Seems to me that this “raid” by the Chesapeake gestapo met the criteria.

If you’ve ever seen body armor, there is an open seam line between the body and the arm so that a person could easily move there arms. You basically have a choice of protecting that area or keeping your speed of movement, taking the chance that by some mischance you’ll be hit. Think of how well a baby can move in a snow suit, and you’ll get the idea. Total protection, but very hard to move. Its a complete fluke that Officer Shivers was hit in this area.

A dead cop and a casual marijuana user in jail for murder and they would do it the same way!!??

Just astonishing, and yet that probably sums up modern police work to a “T.” Do anything to avoid responsibiility and accountability, and never once question your own tactics, methods or atttudes because that seems too close to being held accountable. Oh, and pretend to be a total bad-ass with cool John McClane sayings and fun little toys when you can.

Of course the superior is going to say this. I see at least two potential legal actions following the raid. The first one is the obvious, the state prosecuting Frederick for the death of the officer. And this one will happen — there’s going to be enormous pressure from the police department to prosecute. The second lawsuit is an action for the wrongful death of the detective brought by the widow. This is the one the quote above is meant to address. If the police acknowledge that the raid was inappropriate, then the p.d. has admitted negligence, which the widow would use in a wrongful death action against the p.d. This lawsuit might not happen. Frederick sounds like a rock — he’s got no money, and the widow is going to have a very difficult time proving the p.d. has any liability for the death of the officer so long as the p.d. stays on message.

Whether or not “there are better ways” depends on the objective.

This should be a BIG RED WARNING LIGHT to anyone working under this superior…your boss is an idiot and you are also consider expendable to the point that if they KNEW you were going to die to bust a small time marijaunna user…they would send you in anyway.

I’m becoming more and more convinced that they KNOW there are better ways, but the over-abundance of testosterone, the need for the rush, the thought of not being able to use their little toys, and not being able to bully the rest of us “no account civilians” (I saw that remark and few similiar to it a few times on a cop website) would just make the job not much more different than being a mail man and THEN what would be the purpose?

Still hard to feel sorry for cops who die in actions like this. Claiming “its your job” carries about as much weight with me as a Nazi SS guard making the same claim…besides…its the life YOU chose. And from what I’ve been reading on cop websites, the ones who want to “protect and serve” and help “no account civilians” appear to be a very very small minority. The rest appear to be feeding the needs stated above which have NOTHING to do with public service.

Go check out a few of the cops sites and see what the average cop in the street thinks of you, your rights, and your life.

“The possibilities seem to be there that they caught the “informant” at another crime scene and he handed the cops Fredrick’s house in order to get off. If that is the case then the “informant” is the one who should be charged with murder, and first degree would be pretty appropriate as well. ”

While I agree completely with your premise, the part about the charges is absurd. It is NOT the responsibility of a criminal to do proper and responsible police investigation. It is the responsibility of the police. I think that’s why they have titles such as “Detective” , “Investigator”, etc.

However, my PREDICTION is the police will avoid all responsibility, culpability and liability by using the exact diversion you suggest: blame it on someone else this time the CI. It’s a common practice, they usually blame it on the warrant (except it’s the Police and ONLY the police who write them). The next fall back is the judge signed the warrant (except the judges (as is noted in the warrants themselves) rely solely on the word of the police affidavit and bear and take no responsibility for it’s accuracy).

The one true excuse we’ll never see is: “This is stupid police policy and we are a bunch a idiotic f’ups”. But that would be to much to expect the actual truth now, wouldn’t it?

How can they say they would do this raid the same way again?
Mr. Frederick was obviously no threat to anyone. The fact that he surrendered the minute he knew that is was the police tells you had they knocked on the door he would have answered and surrendered.
And the detective would have been alive and Mr. Frederick’s life wouldn’t be ruined for nothing! The statement by the police saying they would do the same thing again is so disheartening….it means they learned nothing from this so what hope is there for a change in all this if the police and SWAT Teams still believe they’re right?

My biggest fear for Mr. Frederick is that the police will smear his name to clear themselves and he will lose everything he has and disappear from society into the prison system, like so many other innocent people caught up in a situation like this. How do we bring national attention to what is going on in this country? It seems to me that a news show like 60 Minutes, 20/20, Dateline etc. would be an excellent way to get these stories out there. Look what the Ed Bradley interview did for the boys from Duke. I believe if the nation knew what was going on something would be done.

According to this article, posted today, everyone on the raid was wearing body armor and helmets, and the article again states that Det. Shivers was killed by a single bullet wound to the “arm and chest”. There still seems to be some confusion as to whether he was fully inside the house when he was hit, or if he was shot through the door. But there seems to be no question that Ryan Frederick used a .380 pistol. .380s are not known for their power; it seems like a fluke that this round may have penetrated a door and a vest before killing the detective.

The article also quotes one of Det. Shivers’ superiors stating that if they had to do it over again, they would have conducted the raid the same way.

Another Pic of the Japanese Maple

The possibilities seem to be there that they caught the “informant” at another crime scene and he handed the cops Fredricks house in order to get off.

If that is the case then the “informant” is the one who should be charged with murder, and first degree would be pretty appropriate as well.

Thanks for sticking to this one like glue! Hopkins as well is a real credit to his trade. Real reporting.

This was and is 110% avoidable.