Anchorage police officer ambushed as he sat in car, will recover

[depakid]

Source: The Oregonian

An Anchorage police officer was ambushed without provocation by unknown gunmen early today as he sat in his patrol car working on an apparently unrelated assault case, police said, and city officials vowed to catch those responsible. "We are shocked, we are outraged, we are angered," Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan said at an afternoon press briefing. "This officer was doing what he does every day and that is keeping the community safe. When somebody attacks a police officer, they're attacking our entire community."

The officer, who is expected to recover, was parked in his marked cruiser in a residential neighborhood near downtown after taking a domestic violence report on an incident that had occurred in the past. Anchorage patrol officers generally work alone.

Several men pulled up next to the driver's side in a dark-colored sedan shortly before 2 a.m. and the front passenger fired some rounds. The officer was struck possibly five times in both arms and his torso, said Lt. Dave Koch. Police said none of the men in the car said anything and their motive is unknown. But police do not believe the officer was a target chosen at random. "He was sitting in a police car, he was in a police uniform. He was shot because he was a police officer," Koch said. "There's nothing random about it."

Despite his wounds, the officer was able to radio in a description of the fleeing vehicle, which is believed to be a late 1980s to mid 1990s model, probably a Chevrolet. A neighbor called 911 as well. Koch said police also are examining video, but would not elaborate.

Read more: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/01/anchorage_police_officer_shot.html

[Ken Burch]

1. As an Alaskan, I'm glad the officer will recover.

There's no excuse for an unprovoked attack on ANYONE, let alone a police officer.

[MissDeeds]

2. Ditto

In Kansas City last week, a snow plow driver was shot in the back while he was taking a break. Poor fellow had probably been working nonstop since Christmas Eve, and some creep thought it would be fun to shoot him. No provocation, nothing. Fortunately he'll be okay.

[Piewhacket]

3. Mayor Sullivan and Lt. Koch are idiots for sure.

This seems more like a particular officer targeted.
Which means there is a "motive" connected to this officer.
Look of it.

Too many levels of bizarre about this "hit".
Not the least of which is that it failed, indicating
the perps were also incompetent pinwits.

Still, given the IQ indicated by statements of Mayor
Sullivan and Lt. Koch ... it just might be they are stupid
or corrupt enough to have started a war.

[Mortos]

4. I was wondering how long it would take for a fellow DU'er to blame the cop

So predictable. If this had been an officer shooting a suspect, there would be 50 replies calling the cops fascists and killers. But a premeditated ambush on a police officer filling out paperwork in his car gets nary a peep, except for someone blaming the cop.

I work for a metropolitan police department and we had an officer shot and wounded last night by a suspect fleeing from the police. The suspect was shot by another officer when he jumped out of his car and attempted to shoot a second officer. There are more than a few comments blaming the police and accusing them of being racist killers when all they did was attempt to stop someone for a "routine" traffic violation.

Hate the cops seems to be a predominant theme at DU and it gets tiresome. Especially to those who work in the field and try to live up to the ideal standards set for PD employees.

[ret5hd]

5. Turned in any dirty cops? If not, you are part of the problem.

[joeglow3]

11. How very Republican of you.

If someone said all blacks are drug addicts or all poor are lazy, you would (rightfully) call them out. Yet, you do the exact same thing about cops and consider yourself a Democrat.

Sad!

[ret5hd]

13. I think you need a remedial reading course.

Get back to me when you get to an 8th grade level.

[joeglow3]

14. If you have not turned in dirty cops, you are one???

Yeah, I understand it perfectly well. Grow up!

[Skip Intro]

6. I agree. Don't know what it is with the cop-hatred on DU, but I see it too.

Personally, I'm thankful for the tens of thousands of cops across the nation who put their lives on the line every day to keep the peace and enforce the laws. My guess is many of the attitudes here would change pretty quickly were their homes being broken into and they had to call for some of those cops to come help them. I've had to call for police once or twice myself, and I thank God they were there.

[Corgigal]

7. too many rebels without a cause

let them go ride one shift in a troubled area. Since that would take effort, all they do is hate. I ignore it also.

[Piewhacket]

17. too much stupid, not enough supervision. that's the problem, not hate.

yesterday watched some airhead girl walk directly in
front of an elderly store customer, grab the front of
the cart and put it back into the customer, who was pushed
off balance. It was just brazen. Deliberate. Guess she
didn't want to wait for a break in traffic before she
crossed the isle.

I was right behind the customer, brought up
abruptly by the sudden stop. I nearly hit the lady customer.
A perfect witness. My mind clicked automatically , 'assault and battery'.
Perhaps more. Damn. The customer looked unbelieving at the girl, then
moved on.

The girl, about 25, crossed to a set of lockers and dug out a cigarette.
My eyebrows went up. A store employee with no name badge
assaults a store customer (and me). Just Super.

I leaned over and spoke to the girl, "Excuse me, I know you are
a nice lady, but you just grabbed that elderly lady's cart and pushed
it back into her."

She turned and looked at me with a clueless stare. "Yeah, so what?", she
smartmouths. Sez I, "well, shouldn't, someone could get hurt.".

I looked for the name badge all the other employees were wearing. She wasn't
wearing one. "You're store security, huh?". Well, as you might know, she was.
With a degree in criminal justice, no less. Well, duh.
Another wannabe cop with a bad attitude. More criminal than police officer.
Just Super.

So I'm thinking... she won't have any trouble passing cop school. Nope.
Not with that jackass mentality.
Then I'm thinking.... should I file a complaint and end this little
airhead's career right now?
Its a thought. What would you do?

[shawcomm]

19. Should have gone to the manager right then and there

What's to think about? It's never too late to try to teach her some manners. Let her try to push her way past people at the employment office.

[boppers]

12. premeditated?

Isn't that kind of, you know, for prosecutors and juries to work out?

Yes, there's an intense dislike, and distrust, of police officers on DU. And off of it, as well.

I wonder why that is. :sarcasm:

[Piewhacket]

16. What makes you say I blamed the cop? Are you on drugs?

I complained about the mayor and the police lt, who's moronic
comments should have been beyond obvious even to the slow witted.
To translate that into "blaming the victim" requires drugs, I'm thinking.

But now that you mention it... officer shot, perpetrator dead. That has such
an oh so familiar ring to it. Don't you folks know how to arrest someone and
bring them before the courts?

And as you have been taught, assuming you really are a police officer,
there are no "routine" traffic stops. And that is rarely "all" you do.

Hate cops? Not me. I hate stupid assholes, some of whom are also police officers.
But you are pretty screwed up to think all people who criticize police hate them.
Or for those who do hate, that it is always without cause.

[roguevalley]

10. actually, we have a lot of dumb shit that happens to completely

innocent people all the time. The mayor I don't like one bit but you might want to wait on this for a while. Blaming the victim. Good on you.

[Piewhacket]

15. Blaming no one. Just explaining the mayor and police lt are obvious morons.

And life's too short to wait for two morons to solve a case by beating
a confession out of some hapless innocent bystander.

Somebody hired pinwits to kill the officer. That fits the facts.
When two responsible "officials" rule that out without investigation
it is beyond incompetent, beyond stupid. Anchorage needs a new mayor and a
new police lieutenant.

[ret5hd]

20. Lots of puppets here with reading comprehension skill deficits, huh?

[Piewhacket]

21. Its a club. The thin blue line. But always remember, the real problems are at the top.

[truthisfreedom]

8. That sucks.

It's tough enough to be a cop without this shit going on.

[uppityperson]

9. Local articles (ADN)... Glad he survived and hope they catch the shooters

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/story/1086418.html

An Anchorage police officer was shot multiple times early Saturday morning in gunfire sprayed from a passing vehicle as he sat in his patrol car on a Fairview residential street. Police said Officer Jason Allen, who was seriously injured and underwent surgery Saturday, was in the neighborhood for an unrelated family disturbance call. He'd returned to his car when a sedan pulled alongside him on Medfra Street between 14th and 15th avenues.

The attackers opened fire without a word, police said.

"Firing from surprise, from concealment. It's an ambush. ... I don't think it was at random at all," said Lt. Dave Koch, who is overseeing the investigation. "He was shot because he was a police officer."
(clip)
A car had pulled up next to Allen's, stopped and fired, Koch said. "No warning. No altercation. No contact between the people. No anything."...(more)

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/story/1087028.html

The Anchorage Police officer who was injured in the shooting on 1-9-10 is 47 year old Patrol Officer Jason Allen, an 8 year veteran of Anchorage Police Department. He was able after surgery to commuicate by phone with family members. The investigation continues into this ambush attack on Ofc. Allen.

The family of Ofc. Jason Allen and the Anchorage Police Department would like to thank the citizens of Anchorge for the strong outpouring of support in the wake of this vicious assault. It is truly and honor to serve the citizens of this great city.

Lt. Dave Parker

Anchorage Police Department

[Steerpike]

18. OK...I live here in Anchorage

The Anchorage Police here are pretty polite. Maybe some are rude...but, none appear dangerous. I was raised in LA. and I know what a dangerous and out of control police department looks like. Anchorage is not like that.
I am glad he's going to recover and wish him and his family good luck.

[Piewhacket]

22. Yes, LAPD has a well deserved rep. Glad Anchorage seems better.

Please take note that I only criticized the
competence of the mayor and the police lieutenant
based on their incredibly stupid reported remarks.

The mayor is a political figure. There seem to be no
standards for those anywhere.
But a police lieutenant, in particular, must know the
difference between bullshit locker room pep-talk
and clear and competent communication with the public
concerning a very serious crime. Your lieutenant apparently
doesn't. Regretfully.

The investigation of an officer shooting must follow the same
course as any other shooting. The methods are the same.

The police do not see it so, or treat it so. They are not trying
to solve a crime or collect admissible evidence for trial,
they are seeking to apprehend and kill the perpetrators who shot
a fellow officer. Go back and read the lieutenant's remarks in
that light.

That is what I reacted to, because our law does not permit summary
execution of suspects by the police. Not even for "cop killers".
Lieutenant Dave Koch does not seem to know that. Or perhaps doesn't care.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? (Who guards the guardians?)