Sadness

Fox news is reporting that one of the two officers wounded in a gun battle with an armed murder suspect has passed.

Un-f*&^ing believable.

If true, that makes two LE officers killed, two civilians killed and two additional LE officers wounded since superbowl Sunday.

Right now, one of the Fox 11 news reporters on scene at Loma Linda hospital is on the air, in tears, stating that she knows the deceased deputy. Apparently, her husband is a retired LE officer and knew the fallen officer quite well. It's a tragic, small world.

 LE officials are pretty sure that the suspect is holed up in a vacant cabin near Seven Oaks, a remote mountain community in the San Bernardino National Forest.

Updates as they become available.

Schmoe

The Chaos Continues

As I write this, it appears that the suspect in RPD officer Michael Crain's murder has poked his head out and has initiated a gun battle with law enforcement officials. Two officers from an unnamed law enforcement agency are reported to have been wounded in the exchange.

The news stream on this is chaotic at best. Numerous reports from numerous sources are giving conflicting reports in this afternoons episode.

Apparently, a person matching the description of  the murder suspect had broken into an occupied cabin and had taken at least one person hostage. At some point, a hostage managed to escape and alert authorities. As a result, a pursuit and at least two separate exchanges of gunfire occurred with two LE officers being shot.

The suspect is reported to be holed up in another cabin. I am not sure of any of the above info, but that is what is believed to be going on. I just want it to be over and I want the wounded officers to be ok. After that, I want the suspect to be taken alive, I want the piece of shit to answer for what he did.

I'll keep you posted.

UPDATE: CNN and Fox news are carrying this live.

Schmoe

His Name Was Michael,

Michael Crain. RPD opted to release his name to the public yesterday, despite his murderer not yet being apprehended.

Officer Michael Crain

 EOW 2/7/2013

RPD Photo

Michael Crain was  34 yrs. old at the time of his death and leaves behind his wife and his two children, ages 10 and 4. 

He had a pretty full career during his eleven years with the RPD, serving as a patrol officer, a FTO, an observer with the department's aviation unit, a member of the SWAT team, and a firearms instructor.

Prior to becoming a cop, he served in the Marine Corps, including deployments to Kuwait and time as an instructor in Military Operations in the Urban Environment.

Michael's funeral is to be held on Wednesday morning at Grove Community Church and will be interred at Riverside National Cemetery.  

What a tragic freaking loss. 

*******

A vigil honoring Michael was held at city hall late last week. It was arranged by the Mayor's office, reportedly after numerous requests to do so by city employees. The Saint I Am Married To and I both attended, we both felt the need to show support to Crain's family and to RPD.

The media got wind of the vigil and showed up in force. Sadly, when you see a fleet of little blue news vans, it usually isn't good news.

  

 The mayor kind of led things, along with an RPD chaplain (who is also our chaplain and a retired RFD captain)

 Chaplain Steve Ballinger (left) and Mayor Rusty Bailey.

The vigil was well attended, with a broad spectrum of the community in attendance. In addition to showing support, I think a lot of us were just struggling to wrap our heads around the enormity of the tragedy.

After the vigil had broken down into smaller groups, the Police Chief and the Mayor were in high demand for on camera interviews.

City of Riverside Police Chief Sergio Diaz

 

   City of Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey (left)

Though it was a somber gathering, it was good to see the support for Michael Crain and the department. Hopefully, it was an important step in the healing process, for Michael's family, friends and coworkers and for the city as a whole.

 *****

Also shot on that horrible night was a Riverside police officer trainee. The department is still not releasing his name as there is still concern for his safety as long as the suspect remains at large. He is reported to be in stable condition after being shot numerous times. Apparently, Officer Crain was acting as the wounded officer's FTO when both were ambushed as they were stopped at a traffic signal.  The wounded officer underwent emergency surgery immediately after being wounded and will require additional surgeries as he recovers. Godspeed to him as he recovers from his injuries.

*****

The suspect in all of this mess has vanished into thin air. His burned-out pick-up truck up truck was found on Thursday afternoon on a fire road in the San Bernardino National Forest, near Big Bear Ca. An extensive man hunt has been going on in the area since then to no avail. Law enforcement throughout SoCal are nervous as a cat on this, who can blame them. Police facilities throughout the area have increased security as a result. Downtown Riverside looked like an armed camp on Friday as officers equipped with long guns were posted around the courthouse, RPD headquarters and the District Attorney's  office. I hope they get this guy quickly, before anybody else gets hurt.

*****

The services are on Thursday. I have not yet determined whether I will drag out the Class-A an attend as a mourner, or whether I will drag out the Canon and attend as a photographer. Either way, my heart, as well as several thousand other attendees will be heavy with loss.

As the suspect is still out there, security at this funeral will be very tight, maybe even oppressive. It's too bad that the Michael Crain's family and friends  will be forced to mourn under the blanket of fear., they have enough on their minds.

Thanks for reading,
Schmoe