We Lost Another One….
A violent night in Georgetown:
Georgetown police officer Chad Spicer was killed and another officer wounded Tuesday evening when they were shot as they chased three men wanted in a shooting near the McDonald’s restaurant on U.S. 113. Police had two suspects in custody and continued to search this morning for a third – Christopher Reeves, 20, of Lincoln, described as armed and dangerous.
[…]
Reeves’ last known address is in the 21000 block of West Mayhew Drive, Lincoln. Anyone having contact with him is asked to call Delaware State Police Troop 4 at 856-5850 or CrimeStoppers at (800) TIP-3333.Spicer was the first Georgetown police officer killed in the line of duty.
[..]
After the officers stopped the car [containing the suspects], three men bolted out of the car and began to run, firing one shot which struck Spicer, still in the car, killing him. Authorities said Cpl. Shawn Brittingham, who had gotten out of the car, was struck by bullet fragments in the neck.Both were taken to Beebe Medical Center in Lewes. Brittingham is in guarded but stable condition, Harris said.
[..]
Topping said Spicer has been with the Georgetown Police Department for about a year, and before that was an officer in Bridgeville. He declined to provide information about Spicer’s family.
We live in a violent society. Violence is everywhere. It is a solution to all problems, from domestic to political. Who is to blame? Everyone. Who is responsible for ending the cycle of violence? Everyone. Will it happen? Never.
God bless Officer Chad Spicer and his family. Keep his family and the Georgetown Police Department in your thoughts today.
As I understand it, the suspect at-large is on probation for felony gun charges. Why was this career criminal on the street?
Here is something from an incident last year – looks like him and his brother are both habituals
http://dsp.delaware.gov/pio/Barnett/041008Shooting.htm
Caller Rick…. I know nothing at this point on the suspect. I would point out though that if his only past conviction is felony gun charges, sentences for that are usually a minimal jail sentence (if at all) and then probation (unless you are in NYC). I don’t know if that makes you a career criminal, but killing a police officer certainly does.
I would also note the irony here. Many of our conservative commenters are also gun nuts, in that they favor unlimited and unregulated possession of guns pursuant to the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution. To them, there should be no felony gun charges, as having a gun on your person should be no more harmful than having a toothpick. Yet, callerRick calls him a career criminal because he had felony gun charges on his record. How very interesting.
a) there is no irony, the criminal has a record of assault with a firearm. not simply illegal possesion as you imply.
b) what cycle?
this isn’t the Hatfields and McCoys.
no one expects the Police to go seek revenge and kill one of the miscreants in jail or attack their families.
This is very sad news. Condolences to his friends, family and the Georgetown Police Department.
Yet, callerRick calls him a career criminal because he had felony gun charges on his record. How very interesting.
Actually, I read his complete bio on ‘delawareonline.com.’ He is a career criminal.
DD,
I’m not sure you want to go down the 2nd Amendment route. This is not the same thing. Common sense dictates that you don’t bring an assault rifle, handgun or what have you to a townhall meeting that HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GUNS OR GUN RIGHTS. Don’t give the loony bin extremist right wing nuts ammo for their crazy Socialists infringe on their gun rights argument and that Obama is secretely organizing a gestapo stuff…
These are career criminals that wanted to toe the line. It doesn’t have any bearing on the 2nd Amendment.
My younger sibling is a cop. Every time I read a story like this one, my heart breaks — at least in part because I know that one day it could be my brother’s name in the article (indeed, it very nearly was a few years ago).
I’m not going to debate Second Amendment issues with you on this one — instead I will simply offer my prayers for Officer Spicer and his wounded colleague, as well as their families and fellow officers. I hope you understand my sentiment that the perps should fry.
Agree with shortstuff on this one.
This is not a time to debate the second amendment. The officer left a three year old child behind, who is now in the care of her grandfather. This is an extremely sad and solemn time in Sussex County.
One bright spot in all of this happened today on WGMD radio during the Don Geronimo Show. Don had recently lost his wife to a tragic car accident and felt he related to the Spicer family’s tragic sudden loss and started a donation drive on his show, hoping to raise maybe $1000 during his three hour show through listener donations to match what was raised in the station.
He was absolutely humbled and left his show overwhelmed by the outpouring of pledges from the listeners and area businesses. Together they pledged $26,000 for the family of the officer.
It was a moving and touching show to listen to, and returned my faith in the humanity of a community who can work together to help his family.
Politics are staying on the shelf with this topic on my end. I don’t feel it is right, and in the meantime I am praying for him, his family, and for Officer Brittingham’s speedy recovery.
I am also praying for restraint when the final suspect is finally caught, because there is no need for revenge to add to the tragedies involved, and this suspect is not worth throwing away a career out of anger.
So up in Philly, the residents of one neighborhood where they can’t seem to stop shooting each other is upset because the cops are imposing a curfew on their neighborhood and questioning people who don’t seem to have a legitimate reason for hanging around on street corners waiting to shoot each other. But they’re also upset because the police can’t do anything about the violence. Now I’m not in favor of the jump out squads who seem to have extrajudicial authority to hassle anybody hanging out on a drug corner, but dude, seriously.
Whose idea was ‘The Great Society’ welfare state…LBJ or the KKK?
Stay on topic callerRick.
This is not a time to debate the second amendment. The officer left a three year old child behind, who is now in the care of her grandfather. This is an extremely sad and solemn time in Sussex County.
Agreed, unfortunately the folks here at DE liberal will never pass up an opportunity to exploit a tragedy in order to shit all over the 2nd Amendment.
All their 2nd Amendment talk is BS anyway, since these cop killers were.
1. under age 21
2. habitual offenders / prohibited persons
My condolences to Officer Spicer and his family. I wish Cpl. Brittingham a full and speedy recovery.