Officer who lost eye in ambush returns to work
NEWSJOURNALONLINE.com
ORANGE CITY, FLORIDA
A police officer who lost an eye to a bullet in March when ambushed by a suicidal man is back on patrol, a police official said Tuesday.
Sherif El-Shami, 25, started his normal solo road patrol Tuesday working a 12-hour shift from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., Orange City police Cmdr. Pete Thomas said.
Before Tuesday, El-Shami worked Friday and Saturday under the supervision of a field-training officer who reported El-Shami performed excellently, Thomas said.
“He performed as though he never left,” Thomas said. “So, tonight he is by himself.”
El-Shami lost his left eye on March 25 when Bryan Langford ambushed the officer, firing several times on his patrol car. One of at least five bullets came through the windshield, shattering on the driver’s side door frame, damaging El-Shami’s eye.
The officer was the first to arrive at Langford’s home at 1651 University Ave. to check on Langford, whose ex-wife reported to Lake Helen police that Langford had come to see her and made suicidal remarks.
Langford killed himself after an 11-hour standoff at the University Avenue home. Volusia County sheriff investigators said Langford killed his girlfriend, whose body was found in a front bedroom of the home. He also killed his girlfriend’s son found with a gunshot wound to the back of the head inside a bar the couple owned in Deltona.
On June 9, El-Shami received the Purple Heart from Police Chief Jeffrey Baskoff for getting injured in the line of duty.
Volusia sheriff’s deputy Gregory Ray, who arrived at the scene after El-Shami was shot and provided him with cover, got the Medal of Valor. El-Shami’s colleague, Sgt. Greg Lariscy, who pulled him out of the patrol car and rushed him to the hospital, was also awarded the Medal of Valor.
El-Shami had surgery to remove his left eye. Although he lost some of his peripheral vision in his right eye, he is learning to turn his head more to compensate for the loss, police Sgt. Jason Sampsell said.
El-Shami took some driving classes and has been to the range to practice firing his handgun and rifle, Sampsell said.
“He is coming along really well,” Sampsell said.
On Friday, as El-Shami started, he and the field-training officer were dispatched to two calls, including one call to assist another officer handling a fight, Sampsell said.
“He did well,” Sampsell said. “There is no hesitation by any of the officers to work with him. They all respect him, and they know he is capable of doing the job. He has proven that time and time again.”
There’s A New Corvette In Town
The Wake County Sheriff’s Office has a new sports car to add to their fleet, thanks to criminals.
Sheriff Donnie Harrison says the department received the new black Corvette just a few days ago after it was confiscated from a drug dealer and will be used to help catch criminals.
Harrison adds that adding the car to the department’s current fleet makes more sense than selling it.
“With the budget like it is…I think this is very important. It gives us some tools that we wouldn’t normally have. Some folks say why not sell it back or auction it off and give the money to the schools? But when you auction off equipment you only get a portion of what its worth. Thru drug enforcement and speeding, it’ll pay for itself three fold,” said Harrison.
The Sheriff’s Office may be on the right track; within hours of hitting the street, the corvette took part in a drug bust.
Kalamazoo honors canine hero
A dog who risked his life to chase down bad guys was honored by city leaders in Kalamazoo.
On Monday night, the Kalamazoo City Commission issued a proclamation for a police dog named Ranger.
Never before has a K-9 received such an honor from Kalamazoo.
Officials from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety say Ranger had a great career, but suffered serious injuries when he was hit in the head while chasing a suspect a few years earlier, so now he’s retiring from the police force.
“He’s come to work with me for eight years, he’s always been between me and the bad guy, he’s always putting himself first to make sure I go home every night, now it’s my turn to take care of him,” said Marc Riffenberg of KDPS.
Officer Riffenberg was Ranger’s partner, and now says his family is anxious to have Ranger as a stay at home dog.
New Bern police dogs get bulletproof vests
Three lucky dogs with New Bern police K-9 units received new bulletproof vests Monday.
At a ceremony at the Eastern Carolina Internal Medicine Center at Berne Square, the three dogs, Clyde, Zorin and Bak,
were nervous and fidgety since it was their first day wearing the vests.
“The dogs have to get used to the vests,” said K-9 handler Christopher R. Lind. Lind handles Clyde, a German shepherd.
The vests, which cost $1,800 each and are customed-tailored, were donated as a show of appreciation from
Eastern Carolina Internal Medicine to the police dogs and their handlers.
T. Chaconas, office manager for ECIM, wanted to get the vests for the dogs to show appreciation to the K-9 units
for the work the dogs do at the facility.
“Whenever we have an alarm, the dogs are here searching the building for intruders,” Chaconas said.
ECIM is located in a 60,000-square foot building. Staff members allow the dogs to train there during
early-morning hours before patients arrive. “The dogs learn how to search a large building with slick floors,
desks, and supplies,” Chaconas said.
The way the dogs received the vests from ECIM came after an employee of the medical facility, Jackie Thompson,
came up with the idea.
The staff at ECIM came up with donations to buy the vests. A non-profit organization called VestN’ PDP
(Police Dog Protection) in New Mexico found a N.C. state grant to help with the purchase.
Officer Jim Rowe, senior handler and trainer and partner to Bak, said the vests are about safety.
“Now the dogs are safe. We appreciate the donation of the vests for our partners,” Rowe said.
Rowe is proud of Bak, who was donated to the police department by the Highway Patrol. “He has been
in service 8 months and already has confiscated a pound-and-a-half of marijuana and cocaine,” Rowe said.
Deputy Police Chief Ed Preston said the vests would not have been possible without the help of ECIM.
“We just didn’t have the money in the budget for the vests,” Preston said.
K-9 officer Thomas Carter was just as appreciative that his dog Zorin received a new vest.
Carter handles the only Belgian Malinois; the other two dogs are German shepherds.
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Dallas PD to require officers to cover tattoos
The next time you see a Dallas police officer wearing a long-sleeved shirt when it’s hotter than a furnace outside, it may be because he or she is hiding something.
A tattoo.
The department is planning to require police officers to cover up their tattoos, even if it means wearing makeup or a skin-colored patch over a hard-to-obscure place such as the neck or wrist.
“A lot of officers are coming in with tattoos,” said Lt. Andrew Harvey, a police spokesman.
“It’s more normal now than it ever has been,” he said but added that the department wants officers “to display a more professional image.”
The department’s personnel division is drawing up the official policy. It could go into effect as soon as this summer.
The old rules are silent on tattoos and state only that employees must “present a neutral and uniform image to effectively relate to all segments of the population they serve.”
The department largely left it up to the individual commander to decide whether an officer needed to cover tattoos.
A number of other cities also require officers to cover tattoos, including Los Angeles, Arlington and Houston, though they typically exempt officers working undercover. “This is in stride with what other cities are doing,” Harvey said.
Officer Nick Novello has four tattoos on his arms, including an American Indian on his right forearm that was there when he was hired by the city in 1982. He said he believes the department should consider grandfathering in current officers and thinks it’s a mistake to have an across-the-board policy.
“If I got hired in 1982 and had that tattoo on my forearm, how can you expect me to cover my tattoo up in 2009?” Novello asked. “If you have to cover up your arms, they’re going to have a lot of problems staying hydrated. You put a guy in long sleeves and he’s not going out of the car unless it’s an absolute emergency” during the hot summer months.
Novello, who also has an eagle bursting out of an American flag on his left arm, said he can understand requiring officers to cover up tattoos if they are offensive in some way.
“In culture at large, tattoos are extremely prevalent,” he said. “We’re not divorced from society at large.”
Another officer, who asked that his name to be published because he feared retaliation, said he’s worn a long-sleeved uniform for years because his tattoos cover his entire arms. But he said a portion of the tattoos still peeks out on his left hand.
“Are they going to make me wear gloves or makeup?” he said.
He suggested that a more reasonable approach would be to require officers to cover tattoos if they cover a certain percentage of the body part or if the tattoos are larger than a specified size.
“What are you going to do with that guy who is 300 pounds, and you put him in long sleeves in the heat of summer, and he drops out on you?” the officer said. “There’s other alternatives than saying everybody with tattoos has to cover it.”
Big Creek’s K-9 Cop Gets New Protection
Big Creek Police Chief David Poynor was reading a Sunday newspaper when he came across a story that caught his eye.
The story was entitled “Protecting K-9 Cops” and highlighted the work of Susie Jean of Douglasville, Georgia. Jean, who was at the time grieving the loss of her two German shepherds, saw a fleeing criminal shoot and kill a police dog on her local news. She decided she had to do something.
After contacting her local police department and discovering they couldn’t afford bullet-proof vests for their dogs due to the expense (approximately $700), she began raising funds herself.
Her efforts soon grew into a non-profit organization called Vest N P.D.P. (Police Dog Protection). The organization has distributed more than 260 vests to police departments across the country since 2002.
Poynor’s daughter Kayla decided she would contact Jean via email on behalf of her dad and his police drug dog Sheba.
“She responded very quickly,” Kayla said.
Three months later, Sheba has a bullet and stab-proof vest, which Poynor takes great pride in.
“I have one myself and she’s my partner,” said Poynor, who has served as Big Creek’s chief for 16 years. “She goes everywhere I do. You never know what kind of situation you’re going to get in.”
Poynor has used Sheba to assist several area law enforcement agencies outside of Big Creek.
“The mayor and board of aldermen of Big Creek have been very encouraging for us to help others best we can,” Poynor said. “Sheba is here for whomever needs her.”
Thanks to Kayla’s efforts to contact Susie Jean and the Vest N P.D.P., Sheba is will now have first-rate protection when she answers those calls in a potential hostile situation.
“It just took a little time and effort on our part,” said Kayla, who is working on her EMT license.
The Poynors are also assisting Chickasaw K-9 officer Lee Womack and his drug dog Max in securing a protective vest as well. The Poynors and Womack expressed their thanks for Jean and her organization and what it’s doing for K-9 units.
“A dog goes out with no fear and does what he’s been trained to do without a thought for personal danger,” Jean said in a February 2009 article in American Profile. “My efforts are a small price to pay for our police dogs that protect their human partner as well as our communities.”
Special Report: Making of a Trooper
It’s a job that thousands applied for, but only 46 were accepted. 24-Hour New 8′s Gene Rodriguez started following the newest class of recruits for the Indiana State Police over a year ago.
The state invested $4.5 million in the latest class and the recruits would say they invested their blood sweat and tears to make their dream of being a state trooper come true.
“It’s just something I always wanted to do,” said Joseph Cumberworth of Versailles.
“I decided to get in the state police cause I got family in the state police also and I always looked up to them,” said Kent Rohlfing of Bloomington, Indiana.
O’Bryan Winfield of East Chicago said, “I always wanted to be a police officer. I felt that the Indiana state police was the best.”
With 27 weeks of intense physical and mental training, 46 recruits are walking into a career in law enforcement.
“It’s a change in lifestyle and yes, I am very nervous,” said Ronald Davidson of East Chicago.
Mary Felger of New Haven said, “A little fear of the unknown. But that’s about it.”
More than 5000 people applied for the academy. A written exam, a psychological exam, a polygraph test and two physical exams narrowed the field of applicants.
“Done a psychological test, nothing fancy do you hear voices. I don’t think I do I am pretty safe right there,” said Erik Zacatelco of Richmond. “I know it’s a tough process. I am not going to say I am 100% confident there is always a 10% chance you are not going to make it.”
Unfortunately, Zacatelco didn’t get an invitation to the academy. The oral interview alone eliminated 400 applicants.
“We have some that this is their 3rd time. And the comment is if I don’t make it I am re-applying. I always want to be a trooper, my father has been a trooper my grandfather has been one and this is what I want to do I want to follow this process,” said Angie Hahn of the Indiana State Police.
In fact, for Kent Rohlfing the third time was a charm. He and 60 others got the invitation to the academy.
“I’m optimistic, but yeah I am a little nervous,” said Rohlfing.
Monday through Friday recruits eat, sleep and study at the academy.
“It was just as soon as we woke up at about 5:30 in the morning, got to bed at about 12:30 at night,” Rohlfing said.
They learned the mechanics of an arrest, role played worst case scenarios and learned how to effectively shoot their firearms.
“Everything that we are going to teach them is meant to save their life. And we put it just that bluntly,” said Sgt. Chris Lambert of the Indiana State Police.
They put it all to work in mock situations.
Sgt. Lambert said, “Train them to recognize what we consider jeopardy and once they perceive that jeopardy to act appropriately and act in a manner where they can make sure that they are safe and that the innocent bystanders and the general public is safe when they are employing deadly force.”
One situation in particular had the recruits talking. It’s called the two on one hit man.
“When I was on my back and both guys were on top of me, I didn’t think I was going to make it and I am not talking about through the academy, I thought I was going to not make it. I thought I was going to die,” said Rohlfing.
“You do think you are going to die. I’m thinking to myself they don’t realize that I’m losing and they are about to kill me and I don’t think,” said Christopher Townsend of Indianapolis.
They did survive the situation and are two of the 46 that graduated. All 46 had to job shadow a trooper for three months.
After weeks of physical training, months of classroom work, the dreaded hit man drills, the new troopers get their own cars nine months after that first day at the academy.
“It’s been a long, long time a long process. I know every guy and girl here is very very happy right now. We worked hard for these,” said Rohlfing.
“It’s been a long journey. Got the car now,” said Townsend. “Yes there’s a good chance you will see me out on the road.”
But it wasn’t too long after Townsend received his patrol car that he was involved in a crash. A look at the most dangerous part of the job and hear from family members on Tuesday; Making of a Trooper – Part 2.
Dogs rule at charity dog wash
Part of the Raleigh Police Department K9 Unit
“Watch out for that wet poodle!” someone says as I enter the brightly painted lobby of Dogtopia. This Sunday was the 5th annual K9 Support Charity Dog Wash sponsored by Dogtopia, a full-service doggie daycare center located here in Raleigh. Benefits go to support the K9 units currently serving overseas missions and the Raleigh Police Department K9 unit.Helpful and smiling employees walked around in multicolored T-shirts directing traffic.
After signing in Levi (my 6 year-old Labrador retriever) for his turn in the tub, I walked down a long corridor taped with stars marking the way to the dog gym
where the event was held. “Follow the stars to the fun!” the sign reads. The
gym; normally the largest free roaming play room at Dogtopia, was pulling
double duty as vendor booths lined the walls with raffles, canine massage table
and snacks for dogs and their people. Vendor demonstrations included a
contraption allowing you to ride your bike hands-free with your dog and a
5-minute dog walking contest – if the trainer could not walk your dog on a leash
without problems in five minutes, she would add five dollars to your donation.
Second Chance Pet Adoptions had adoption hopefuls mingling in the crowd. A
cold nose bumped the back of my leg. “That’s Massey”, a volunteer from Second
Chance tells me. She is one of the many sweet dogs enjoying the festivities and
trying to gain permanence in someone’s life at the same time.
A few officers from the Raleigh Police Department K9 unit were waiting in the
gym to give a police dog demonstration when I built up the nerve to ask,
“Someone told me you guys had a sleeve – are you going to be doing an
agitation session in this demo?” After a few moments pondering in the inquiry,
the officer agreed to try moving the K9 unit demonstration to the enclosed
outdoor walking area for more room if the crowd felt right. The announcement
is called, the police dog demonstration will be outside in twenty minutes.
The demonstration starts with a little history on the K9 unit. The squad consists
mostly of German Shepherd Dogs, a few Belgian Malinoises and are obtained
overseas from Holland, Germany and the Czech Republic. Most of the dogs
arrive “green”; a basic, moldable training level and are further trained by the
Raleigh Police Department. The average police dog knows commands in several
languages. Next, the officers demonstrate advanced obedience commands using
voice/hand signals and have the dog retrieve a set of keys and a credit card to
ostend tracking abilities. Finally, the good part. An officer steps from behind a
tree with his right arm covered in a thickly padded burlap bite sleeve while
another tries to calm the unremitting dog; Bruno, waiting to work his magic on
the guys protected arm. They set up a threatening scenario and after the
command action is given; Bruno was swinging from the officer’s arm. Raleigh
PD did make sure to let onlookers know these dogs are having fun but attack
work is no game. The demonstration is over after a brief Q and A session.
I got a chance to talk with Janet Wahlmeier and Tami Land, owners of Dogtopia
and find out what makes this place stand out from the rest. “We just love dogs,
and want to see them happy.” says Tami. Both Janet and Tami switched gears
from marketing and finance in the big corporate world, to running their own
company and doing what they love. Dogtopia opened in October of 2008 and are
growing fast with 7 dedicated staff members. These ladies take dog daycare
seriously and with the looks of all the happy dogs filling the lobby and play gym
- they are doing something right! Dogtopia is becoming another cog in the
elliptical reciprocation of love between humans and dogs and that’s a good thing.
For more info:
Dogtopia Spa & Daycare – 4708 Hargrove Rd., Raleigh, NC 27616 919.521-8083
Raleigh Police Department – 110 McDowell St., Raleigh, NC 27602 919.996-3335
Soldiers’ Angels K9 Support Team
DeBary K-9 officer retires
As one of his last official acts, Volusia County K-9 Brit appeared before the DeBary City Council and the public.
Accompanied by his handler, human Deputy Persio Genao, Brit basked in words of thanks for a job well done.
He got thunderous applause from the audience at the July 1 City Council meeting. The crowd included a number of his two-legged law-enforcement comrades who came to show their appreciation and support for the retiring K-9.
Capt. Alan Osowski, who heads Sheriff’s Office activities in DeBary, explained the canine deputy’s retirement: “Brit suffered an injury during training exercises, and extensive medical testing determined that continued ‘employment’ would not only be painful for the dog, but severe leg damage would most likely occur.”
Osowski said Brit is now free to bask in the Florida sun and frolic in the fields at his handler’s home, and will be missed.
Mayor Bob Garcia read aloud a certificate of appreciation to Brit and Deputy Genao.
The 7-year-old K-9 has been on active duty for six years, serving in DeBary with Genao.
The pair racked up a service record that included:
• An apprehension record of more than 611 arrests
• Responding to 488 K-9 calls for service
• Conducting more than 265 area, building and narcotics searches
• Participating in at least 34 community-service demonstrations
• Completing more than 1,507 K-9 training hours.
“Now, therefore, I, Bob Garcia, as Mayor of the City of DeBary, Florida, on behalf of the DeBary City Council, do hereby give our heartfelt thanks to K-9 Brit for his valuable and faithful service to our City and wish him a long and enjoyable retirement with his family,” reads the proclamation.
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