Fairfax County Police Watch: February 2017

Police: No credible threat to Fairfax Co. officer in fatal shooting

By Dick UlianoFebruary 27, 2017 4:35 am

WASHINGTON — Last month Fairfax County police fatally shot a man outside his Herndon, Virginia, home. Police say the man shot and wounded his two brothers, held a hostage and set the house on fire. The officer involved in the Jan. 16 fatal shooting, who is on paid administrative leave, has been battling in court to keep his name from being made public.

The veteran officer won a judge’s order to keep his name from being released, arguing that to do so would endanger him and his family. But Fairfax County Police Chief Ed Roessler announced late last week that no credible threat has been found to the officer.

Roessler is expected to meet with the officer early this week and the chief must provide the court the results of the threat assessment.

Because of controversy surrounding past police shootings in Fairfax, it’s become county policy to release names of officers involved in fatal shootings within 10 days, unless it poses a threat to the officer’s safety.

The officer’s lawyers could further petition to the federal judge in the Eastern District of Virginia to keep his name from being made public.

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Once again, did anyone check to see if the weasel was drunk driving?

Fairfax County Police Officer put on restricted duty following crash

Officer hit van while driving above the speed with his emergency lights off

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - A police officer in Fairfax County was put on restricted duty Wednesday following a crash in Falls Church involving another driver.

The officer was driving westbound on Leesburg Pike, approaching Patrick Henry Drive, when he collided with a van that was traveling eastbound on Leesburg Pike and tried to make a left turn onto Patrick Henry Drive, in front of the marked cruiser.

An investigation revealed that the officer was driving above the speed limit without his emergency lights activated at the time of the crash.

The officer is currently on restricted duty pending the outcome of two parallel investigations -- one administrative and one criminal.

The victim of the crash was transported to a local hospital, where he remains.

Exposure of the Day Australian Woman Flashes Google Street View Car

Fairfax County hires toothless dragon as window dressing

The cops are not required to give this poor dupe the time of day. Remember, the issue here is not following the rules, the issue is a corrupt cop culture that does what it damn well wants when it damn well want too.

Fairfax County Names First Independent Police Auditor

Richard G. Schott, a 27-year veteran of the FBI, was appointed by the Board of Supervisors to be Fairfax County’s first-ever independent police auditor. Photo courtesy of Fairfax County

By Tim Peterson

Monday, February 20, 2017

Richard G. Schott, a 27-year veteran of the FBI, was appointed by the Board of Supervisors to be Fairfax County’s first-ever independent police auditor.

The announcement of Schott’s hiring came at the board’s Feb. 14 meeting. As auditor, Schott will report directly to the board and have numerous oversight responsibilities. Among them, Fairfax County said:

Monitoring and reviewing internal investigations of Police Department officer-involved shootings, in-custody deaths and use-of-force cases in which an individual is killed or seriously injured.

Requesting further investigations if he determines that an internal investigation was deficient or conclusions were not supported by the evidence.

Issuing public reports for each reviewed internal investigation.

Reviewing all resident complaint investigations of alleged excessive or unnecessary force by officers.

Producing annual reports that analyze trends and recommend improvements.

Schott will start full-time, paid work April 17 this year — salary is set at $143,000 — joined by two assistants.

Creation of an independent auditor was a recommendation by the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission for increased oversight of Fairfax County Police.

Another was creation of a civilian review panel. The supervisors approved that body as well, set to be a nine-member group of volunteers who will review complaints of police misconduct or abuse of power.

During closed session Feb. 14, the board was scheduled to review applications and nominees for those positions. However no announcement was made following the closed-door meeting.

Board of Supervisors chairman Sharon Bulova said she was pleased to welcome Schott as the first auditor.

“In this newly established position, Mr. Schott will provide increased accountability and transparency to the Fairfax County Police Department,” Bulova said in a statement.

According to Fairfax County, Schott’s FBI career includes working as a special agent with local law enforcement and training state and local officers, “including legal issues associated with police officers’ use of force and deadly force.”

He also serves as an FBI Academy instructor at Quantico, the county said, teaching new agents about basic constitutional criminal procedure and legal consequences when they employ force.

Did anyone check to see if the cop was drunk or had been drinking?

Fairfax County Police Car Involved in Crash in Falls Church

By Sam Tabachnik

A Fairfax County Police car was involved in a crash in Falls Church on Saturday that left one person in the hospital.

The accident took place on Feb. 18 in the area of Route 7 and Patrick Henry Drive and involved another car, Fairfax County Police said in a tweet.

Police said the driver of the car was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries and the officer was not seriously injured.

The problem lies in what happens after this bad behavior

“The problem lies in what happens after this bad behavior and the problem is that citizens hear no apology, no asking for forgiveness, or pledge from police leaders that this won't happen again because we will fix it and improve. The silence is what's causing the tension and mistrust.”

Fairfax officer’s name remains under wraps after hearing delayed

The name of the Fairfax County cop who shot a man outside his home last month is still unknown.

U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis of the Eastern District of Virginia, postponed a hearing on releasing the officer’s name, delaying the announcement even further. The judge’s decision came after new evidence was presented in court Wednesday.

The evidence “must be carefully examined and investigated before the chief can ascertain whether there’s a credible threat to the officers safety,” court document said.

In 2016, the Fairfax County Police Department changed its policy on naming officer-involved shootings, vowing to release the name of officers involved in deadly shootings no later than 10 days after the fact.

It has been three weeks since the shooting.

Man files lawsuit against Fairfax Co. officer, county, for use of stun gun against him

FOX 5's Alexandra Limon reports.

FEB 10 2017 08:

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - In September 2015, an incident was captured on cellphone video that showed a police officer using a Taser on a man in Fairfax County. The man, who suffers from cerebral palsy, is suing for excessive force in this case.

It all started at a SunTrust Bank in the Rose Hill area of Franconia in Fairfax County. Elton Cansler took a pair of sunglasses from inside the bank and then took off. Police were then called. On the cellphone video, a responding officer uses his Taser on the man.

“His actions there – we are saying is excessive force,” said Cansler’s attorney, Maxwelle Sokol. “He has his hands up, the hands go on the hood of the car, he gets tased.”

Man files lawsuit against Fairfax Co. officer, county, for use of stun gun against him

The original lawsuit was filed this past December. In January, the police chief filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. This week, Cansler's attorneys have responded.

“On February 8th, we filed in opposition to that motion claiming that we in fact did allege enough facts to proceed,” Sokol said.

Cansler is suing Alan Hanks, the officer involved in the incident, as well as Fairfax County’s police chief and the county.

“They rubberstamped this and said this is totally compliant with our policies,” said Sokol. “So that is the basis for the county's liability – their after-the-fact ratification and endorsement of his actions.”

Officer Hanks was cleared of any wrongdoing days after the incident by the police department. The department released a detailed breakdown of the incident and it said in part that Cansler put his hands in his pockets and he had a knife. It also said he refused commands to put his hands behind his back and resisted arrest.

One of the witnesses who took the cell phone video said at the time after the 2015 incident, “The gentleman just happened to be walking down the sidewalk and the cop pulls up in front of him, tells him to turn over, and as soon as he has his back turned towards him, he tases him. He didn’t see it coming.”

Both sides are still waiting for a ruling on whether the lawsuit against the police department and the county can move forward. It may all be decided at a hearing scheduled in March. The lawsuit against the officer will likely continue because he has not filed a motion to dismiss it.

Separated at birth?

Yeah, that's lovely but what about the families of the victims the Fairfax County Police have killed? Where's their fundraiser?

Great Falls — A group in Great Falls raised over $5,000 for the organization Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) that supports the families of officers who have been killed on the job.

#For the last eight years, Bob Nelson, a realtor with Keller Williams Realty in Great Falls, has been organizing Military Appreciation Monday. The monthly fundraisers benefit military support organizations and groups. This latest fundraising effort was part of his new Law Appreciation Wednesday events, which will raise money for police officer support organizations and groups.

#Brix American Bistro on Seneca Road hosted the dinner on Wednesday, Jan. 25. As the host, the restaurant donates a portion of the evening’s sales during the event’s seatings. Raffle tickets are also sold for donated items.

#“One of the hardest jobs is being a cop,” says Ashwani Ahluwalia, the restaurant’s owner. “They put their lives on the line … big sacrifice.”

#The seating for the service was full. As people ate, an officer who patrols Great Falls spoke to the crowd.

#“I’m very proud to represent FCPD and the Reston Station in thanking this group for their support,” says 2nd Lt. Anthony Lampe of the FCPD’s Reston District Station. “Whenever a brush with life comes close, support means that much more.”

#Officer Lampe was referring to the shooting of one of his colleague’s marked police cars just three days before on Sunday, Jan. 22. The car was struck several times by gunfire in Great Falls, but fortunately the officer was not hit.

#This is the second of Nelson’s Law Appreciation Wednesday events. In December, the group raised $4,000 for HEROES, Inc. The organization assists the families of police officers within the D.C. region who have been killed on duty.

#“The hardest part about organizing this is finding groups that support cops,” Nelson says.

Ouy Vay! Its not about body cameras. Its about a punk attitude and a chief that needs to be fired

After policy set, Fairfax Co. police to test body-worn cameras

By Dick Uliano

FAIRFAX, Va. — Fairfax County police are expected to begin testing body-worn cameras later this year, after the police department completes — and the Board of Supervisors approves — a set of guidelines governing the use of the cameras.

Policy must still be nailed down on issues including how best to protect privacy; when cameras are to be turned on and off; when it’s appropriate to redact video and how long video should be retained.

“The goal is to start the pilot project as soon as possible. Whether that is July or sometime after Labor Day will depend on the work ahead,” said Chief Edwin Roessler with Fairfax County police.

The Board of Supervisors Public Safety Committee has set a mid-June deadline for final submission of body-worn camera policy. Once the policy is in place, police will conduct a pilot program with the cameras for 90 days or more.

“My intent is to have two vendors for the pilot project and test and evaluate at two different police district stations,” Roessler said, indicating that two different brands of body-worn cameras will be tested.

While Fairfax County began discussing body-worn cameras in 2014, the program has lagged behind others in the area.

All D.C. police officers are equipped with the cameras, about 900 are in use in Montgomery County and Arlington has a pilot program underway involving 25 officers and sheriff’s deputies. Prince George’s County police say they are implementing the first phase of their program during the first three months of this year.

“I don’t think it’s taking too long. I think the Board and staff are committed to this, and I think we’re doing it right,” said Fairfax County Executive Ed Long.

Fairfax has set aside about $1.9 million to evaluate and then launch its police body-worn camera program.

Morrogh finds cop he doesn’t love. In other news, hell freezes.

Probe of fatal police shooting goes to federal authorities

By Justin Jouvenal/Post

The Fairfax County prosecutor has turned over the investigation of a fatal police shooting of an unarmed Springfield man to federal authorities, citing complications with the five-month-old case.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Ray Morrogh said the U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Virginia has agreed to continue the probe into the death of 46-year-old John Geer, who was shot during a standoff with Fairfax County police in August. No one has been charged in the incident.

“There is a conflict of interest that has arisen in the case,” Morrogh said Thursday. “And there is a second potential conflict of interest that has arisen out of my office. . . . This is the prudent thing to do.”

Morrogh declined to describe the nature of the conflicts because the investigation is ongoing. The U.S. attorney’s office said Thursday that it could not confirm or deny any investigation or comment on pending investigations.

Police went to Geer’s Pebble Brook Court home on Aug. 29 because of a report of a domestic disturbance. Geer’s father, Don Geer, said his son was upset because his girlfriend, the mother of his two children, had decided to leave him.

John Geer had thrown his girlfriend’s belongings in the front yard. She called police and told them that Geer had a firearm. Police said they tried for about 50 minutes to persuade Geer to leave the home, but he refused.

Don Geer said he watched the climax of the encounter. He said that he could not hear what officers were saying to his son but that he saw him standing with empty hands resting on top of a screen door at the home’s entrance.

At some point, John Geer began to slowly lower his hands and an officer opened fire, hitting Geer in the chest, his father said. Geer retreated inside and closed the door. A SWAT team eventually entered the home and found Geer dead.

Don Geer said detectives later told him that his son did not have a gun on him at the time of the shooting but that there was a holstered handgun a couple of steps from the front door.

Don Geer said it appeared to him that the shooting was unjustified, but he was unsure what to make of the probe being turned over to federal authorities.

“I don’t know whether that’s good or bad — if I had a better idea of why they are doing it, I could form an opinion,” he said.

Geer and friends of his son have been critical of how long the investigation has taken, but Morrogh said police and prosecutors were working to explore all the evidence. He did not think federal prosecutors would have to start from scratch.

“No one wants these things to linger on,” Morrogh said.

Our ink will outlast his career

Under the reign of former Chief of Police Rhorer the Fairfax County Police arrested a man for not wearing clothes in his house while he made coffee, set up an eye doctor on a gambling charge and then used the SWAT team to kill him. An investigation into the charge that the Doctor’s primary clients were cops has never been investigated. The police gunned down an emotionally unstable man because cop who shot him wrongly assumed the man was trying to escape. He wasn’t. The cops also shot dead four other citizens under highly questionable circumstances. The department under Rhorer was sued multiple times by citizens. So did they fire Rhorer? Naw they promoted him. According to news reports Rhorer draws a salary of $191,168 per year as Deputy Fairfax County Executive as well as a concurrent pension from the Fairfax County police of $173000 per year.

Occupation by force

According to the most recent U.S. Census figures, nearly one in five Fairfax residents (17.5 percent) is of Asian descent while Hispanics make up nearly 16 percent of Fairfax’s overall population. Those numbers drop considerably when applied to the Fairfax County Police Department, where only 4.3 percent of officers are Asian and 4.1 percent Hispanic. White officers make up 84 percent of Fairfax County’s 1,360-member police department, significantly higher than the county’s general population (54 percent white). Almost 90% of the force lives outside the county.

The law is a gun, which if it misses a pigeon always kills a crow; if it does not strike the guilty, it hits some one else. As every crime creates a law, so in turn every law creates a crime. Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton

Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. Louis D. Brandeis, part of his dissent in the case "Olmstead v. United States", 277 U.S. 438, 485 (1928)