Denver Officer Shot, Suspect Captured

[TheeBadOne]

Officer Kevin Kreuzer

Robert Zamora

A Denver police officer was shot during a traffic stop near Colfax Avenue and Xavier Street at 8:30 a.m. today.

The officer stopped a speeding Mustang whose driver first refused to show his hands and then shot the approaching officer in the left arm.

The officer returned fire but it was not clear whether he wounded his assailant or missed. The rush hour gun battle set off a search of neighborhoods near Sheridan Boulevard and Colfax Avenue and six area schools were locked down for two hours until a suspect was arrested.

The officer, Kevin Kreuzer, a 17-year veteran traffic officer, was rushed to Denver Health Medical Center where he is currently being treated for injuries that are not believed to be life threatening. Kreuzer was shot at least once in the left arm.

Police tracked Robert Zamora, 23, to a basement laundry room of a home in the 1300 block of Raleigh Street at 9:45 a.m. A gun was found nearby.

The incident began at Colfax and Xavier streets on Denver's west side where the officer was using a radar gun to stop speeders on Colfax. A Mustang sped by eastbound.

"Officer down!" came the frantic message over the police radio as dozens of officers from throughout the city sped to the scene.

Police cordoned off the neighborhood, which is just east of the intersection of Colfax Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard, while they searched for Zamora.

Schools within a mile of the shooting were locked down, including: Colfax Elementary, Cowell Elementary, Cheltenham Elementary, Eagleton Elementary, Lake Middle School and Kipp Sunshine Peak Academy Charter School.

The lockdown was lifted at 10 a.m. as Zamora sat in a police cruiser outside the home where he was found.

article

 

[hammer4nc]

TBO, aside from the novel descriptions of punishments that should be meted out to those who resist/assault cops; that your cop shooting threads usually garner
,the following question for TBO and the board:

Since you decided to post about Denver cops, has Denver done anything to improve their image as being somewhat trigger happy? I believe they had a much higher incidence of officer involved shootings than other much larger cities, and recent headline shootings, citizen protests, etc. have met with resistance from officials. It appears they have something of a longstanding problem...Could it be that inaction has prompted some citizens to shoot first? I hope not...

Another Rally Planned To Protest Police Brutality; 10-22-03. Link: http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/2572064/detail.html

Investigating police shootings an in-house affair in Denver; 12-01-03. Link: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_2468863,00.html

Mayor wants police reform done his way; 12-11-03. Link: http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~27772~1823021,00.html

Erickson commision report (1997). Link (this is a pdf file):
http://www.denverda.org/Decision_Letters/Erickson Commission Final Report.pdf

 

[Morgan]

Hammer - when someone points a gun at you, what do you do?

A: Worry about your image as "trigger happy"

OR

B: Defend yourself


Now, take a wild guess what Denver cops are trained to do.

 

[Erik]

I'd opine that Denver cops are no more trigger happy than their adversaries are slash, club, or trigger happy.

I'd be interested in a comparison of bad shoots between locals, adjusted for per capita of course, Denver included. Anyone come across one?

 

[Dr.Rob]

FYI Cop Watch is a radical far leftgroup

 

[TheeBadOne]

Origionally posted by hammer4nc

Since you decided to post about Denver cops, has Denver done anything to improve their image as being somewhat trigger happy? I believe they had a much higher incidence of officer involved shootings than other much larger cities, and recent headline shootings, citizen protests, etc. have met with resistance from officials. It appears they have something of a longstanding problem...Could it be that inaction has prompted some citizens to shoot first? I hope not...

"It appears they have something of a longstanding problem" And what do you base this on?

Origionally posted by Morgan


Hammer - when someone points a gun at you, what do you do?

A: Worry about your image as "trigger happy"

OR

B: Defend yourself


Now, take a wild guess what Denver cops are trained to do.

Origionally posted by Erik

I'd opine that Denver cops are no more trigger happy than their adversaries are slash, club, or trigger happy.

Origionally posted by Dr.Rob

FYI Cop Watch is a radical far leftgroup

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Morgan, Erik, Dr Rob all very relevant thoughts you posted. Mr. hammer4nc has posted on my threads before. Unfortunately he does not like "The Police" (ie:any cop or cops) and takes exception to any article that does not show them in an unfavorable light. The fact that "Cop Watch" is a radical far left group would be lost on him as he doesn't care as long as they're singing his song. I have no ill will for Mr. hammer4nc, but he seems to have plenty for me (and anyone who posts a thread like this one). You'll note the care and concern he has for the Officer who was shot (wait, that's missing isn't it....just goes right into how the Denver Police are so bad that the shooter in this case might have shot the Cop on the spot, ie: almost justifed).
Anyway, my point being that I more than welcome interesting discourse on threads/topics, but this same old song and dance has gotten old.

All the best

TBO

 

[hammer4nc]

To correct any misconceptions, I have no ill will toward any board members or police; I've never had a cross word with an officer. I do wonder about the purpose of posting 10-20 cop shooting threads per week...other than the occasional tactical insight offered, the obligatory kudos/sympathies for the officers involved serve what purpose? The derogatory epiphets (dirtbag and worse) aimed at suspects are much less than uplifting, to put it mildly.

But hey, post on! Usually the reason I post on these threads at all is to question drawing premature conclusions based on hearing only one side of the story. I'm reminded of the Yancey shooting a few weeks back, where some board members made veiled references to execution by electric chair...turns out the officer was shot by a fellow deputy. Likewise the officer shooting of Kenneth Walker in Georgia (currently under investigation), members doing rhetorical backflips to condemn the suspect, and excuse the officer. Or, the "flash-bang" used on Scott Woodring's house last July, that turned out to be 6 lbs. of mining explosive. Anyone else wonder why the ballistics report from that incident was never released? Sure, put me down as someone who questions official accounts of events, when they don't quite have "the ring of truth"; just my opinion, added to the rest.

Re: Denver police shooting history is not something I made up with evil intent. Anyone can do a googlesearch and get additional information. We can dismiss the issue as "leftwing activists", I guess, but even the officials are spending big resources to "reform" Denver police policies; why reform something thats not broken?

Here's a story, just today, about a Denver incident that had a less than lethal outcome: http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~27772~1876858,00.html

Jarmillo spared everyone more of the tension that comes from Denver's ugly history of cops shooting civilians. That tension turned into a quiet but determined community revolt last year after a policeman killed a legally blind, mentally retarded 15-year-old with a seizure disorder. The kid died because he didn't drop a knife when ordered to do so.

Good for them! Needed strides being made?

So, I'm not sure if the objection to my postings is that we're supposed to be in denial, that problems exist (not just isolated incidents, but systemic problems), or we're supposed to just not talk about them?

 

[hammer4nc]

Another data point, posted by a member last September...possibly circumstantial?

And this information:

Kreuzer has been with the Denver Police Department since 1986.

Link: http://www.familybadge.org/index.cf... Police News&newsletterid=4761&menugroup=Home

Hmmmmm.....

 

[Morgan]

why reform something thats not broken?

Feh. Never worked for or with an inner city government, have you? So much of same has been "fixed" to the point it doesn't work anymore, and there are plenty of so-called community activists just itching to finish "fixing" what's left, as well as get their name in the paper and throw their weight around. Largely folks that can't get elected, but can get coulumn inches and air time, and for some stupid reason people give them credence.

As for your insinuations of a problem with DPD in general, and specifically the class of 86-2, you need to bear in mind two things. First is that aggressive cops that do their jobs in a climate of extreme criminality brought about by ill-advised social programs and gang violence are going to get into fights. Second is that this twit shot at the cop! How is that the cop's fault? Should he just stop doing his job? That's for another thread, however, if you wish to start it.

And, for the last time, it doesn't matter how old you are, how smart you are, or how well you can see - a knife can kill me, and I'm going to do my best to make certain it doesn't.

 

[Powderman]

Unfortunately, the average general citizen has absolutely no concept of what goes on in a cop's day--or life.

I have found that there are terrible misconceptions concerning police work, functions and duties from day to day (Hey, that's a newsflash, isn't it?)

I have also found that in most cases, the general public does not bother to become educated concerning what police actually do.

hammer4nc, I invite you to do the following:

Find a Department close to your home that will allow you to ride along.

Go on a few ride-alongs. Observe closely what the officer has to go through, each and every day.

Consider the following:

While you are driving about, the chances are very good that you will pass someone who has absolutely no compunction about KILLING you, should you interfere with their activities.

Think about a job where within the space of an hour you could be either talking to a few kids or teenagers, responding to a domestic violence call, fighting for your life, or delivering a baby.

In other words, hammer4nc, walk a mile in our shoes. Then make all the observations that you wish. No flame, but learn about law enforcement. Heck, why not even give it a shot, if you wish? Get on somewhere as a Reserve Officer.

 

[motorep]

Re: statistics, I'd rather have Denver cops be known as shooting bad guys, as opposed to being known for being shot by bad guys.