DEC 2022. Blues Vol 38 No. 12

AROUND THE COUNTRY

AROUND THE COUNTRY ACROSS THE US Latest law enforcement news from across the country. SAN FRANCISCO WILL ALLOW POLICE TO DEPLOY LETHAL, REMOTE-CONTROLLED ROBOTS SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Supervisors in San Francisco voted Tuesday to give city police the ability to use potentially lethal, remote-controlled robots in emergency situations — following an emotionally charged debate that reflected divisions on the politically liberal board over support for law enforcement. The vote was 8-3, with the majority agreeing to grant police the option despite strong objections from civil liberties and other police oversight groups. Opponents said the authority would lead to the further militarization of a police force already too aggressive with poor and minority communities. DALLAS OFFICER FIRED, ANOTHER SUSPENDED AFTER FAILING TO HELP DRIVER WHO CRASHED DALLAS — A Dallas Police Department officer has been fired and another was suspended for 30 days after they failed to help a driver who crashed his car after a pursuit in May. Senior Cpl. Leonard Anderson and Darrien Robertson, who was being trained by Anderson at the time, attempted to pull over a driver whose headlights were off after leaving a convenience store on May 13, WFAA.com reported. The driver didn’t stop, leading to a short pursuit before it was called off due to department policy. Seconds after the officers cancelled the pursuit, the driver jumped a curb and crashed on the side of a road. “Did you see that?” Robertson can be heard asking on dash cam video. “That’s his fault,” Anderson replies. The vehicle soon became engulfed in flames. DPD Chief Eddie Garcia said the officers returned to the crash scene after the vehicle had caught fire, but he was “embarrassed” and “outraged,” saying: “This is not what we stand for.” Nearby good Samaritans helped the driver until Dallas Fire-Rescue arrived. The driver did survive. “Those citizens did an admirable job – and did a job that our officers should have done,” Garcia said. WIDOW OF SLAIN CA OF- FICER FILES CLAIM AGAINST DISTRICT ATTORNEY The widow of an El Monte police sergeant announced the filing Tuesday of a million claim against Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón and other parties stemming from the ambush death of her husband and his partner in June. Claimant Janine Paredes, the widow of Sgt. Michael Paredes, claims the cop killer should have been incarcerated at the time because of his prior criminal record. The claim she filed also names as respondents the county, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, and the county probation department, reports KFI AM. She alleges their actions resulted in the wrongful deaths and emotional distress. Her husband and Officer Joseph Santana, 31, were ambushed and killed by Justin Flores when responding to a call at a motel on June 14. CUFFED SUSPECT SHOOTS DENVER COP WHILE BEING REMOVED FROM CRUISER By Sarah Calams, Police1 DENVER — A Denver Police Department officer was shot in the neck by a suspect who was being removed from a police cruiser at a jail Monday night. The suspect, who had been arrested earlier in the evening after police pursued an alleged stolen vehicle and found a handgun and narcotics in the car, had a 42 The BLUES The BLUES 43