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Police want firearms with more power
Incident involving suspect with assault rifle renews concerns about guns IPD uses.
By Tom Spalding
[email protected]
December 24, 2002
Marion County prosecutors plan to file attempted-murder charges today against a suspect accused of firing dozens of shots at three Indianapolis police officers.
Meanwhile, the Saturday night incident, which left two young officers with minor injuries, is prompting another internal IPD review of officer firepower.
Officers carried .40-caliber handguns -- while accused gunman Anthony Keith Brown, 25, carried a much more lethal SKS assault rifle.
"We were severely out-firepowered, I guess," said East District Patrolman Andy Lamle, one of the three officers under fire that night. "His weapon was far superior to anything we had available to us."
None of the officers can say for certain that a high-powered weapon of their own would have made a difference during the incident on the Eastside.
But police are considering that option.
"The times it would be useful would be very slim," said Indianapolis Police Department spokesman Steve Staletovich. "But even if it's one time, it could make the difference between life and death. It's worth a look, and it's getting a look."
The leader of the police union said his organization has raised the issue before.
"We have tried asking the department on previous occasions to boost our firepower, and we are still exploring the possibility," said IPD Sgt. Vince Huber, president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 86. "It shows the need to do that for the safety of our officers and citizens. Something that's equal to the firepower we're seeing from criminals."
According to police, officers tried to stop the Buick that Brown was driving after they spotted it speeding from Circle City Pizza, 2904 E. 38th St., at 7:03 p.m. Saturday. Officers had been called to a disturbance at the shop, where Brown worked last year.
The chase headed south and east, and police think shots might have been fired at officers during the pursuit. Brown stopped at 32nd Street and Sherman Drive because the Buick's transmission gave out.
Second-year Officer Linda Jackson, 35, was about half a block from Brown and was getting out of her car and looking for cover when she was struck in the hip by the gunfire. Jackson was treated for the wound and released from Wishard Memorial Hospital late Saturday.
Lamle, 24, skinned his knees as he dived behind his car for protection.
Patrolman Frank Miller II, 25, was grazed by either shrapnel or a bullet that scraped his thigh.
All three officers have been on patrol for two years, work the East District and are friends as part of IPD's 95th recruit class.
Two of the officers -- Lamle and Miller -- had an emotional story to tell Monday afternoon about hunkering for cover as the suspect fired.
"His first initial burst was probably anywhere from 25 to 30 rounds," said Miller, who had taken cover inside a wheel well. "A million things go through your mind in a second. And you know, I thought of my wife, I thought of my new 3-month-old baby, and I told myself, 'I'm not gonna die behind this car.' "
After an exchange of gunfire, Miller said, he kept yelling, "Throw the gun out!" and "Give yourself up!" until Brown finally complied.
Police say Brown was firing a rifle that used 7.62 mm bullets, slightly smaller in diameter than the police pistol bullets but traveling much faster and farther. A rifle with similar power was used to kill Marion County Sheriff's Deputy Jason Baker in September 2001.
Brown is being held without bond in Marion County Jail on preliminary charges of attempted murder, carrying a firearm without a license and resisting law enforcement. A news conference to discuss the charges is planned for 10 a.m. today with incoming Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi.
Miller credited the training officers receive in how to protect themselves from such a dangerous weapon for keeping them alive.
"It shows the quality of training we get at this police department," he said. "I mean, look at the statistics of officers that have encountered high-powered rifles. We're lucky to be alive."
http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/5/010771-4565-009.html
Incident involving suspect with assault rifle renews concerns about guns IPD uses.
By Tom Spalding
[email protected]
December 24, 2002
Marion County prosecutors plan to file attempted-murder charges today against a suspect accused of firing dozens of shots at three Indianapolis police officers.
Meanwhile, the Saturday night incident, which left two young officers with minor injuries, is prompting another internal IPD review of officer firepower.
Officers carried .40-caliber handguns -- while accused gunman Anthony Keith Brown, 25, carried a much more lethal SKS assault rifle.
"We were severely out-firepowered, I guess," said East District Patrolman Andy Lamle, one of the three officers under fire that night. "His weapon was far superior to anything we had available to us."
None of the officers can say for certain that a high-powered weapon of their own would have made a difference during the incident on the Eastside.
But police are considering that option.
"The times it would be useful would be very slim," said Indianapolis Police Department spokesman Steve Staletovich. "But even if it's one time, it could make the difference between life and death. It's worth a look, and it's getting a look."
The leader of the police union said his organization has raised the issue before.
"We have tried asking the department on previous occasions to boost our firepower, and we are still exploring the possibility," said IPD Sgt. Vince Huber, president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 86. "It shows the need to do that for the safety of our officers and citizens. Something that's equal to the firepower we're seeing from criminals."
According to police, officers tried to stop the Buick that Brown was driving after they spotted it speeding from Circle City Pizza, 2904 E. 38th St., at 7:03 p.m. Saturday. Officers had been called to a disturbance at the shop, where Brown worked last year.
The chase headed south and east, and police think shots might have been fired at officers during the pursuit. Brown stopped at 32nd Street and Sherman Drive because the Buick's transmission gave out.
Second-year Officer Linda Jackson, 35, was about half a block from Brown and was getting out of her car and looking for cover when she was struck in the hip by the gunfire. Jackson was treated for the wound and released from Wishard Memorial Hospital late Saturday.
Lamle, 24, skinned his knees as he dived behind his car for protection.
Patrolman Frank Miller II, 25, was grazed by either shrapnel or a bullet that scraped his thigh.
All three officers have been on patrol for two years, work the East District and are friends as part of IPD's 95th recruit class.
Two of the officers -- Lamle and Miller -- had an emotional story to tell Monday afternoon about hunkering for cover as the suspect fired.
"His first initial burst was probably anywhere from 25 to 30 rounds," said Miller, who had taken cover inside a wheel well. "A million things go through your mind in a second. And you know, I thought of my wife, I thought of my new 3-month-old baby, and I told myself, 'I'm not gonna die behind this car.' "
After an exchange of gunfire, Miller said, he kept yelling, "Throw the gun out!" and "Give yourself up!" until Brown finally complied.
Police say Brown was firing a rifle that used 7.62 mm bullets, slightly smaller in diameter than the police pistol bullets but traveling much faster and farther. A rifle with similar power was used to kill Marion County Sheriff's Deputy Jason Baker in September 2001.
Brown is being held without bond in Marion County Jail on preliminary charges of attempted murder, carrying a firearm without a license and resisting law enforcement. A news conference to discuss the charges is planned for 10 a.m. today with incoming Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi.
Miller credited the training officers receive in how to protect themselves from such a dangerous weapon for keeping them alive.
"It shows the quality of training we get at this police department," he said. "I mean, look at the statistics of officers that have encountered high-powered rifles. We're lucky to be alive."
http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/5/010771-4565-009.html
