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07-06-08, 10:54 PM
:mad: Did anyone else hear about the Chicago Police officer that was shot with his own gun?
Full Article: ( i know its long )
A Chicago Police officer responding to a disturbance outside a CTA bus was killed early today when he struggled with a mentally ill woman who grabbed his gun and shot him in the head across the street from a North Side police station, authorities said.
Officers who arrived to back up Officer Richard Francis opened fire on the woman, critically injuring her, police said.
Francis — a 60-year-old Vietnam War combat veteran — is the first Chicago police officer shot to death in the line of duty since 2002. He is survived by a wife and two stepdaughters.
The last Chicago officer shot to death in the line of duty was Jefferson Park Officer Donald Marquez, killed in March 2002 while serving a warrant on a 77-year-old man.
Francis, a 27-year police veteran, was alone on patrol in a squad car when a CTA bus driver flagged him down.
The CTA driver was worried about a woman at a bus stop who became verbally abusive when the eastbound bus stopped on Belmont to let passengers out.
The driver did not open the doors and honked the horn to flag down Francis, who stopped to help, Belmont District Cmdr. John Kenny said.
The woman struggled with Francis and grabbed his revolver, shooting him once. She was shot after threatening the officers who responded to Francis’ call for backup, police said.
Both Francis and the unidentified woman were taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center. He was pronounced dead at 2:57 a.m.
Officers saluted as an ambulance took Francis’ body to the morgue.
At least 15 squad cars parked in a line near the morgue and the officers got out when the ambulance arrived.
They solemnly removed their hats and saluted the ambulance. Then they got back into their cars and drove away in single file.
Francis’ partner was among the officers who arrived at the medical examiner’s office.
Mayor Daley said Francis’ death is a “sad reminder of how much gratitude we owe to the men and women of the Chicago Police Department.”
“It's a tragic loss for his family. It’s a terrible loss for the Chicago Police Department,” police Supt. Jody Weis said outside the hospital. “It's a stark reminder of what the dangers that the officers of this department face every day.”
Police believe the woman who shot Francis is homeless. Officers said they’ve seen her sleeping in chairs in the station.
“The only thing I can say, she did have mental problems,” Deputy Chief Al Wynsinger said.
Police have not released the name of the woman. They said she did not appear to have an arrest record.
Normally, Francis worked in a squadrol — the wagons used to transport groups of people under arrest.
But his regular partner was off, so he decided to work in a squad car, Kenny said.
Sources said they did not think Francis’ holster was an issue. He used a current model “safety” holster, they said.
Francis lived in the Union Ridge neighborhood on the Northwest Side for almost a decade.
Red, white and blue bows decorated the railing of his home this morning. Small American flags were planted in a front garden and a pinwheel whirled in the breeze.
“He’s been a great neighbor,” Susan Fracek said. “He was a wonderful guy.”
I personally find this ridiculous...For one HES 60 YEARS OLD and doesnt have a partner during the night time hours...I read about this in the news paper and people were writing in COMPLAINING that if he didnt have a gun it wouldve never happened. I dont see why people try for gun control. For one you can never take away guns from the Police...There will ALWAYS be guns...Knives too! I know officers that have been saved from knives because they took out their guns and the suspect stopped...This is just sad.
I know i wont ever forget this officer...
Just goes to show that the saying "There is a gun on every call you go to" is so true...
Full Article: ( i know its long )
A Chicago Police officer responding to a disturbance outside a CTA bus was killed early today when he struggled with a mentally ill woman who grabbed his gun and shot him in the head across the street from a North Side police station, authorities said.
Officers who arrived to back up Officer Richard Francis opened fire on the woman, critically injuring her, police said.
Francis — a 60-year-old Vietnam War combat veteran — is the first Chicago police officer shot to death in the line of duty since 2002. He is survived by a wife and two stepdaughters.
The last Chicago officer shot to death in the line of duty was Jefferson Park Officer Donald Marquez, killed in March 2002 while serving a warrant on a 77-year-old man.
Francis, a 27-year police veteran, was alone on patrol in a squad car when a CTA bus driver flagged him down.
The CTA driver was worried about a woman at a bus stop who became verbally abusive when the eastbound bus stopped on Belmont to let passengers out.
The driver did not open the doors and honked the horn to flag down Francis, who stopped to help, Belmont District Cmdr. John Kenny said.
The woman struggled with Francis and grabbed his revolver, shooting him once. She was shot after threatening the officers who responded to Francis’ call for backup, police said.
Both Francis and the unidentified woman were taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center. He was pronounced dead at 2:57 a.m.
Officers saluted as an ambulance took Francis’ body to the morgue.
At least 15 squad cars parked in a line near the morgue and the officers got out when the ambulance arrived.
They solemnly removed their hats and saluted the ambulance. Then they got back into their cars and drove away in single file.
Francis’ partner was among the officers who arrived at the medical examiner’s office.
Mayor Daley said Francis’ death is a “sad reminder of how much gratitude we owe to the men and women of the Chicago Police Department.”
“It's a tragic loss for his family. It’s a terrible loss for the Chicago Police Department,” police Supt. Jody Weis said outside the hospital. “It's a stark reminder of what the dangers that the officers of this department face every day.”
Police believe the woman who shot Francis is homeless. Officers said they’ve seen her sleeping in chairs in the station.
“The only thing I can say, she did have mental problems,” Deputy Chief Al Wynsinger said.
Police have not released the name of the woman. They said she did not appear to have an arrest record.
Normally, Francis worked in a squadrol — the wagons used to transport groups of people under arrest.
But his regular partner was off, so he decided to work in a squad car, Kenny said.
Sources said they did not think Francis’ holster was an issue. He used a current model “safety” holster, they said.
Francis lived in the Union Ridge neighborhood on the Northwest Side for almost a decade.
Red, white and blue bows decorated the railing of his home this morning. Small American flags were planted in a front garden and a pinwheel whirled in the breeze.
“He’s been a great neighbor,” Susan Fracek said. “He was a wonderful guy.”
I personally find this ridiculous...For one HES 60 YEARS OLD and doesnt have a partner during the night time hours...I read about this in the news paper and people were writing in COMPLAINING that if he didnt have a gun it wouldve never happened. I dont see why people try for gun control. For one you can never take away guns from the Police...There will ALWAYS be guns...Knives too! I know officers that have been saved from knives because they took out their guns and the suspect stopped...This is just sad.
I know i wont ever forget this officer...
Just goes to show that the saying "There is a gun on every call you go to" is so true...