Seattle cop held in Sturgis Rally shooting
Sunday, August 10, 2008 10:08 AM PDT
By The Associated Press
Printable version
E-mail this articleSTURGIS, S.D. — An off-duty Seattle police officer has been detained after a member of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang was shot and wounded during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.
It happened about 1 a.m. Saturday in the Loud American Roadhouse — a bar along Sturgis’ main street. Police say there was a confrontation between members of the Hells Angels and the Iron Pigs, a motorcycle group made up of law-enforcement officers.
Sturgis police say two gunshots were fired. The Seattle officer was not identified.
Seattle police say they were notified of the incident, and that four other Seattle officers were apparently also present during the shooting.
All five officers were relieved of duty pending an investigation by South Dakota authorities, Seattle police spokesman Sean Whitcomb said.
Whitcomb says Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske sent a team of investigators to Sturgis to gather information.
The Sturgis rally officially ends Sunday.
beermanyoder wrote on Aug 10, 2008 11:02 AM:
" the iron pigs...sounds like they are no better than the hells angels...all a bunch of whimps that have to fight in gangs because they cant fight one on one...what a bunch of BABIES "
PrideOfTheTideFlats wrote on Aug 10, 2008 11:35 AM:
" It is interesting how the article refers to the Hells Angels as a gang and the Iron Pigs as a group. C'mon guys, a rose is a rose. It is gang related violence. Geez... very much two rival gangs. "
Kelso Gringo wrote on Aug 10, 2008 12:00 PM:
" That was a stupid move. Not only will he lose his law enforcement career, I suspect he will have to deal with retaliation. "
El Gabilon wrote on Aug 10, 2008 12:20 PM:
" There must be a better way to catch criminals than giving guns to police officers. Nationwide the number of killings by law enforcement has been on the increase. We cannot recall a single incident when a police officer captured an armed individual single handed by using martial arts techniques. Perhaps taking them out of vehicles and putting them on bicycles will help eliminate this problem. More and more incidents with the police are becoming "Rambo" break the door down incidents even when the situation is not warrented. Law Enforcement is charged with upholding the law, and this includes upholding it within their own ranks. We believe in civilian investigations. This incident appears to be no more than an incident between to rival gangs, with the exception that police officers are on duty 24 hours a day. Law Enforcement should understand the psychology of "The more authority exerts itself, the more the people resist". Law enforcement needs to rid itself of the Rambo hot heads and those who can think only in terms of firearms. "
TDN Bad Boy wrote on Aug 10, 2008 1:17 PM:
" I sure am glad El Gabilon doesn't rule the world. Sure let's take them out of cars. We'll do that just as soon as you bad guys ride bikes instead of driving cars. Like any other profession there are good cops, there are medicore ones, and, yes, unfortunately there are bad ones. I want my cops to be aggressive. As soon they aren't, we usually wind up reading about their funeral. I wish all you Liberal hug-a-criminal types had to spend one day in the real world. Liberals are truly amazingly brainless, spineless twits. This guy was wrong, but to paint his whole profession just because of him is completely ignorant. "
bluE wrote on Aug 10, 2008 1:25 PM:
" i am not with the pigs or the savages, they are all the same..... someone once said "show me a government that does not infringe on anyones rights and i shall no longer call myself an anarchist."
our society needs to evolve to a level where we can rid the streets of the parasites and learn to live in peace with one another. we do this not with guns dogmas and walls, but with community, compassion, free schools, food, health care, sustainable development so no one has to be without.... i guess im getting off topic, but there has to be solutions for this kind of behavior... "
our society needs to evolve to a level where we can rid the streets of the parasites and learn to live in peace with one another. we do this not with guns dogmas and walls, but with community, compassion, free schools, food, health care, sustainable development so no one has to be without.... i guess im getting off topic, but there has to be solutions for this kind of behavior... "
KelsoLesbian wrote on Aug 10, 2008 3:05 PM:
" It's unfortunate that the press propagates the idea that the Iron Pigs are somehow less of a gang by using the word "group". "
mclovin it wrote on Aug 10, 2008 5:51 PM:
" Does this really surprise anybody? I consider myself a law abiding citizen and really would rather not live next to a cop or a biker, if I had to choose I'd probably pick the Hells Angel. At least when he did something he might be held accountable unlike most cops. I think the newer generation of lawmen are becoming a bunch of thugs who forget that they serve the public and are suppose to protect and not harm people without a very good reason. This cop should have been more of a man and walked away, ran away or done it old school with his fist as a last resort. Another proud day for are men and women in blue. "
2 cents wrote on Aug 10, 2008 5:58 PM:
" El Gabilon - Sometimes you sound pretty intelligent, but today is not one of those days. Perhaps you never hear of police officers single-handedly capturing armed individuals using martial arts is because the attempt is much more likely to wind up in the obituaries (for the officer.) The expression "don't bring a knife to a gun fight" is often used, but you would apparently have the officers go one step further (read: dumber) and take on the armed subject with no weapons. One of the real reasons why there are more police shootings has to do with the increasing number of people under the influence of drugs, methamphetamine in particular. Meth tends to increase the level of paranoia in the user, and they are much more violent when under the influence. I personally know many police officers, and I can assure you, firearms are not their primary focus when apprehending someone. But when the situation warrants it, such as when dealing with armed subjects who refuse to surrender, firearms may be the most appropriate choice. Unrealistic views like yours are probably the biggest stumbling block to the creation of civilian review boards. Good luck finding anyone to take a police job if your view becomes a majority, they'll either be too smart to take the job or die unarmed dealing with armed subjects. "
2 cents wrote on Aug 10, 2008 6:03 PM:
" KelsoLesbian - The difference between motorcycle clubs or groups and motorcycle gangs (aka outlaw motorcycle gangs) has to do with their purpose. Gangs are a criminal enterprise, and the Hell's Angels have proven many times over the years to be in that category. There are numerous other groups who ride motorcycles that do not fall in that category. Typically, only 1% of bikers belong to criminal gangs, and many of those wear their 1% patch proudly on their jackets, which they have to earn by the way. By your definition, and others who posted before, I guess the Gold Wing Touring Association is a gang then. I'm sure their membership would be offended by this labeling. "
2 cents wrote on Aug 10, 2008 6:08 PM:
" One last comment about the article itself. It does not say anything about the circumstances involved in the shooting. Some of you have already assumed that the officer is at fault, and he may be, but this is only speculation at this point. It is possible that it was self-defense as well. Wait to see what the actual investigation reveals before jumping to conclusions. "
rest of the story wrote on Aug 10, 2008 6:44 PM:
" El Gabilon..Seriously!!....you watch to many Steven Segal movies....take some deep breaths and go back to your happy place. The Hells Angels are very aware that the Iron Pigs are Law Enforcement. The Iron Pigs were minding their own business when confronted by the Hells Angels. The rest you can read when the investigation is complete and details are released. "
TDN Bad Boy wrote on Aug 10, 2008 7:14 PM:
" I am really never amazed at some of the really dumb comments I read in here. El Gabilon, Blue and mclovin it, I really hope you are not hypocritical with the police if you ever need one. I hope you will tell them just how little you respect them or the work they do. Have a spine if you ever meet a bad guy who has a gun. Don't call a cop for help. Do it yourself, do it your way. But before you do, tell your loved ones how you want to be buried. "
justareader wrote on Aug 10, 2008 7:29 PM:
" I do believe you are all forgetting one thing.....there are good cops and bad cops. Let's not tar and feather all of them. I have ridden along with a big city police officer (actually 2 different ones) on several occasions. One was a total pig that was stern, severe and scared the people in his area. One was just a guy trying to do the best he could within the rules and laws given. One, and this was the one I liked, did his job well and the people in his area actually waved at him and seemed pleased to see him. This is the guy that people would stop and tell about possible wrongdoing so he could do something about it. The first one, people would avoid. You CAN have a "group"/"gang" and have one or two baddies in it and still have a bunch of really good people. Keeping an open mind does not make me a liberal, it makes me a rational, thinking person. My best to all of you. "
Piper wrote on Aug 10, 2008 10:49 PM:
" I know some fine cops. I also know when they get together the pack mentality takes over, just like other gangs or groups. Justareader, youre right. There are good ones and bad ones. I don't worship them - they do what they do because they like it, not "to risk their lives for the safety of others." "
reasonable1 wrote on Aug 10, 2008 10:51 PM:
" The early news reports I heard from SD included a local enforcement officer saying that it's against the law to take a weapon into an establishment that serves liquor. Period. Self defense, maybe, but if the Angels weren't armed . . . "
pinky wrote on Aug 11, 2008 11:51 AM:
" I am not surprised, I have personally been manhandled by a Seattle Police officer during Mardi Gras.... The cop lifted me off my feet with one hand under my armpit, he also left a nice bruise clearly in the shape of fingers and a hand. Damn, I shoulda got his name and reported that jerk! To this day, I refuse to celebrate any holiday in Seattle. "
MOLE wrote on Aug 11, 2008 5:51 PM:
" A STUPID CLUB FOR SMALL MEN,EVERYONE OF THOSE BIKERS ARE BUSH LEAGUE.2CENTS& TDN BADBOY,THOSE ARE THE MOST OUTLANDISH REMARKS EVER MADE!!!!IRON PIGS ARE PIGS NO MATTER HOW YOU SAY IT!!THAY ARE BAD FOR THE FORCE!!!! NO RESPECT IS DESERVED,HOODLUMS THE WHOLE BUNCH. "
1arealocal wrote on Aug 13, 2008 11:51 PM:
" MOLE- I have read many of your posts. Some are quite well written and some...well...You make a point to band all police officers that ride in a motorcycle club to be "hoodlums". What about the Patriot Riders? Also if you look closely at the Hell's Angels, Gypsy Joker, and Bandidos jackets they too reference themselves as an "MC" = motorcycle club the difference is that they have well established their place as a billion dollar criminal organization. Next thing you are going to say is unions should be banned because they represent the mafia. You should probably go educate yourself a little in this area. Grant, you may have had isolated bad experiences with bad officers, but they are isolated incidents and individuals only. "
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