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Noble (OK) officers on leave after shooting
Oklahoman Staff Writer ^ | Monday, August 6, 2007 | Jennifer Griswold

Posted on 08/06/2007 11:16:57 AM PDT by WestTexasWend

NOBLE (OK) — Three Noble police officers are on administrative leave after a police shooting Friday left a 5-year-old boy dead.

Noble Police Chief Ben Daves released an official statement this morning on the shooting. Daves said he is not yet releasing the names of the officers involved in the shooting.

Austin Haley was struck in the head and killed by a bullet while fishing with his grandfather. Noble police officers responded to a call about a snake in a birdhouse in the 300 block of Crest Lane, Daves wrote. The pond where Austin and his grandfather, Jack Tracy, were fishing was in a wooded area near the home. Daves confirmed two shots were fired at the snake to kill it.

In his written statement, Daves said it appears that one of the bullets fired by the officers at the snake also struck the boy.

"Moments later, cries were heard in the field, and the officers immediately went to investigate,” he wrote. "The officers began to render what aid they could and called for emergency medical assistance.”

Both the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and Noble Police Department are investigating the shooting.

"Our prayers are with the young man's family,” he wrote.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; US: Oklahoma
KEYWORDS: banglist; donutwatch; leo; shooting
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To: Vn_survivor_67-68
Nobody feels worse about this than the cop

Bull. I'll bet the grandfather in whose arms this child died feel a lot worse than that idiot cop.

this isn’t a cop-gone-bad

In this case he wasn't ever good.

L

41 posted on 08/06/2007 4:03:19 PM PDT by Lurker (Comparing moderate islam to extremist islam is like comparing small pox to ebola.)
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To: MizSterious
Your out of your mind. A person has no business discharging a weapon, especially at something as trivial as a snake, unless he or she knows where the bullet will end up.
42 posted on 08/06/2007 4:29:11 PM PDT by babygene (Never look into the laser with your last good eye...)
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To: Lurker

Lurker, this is slightly off topic, but I know something about how good people feel when they do something that causes such horrible pain for others.

My grand dad was an engineer for the AT&SF railroad. One night there was a car stalled on the tracks—in the late 40s, most crossings were just “look both ways before you cross”, no gates or lights, etc. He didn’t see it until it was too late to stop, and a family died in that car. (Why oh why didn’t they get out, rather than sit there?? No one knows.) My granddad never had a good night’s sleep again. I won’t go into detail, but for him, it was a sort of private hell.

That’s why I suspect this policeman will suffer for what he did—and perhaps that’s well and good—but I do pray that ALL involved in this, police and others, have the strength to face what they’re going to have to face.


43 posted on 08/06/2007 4:53:02 PM PDT by MizSterious (A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within.)
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To: Filo

This wasn’t someone running wildly through a neighborhood shooting it up, nor was he driving drunk. He was someone who thought he was doing his job, and probably the last thing he wanted to do was harm anyone, especially a child. Try to see the difference, and meantime, do offer up a prayer for the child’s family. The wee one is in Heaven, but the family must be suffering tremendously. I can’t imagine such a loss.


44 posted on 08/06/2007 4:58:34 PM PDT by MizSterious (A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within.)
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To: MizSterious
This wasn’t someone running wildly through a neighborhood shooting it up, nor was he driving drunk. He was someone who thought he was doing his job, and probably the last thing he wanted to do was harm anyone, especially a child.

Actually, both examples I posted were actual examples of police officers' actions. . .

While I agree that the cop in question obviously didn't want to hurt anyone he was still far, far, far too stupid to be issued a firearm and he made a huge, negligent and lethal mistake in discharging it as he did.

The cops in the previous examples also had dramatic lapses in judgment. They also got off far easier than a citizen would have in their shoes.

I feel very badly for the child's family but I have no sympathy for the officer or his.
45 posted on 08/06/2007 5:08:18 PM PDT by Filo (Darwin was right!)
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To: Filo

I don’t know the officer in question (they haven’t released his name yet), but certainly you can’t hold a grudge against his FAMILY if he has one?? They weren’t even there. Wow, sicko.


46 posted on 08/06/2007 5:10:43 PM PDT by MizSterious (A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within.)
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To: WestTexasWend

This story was unbelievable when I first read it.

No sympathy at all for the officer, imo. Charges should be pressed.


47 posted on 08/06/2007 5:27:34 PM PDT by Black Guy who is a Republican
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To: MizSterious
I don’t know the officer in question (they haven’t released his name yet), but certainly you can’t hold a grudge against his FAMILY if he has one?? They weren’t even there. Wow, sicko.

I didn't say I hold a grudge against his family (or him, for that matter) - only that they don't deserve, and won't get, my sympathy.

That's probably a bit harsh, I'll admit, but they really don't have anything to worry about anyway. This boy carried a badge when he did his stupid crap. He's a free man.
48 posted on 08/06/2007 5:35:19 PM PDT by Filo (Darwin was right!)
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To: MizSterious

These cop-hating threads are really depressing.


49 posted on 08/06/2007 5:36:31 PM PDT by Ramius (Personally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)
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To: MizSterious
And please explain to me how this was not an accident?

In case you haven't noticed, there is no such thing as an "accident" anymore.

When two motor vehicles come together unexpectedly these days, it is called a "crash".

This is because "crashes" have causes and "accidents" imply an air of unavoidability.

Things that are unavoidable leave no room for legislation or litigation, thus negating the roles and usefulness of politicians and lawyers.

50 posted on 08/06/2007 8:10:56 PM PDT by elkfersupper
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To: stm
What a terribly tragic accident.

Sorry, don't buy it. This was no accident. Pure and simple negligence with a firearm.

First, he broke rule #4

1: Assume All Guns Are Always Loaded - Make NO Exceptions
2: Never Point A Gun Where You Are Not Willing To Shoot
3: Keep Your Finger OFF the Trigger (Until You Are Ready To Shoot)
4: Know Your Target And What Is Beyond

Second he broke the rule of common sense using a 9mm pistol to shoot at a snake in a birdhouse! Just stupid.

You are correct about it being tragic, but there was nothing 'accidental' about it.

51 posted on 08/06/2007 8:26:39 PM PDT by kAcknor (Don't flatter yourself.... It is a gun in my pocket.)
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To: Ramius
These cop-hating threads are really depressing.

I think you mistake a distain for the status quo where cops are legally immune regardless of their stupidity and negligence for outright hatred.

I, personally, have quite a bit of respect for good cops and realize that they are doing a tough job. I just know that they are doing it poorly, on the whole, by using overbearing tactics (serving warrants with SWAT teams, treating everyone they encounter as criminals, etc.) and by being aloof from society (protecting their own at all costs, having their own set of rules, etc.)

If we could have true community policing with the police and citizens working together and trusting each other we'd be in much better shape and the police wouldn't need nearly as many tanks.
52 posted on 08/06/2007 9:29:50 PM PDT by Filo (Darwin was right!)
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To: MizSterious
The last thing this man will be is “above the law.”

From Article:
Three Noble police officers are on administrative leave after a police shooting Friday left a 5-year-old boy dead.

Okay, so If a "civilian" had done something this mind numbingly stupid ... and "accidentally" killed a child... they would still be walking free and not have already been arrested and at least need to post a hefty bond to be walking the streets ...

This guy hasn't even been arraigned yet and is walking around free on his O.R. ... with a paid vacation ... not above the law at all ...

53 posted on 08/07/2007 6:01:26 AM PDT by SubGeniusX ($29.95 Guarantees Your Salvation!!! Or TRIPLE Your Money Back!!!)
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To: Filo

I think its disgusting all the comments made toward the police officer. to make such statements without even knowing what really happend is exactly why we cant police ourselves that is such a stupid idea we cant even drive together on the highway with out people killing each other. the police officer had only been out of the police academy for about a one month. he was told everything to do step by step and this is destroying him plus someone one to bring his family into it is so absurd. I just pray all these people making these evil statements dont reap what they sow


54 posted on 08/08/2007 6:27:35 AM PDT by phatmike21 (you dont respect police officers but the first time you need one to save your life you will)
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To: phatmike21
to make such statements without even knowing what really happend

I know exactly what happened. The officer discharged his weapon negligently and stupidly and killed a 5 year old boy by doing so.

I don't care who he was, how long he was trained, how recently he was at the police academy or whatever. You have to be a complete and total idiot to shoot a pistol at a snake in a tree.

Cops are fond of saying that ignorance of the law is no excuse. Well, ignorance is no excuse for the law. This stupid cop didn't intend to kill anyone but he certainly didn't take any precautions to avoid killing anyone.

He is 100% guilty of the murder of this poor 5 year old and, as I've said before, he will suffer a far, far more lenient fate than any "civilian" caught doing the exact same thing.
55 posted on 08/08/2007 7:02:01 AM PDT by Filo (Darwin was right!)
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To: WestTexasWend
The dock the boy and his grandfather were on was 200yds from the tree with the snake...they were not bystanders, as some speculated yesterday. They could not see these cops, and, obviously, the cops didn’t see them.

If you or I had been the shooter, we would be awating trial on a charge of negligent homicide or something along those lines. If the article is correct, it's an open and shut case. Mr. Cop should get the same deal.

56 posted on 08/08/2007 7:05:29 AM PDT by Oberon (What does it take to make government shrink?)
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To: Vn_survivor_67-68
Mine include the poor cop involved here, too.

By "the poor cop involved" do you mean the reckless moron who committed manslaughter? Tell me if it were the homeowner who fired the fatal shots would you be concerned for the poor homeower involved?

57 posted on 08/08/2007 7:12:40 AM PDT by from occupied ga (Your most dangerous enemy is your own government, Benito Guilinni a short man in search of a balcony)
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To: MizSterious
And please explain to me how this was not an accident?

Here's an example: My sons like to swordfight with sticks. One day I saw them whaling at each other particularly hard, and I stopped them and said "Guys, if you don't tone that down, one of you is going to end up bleeding, and I'm going to punish the other one."

So they calm down for two or three minutes, but gradually ratchet back up to whaling at each other again. Presently I hear WHACK - "AAAAAAGGGHGHHHHH!!!" and my seven-year-old is crying his head off and one of his fingers has a crushed nail where his brother's stick-sword caught it just right.

"I told you that was going to happen, and now I'm going to punish you for it," I tell the older boy.

"But it was an accident!" he protests. "I didn't mean to do it!"

"You didn't mean not to, either," I reply.

You see, if he had meant not to, he would have done something different. And to that degree, this incident wasn't an accident either.

58 posted on 08/08/2007 7:12:44 AM PDT by Oberon (What does it take to make government shrink?)
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To: MizSterious
Aside from that, he’ll probably have nightmares for the rest of his life.

What do you think the parents of the dead child and the grandparents will have?

59 posted on 08/08/2007 7:14:28 AM PDT by from occupied ga (Your most dangerous enemy is your own government, Benito Guilinni a short man in search of a balcony)
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To: phatmike21
without even knowing what really happend

We know exactly what happened. Some idiot wearing a badge fired a gun into the air and killed a 5 year old.

Now he's out walking around on 'paid administrative leave' when any civilian in a similar situation would be cooling his heels in jail trying to make a very hefty bond for manslaughter.

I said it before and I'll say it again. If this had been my kid there wouldn't be any discussion of a trial because this cop would already be dead.

L

60 posted on 08/08/2007 7:23:48 AM PDT by Lurker (Comparing moderate islam to extremist islam is like comparing small pox to ebola.)
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