Mother of Homeless Veteran Shot by Deputy Getting $375,000

Mother of combat veteran killed by deputy will get $375K
My News LA
Hillary Jackson
February 2, 2016

Atkinson’s mental illness was also cited as a contributing factor. Atkinson left his family and mental health treatment in Texas to live on the streets in Los Angeles.

The Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to pay out $375,000 to the mother of a homeless combat veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder, who was fatally shot after threatening the deputy with a wooden dowel rod.

On the afternoon of Oct. 6, 2013, deputies encountered 49-year-old Darrell Atkinson hiding or crawling behind a line of grocery carts under an overpass of the Santa Monica (10) Freeway near Venice Boulevard and Cadillac Avenue.

A news release from the Sheriff’s Department issued shortly after the shooting said Atkinson grabbed a wooden stick from one of the shopping carts.

“The suspect suddenly armed himself with a wooden stick,” Deputy Mark Pope of the Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau told a reporter following the shooting. “He advanced toward the deputies with the wooden stick overhead.”

The summary provided to the board referred to the weapon as a wooden club.
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Utah Deputy Cleared After Killing Veteran Nicholas McGehee

Sheriff’s deputy justified in shooting armed soldier in Tooele County
FOX 13 Salt Lake
BY ASHTON EDWARDS
JANUARY 16, 2015

“Task Force Marne commanding general, Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo, shakes hands with, Spc. Nicholas McGehee, a native of Sanford, N.C. and “Golden Dragon” Soldier with 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 25th Infantry Division out of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, after pinning him with the military’s oldest award still given to servicemembers, The Purple Heart, during a ceremony on Contingency Operating Site Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq, Oct. 7.”McGehee was shot and killed in an encounter with police in Tooele County on December 28. Image courtesy Defense Video and Imagery Distribution System.

TOOELE, Utah – The Department of Public Safety said the Tooele County deputy who shot and killed a man in Stansbury Park was justified in using deadly force.

Back on Dec. 28, Sgt. Eli Wayman shot 28-year-old Nicholas Ryan McGehee.

The incident started when McGehee’s wife Kathryn called authorities about her husband who was intoxicated, had stepped on some glass and needed help.

Deputies went to the home near Aberdeen Lane and Merion Dr. after Kathryn told the 911 dispatcher her husband was armed with a shotgun.

When Sgt. Wayman saw McGehee with the shotgun, he told him to put down the gun and talk.

At that point McGehee went back into the house and slammed the door.

During the altercation Sgt. Wayman told McGehee at least three times to drop his weapon but he didn’t listen.

Officials said McGehee ended up pointing his gun at Sgt. Wayman which forced him to shoot.
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Utah Iraq Veteran Killed by Police

Clemency Sought for Vietnam Veteran on Death Row with PTSD

Vietnam vet with PTSD on death row seeks clemency
USA TODAY
Gregg Zoroya
January 7, 2015

Lt. Andrew Brannan during the Vietnam War.(Photo: Handout image)

Family and lawyers of a Vietnam veteran facing execution in Georgia next Tuesday for murdering a deputy sheriff in 1998 are pleading that he be spared because his actions were linked to severe post-traumatic stress disorder.

In clemency papers filed Wednesday, lawyers for Andrew Brannan argue that "our knowledge of PTSD and the frightful toll that it can exact on veterans has grown exponentially as a result of ... wars in Iraq and Afghanistan."

This level of understanding, particularly within the public, didn't exist when Brannan stood trial in 2000, they argue.

"It's not right to execute a decorated veteran for a crime that stemmed, without question, from the mental suffering that he incurred from serving his country,'' Brannan lawyer Tom Lundin said in a phone interview.

The killing of Laurens County Deputy Sheriff Kyle Dinkheller during a traffic stop for speeding was captured on a video camera mounted on the officer's patrol car.

The video shows a confrontation quickly escalating with Brannan shouting obscenities, dancing around, daring the officer to shoot and then retrieving a rifle from his pickup truck. A gunfight erupted and a wounded Dinkheller can be heard pleading with Brannan to stop as the veteran reloads and keeps shooting.

Dinkheller, who was 22 and a father-to-be, suffered nine gunshot wounds. Brannan was hit once in the stomach.
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Amputee Iraq Veteran Overcomes Odds, Sworn in a Deputy Sheriff

Overcoming Amputation, U.S. Marine Sworn In As Deputy
Space Coast News
By Wayne Ivey, Brevard County Sheriff
August 3, 2014

On Friday, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office swore in Cpl. (Ret) Robert Smith of the United States Marine Corps. Almost his entire life, Robert wanted to be a law enforcement officer but chose to serve his country first by joining the USMC.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – During Friday’s Swear-In Ceremony I had the opportunity to swear-in a new Deputy Sheriff whose story of patriotism, overcoming challenges, heroism, commitment and determination deserves special recognition and appreciation.

LOSES LEG IN IED EXPLOSION

In May 2008, while on military patrol in Iraq in the city of Fallujah, Robert’s Unit encountered an IED that exploded, injuring several in the unit including Robert who lost his right leg.

In a split second Robert’s entire life changed and threatened his ability to achieve his goal of one day serving as a law enforcement officer.

Robert would later receive a copy of the video, that to this day he occasionally watches to motivate him to succeed and to remind him of how precious life is.

Following the incident, Robert was awarded the Purple Heart and was fitted with a prosthetic leg.

With the help of his incredible wife Natalie and family and the local organization, “Sentinels of Freedom Space Coast” that strongly supports our veterans, Robert refused to give up on his dream.
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Camp Lejeune Marine charged with killing contractor from Florida

NC Marine charged in death of civilian contractor
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
August 11, 2013

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. -- Authorities say a 24-year-old Marine at Camp Lejeune has been charged with killing a former deputy from Crestview, Fla., at a shooting at his Jacksonville home.

Police said they arrested Cpl. Benjamin Marisic shortly after officers were called to his home around 3:45 a.m. Friday and found 39-year-old Dale Smith dead.

Investigators are trying to determine a motive for the shooting.
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Street Named After Iraq Veteran and Fallen Deputy Sheriff Brandon Coates

Avalon Park street to be named after fallen deputy
The Orange County Sheriff's Office will hold a naming ceremony at 10 a.m. tomorrow in Avalon Park.
By Arelis R. Hernández
Orlando Sentinel
June 4, 2013

The Orange County Sheriff's Office will hold a ceremony Wednesday to name an Avalon Park street after fallen deputy sheriff Brandon Coates, who was killed by a felon during a Dec. 2010 traffic stop.

Coates' widow, Virginia, and mother, Deborah, are expected to attend the 10 a.m. event along with Sheriff Jerry Demings, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and several others.

The dedication will name a street near the 3700 block of East Avalon Park Boulevard.

Coates, 27, was a member of the Sheriff's Tactical Ant-Crime Unit and regularly patrolled high-crime neighborhoods like the one near South Orange Blossom Trail where he pulled over Brandon Lyals.

Lyals shot and killed Coates, a U.S. Marine and Iraq war veteran, following a struggle. The 29-year-old convict later killed himself.
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Former Chief of Police going back to work after resigning over PTSD

Randy Scott has a new job after resigning as Chief of Police because of PTSD and I think it is a wonderful thing. Goes to show how much attitudes have changed. Just because they have PTSD that does not mean they are broken.

As I listened to the reporters talking about this, they seemed to think that PTSD is new, but it isn't. They seem to think that just because Scott has PTSD caused by his job, he cannot do the same job, but they fail to understand military men and women do it all the time. They go back into combat with PTSD. The same job that caused it in the first place. If they get the proper help, they heal. If they are healing and are able to stay on their jobs, then they heal better. If they are allowed to be able to go on serving others, they are much happier. Few citizens can understand this because few citizens are willing to risk their lives for someone else.

Former CPD Chief Randy Scott hired at Richland Co. Sheriff's Dept
WISTV.com
Posted: May 01, 2013
By Jeremy Turnage
By Jack Kuenzie

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS)
Only eight days after he tearfully resigned as chief of the Columbia Police Department citing a battle with post-traumatic stress disorder, Randy Scott has resurfaced in a position at the Richland County Sheriff's Department.

"So, they call it PTSD," said Scott. "You can call it stress, but I have to call it what it is and it was something that was tearing me apart for a very long time."

Scott will be known as an "Inspector" with the Sheriff's Department, and he will be paid around $40,000 a year. According to officials, that job will be equivalent to a regular deputy who answers to a captain.

This will be Scott's second time with the Sheriff's Department. He previously spent 15 years there before being hired as CPD's chief.

Sheriff Leon Lott says hiring Scott again gives the sheriff the opportunity to take advantage of Scott's experience at the Police Department.

"He's got a lot to give here," said Lott. "We're going to have him as a community liaison. He's great with the community, he's going to community meetings -- he'll be doing a lot of that. He's also going to help us develop our leadership training. I think he'll be able to take it to a different level."
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Former Marine killed by sheriff's deputy had PTSD

Parents: Former Marine killed by sheriff's deputy had PTSD
By FELICIA KRIEG
Press-Republican
January 5, 2013

PLATTSBURGH — Dusty Michael Clark suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, his mother says.

The Altona man, 28, was shot and killed by Clinton County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason R. Winters on Dec. 30, 2012, after Dusty threatened him with a knife and wouldn’t back down, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

He was diagnosed in 2009 at a Veteran’s Affairs clinic in Albany but was not receiving treatment at the time of his death, said his mother, Sheila Clark of Altona.

“At first, in my heart, I was so hurt (that Dusty died that way),” she said. “In retrospect, I am thinking my son had a flashback” when he grabbed the knife.

The day her son died, Sheila said, one of her brothers shared some information that Dusty had confided to him.

He had been among Marines who responded after the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami that rocked the world on Dec. 26, 2004.

“He had to take bodies out of the water,” she said. “Dead children.”
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Deputies had no warning man had history of mental health crisis

Baldwin sheriff: Deputies had no warning before man with mental health history started shooting AL.com
By Brendan Kirby
November 24, 2012

Baldwin County Deputy Scott Ward, left, died on Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, during a violent confrontation with Michael J. Jansen, right, according to law enforcement officials

MARLOW, Alabama – Deputy Scott Ward and two other law enforcement officials had no warning before a man with a history of mental health problems started firing shots from a 9mm handgun, Baldwin County Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack said today.

The Friday evening shooting in this community east of Fairhope resulted in the deaths of both Ward and Michael J. Jansen, and left a second deputy critically wounded.

“A number of gunshots were fired by Mr. Jansen and the deputies. Both deputies were shot numerous times. I don’t have the number of gunshots,” Mack said. “We’re still working the scene even today.”

Mack said autopsies had been performed on both Ward and Jansen, but he added that he has not seen the report.

Ward, 47, was a 15-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office and previously served as a Prichard police officer. He also was a Coast Guard Reserve officer who had served in Afghanistan.

Citing an ongoing internal affairs investigation, Mack would not release the names of the other deputies involved. He said the wounded deputy is a sergeant who was the shift supervisor. The sheriff said that the third deputy, who was not hurt, has been with the Sheriff’s Office for about a year.
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Baldwin County Deputy Killed Served In Afghanistan

Vietnam vet fatally shot by reserve sheriff's deputy

Armed Vietnam vet fatally shot by reserve sheriff's deputy in Washington
The Oregonian
By The Associated Press
October 26, 2012

SPOKANE -- The sheriff's deputy who killed an armed man in Stevens County is a reserve deputy with eight months' experience.

Reserve Deputy Nick Wolfe was identified by the Spokane County sheriff's office, which is investigating the Oct. 19 fatal shooting of John Peterson near the town of Springdale.

The Spokesman-Review reports Wolfe and five-year veteran Deputy Travis Frizzell had responded to a 9-1-1 call from Peterson. He was a Vietnam War veteran who recently moved from Minnesota.
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Seven months in Iraq, six years back home

Seven months in Iraq, six years back home: A soldier's war on two fronts
The war at home
By Moni Basu, CNN
April 25, 2011 11:24 a.m. EDT
The first time I met Spc. Shane Parham, his face was wrinkled with sadness. Beads of sweat met Iraqi dust and curved down his sunburned skin like the swampy Alcovy River in his native Georgia.

He was in the checkout line at Baghdad's Camp Striker commissary, only two months into his Iraq tour. But already, he'd witnessed war's brutality.

I thought of that first meeting recently as I peered at Parham through a 2-inch thick slab of glass in a prison visitation booth. The cinder-block walls, drab like the Iraqi desert, closed in on him.

Gone was his Army uniform. Instead, he wore tan prison garb, his hands bound in cuffs. His nails were long, his beard scraggly. He was not allowed to trim or shave for fear he might turn sharp instruments against himself, though he had once been chosen to man an M203 grenade launcher.

Tears trickled out of his tired blue eyes, no longer bright and full of promise.

He was a hero, honored by the governor of Georgia. Now the former sheriff's deputy was sharing quarters with thieves, addicts, even murderers.
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Man meets fellow soldier whose life he helped save in Iraq

Man meets fellow soldier whose life he helped save in Iraq
By Karen Madden • Daily Tribune Staff • September 26, 2009


Paul Morrison didn't know how he'd react when he saw Robert Jackson on Friday.

They shared a life-changing day during the summer of 2003 in Baghdad, when Jackson lost his legs, but Morrison helped save his life. There aren't many people Jackson calls a hero, but Morrison is one of them.

On Friday -- the first time they truly met in person -- the two shared smiles, a handshake and a quick hug at Hotel Mead in Wisconsin Rapids. The moment didn't seem to require more than that.

In March 2003, Morrison, now a 43-year-old Grand Rapids resident and Adams County deputy, went to Iraq with his National Guard Unit, the Madison-based 32nd Military Police Company. Their mission: to train Iraqi police.
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Man meets fellow soldier whose life he helped save in Iraq

Fallen Lewis County deputy honored

Fallen Lewis County deputy honored

By Keith Eldridge
LEWIS COUNTY, Wash. - Law enforcement officers from all over the region gathered alongside friends and family members of Dep. Mike Gallagher to pay tribute to his life and service.

Gallagher died from his injuries last week after an elk hit his patrol car as he was responding to a domestic violence call near Packwood.

Wednesday's memorial service was held at St. Martin's University in Thurston County as no venue in Lewis County was big enough to house the crowd honoring the public servant.

Gallagher is survived by his wife Andrea and his two children, daughter Alex and son Andrew

He had a distinguished career in the Army, and was offered a position in the secret service. Gallagher declined, however, so that he could spend more time with his young family. Instead he chose a law enforcement career in the Lewis County Sheriffs office.
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http://www.komonews.com/news/local/55199902.html
Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Deputy killed in crash elk was Army veteran

Deacon Bob Little, Vietnam Vet, Air Force Major, killed in accident

Three tours of Vietnam, Gulf War, Deputy Sheriff and the list goes on.



Deacon Bob Little - 1946 - 2009
By David Stoneberg
STAFF WRITER
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Deacon Bob Little of the St. Helena Catholic Church died Sunday morning following a crash about 10 miles north of Laytonville in Humboldt County.

According to Sgt. Jim Malner of the CHP Garberville office, the 63-year-old Little was on his Yamaha motorcycle on Highway 101, north of Laytonville. According to witnesses he was going about 60 mph when he approached a stopped vehicle waiting to turn left into a driveway. Little braked and skidded to the right, around the stopped vehicle. He lost control of the motorcycle and ended up on the edge of the roadway. The accident happened shortly after 10 a.m.

Little, who was wearing a helmet and protective riding apparel, was transported via Calstar 4 helicopter to Ukiah Valley Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Little, who lived in American Canyon, was riding his motorcycle north to visit his daughter, Rebecca, who lives in Portland, Ore. According to Monsignor John Brenkle, he left about 7:30 a.m. and was expected to be back on Wednesday.

Three Vietnam tours

After high school he joined the military and served three tours in Vietnam from 1966 to 1969 and later was activated and served in Desert Storm for several months. He worked his way up from the enlisted ranks to U.S. Air Force major and retired from the Air Force Reserve in March 2006.

He was a sheriff’s deputy for 15 years and later earned his teaching credential while going to night school.

He taught science and physical education at St. Helena Catholic School from 1986 to 1991. While he was a teacher, Little augmented his salary by working in the hospitality room at Sutter Home and then moved over to head hospitality and marketing at Silver Oak Cellars.
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Deacon Bob Little

Off-Duty Marion Deputy Pulls Woman From Burning Car

Off-Duty Marion Deputy Pulls Woman From Burning Car
Wednesday, August 26, 2009 4:43:03 PM

Reported By Heather Sorentrue

BELLEVIEW -- Quick thinking and selflessness likely saved a woman's life Tuesday night.

An off-duty Marion County Sheriff's deputy was driving down county Road 467 when he saw across a car on its side, on fire and managed to free the driver who was trapped inside.

The driver, Kathleen Powell of Ocala, was taken to the hospital after the crash, but she was treated and released.

Around 10:50 p.m. Tuesday, off-duty Deputy Jonah Music spotted a vehicle turned on its side against a fence with flames coming from underneath.
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Off Duty Marion Deputy Pulls Woman From Burning Car

Deputy killed in crash elk was Army veteran

Deputy killed in crash was Army veteran
By KOMO Staff PACKWOOD, Wash. - A Lewis County sheriff's deputy has died from injuries sustained in a collision with an elk near Packwood.

Officials said 34-year-old Stephen "Mike" Gallagher was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle late Monday with life-threatening injuries, but died just after 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Deputy Stacy Brown said the Gallagher was responding to back up another deputy overnight on a domestic violence call Monday when his car hit the elk at about 8:30 p.m. near milepost 130 on Highway 12.

The sheriff's office said Gallagher had been with the department fo six years. He previously served eight years in the Army with deployments in Haiti and Kosovo. He leaves a wife and two young children.
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http://www.komonews.com/news/local/53632167.html

Deputy critically injured in crash with elk

Deputy critically injured in crash with elk
By KOMO Staff and News Services Watch the story

PACKWOOD, Wash. - A Lewis County sheriff's deputy has been critically injured in a collision with an elk near Packwood.

Officers said the 34-year-old deputy was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle late Monday with life-threatening injuries.

Deputy Stacy Brown said the deputy was responding to back up another deputy overnight on a domestic violence call when his car hit the elk at about 8:30 p.m. near milepost 130 on Highway 12.

It was not clear whether the elk was in the road or may have jumped in front of the deputy's vehicle.

"The deputy was unconscious when we got there, so we're still trying to piece that all together," Brown said.

read more here and for video

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/53563987.html

Seminole jail trainee shot by deputies after corrections officer killed

Seminole jail trainee shot by deputies after corrections officer killed

Gary Taylor

Sentinel Staff Writer

3:07 PM EDT, August 2, 2009


A Seminole County Sheriff's Office trainee, suspected of fatally shooting his female companion, was shot and seriously injured this morning by a deputy from that agency.

Jeff L. Thomas, 45, is in critical condition at Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he was airlifted after the shooting in Geneva, Seminole County sheriff's Capt. Dennis Lemma said.

Lemma identified the dead woman as Melanie Lee, 37, a sergeant with the state Department of Corrections, working at the Central Florida Reception Center near Orlando.
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Corrections officer killed

Veterans start service as sheriff's officers

Veterans start service as sheriff's officers
Philadelphia Inquirer - Philadelphia,PA,USA
By Edward Colimore

Inquirer Staff Writer

Lou Tomassone of Atco has vivid memories of his service as a turret gunner in a cavalry unit in Tikrit, hometown of Saddam Hussein. The 24-year-old former Army specialist once escorted an Iraqi police chief through town when a bomb blew up, spraying his turret with shrapnel and miraculously missing him.

Sean Smith of Runnemede recalls coming under fire in Fallujah, guarding prisoners and teaching Iraqis how to police their country. The 22-year-old, who was in the Marines, showed the recruits how to conduct house raids and patrol the streets.

Louise Bazelak of Barrington remembers taking cover as insurgent mortar rounds fell into her camp at Balad. The 33-year-old former Air Force staff sergeant and F-16 aircraft mechanic still kept the planes flying.

After years in the military, Tomassone, Smith, and Bazelak now have changed uniforms and begun service of a different kind - in their own community.

The three were among 14 military veterans sworn in as Camden County sheriff's officers yesterday during a ceremony to mark the opening of the Camden Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic adjacent to Cooper University Hospital.

The 12 men and two women were immediately marched to Camden City Hall to undergo processing. Another Iraq veteran was in Marine reservist training yesterday and will be sworn in later, officials said.

Police departments across the country typically have a high percentage of veterans, he said.

"They have discipline and are used to stress," Billingham said. "In the Middle East, they were also used to confrontation, used to dealing with innocent people in crisis."click link for more

I couldn't agree more!

Marine kills himself in front of deputy

Marine kills himself in front of deputy

By Journal Star staff
GateHouse News Service
Posted Jun 05, 2009 @ 11:02 AM

PEORIA — Believing he was stopping to assist a motorist early Friday, a Peoria County sheriff's deputy instead witnessed a man fatally shoot himself.

About 6:15 a.m. Friday, the deputy saw a car pulled onto the shoulder of southbound Illinois Route 6, just north of where it meets Interstate 74.

The driver of the car, Jacob A. Favri, 23, shot himself in the head with a handgun.

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Marine kills himself in front of deputy



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