Not a good time for LPD.

[Chief Wiggum]

Sounds to me like these cops are about to be sacrificed to the god of politics.

[Valor55]

From what I've read here it sounds like a reasonable shooting to me...

There have been plenty of studies done that show when you are shooting under stress phenomena like audio exclusion (you won't hear the gun shots or they sound very faint and far away) and being unable to count your rounds occurs. Most officers in shootings grossly underestimate the number of rounds they discharged becuase of they stress they were in. This guy followed his training by the book --he fired center of mass until the threat stopped.

I hope they survive the political fall out.

[KenM]

This kind of crap just makes me look forward to retirement more and more.

Why is every turd that gets his *** kicked or gets shot all of a sudden a "victim"? They prey on society all their lives and finally meet their fate and they're a Victim???

It all comes down to choices. He chose to come at the police with a weapon. If he would have come along peacefully he'd still be here to smoke crack and steal from his family.

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

[Joseph]

One thing for sure he sue dumped him. He should have stayed seated. Next time he won't misunderstand. OH WELL. Hopefully they in the FOP.

[Piper]

*UPDATE* The word is that the Grand Jury will give their decision sometime Friday.

(LOUISVILLE Thursday February 13th, 2003 9:30pm) Two Louisville Police officers who have been at the center of the fatal shooting of 50 year old James Taylor appeared before a grand jury on Thursday afternoon.

The jury finished it's work for the night on Thursday but testimony is expected to continue on Friday.

Officer Mike O'Neil who fired at least 11 shots n to Taylor on the night of December 5th was the first to appear before the Grand Jury. About an hour or so later, Officer Brian Luckett went before the panel.

There is no indication of the kind of questions that were asked of the officers since grand jury proceedings are secret.

On Wednesday, Jurors went to the scene of the shooting at 700 East St. Catherine Street. They spent 15 minutes in the Taylor apartment before leaving with Commonwealth attorney Dave Stengle.

The shooting has set of a firestorm among civil rights groups in the city because Taylor was handcuffed at the time. The officers claimed he came at them handcuffed, with a box cutter. He was shot after he was told repeatedly by the officers to sit down in a chair.

Other witness who were in or near the apartment at the time of the shooting also testified including Ronda Maddox, who told WAVE 3 News after her testimony that she told the grand jury Taylor did not pose a threat to the officers.

"There is no question in my mind that an indictment will be returned in this case," said Aubrey Williams an attorney representing the Taylor family in this case.

There is no indication though of when the grand jury might make a decision in this case.

[Deputy757]

Unfortunately, Louisville should be preparing for riots and the like should there be no indictment. All these so called civil rights leaders will be calling for blood.....you know..."No justice, no peace". Hopefully, these jurors will be able to distinguish between what is reasonable and what is wishful thinking!

[Niteshift]

Some people have varying opinions of the guy, but if I were Det. O'Neil, I'd be placing a call to Massad Ayoob right now....... some can poke holes in his ballistics theories, but in terms of dynamic encounters and providing case histories to a jury, Ayoob is a tough guy to beat.

[Piper]

Looks like we will have to wait 10 days:

(LOUISVILLE, Ky., February 14, 2003, 1:00 pm) -- The Jefferson County Grand Jury investigation of the shooting death of a handcuffed man by Louisville Metro Police Detective Michael O'Neil is in recess until February 24th.

A particular witness was out of town and could not be called, so the panel asked the witness to report by the 24th for an appearance.

The grand jury is trying to determine if it will hand down indictments in the fatal shooting of James Taylor last December fifth. Police say Taylor was armed with a box-cutter and was using it in a threatening manner despite being handcuffed behind his back.

[Kingseye]

Also, did i read that the other people in the room (3 or 4) BACKED the Officers account of what happened? If that's true, these proceedings should just be a formality......

[Chaplain Keppy]

I wish before a grand jury heard a case like this they could see some of the videotapes used in the Calibre Press Street Survival Seminar. Like the tapes relating to knife attacks... and the ones where someone who has been fatally shot STILL has time to kill someone else before he actually expires. Definitely changes your perspective, seeing such things.

"Sharpening the Warrior's Edge" is a book that has great information about the physiological side-effects of live-or-die situations-- like perception of time, auditory and visual distortions, etc. After I read it, I thought it also should be made required reading for jurors in cases involving such incidents.

I also will keep those officers, their department, and their families in my prayers.

[rugbyman]

I only know what Ive read in this thread, but it seems a justified shooting to me. The cop shot to save lives, the bad guy got dead, tough luck.
It would seem the cop(s) lives were in danger, no doubt. What more justification do you need?

[Traffic_Goddess]

Hey Chaplain!

I missed you...welcome back! *hugs*
I totally agree with you on the Street Survival info. It definitely changes your perspective on edged weapons. I'd be curious to see if that class is attended by officers from LPD. I recommend it to any officer...it is a class that WILL save your life. It did for me.

[Chaplain Keppy]

Thanks, Traffic Goddess! It's good to be back. I share your opinion of the Street Survival Seminar-- good stuff. Not only the actual seminar, but also their educational resources.

[wprebeck]

My wife is on the (now) Metro PD, and they have alerted the riot squads of what used to be JCPD and LPD. I'm lucky....I sit at the front desk of our jail lobby on the weekends. It's got great visibility, due to all the glass windows around me. I feel like a sitting duck in here sometimes. But hey, it looked pretty when they built it.
So, if riots DO break out, I'm in for a buttload of trouble. Don't think that the rioteres might pass me by, just 'cuz I work for a different agency. All they see is the uniform and badge. Makes we wish I has some better firepower than my G22...something on the order of a SAW or a minigun. Oh, did I mention the grand jury meets in the building just across the street?

[Chaplain Keppy]

Keep your head down, wprebeck!