Posted on 12/31/2001 7:07:39 AM PST by expose
Sheriff May Block Columbine Police Shooting Probe
Legal Experts Think Stone May Block Investigation That He Requested
DENVER -- Legal experts said that a sheriff who will head an investigation into the shooting of one of the Columbine victims could find himself hamstrung by the person who requested the review: Jefferson County Sheriff John Stone.
Stone has asked El Paso County Sheriff John Anderson to investigate claims that a Denver SWAT officer shot and killed student Daniel Rohrbough (pictured, left) when police converged on Columbine High School on April, 20, 1999.
Rohrbough was among 15 people, including the two gunmen, killed during the rampage at the school. Brian Rohrbough has long claimed his son was shot by police, and he said an affidavit filed last week by a former school official boosts his claim. The affidavit contains information about a conversation with a Denver officer.
Students Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris killed themselves after carrying out the assault.
Stone asked Anderson to conduct an independent investigation in hopes Rohrbough and other victims' families would accept Stone's office's findings that Klebold and Harris were responsible, said Jacki Tallman, Stone's spokeswoman.
The roadblock, legal experts said, could be Stone himself. The sheriff wouldn't talk to a commission appointed by Gov. Bill Owens looking into the tragedy, and the panel's chairman doesn't believe Stone will be forthcoming with anyone else.
"Stone made a promise at the first meeting that they'd cooperate in every way," said William Erickson, the chairman and a former Colorado Supreme Court chief justice. "After the first meeting, we were unable to get any information from anybody in the sheriff's office."
Denver lawyer and legal analyst Andrew Cohen called Stone's request for an investigation an empty gesture. He said he doesn't believe officers will agree to be interviewed.
Stone's call for an outside review follows last week's filing of an affidavit by a former school official who said Denver police Sgt. Dan O'Shea told her two days after the massacre that he was afraid he may have shot a student.
Anderson said he doesn't see the investigation as a wild goose chase.
"We are not going in with any preconceived notion. We believe that an investigation is simply a search for the truth," Anderson said.
He said his investigators will interview a number of people, including officers. But he said a lot of it will be an independent review of the forensic evidence, witness testimony, the coroner's report and other evidence.
Anderson said he expects the investigation to last two to three months and to be conducted by a team of four to five people.
Stone asked Anderson to head the investigation because no El Paso County deputies were involved while the shootings were going on, Tallman said.
Arapahoe County Sheriff Pat Sultan said Anderson is a good choice because of his track record.
"He has a tremendous reputation, probably far better than any sheriff in the state as far as forensic and criminal investigations go," Sullivan said.
Midwinter Beach Boys reference. Couldn't resist.
Harris and Klebold were never convicted of any crime related to the Columbine shootings in any court of law of which I'm aware. Accordingly, under the constitution that I'm sworn to protect and defend, they're innocent until convicted in such a proceding.
I of course have little doubt that the pair was in fact involved in the shootings as perpetrators. And I'm just as certain that others were involved, assisting them to an equal or lesser degree of culpability. That includes many of the Columbine-area cops, local, county and federal, covering up their own criminally negligent and reckless misconduct.
THE COP HAD A 9mm FULL AUTO! He HELD THE TRIGGER AND EMPTIED OFF 51 ROUNDS! Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is a clip and 1/2....meaning he RELOADED and KEPT ON FIRING! Where was his situational awareness, and target acquisition training?!?!
The same place as that of the SWATzie raiders inside the school who sprayed full-auto fire down a hallway and entered rooms via *clearing with fire* techniques believing that the hostile shooters were still alive, and knowing that live student victims also remained inside the school.
Either that, or they saw the lawsuits and possible criminal charges coming, and were trying to murder potential witnesses.
-archy-/-
I agree 100%.
If you listen to the likes of Dane on this issue, you will know even less than you do now...because in his view, even if the Cops were negligent, it's still Klebold and Harris' fault, not the Cops who may have slaughtered an innocent kid.
However, I believe there is an alternative to your supposition that we disarm Police or get rid of them entirely...
Make them accountable for their actions in the line of duty, and make sure they are trained to a level commensurate with said duties.
Which means if you are SWAT/HRT or the like, you qualify WEEKLY at a certified range to keep your skills at optimal levels.
Which means you PUBLICLY expose incompetent Cops and Management that are Political cronies of the corrupt Civilian Governments.
No more OMERTA, no covering for Donut-Eaters so they can get their pensions. Police are Public Officials, but WE are their bosses. This has somehow been lost in that last years. They are to UPHOLD laws...EQUALLY!
That is all we ask, but as I have argued with Dane and his LEO-Uber-Alles crowd, they seem to have a problem applying the same laws to themselves as we have to obey.
I'm sure someone soon will pop up with the canard of "How tough the job is", or "I am a Cop-Hater"...any takers on the over/under?
The two student psychos are burning in hell where they belong - Now the it's time to bring the law breakers among our law enforcement people to justice, if called for and the cowards that stood around rather than risk their lives should be recognized and drummed out of the police.
I've seen many cops held accountable for their actions. I know it's hard to believe, but it does happen.
6 posted on 12/31/01 8:29 AM Pacific by Jack Barbara
Correct
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