What a Sad Waste of a Life

[Jeff Higgins]

In the form of a Washington State Patrol trooper who essentially, it appears, lost his life over a can of lighter fluid:

https://komonews.com/news/local/state-trooper-struck-by-motorist-airlifted-to-hospital

CHEHALIS, Wash. — A Washington State Patrol trooper was struck and killed by a driver fleeing from police Tuesday afternoon on I-5 in Chehalis.

Trooper Justin Schaffer, 28, was deploying spike strips during the chase when he was hit and killed by the suspect's truck, according to Trooper Will Finn. Schaffer leaves behind his wife, mother and father.

Authorities said police had been looking for the driver, a 39-year-old theft and assault suspect, since Monday afternoon. He was accused of stealing lighter fluid from the Pacific Mini Mart around 2:45 p.m.

Then on Tuesday, Thurston County deputies spotted the truck on I-5 near Maytown and began a chase on the southbound lanes.

I hope there is more to this story, that they didn't really engage in a chase like this over the theft of a can of lighter fluid. Washington, I believe, has a "do not pursue" law which stipulates unless it is someone suspected of a heinous crime, or armed and presenting a present threat to the community, that they call off any chase once it becomes a hazard to the public at large. I don't believe stealing lighter fluid qualifies as a "need to chase" level of offense.

Sometimes our LEO appear to be their own worst enemies. Laying spike strips is acknowledged as one of the very most dangerous things they do. One would hope they would reserve the practice for only the most dire of emergencies. This just doesn't seem like one. To risk, and subsequently lose this young man's life like this appears to me to be inexcusable.

[LakeCleElum]

Jeff - No disagreeing with you at all, but I think the rest of the story is: When confronted by a store employee and a citizen, he pulled either a Stun gun or real gun (not sure which). That elevated the crime to a robbery.

Seems it wasn't much more than a year ago that a Kent PD officer was killed while deploying spike strips also.....Very sad indeed.....RIP Justin.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I hope there is more to this story, that they didn't really engage in a chase like this over the theft of a can of lighter fluid. Washington, I believe, has a "do not pursue" law which stipulates unless it is someone suspected of a heinous crime, or armed and presenting a present threat to the community, that they call off any chase once it becomes a hazard to the public at large. I don't believe stealing lighter fluid qualifies as a "need to chase" level of offense.

I am betting there is more to the story, and likely pertaining more to the "assault" than the petty theft. Policing dynamics are often different in small towns as well, and smaller crimes can rise to a higher priority level than they would in large/metro areas.

Also, IIRC, there is "guidance" WRT to police pursuits in WA, but no laws. Individual agencies still set their own pursuit policy.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Jeff - No disagreeing with you at all, but I think the rest of the story is: When confronted by a store employee and a citizen, he pulled either a Stun gun or real gun (not sure which). That elevated the crime to a robbery.

Glad you posted that.

My FLAPS counter people are instructed not to even approach someone who they observe stealing. Surely for the same reason as what you posted.

[stevej37]

We had a local trooper die when hit by the suspect while laying spike strips a couple years ago.
Dangerous job for the Trooper...especially with a crazy person running for their life.


On the flip side...we had this guy (suspected of killing his girlfriend) about the same time running for his life with a gun.
The trooper should have got a medal for his actions.

[flipper35]

Steve, he should be careful, you can bust a headlight doing that.

[brp914]

CA voter passed prop47 for early release of low level property crimes. LA has also decriminalized thefts <$1000. Police won't show up. Result: homeless ex-cons have open-air markets of stolen goods in view of city hall.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Jeff - No disagreeing with you at all, but I think the rest of the story is: When confronted by a store employee and a citizen, he pulled either a Stun gun or real gun (not sure which). That elevated the crime to a robbery.

I guess it's still "armed robbery", even if it's a stun gun. The article says it was, but I'm not sure they knew that before they apprehended him. So, yes, he was probably considered "armed and dangerous", which even under the strictest departmental guidelines I suspect would allow them to pursue.

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Seems it wasn't much more than a year ago that a Kent PD officer was killed while deploying spike strips also.....Very sad indeed.....RIP Justin.

Yes, I remember that story as well.

Terribly sad in both cases. Maybe it's time to take a hard look at spike strip protocols. Never having done it nor having seen it done, I have to wonder why it is so dangerous. Or maybe why it is still in use in light of its dangers. I dunno - it just seems something is amiss if we have lost two young men in just about a year.

[flipper35]

They have to roll them out just before the pursuee gets there to make sure the right vehicle hits them.

[john walker's workshop]

Then they often swerve around them.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

Then they often swerve around them.

I think that must be how the cops are getting hit.

Sounds like a simple problem, but I bet it's not - they need a better way to deploy them. I think they just manually throw them out and unfurl them, which necessarily has them way too close to the road.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by stevej37

We had a local trooper die when hit by the suspect while laying spike strips a couple years ago.
Dangerous job for the Trooper...especially with a crazy person running for their life.


On the flip side...we had this guy (suspected of killing his girlfriend) about the same time running for his life with a gun.
The trooper should have got a medal for his actions.

When you say "suspected" I guess that's a case of trail by bumper.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I think that must be how the cops are getting hit.

Sounds like a simple problem, but I bet it's not - they need a better way to deploy them. I think they just manually throw them out and unfurl them, which necessarily has them way too close to the road.

There are remote-operated strips but they are quite a bit more expensive, and questionably as effective.

[Baz]

They should start blowing these fvks up with a grenade when they fail to stop and stop screwing around.

[rusnak]

Damn, that is some skilled driving by the PO in the video.

[RSBob]

My sincere condolences to the troopers family.

We have two WSP troopers on my wife’s side of the family and losses like this really suck.

[gsxrken]

I hope for his parents sake there is waaay more to this story. That’s no way to lose a son. No way at all.

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by Zeke

When you say "suspected" I guess that's a case of trail by bumper.

I think the guy shooting at the troopers when he ran would justify bumper force regardless of any other suspected activity.

[stevej37]

^^^ He has a cigarette hanging from his mouth during the whole shooting.
I'll bet he lost it when he met the bumper.

[IROC]

We had a crazy one here in Knoxville the other day. A guy and his fiance were have a fight. As they drove through a neighborhood, she (fearing physical abuse) jumped out of his truck and ran up to the closest house to ask for help. The guy drove his truck up through the yard and tried to run her over as she stood at the front door. His truck crashed through the front of the house. He then proceeded to get out of his truck and shot both of the occupants of the house (one of the occupants had just retired from where I work).

Crazy.