Officer Down

William
Coleman, Joe Arpaio Deputy, Killed On Duty

A deputy of Sheriff Joe Arpaio has been murdered in the line
of duty. Deputy William Coleman was
murdered by a suspect in two other murders. The suspect was killed by other deputies. The deceased deputy was fifty and had many
years experience. He and his partner
were approaching a van during a burglary call. The suspect jumped from the vehicle and began shooting a rifle at the
deputies. My condolences go to the
family of Deputy Coleman and to Sheriff Arpaio.

Burglary calls are often considered low priority calls. Many agencies don’t even bother to respond to
burglary alarms anymore. I think this is
a mistake. Agencies need to respond to any
type of call for service, barking dog, burglary alarm, UFO, tree limb in the
roadway or strange noises heard. Any of
these can lead to the discovery of a crime, an injury, an arrest or even an
officer involved shooting.

Every call should be handled as if there is the potential
for it to become a dangerous event. Only
after you clear the call can you know if there is no suspect present. Dispatch and police supervision can
prioritize calls so that the ones that seem the most important can be handled
first. Other calls can be handled in turn. Always be ready and never become complacent;
that’s what the SGT Says.