No it didn't. It cost the TAXPAYERS $2.55 Million. Not one single "law enforcement agent", either municipal or federal, paid a RED CENT out of their pocket. No personal responsibility, insurance company paid.
Boonie Rat
MACV SOCOM, PhuBai/Hue '65-'66
Wait a minute. If I accidentally shoot someone and they die, I go to jail for negligence. If a cop does it they get off the hook. This stinks. I learned early on not to point shotguns at anyone, so if there was an accidental discharge it isn't likely to accidentally kill someone. And this cop just happened to be pointing it at a kid laying face down on the floor? Gross negligence! The guy ought to be punished and not "cleared"!
Also, if this were an accidental shooting of a kid by a civilian, there would be hell to pay.
The lesson learned here is: If the cops are going to shoot you anyway (without a warrant, and having committed any crime), then it is time to start taking these rogue cops down, as soon as they enter your property.
Use a shotgun and aim for the head.
THE WAR ON DRUGS!!!! (fade in patriotic music....enter a kick line of nude chorus girls and midgets)
Investigations by the Police Department, the Stanislaus County district attorney's office and the state attorney general's office cleared Hawn of any criminal wrongdoing in what officials called a "tragic accident."
David Hawn is clearly too incompetent to be issued a gun in a police capacity. If he has one it reflects as woefully incompetent the person or persons that gave the go-ahead to issue Hawn a gun. This case of dumb and dumber is no laughing matter. It's the blind leading the blind.
Not to take witnesses to the police station without their consent.
You mean to tell me that it was standard policy to kidnap people! They can spin all they want but taking somebody without an arrest or subpoena is kidnapping. Or is there some law that says they can take a person without arresting them?
Government intervention into peaceful, private activity -- notably, free association wherein any or all parties are free to walk away -- will make things worse rather than better.
Definition of insane: the War on Drugs
Investigations by the Police Department, the Stanislaus County district attorney's office and the state attorney general's office cleared Hawn of any criminal wrongdoing in what officials called a "tragic accident."
I guess those "officials" never heard of "negligent homicide from accidental discharge"! I'm surprised he wasn't given a medal and a promotion!
This officer will relive this thing. So you have more than one victim.
More than one victim my a$$! There is one victim and one perpetrator. A victim suffers more than "mental anguish", but it's PC America isn't it. We're all "victims" and everyone needs "closure". Liberal PAP!
victim...one that is acted on and usually adversely affected by a force or agent as
(1) : one that is injured, destroyed, or sacrificed under any of various conditions
2) : one that is subjected to oppression, hardship, or mistreatment
Sacrificed at the altar of the WOsD! I hope you politicians are proud of yourselves for what you're doing to this nation!
He shot the kid in the back while he was on the floor! I hope he has perpetual nightmares and quits before he has another "tragic accident" from a flashback at the next no knock raid!
May your chains rest lightly, officer.
You people sicken me! IMO no justice was served in this case. All this settlement is is hush money. Hush up and go back to grazing. Don't raise the issue any more.
What a lovely pasture 3 million dollars can buy.
An FYI for you Wolfie...this case, and a particular FReeper's condescending attitude about it in general, really sent me over the edge on the WOsD. If anyone wants to know why I'm so against the WOsD all I have to say to them is Alberto Sepulveda.
This "decision" has got me just as incensed. That officer is guilty of more than a "tragic accident."
The revenue came out of taxpayers pockets. The family paid with the life of this boy. The taxpayers coughed up a half million bucks. Nobody in government is accountable. I can name that tune in three notes. Only the best police officers are assigned to SWAT teams./sarcasm
How much time did this reject get for gross negligence?
They have learned nothing.
"Increased communication" was not the problem here.
Pointing the shotgun at an object that was not intended to be destroyed, and failure to keep the finger off the trigger until a conscious decision to fire is made, were the problems.
1. Her son was not "killed". He was murdered, in cold blood.
2. David Hawn was not merely "holding" the shotgun. He fired it.
3. The shotgun did not "discharge" (as if it did so on its own). It functioned, it fired because Hawn pulled the trigger.
Who the hell wrote this article? Officer Hawn, while on paid vacation 'administrative leave'?