Peace Officers Research Association of California

In the News

COMES A TIME TO HONOR A COP WHO INSPIRED HIS COMMUNITY

It was one of those times when 31-year-old Deputy District Attorney Allan J. Preckel knew he was doing something really significant, and he reminded himself that the importance of a cop-killer trial would make a Clarence Darrow sweat.

It was by far his biggest case as a prosecutor. At the defense table sat two gang-bangers from Lomita in southeastern San Diego — Jesus “Chavo” Cecena, 17, and Jose “Indio” Arteaga, 20 — accused of murdering a San Diego policeman during an ordinary traffic stop in the nighttime depths of Nov. 4, 1978. Read More

EOW 8.15.2015 Dep Carl Howell from Carson City Sheriff’s Office, NV

Deputy Sheriff Carl Howell was shot and killed while responding to a domestic battery call on the 4100 block of Montez Drive in east Carson City at approximately 2:20 am.

The first deputies to arrive on scene located an injured woman in front of the home. As they began to speak to her, a male subject exited the house and opened fire on the deputies, striking Deputy Howell. Another deputy was able to pull Deputy Howell to a safe area as other deputies returned fire. Read More

Chuck Reed Wants to Destroy California

This past month saw verdicts rendered on former San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed. The first verdict came from the City of San Jose, where after reeling from two years of real life consequences of Reed’s 2012 pension measure, the City’s Mayor announced a settlement with police and fire unions that eliminated the substantive changes Reed had enacted.

The second verdict came in the form of an analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) of the initiative Reed wants to place on the 2016 ballot. Reed’s proposed initiative would impose pension, compensation and retiree health care changes on all public employees in California. Reed’s changes in San Jose proved to be disastrous, but the future changes he proposes for California would be catastrophic Read More

Putting Officer-Involved Shootings in Perspective

The media coverage of sensational officer-involved shootings over the past 18 months should not be seen as part of a pattern of police activity. The only common factor in any OIS is that an officer perceives imminent, mortal danger for him or herself or for someone else. And it always starts with a suspect who resists during the contact with the police.

In this post (for the LAPPL’s previous post on this topic, we will look at two movements in society we believe are greatly increasing the pressure on police officers as we work to ensure the safety of the community. We are also addressing, again, the use of Hayes v. County of San Diego by the Police Commission. We simply cannot let this stand, and the City and public must understand why. Read More

EOW 8.9.15 1st Lieutenant Arthur Green, III from Michigan Dept of Natural Resources, MI

First Lieutenant Arthur Green was killed in an airplane crash in Harbor Springs, Michigan, while en route to mandatory in service training.

He was on official travel status when the Piper Cherokee he was piloting struck a large tree while on final approach to the Harbor Springs Municipal Airport shortly after 11:00 pm. He had taken off from the Detroit City Airport, approximately 270 miles away. The wreckage was located the following morning at approximately 7:30 am. Read More

The PORAC News Roundup

The PORAC News Roundup Cops as Part of the Community TERRY McHALE Vice President CHELSEA IRVINE Account Manager Marketplace Communications Law enforcement is in place to help smooth the rough […] Read More

EOW 8.6.15 Det Brent Hanger from Washington State Patrol, WA

Detective Brent Hanger suffered a fatal heart attack while hiking into a remote area of Chinook Pass, near Yakima, to investigate reports of a marijuana grow operation.

He began to suffer chest pains and shortness of breath. Other detectives who were with him immediately called for assistance and started CPR after he collapsed, but were unable to revive him.

Detective Hanger had served with the Washington State Patrol for 17 years. He was survived by his wife and six children. Read More

Slain Hayward Sgt. Scott Lunger ‘loved being an officer’

As the former head of the Hayward police SWAT team, Sgt. Scott Lunger knew about danger and crisis. He knew that no routine traffic stop is ever routine.
“He knew the danger. He knew it was part of the job. It didn’t stop him from doing the work he loved,” said his aunt, Ginni Lunger of Pleasanton. “He loved being an officer and he excelled at it.”
She and other relatives gathered Wednesday to mourn, hours after Scott Lunger, 48, a Brentwood resident and father of two grown daughters, was fatally shot after pulling over the erratic driver of a white pickup truck on a quiet street corner southwest of downtown Hayward. Read More

EOW 7.22.15: Sgt. Scott Lunger from Hayward PD, CA

Sergeant Scott Lunger was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop near the intersection of Myrtle Street and Lyon Street at approximately 3:15 am.

He stopped the vehicle for driving erratically. As he approached the vehicle an occupant opened fire, fatally wounding him. Another officer on scene of the stop returned fire as the vehicle fled. The vehicle was found abandoned a short time later. The subject was located and taken into custody suffering from gunshot wounds. Read More

Chief probation officer tries to help the homeless

I’m sad to say it was one of the first things I noticed about Sacramento.
The homeless people.
The men in grungy clothing sleeping off a buzz at Cesar Chavez Park Plaza. The women with obvious mental health issues shouting at no one in particular from the steps of the Sacramento Public Library. The people pushing creaky carts full of what looks like junk, but are probably their life’s possessions. Read More

Widow of slain Sacramento deputy tells Congress of husband’s loss

A U.S. Senate hearing Tuesday highlighted growing frustration by lawmakers of both parties with some local governments’ refusal to fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities, as senators heard from the widow of a Sacramento County sheriff’s Deputy Danny Oliver, who prosecutors say was murdered by an undocumented immigrant. Read More