Alan Barcelona, president of the 7,000-member California Statewide Law Enforcement Association, has launched his own blog. Union spokesman Coby Pizzotti said that the words are Barcelona's own and that the long-time DOJ Special Agent will probably put up at least one post per week.
An excerpt from Monday's post about Patton Hospital Police Officer Edward Bass Jr.:
In March, a man distraught and drunk over his impeding divorce took his wife and two step-children for a harrowing ride along Highway 330 in Los Angeles County, stopping repeatedly to scream his intention to kill them. At one stop, hte (sic) wife and her eight-year-old son escaped, but she could not rescue her two-year-old who was strapped firmly in his child's seat.
The man sped away and shortly after flipped his minivan on its side. Moments later, Officer Bass, who was off duty, arrived on the scene. A witness at the scene took possession of the two-year-old, and then the man drew a gun -- one of three high-powered firearms he was carrying in the van. It was anyone's guess as to whom he would fire at. Officer Bass drew his gun and ordered the man to drop his, which he did when it became apparent there would be no backing down by Bass. The man then pleaded with the officer to shoot him.Fortunately for all, Officer Bass was off duty, because if he had been at work and this had happened, he could not have drawn his gun. State policy prohibits him from having one. In fact hospital police at all 12 institutions run by the state departments of Mental Health and Developmental Services are the only peace officers in California prohibited from carrying firearms while on patrol in a marked police car
Click here to read The Barcelona Blog.
IMAGE: Courtesy CSLEA
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