3 officers dead, another critical after 2 shootings in Oakla

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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nation ... 0985.story (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-police-shot-ca,0,6130985.story)

3 officers dead, another critical after 2 shootings in Oakland, Calif.; suspect also killed

By TERRY COLLINS and LISA LEFF | Associated Press Writers
9:04 AM EDT, March 22, 2009

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A police officer was battling for his life and three more were dead after a parolee with an "extensive criminal history" opened fire at a routine traffic stop and hours later gunned down members of a SWAT team searching for him.

The gunman was also killed Saturday, capping a day of violence that the Oakland Police Department said was the worst in its history. Never before had three police officers died in the line of duty on the same day.

"It's in these moments that words are extraordinarily inadequate," said Mayor Ron Dellums at a somber news conference Saturday night.

The mayhem began that afternoon, when two motorcycle patrol officers stopped a 1995 Buick sedan in east Oakland, Oakland police spokesman Jeff Thomason said. The driver opened fire, killing Sgt. Mark Dunakin, 40, and gravely wounding Officer John Hege, 41.

The gunman then fled on foot, police said, leading to an intense manhunt by dozens of Oakland police, California Highway Patrol officers and Alameda County sheriff deputies. Streets were roped off and an entire area of east Oakland closed to traffic.

About two hours later, officers got an anonymous tip that the gunman was inside a nearby apartment building.

A SWAT team had entered an apartment to clear and search it when the gunman shot them with an assault rifle, police said.

Sgt. Ervin Romans, 43, and Sgt. Daniel Sakai, 35, were killed and a third officer was grazed by a bullet, police said.

SWAT team members returned fire, killing 26-year-old Lovelle Mixon of Oakland, Acting Oakland police Chief Howard Jordan said.

Officer Hege suffered brain damage and may not survive, his father, Dr. John S. Hege, said late Saturday.

"It is a stunning thing to face," he said.

Grieving officers at the police station hugged and consoled each other. People left four bouquets of white roses under a granite memorial wall inside the building lobby that lists 47 officers killed in the line of duty. The wall shows the last officer killed in Oakland was in January of 1999.

Police said Mixon wielded two different weapons. One gun was used at the first scene and an assault rifle was used at the apartment building where he was hiding.

Jordan said Mixon had an "extensive criminal history" and was wanted on a no-bail warrant.

"(Mixon) was on parole and he had a warrant out for his arrest for violating that parole. And he was on parole for assault with a deadly weapon," said Oakland police Deputy Chief Jeffery Israel.

Police said they did not know exactly why the officers initially stopped the suspect, but said it apparently was a routine traffic stop.

People lingered at the scene of the first shooting. About 20 bystanders taunted police.

Tension between police and the community has risen steadily since the fatal shooting of unarmed 22-year-old Oscar Grant by a transit police officer at an Oakland train station on Jan. 1.

That former Bay Area Rapid Transit officer, Johannes Mehserle, has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday. Violent protests erupted on the streets of Oakland in the weeks after Grant's death, further inflaming tensions.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger planned to fly to Oakland on Sunday from Washington, D.C., to meet with police and Mayor Dellums, the govenor's office said.

"20 bystanders taunted police" hows that for supporting law enforcement? Unbelievable selfishness in this country these days. RIP brothers!

"20 bystanders taunted police" hows that for supporting law enforcement? Unbelievable selfishness in this country these days. RIP brothers!

Well it is Oakland California...what did you expect? Same thing if it was in Pompano, Uncorp. Ft. Laud., Deerfield, Dania....

RIP Brothers

4th officer is 10-7, sad day for all of law enforcement.

"20 bystanders taunted police" hows that for supporting law enforcement? Unbelievable selfishness in this country these days. RIP brothers!

Well it is Oakland California...what did you expect? Same thing if it was in Pompano, Uncorp. Ft. Laud., Deerfield, Dania....

RIP Brothers

The animals did the same thing to us in Ft Lauderale after a BSO Sgt shot at a murder suspect w/his AR15. They were chanting 'Fatta, Fatta".

Just goes to sow ya, A-Holes are in every ghetto.

3 officers dead, another critical after 2 shootings in Oakland, Calif.; suspect also killed

By TERRY COLLINS and LISA LEFF | Associated Press Writers
9:04 AM EDT, March 22, 2009

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A police officer was battling for his life and three more were dead after a parolee with an "extensive criminal history" opened fire at a routine traffic stop and hours later gunned down members of a SWAT team searching for him.

The gunman was also killed Saturday, capping a day of violence that the Oakland Police Department said was the worst in its history. Never before had three police officers died in the line of duty on the same day.

"It's in these moments that words are extraordinarily inadequate," said Mayor Ron Dellums at a somber news conference Saturday night.

The mayhem began that afternoon, when two motorcycle patrol officers stopped a 1995 Buick sedan in east Oakland, Oakland police spokesman Jeff Thomason said. The driver opened fire, killing Sgt. Mark Dunakin, 40, and gravely wounding Officer John Hege, 41.

The gunman then fled on foot, police said, leading to an intense manhunt by dozens of Oakland police, California Highway Patrol officers and Alameda County sheriff deputies. Streets were roped off and an entire area of east Oakland closed to traffic.

About two hours later, officers got an anonymous tip that the gunman was inside a nearby apartment building.

A SWAT team had entered an apartment to clear and search it when the gunman shot them with an assault rifle, police said.

Sgt. Ervin Romans, 43, and Sgt. Daniel Sakai, 35, were killed and a third officer was grazed by a bullet, police said.

SWAT team members returned fire, killing 26-year-old Lovelle Mixon of Oakland, Acting Oakland police Chief Howard Jordan said.

Officer Hege suffered brain damage and may not survive, his father, Dr. John S. Hege, said late Saturday.

"It is a stunning thing to face," he said.

Grieving officers at the police station hugged and consoled each other. People left four bouquets of white roses under a granite memorial wall inside the building lobby that lists 47 officers killed in the line of duty. The wall shows the last officer killed in Oakland was in January of 1999.

Police said Mixon wielded two different weapons. One gun was used at the first scene and an assault rifle was used at the apartment building where he was hiding.

Jordan said Mixon had an "extensive criminal history" and was wanted on a no-bail warrant.

"(Mixon) was on parole and he had a warrant out for his arrest for violating that parole. And he was on parole for assault with a deadly weapon," said Oakland police Deputy Chief Jeffery Israel.

Police said they did not know exactly why the officers initially stopped the suspect, but said it apparently was a routine traffic stop.

People lingered at the scene of the first shooting. About 20 bystanders taunted police.

Tension between police and the community has risen steadily since the fatal shooting of unarmed 22-year-old Oscar Grant by a transit police officer at an Oakland train station on Jan. 1.

That former Bay Area Rapid Transit officer, Johannes Mehserle, has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday. Violent protests erupted on the streets of Oakland in the weeks after Grant's death, further inflaming tensions.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger planned to fly to Oakland on Sunday from Washington, D.C., to meet with police and Mayor Dellums, the govenor's office said. You know, that could be here, motormen and SWAT...what did I say in Remember Reyka? There are people out there that can take you down at any given moment...or traffic stop...seasoned motormen...trained SWAT Members...gone, over a ROUNTINE TRAFFIC STOP....why can't we truly understand that the Bad Guys are in need of our attention, not each other bashing one another. These faithful 4 were outgunned and executed and were seasoned veterans just like Sgt. Chris Reyka. How many more would-be cop-killers are driving the streets of Oakland....or Pompano or Oakland Park??? Time to put the LIBERAL Attorneys out there in patrol cars, unarmed as 12's, and lets give them some insight on Criminal Rights..then send a message to Washington that once the thieves on Wall Street and half the Banks In America have been bailed out with OUR MONEY...how-about bailing out Law Enforcements needs for better equipment. Drive down any street and the vehicles windows are so darkly tinted a MAC 11 could be looking into your Routine Stop direction...thank a Liberal Attorney for that. Sgt. Reyka....your memory will always be with us and you were a HERO...the Pipes will be playing again, this time in Oakland for those who gave it their all.

How about making all criminal judges accountable for their decisions? You let them out on parole or bond, be ready to explain why...

How about making all criminal judges accountable for their decisions? You let them out on parole or bond, be ready to explain why... This guy was a product of the Judicial System...USA...Period...same with the burglar the PBSO Major last week terminated. We all know Judges are elected ( some appointments ) VOTE THEM OUT...how many bleeding heart LIBERALS are seated on the BENCH? You may not of liked, or cared for, former Judge Dan Futch aka " The Hanging Judge ". Dan Futch was a former FHP Trooper and Criminal Defense Attorneys gave Futch no awards, and they FEARED appearing before him with their clients...PERIOD.....Dan Futch packed a 357 Magnum under that black robe...and often could be seen through-out the courthouse wearing his tan FHP stetson....what have we got on the bench now???? Good things were said tonight at a meeting across town, about our Sheriff, by our Attorney General Bill McCollum...not to change the subject....but AG McCollum is a class-act, for the Top Attorney in the state.
If officer killings are not enough bad news....our County Commission is preparing once again to attack the Sheriff's budget...and it is this County Commission that has half their family members sitting on the County and Circuit Courts benches...which brings me back to the original statement, " How about making all criminal judges accountable for their decisions". Start with voting their family members out of the Broward County Commission.....BSO>>>your paycheck depends on it...it's not the Sheriff's fault...he's not one of THEM.

I guess what we need in this County to make us different is to either get more prosecuting Attorneys with ballz (or just more of them) and Judges that keep real thugs and threats to society incarcerated.
All of us in Broward know that our Judges are a bunch of Liberals that believe everyone can be re-habilitated. If a criminal hits a Cop, "hey it's there job". A scumbag steals money from the "Ronald Mcdonald donation box, "Prove to me he didn't own it!". Six "Afro-Americans" hide in a truck after breaking into a business claim they didn't come out because all the officers were white. "I only want you to write an essay on how you'll be more cautious next time".
Judges masterbating under their benches to magazines, and drinking until they shed their clothes in public hotels. What the H3LL is wrong with this County?
Broward is a complete joke, thanks to our Judicial system and the criminals know this. Why do you think they're moving up her?

I guess what we need in this County to make us different is to either get more prosecuting Attorneys with ballz (or just more of them) and Judges that keep real thugs and threats to society incarcerated.
All of us in Broward know that our Judges are a bunch of Liberals that believe everyone can be re-habilitated. If a criminal hits a Cop, "hey it's there job". A scumbag steals money from the "Ronald Mcdonald donation box, "Prove to me he didn't own it!". Six "Afro-Americans" hide in a truck after breaking into a business claim they didn't come out because all the officers were white. "I only want you to write an essay on how you'll be more cautious next time".
Judges masterbating under their benches to magazines, and drinking until they shed their clothes in public hotels. What the H3LL is wrong with this County?
Broward is a complete joke, thanks to our Judicial system and the criminals know this. Why do you think they're moving up here?

Mark my word! Sooner or later what happened in Oakland is going to happen in Broward County!We have Deputies that are afraid to do their jobs because we have a pussie administration that would rather see one of their Deputies dead than one of their precious dirtbags.

Mark my word! Sooner or later what happened in Oakland is going to happen in Broward County!We have Deputies that are afraid to do their jobs because we have a pussie administration that would rather see one of their Deputies dead than one of their precious dirtbags. Picket the Broward County Commissioners that are about to threaten the Sheriff on the budget...isn't it time David steps up to those uncircumcised philistine liberals and have the "stones" to bring down their "giant"..the DEMOCRATIC MACHINE by the name of " Caesar"...come on Dave..you've got it in ya...and stop this cycle of 'litigation" and intimidation and mediation and retaliation...my god.how many more tions are there????? There are more "black book".."red book" and "green book" entries within the ranks that even the guy heading up the IRS can't keep count...and we know what that's all about. Read the print...each Guest, lately, can see the fuse has been lit...it is only a matter of time...