BADGE 149 NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2018
Captain Gary P. Jones [retired]
FORT LAUDERDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT

1967 - 1993

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE,
DIVISION OF INSURANCE FRAUD

1993 - 2003

2nd book
THIS FEBRUARY HAS BEEN A TERRIBLE MONTH FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
In January 2018 eight law enforcement professionals died in the line of duty. Now, in February, we've already had nine die, and seven of these heroes were killed by gunfire. These law enforcement professionals, who have been killed in February, are:

  • Deputy Micah Flick (age: 34)
El Paso County Sheriff's Office (Colorado)
E.O.W. - February 5, 2018 (killed by gunfire)

  • Reserve Officer Jarate D. Condit (age: 23)
Asher Police Department (Oklahoma)
E.O.W. - February 6, 2018 (automobile accident)

  • Deputy Steven Belanger (age: 52)
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office (California)
E.O.W. - February 6, 2018 (killed by gunfire)
Note: Back in 1994, when Deputy Belanger was 29, he was shot in the head. They couldn't remove the bullet from his brain and now, on February 6th, he died from complications from that 1994 injury.

  • Officer David Sherrard (age: 37)
Richardson Police Department (Texas)
E.O.W. - February 7, 2018 (killed by gunfire)

  • Officer Chase Maddox (age: 26)
Locust Grove Police Department (Georgia)
E.O.W. - February 9, 2018 (killed by gunfire)

  • Officer Eric Joering (age: 39)
Westerville Division of Police (Ohio)
E.O.W. - February 10, 2018 (killed by gunfire)

  • Officer Anthony Morelli (age: 54)
Westerville Division of Police (Ohio)
E.O.W. - February 10, 2018 (killed by gunfire)

  • Officer Darren Weathers (age: 25)
Detroit Police Department (Michigan)
E.O.W. - February 13, 2018 (vehicle crash)

  • Cmdr. Paul Bauer (age: 53)
Chicago Police Department (Illinois)
E.O.W. - February 13, 2018 (killed by gunfire)

Please, take care AND stay safe!

Remembering a very sad day in modern law enforcement history
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The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is a federal law enforcement agency. February 28th marks the 25th anniversary of ATF's disastrous 1993 raid on the Branch Davidians compound, near Waco, Texas. This tragic event remains one of the most controversial law enforcement actions in recent American history. But, even though ATF's leadership may have failed them that day, we should still remember and honor those brave and dedicated law enforcement professionals who died while trying to do their duty. These four men who were killed were:
SA Conway LeBleu
SA Todd McKeehan
SA Robert John Williams
SA Steven Willis

These four men were among the 76 ATF Special Agents who were attempting to serve a search warrant regarding illegal weapons. The ATF leadership had hoped that they would have the element of surprise and would be able to accomplish their mission peacefully. But, the Davidians had been tipped off about the raid and were waiting for the agents. The ATF agents were walking straight into a very lethal ambush.

Did the ATF leadership fail their agents that deadly day? ATF commanders apparently were aware that the element of surprise had been lost, but proceeded with the operation anyway. No one really knows, for sure, who fired those first shots. But, the ATF Special Agents were definitely outgunned. In addition to the four agents who were killed, many more were wounded.

Six Davidians were also reportedly killed, and several more were apparently wounded. However, because of the later destruction that was caused by the fire at the compound, this could not be forensically proven.

After ATF's failure to successfully serve their search warrant, the FBI took over command of the scene and a 51-day standoff began. The FBI, not ATF, was in charge when the standoff ended on April 19, 1993, and the compound burned to the ground. 76 Davidians, including their leader David Koresh, perished in that fire.

I'm not passing judgment about those 76 deaths, and who may have been responsible for them. Instead, I just want to honor those dedicated ATF Special Agents who tried to carry out their duties, to the best of their abilities.

DID YOU KNOW THAT....

There are now 21,183  names engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, located in Washington, D.C.



Over 1,000 federal officers , including the four ATF agents killed at Waco, have their names on the walls at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

QUOTES WORTH REMEMBERING

"HELL IS EMPTY
AND
ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE"

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
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I just finished this February newsletter, and was about to e-mail it out to all of my friends, when the horrible tragedy in Parkland, Florida, transpired. Like every other American I was shocked, angry and sad. My heart goes out to those 17 souls who lost there lives and to all of those who were injured, too. Everyone who was affected by this horrific and senseless event is in my thoughts and my prayers! God bless them all!


 If you have already purchased one of my two books, thank you! If you enjoyed the book I would ask you to consider writing a short review of the book, either on Amazon or at my publisher's online bookstore. Click on the "Book Review" logo and you will be taken to my publisher's online bookstore. Go to the "True Crime" section to read the book reviews already there, or to make a new one.

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Gary P. Jones, Captain [retired] | Jones313@aol.com | www.badge149.com