Police officers often get a bad rap. Was this a senseless murder?

2015-09-15T23:20:44-04:00

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3235649/Kentucky-trooper-31-trying-organize-hotel-room-disqualified-driver-pulled-middle-night-man-shot-dead.html

Kentucky cop, 31, was trying to help the man who shot him dead

Trooper Joseph Cameron Ponder, 31, was trying help Joseph Thomas Johnson-Shanks, 25, when he was fatally shot along Interstate 24 in Kentucky on Sunday night, police said.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2015 12:19 AM

2015-09-16T00:19:07-04:00

Stop the madness. Crying damn shame! Article just got me so ticked off! Thanks for the blood pressure check though.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Sep 16 at 2015 1:34 AM

2015-09-16T01:34:44-04:00

Most murders are senseless, so yes.

Response by SSgt David Tedrow made Sep 16 at 2015 2:42 AM

2015-09-16T02:42:01-04:00

Of course it was a senseless murder, what murder is not senseless?

Response by SGM Gregory Hoppe made Sep 17 at 2015 5:55 PM

2015-09-17T17:55:50-04:00

All is murder senseless. There are 5% out there who are just fundamentally warped and morally corrupted who do not deserve the privileges extended by the Constitution of the United States and yet they are still given to them. My only hope as a retired law enforcement officer is: 1. that the suspect in this senseless murder is of the mind that he will not be taken alive ala Sheriff Grady Judd of Fl who when asked after his deputies shot a cop killer, 88 times when found "Why did they stop shooting?"he said "They ran out of bullets": 2. will never be taken alive: 2. Prefers suicide by cop in lieu judgement by a jury of his peers. This would be a great savings as we would not have to try, confine, or waste appellate courts time. Of course the lawyers out there would be deprived of the income derived for representing this portion of the 5%.

Response by SFC Kenneth Highland made Oct 14 at 2015 12:35 PM

2015-10-14T12:35:08-04:00

Very senseless, 2 families having to endure this tragedy,
1. The trooper was trying to help the violator find a safe place until a ride could show up.
2. The violator then engaged more law enforcement in a gun battle.
3. The video of Trooper Ponder last radio traffic is on YouTube

I have always made it my policy that when I stop a violator for a traffic offense and they are suspended, revoked or habitual offender, the first the question I ask is "Who do you want to come tow your vehicle", if they have no preference I call the next available wrecker. Yes its harsh but I have seen way too many good intentions by LEO's come back and bite them in the ass. Criminals are stupid, if you are suspended then don't at 110 mph down the highway, you will only get attention from the last person a suspended driver wants to deal with. I work a rural county, no hotels/motels, no bars and only 14,000 residents but I catch suspended/revoke/habitual drivers all the time.

Response by CPO Craig Sawicky made Apr 16 at 2022 3:51 PM

2022-04-16T15:51:27-04:00

MURDER by definition, Requires Prior Intent. Besides Driving with a Suspended License, then Fleeing, what else was involved? IF nothing else it was certainly Senseless, except possibly by the most rabid Anti-Police.. That the Perpetrator Shot an Officer Implies there Was More to it. WHY the Initial Stop, Unless the Trooper Recognized him from previous issues?

Response by LTC Ray Buenteo made Apr 16 at 2022 4:18 PM

2022-04-16T16:18:12-04:00

Murder is senseless.