Lubbock Texas SWAT Fiasco (latest update/my title)

Amarillo Globe News

[Squantos]

Thursday, November 22, 2001
5:49 a.m. CT

Officer fired for shooting another officer

The Associated Press

LUBBOCK (AP) - A Lubbock police officer who authorities say accidentally shot a SWAT officer during a July operation was fired Tuesday.

Police Cpl. Wade Lee was cited by interim Police Chief Claude Jones for violating departmental policy regarding firearms safety and falsifying a written report about the shooting of Sgt. Kevin Cox by a fellow officer.

"Today I have taken actions to assure Lubbock's citizens and members of the Lubbock Police Department that this administration will be proactive in providing professional police protection of the highest quality and maximum support and leadership to our police officers," Jones said in Wednesday's editions of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.

Lee can appeal his termination to the City Civil Service Commission or an independent arbitrator. His attorney could not be reached for comment.

Jones issued letters of reprimand to 12 other officers involved in the SWAT raid. The officers were cited for violating department use-of-force guidelines and lapses in judgment, Jones said.

"Be assured these personnel actions are serious, and in my view, commensurate with the violations," Jones said. The department said it could not legally release the names of the officers.

Officer Tracy Taylor, who investigators initially considered the most likely source of the fatal gunshot, will return from paid leave to work in the department's accident investigation division.

Taylor and Lee had been on paid leave since the shooting.

Jones removed three officers, including Taylor, from the SWAT team. Four others, including team commander Lt. Randy Franklin, resigned from the team. Six of those officers received letters of reprimand, Jones said.

Assistant Police Chief Randy McGuire stepped down and will assume his previous rank of lieutenant. McGuire was the senior officer commanding the SWAT operation.

Former Police Chief Ken Walker was placed on administrative leave during the shooting investigation, as city officials accused him of mismanaging the Police Department. He resigned Nov. 8 in exchange for a $130,000 settlement.

Lee, a team sniper, accidentally fired his rifle, prompting other team members to fire at least 160 shots.

Cox suffered a fatal wound to the head, which Jones said was caused by Lee's single shot.

Initially, Lee misrepresented that he fired deliberately at a specific target, according to the suspension order.

Lee later told investigators that he did not have a target and fired accidentally, the suspension order says.

The investigation did not determine how Lee's shot, fired from across the street toward Cox's back, hit Cox in the forehead.

"I can't explain that. I don't understand all the physics involved, and to this point I don't know a ballistics expert who can explain that right now either," Jones said.

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http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b6185f43378.htm</ A>

[pocat]

Well, if this trend continues, at least they'll just be shooting themselves instead of innocent citizens. Soon enough, the LE "gene pool" will begin to clear up.

Hey - we can hope, can't we?

[sneakypete]

When citizens kill officers, they can see years in prison and possibly the death penalty. But when officers burst in someone's home, armed to the teeth and high on adrenaline, and one kills another, he is fired?!

Good. I see you now understand the situation. It's not as bad as it seems at first,though. The fired cop will get the union lawyer to threaten suit against the city,and they will rescind his firing and recommend him for another job with another police dept. Happens ever day.

[George Smiley]

Finger off the trigger until- and know your target and backstop bump, Squantos.

Happy Thanksgiving.

[harpseal]

Icertainly believe that accidently firing into the head of another officer may well fall under the negligent homicide statute but according to the reports the officer gave inconsistent statements in a homicide investigation. If these were under penalty of perjury then I would suggest that a prosecution on that count would at minimum be in order.

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

[Squantos]

Yes indeed. Even that may not keep him from doing it again in a small (smaller) department these days. Sad that if your involved in a domestic dispute it will ruin your LEO career but it's kewl to cap yer fellow officer and or innocents and stay on the job ...........I didn't like it when I was a LEO and still don't. Internal affairs "is" IMHO.......

Stay Safe !

[packrat01]

Lee, a team sniper, accidentally fired his rifle, prompting other team members to fire at least 160 shots.

I didn't go back to the original, but; wasn't it closer to 320 rounds expended?

A negligent homicide bump. At least prosecute for firing across a road.

[Squantos]

Yes, 300 plus or minus. Enough rounds fired that brought a cry for "more ammo" from team members if ya remember correctly.............

Stay Safe !

[Native American Female Vet]

BUMP