Mr. Boucher.

...and I’ll ditto your post.

[pnh102]

Thanks to Officer Kelly, we no longer need to worry about the governor of Washington State communiting the perp’s sentence.

[livius]

Or another great WA judge releasing him on bail...

[Erik Latranyi]

I hate to say it, but if Clemmons did not kill police officers, this final shooting would be a racists dream...white cop/black perp supposedly reaching inside his jacket, etc.

But because we have a class system where the death of a police officer is viewed more seriously than the death of a civilian, no questions will be asked.

[Haiku Guy]

Yeah, under normal circumstances, that “He was making furtive gestures towards his waistband” argument would not go over with the public. But when four officers are gunned down, the Rules of Engagement change.

Frankly, I think most folks would stand up and applaud if the officer said, “I shot the bastard as soon as I saw him”, which may well have been the case here.

[Cindy]

Mr. Latranyi said in part, “But because we have a class system where the death of a police officer is viewed more seriously than the death of a civilian, no questions will be asked.”

#

Of course questions will be asked.
There is no “class system.”
That's garbage talk, sir.

In every shooting incident by a police officer, the officer is routinely suspended with pay while the shooting incident is THOROUGHLY investigated.

[ClearCase_guy]

Serious question:

I would imagine (but do not know) that if I had a minor accident with a police car, then got out of my vehicle and started running, the police officer would yell "Halt!", but if I kept running, I don't think he'd shoot me in the back. I mean, there are rules, right?

Another scenario:

I'm a crazy career criminal, I've killed 4 police officers in cold blood, and I've been on the run for days, getting help from an underground network. A police officer sees me, shouts "Halt!" and I turn and start running. Can I assume that the officer is allowed to shoot me in the back?

For the record, I think ending the cop killer's run from justice is paramount, but I'm not sure that it's technically allowed under "the rules", since no one's life is in imminent danger.

Your opinion?

[ex 98C MI Dude]

He also wasn’t running away, he was running ‘clockwise’ around the back of the car, ie, seeking cover. That says he was trying to engage the officer. The ‘furtive movement toward the waistband’ is boilerplate language, and I doubt it was very furtive. He was going for the gun he stole from one of his victims.

Alone, facing one of the few people who had killed multiple officers in the history of the US? Yeah, hero applies.

[copwife]

What a disgusting thing to say!!! 4 parents,children,brothers,sisters were killed in cold blood. The man who shot their killer is a hero!!!I don’t think that their occupation will effect the treatment of this shooting.
Everytime a LEO puts on a uniform they become a sitting duck for someone with a chip on their shoulder. Do YOU put yourself in that position? Most LEOS realize the risk that they face, but feel that they are called to serve.
I am thanlful for them!!!

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

Well he is partially right.

When a cop is killed they roll out the Calvary, manpower from far and wide is brought to bear hunting down the suspect. But when Joe Average is killed its just another routine homicide investigation. LE tends to get a bit more upbeat when a child is killed but the exact level is directly proportional to the level of media involvement in the case.

Only those with their heads in the sand can’t see the difference in the level of urgency put forth by LE when its one of their won vs. one of us.

I guarantee you if this guy had walked into the coffee shop and hosed down four average folks, not one tenth of the manpower that was put into finding a cop killer would have been used to find just another murderer...

Sorry but its the truth.

[headsonpikes]

What you describe are the hallmarks of socialism, American-style.