Elmendorf police chief killed during traffic stop - KABB - San Antonio Top Stories - News, Sports, Weather, Traffic

 

ELMENDORF, Texas - Elmendorf Police Chief Michael Pimentel was killed Saturday during a traffic stop in Elmendorf.

 

Bexar County Sheriff Susan Parmerleau confirmed Pimentel was fatally shot after pulling over Joshua Lopez, 24, for a graffiti warrant. Lopez is a resident of Elmendorf.

 

The sheriff did not given further details, but earlier reports from witnesses state that the officer was shot in the abdomen and shoulder. He was transported by AirLife to University Hospital.

 

Sgt. Jason Burchett said he rushed to the scene after learning his chief was shot.

 

“I tried talking to him when he was in the ambulance for a brief moment, but he wasn't conscious,” Burchett said. “Today is proof it doesn’t matter if you’re a small department, you think nothing can happen. Things certainly do.”

 

Reading a couple reports on this, it seems as if the Officer spotted a subject with an active misdemeanor warrant for graffiti and made a traffic stop to arrest him.

 

But hey, no one with a misdemeanor warrant for graffiti could be dangerous right?

...

Always senseless and just a tough tough job.

Terrible and senseless.

I never want to hear some Monday Morning QB say again that stopping someone for Jaywalking, a Traffic Ticket or Shoplifting isn't dangerous and the cop shouldn't have escalated it just because the other person refused to follow their commands. Such as show me your hands or drop "whatever" they have in their hands.

Imagine the outrage if the Sheriff's Office Warrant Division had went to serve the warrant and had to kick his door in or use tear gas to arrest him for a misdemeanor warrant for "tagging" a building?

 

If that had happened and it had made the news, there would be wide outrage for police using SWAT/Military style tactics for a misdemeanor warrant. But the Police Chief would still be alive.

I never want to hear some Monday Morning QB say again that stopping someone for Jaywalking, a Traffic Ticket or Shoplifting isn't dangerous

 

Who has said this?

Imagine the outrage if the Sheriff's Office Warrant Division had went to serve the warrant and had to kick his door in or use tear gas to arrest him for a misdemeanor warrant for "tagging" a building?

 

If that had happened and it had made the news, there would be wide outrage for police using SWAT/Military style tactics for a misdemeanor warrant. But the Police Chief would still be alive.

 

So do you think that the SWAT/SRT teams should be used to serve every warrant. Should they always kick in the doors and use flashbangs? The loss of the officer is a tragedy but it doesn't justify using those kinds of tactics in normal circumstances. Perhaps every traffic stop should entail the officers approaching the driver with their weapons draws and end with the driver cuffed and lying on the side of the road while they and their car are searched to make sure everything is safe.

Elmendorf police chief killed during traffic stop - KABB - San Antonio Top Stories - News' date=' Sports, Weather, Traffic[/url']

 

Reading a couple reports on this, it seems as if the Officer spotted a subject with an active misdemeanor warrant for graffiti and made a traffic stop to arrest him.

 

But hey, no one with a misdemeanor warrant for graffiti could be dangerous right?

 

You are 100% right. We need to have our standard officers equipped similarly to your average soldier was in Baghdad.

 

As for SWAT Teams? Well, the time has certainly come for us to equip our police with M1A1's, surplus AV-8B Harriers (since the F-35 is replacing them anyway), and at the very least a single tactical nuclear warhead in the event that the suspects are known to be particularly dangerous.

 

I am not against giving them access to low orbital kinetic weapons or high energy DEWs (none of this dazzler stuff) either.

 

So do you think that the SWAT/SRT teams should be used to serve every warrant. Should they always kick in the doors and use flashbangs? The loss of the officer is a tragedy but it doesn't justify using those kinds of tactics in normal circumstances. Perhaps every traffic stop should entail the officers approaching the driver with their weapons draws and end with the driver cuffed and lying on the side of the road while they and their car are searched to make sure everything is safe.

I don't know....you tell me when they should be used. I know you would have never authorized it to arrest this guy. Because it was just a misdemeanor warrant.

 

You are 100% right. We need to have our standard officers equipped similarly to your average soldier was in Baghdad.

 

As for SWAT Teams? Well, the time has certainly come for us to equip our police with M1A1's, surplus AV-8B Harriers (since the F-35 is replacing them anyway), and at the very least a single tactical nuclear warhead in the event that the suspects are known to be particularly dangerous.

 

I am not against giving them access to low orbital kinetic weapons or high energy DEWs (none of this dazzler stuff) either.

I'm glad you can be so cavalier with some ones life...must be nice.

Imagine the outrage if the Sheriff's Office Warrant Division had went to serve the warrant and had to kick his door in or use tear gas to arrest him for a misdemeanor warrant for "tagging" a building?

 

If that had happened and it had made the news, there would be wide outrage for police using SWAT/Military style tactics for a misdemeanor warrant. But the Police Chief would still be alive.

 

I'm not sure what you are saying. Of course there would be an outcry if an officer kicked in a door for a misdemeanor.

 

Shouldn't there be?

I never want to hear some Monday Morning QB say again that stopping someone for Jaywalking, a Traffic Ticket or Shoplifting isn't dangerous and the cop shouldn't have escalated it just because the other person refused to follow their commands. Such as show me your hands or drop "whatever" they have in their hands.

 

JD I don't think anyone thinks being a law officer is easy in any circumstance. It is thankless and dangerous. We are truly lucky to have the vast vast majority of them doing the right things and protecting all of us. That doesn't excuse the few bad apples in law enforcement. That is in all circles of public service.

 

Deescalation is a skill that everyone needs IMO. It is not always possible, I know. Most often it gets worse when things are escalated.

 

I'm not sure what you are saying. Of course there would be an outcry if an officer kicked in a door for a misdemeanor.

 

Shouldn't there be?

I'm talking about if he refused to open the door not just walk up and kick it in.

 

In this case in hindsight would have said that would have been prudent.

 

So we settle for the alternative and this man paid with his life.

Fry the kid. Put it on the national news live. Make sure any other transgressions of that ilk are also treated in like manner. Instant deterrent. On the island that Timberlake and I are about to be deserted on, that will be the standard.

 

Of course, I only partially jest ala PepRock, I can say that the only officer I know very personally will tell you that they are taught to never approach any vehicle or entrance without a hand on the weapon to unstrap if need be. I wonder if the officer was this cautious. No excuse, just wondering.