Dodge City Police Officer a Suspect for Murder!

[Bubba]

This was posted in another thread, but I thought it deserved a thread of it's own.

My question is how can another state know that he is wanted for suspicion of murder when we didn't even know it in the city that it happened in. Not only that, but our local paper published an article in yesterday's paper that there was no new information to be told about the investigation. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't the fact that this police officer is wanted as a suspect and that he fled the area some new information???

ELBERT COUNTY – Authorities have learned a man who was arrested after an extensive chase on Friday is a suspect in a homicide investigation in another state.

The suspect has been identified as 33-year-old Christopher Tahah of Dodge City, Kan.

The incident started when the Colorado State Patrol began tracking a black 2004 Hummer H2 via the On Star Tracking system at about 8:55 a.m. The Hummer H2 had been reported stolen.

Troopers say the vehicle was traveling eastbound on I-70 at mile marker 332, just east of Deer Trail.

A Colorado State Patrol trooper first spotted the stolen SUV traveling eastbound on I-70 near mile marker 351, about 11 miles east of Agate.

The trooper waited for assistance and once a Lincoln County Deputy arrived, they made an initial stop at mile marker 352.

Troopers say the SUV came to a stop, but Tahah refused to get out of the stolen vehicle and then fled.

A chase ensued on the eastbound lanes of I-70 and troopers deployed a tire deflator at mile marker 358 which partially disabled the Hummer.

However, Tahah still would not stop and the chase continued.

Authorities deployed a second tire deflator at mile marker 362, just within Lincoln County, however, the Hummer avoided the deflator by driving onto the median and traveling onto the westbound lanes.

Troopers say the SUV came to a complete stop at mile marker 365, but Tahah again refused to get out of the Hummer and then sped off again.

State Patrol says the Hummer continued eastbound on I-70 into Kit Carson County where authorities attempted to use tire deflators two more times, but were unsuccessful in disabling the SUV.

The vehicle exited onto a nearby frontage road and traveled southbound on Kit Carson County Road 10.

Troopers say approximately found miles south of I-70, Tahah jumped out of the Hummer and tried to run away on foot.

Authorities say Tahah was arrested after a short pursuit.

Troopers say Tahah was transported to Kit Carson County jail and charged with first-degree motor vehicle theft, felony eluding and reckless driving.

After investigating, troopers discovered Tahah is a suspect in a homicide investigation being conducted by Dodge City authorities in Kansas.

No injuries resulted from the chase.



(Copyright KUSA*TV, All Rights Reserved)

source- http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=69883

[BroncoFan]

I wonder of DCPD is doing it's job of protecting one of its own due to innocent until proven guilty! If they would treat him like any other suspect, he would be DETAINED!

[Bubba]

This also bring to question the intelligence of the police officers that Dodge City hires.

The incident started when the Colorado State Patrol began tracking a black 2004 Hummer H2 via the On Star Tracking system at about 8:55 a.m. The Hummer H2 had been reported stolen.

How bright is a person that steals a GM vehicle with On Star? I know you don't have to have the brains of a rocket scientist to be a police officer, but damn, driving a stolen vehicle with On Star should land him in the stupid criminal list. Isn't there a TV show or something about the stupid things that criminals do?

[lurker]

His lawyer prolly will paint him as innocent and his running/eluding/endangering innocent motorists was simply to avoid the lynch mob here in Dodge.....

That's why we haven't been told about him.

[TexKan]

it's so easy to be critical. Your PD id suffering like you are. I talke the cops side - that's no secret but one bad cop does not reflect what your cops think. They are human just like you. I doubt if anyone is protecting him they would probably like to hang him as much as you do. They just aren't allowed to say it.

Let me make it clear I don't take the cops side that ran.........the cops that have to deal with this - that's the side I take. It's an embaresment to say the least.

[WizardofOz]

I would have to take the side of the police in the matter. Like TexKan said, they are human just like you. There are so many tests and internal affair procedures to weed out those that have the propensity to commit such acts. Regardless of what precautions are done with any organization, public or private, you will always end up with someone that just shocks the hell out of you with their actions. From Bundy being such a nice quiet neighbor, Kenneth Lay from Enron promising to ensure the employees have a secure future while ripping them off when not looking, to people pulling the stunts such as looting in Greensburg.

As far as the DCPD protecting their own or trying to cover something up, come on! This is a homicide investigation! They wouldn't make a wall of silence but instead keep away from him like the plague. If anything, it gives all the police across the nation a bad name not just in Dodge. I wouldn't doubt that the KBI took everything over just to avoid such allegations from the community. If you honestly think that the police in Dodge would cover for a murderer then you would need a reality check. Citizens demand justice and when it comes to someone that is supposed to be protecting and serving, no court is going to pity this officer if it goes to trial. In this case, perception is everything and you can be sure an example is made.

[BroncoFan]

Still, why are we being shielded from the information, but those in another state are told he is a suspect on the run?

[WizardofOz]

Without him actually standing over the victim with a smoking gun, blood on his hands, and surrounded by police the police would need to investigate from square one. No crime is higher on the scale than homicide meaning a defense attorney would fight it until no stone is left unturned or appeal left. Between collecting evidence, filing affidavits, having prosecutors review the case, a judge signing a warrant, then finding the person some time passes. As far as another state knowing about him being a suspect, my guess would be that some information turned up during the chase in Colorado. Personally if I was an officer chasing someone and finally caught the person, my question would be "why the hell are you running from me?" There is always some story behind a person's actions. Also if he was identified by a license or something and they found where he lived or came from, I would be calling that police department to find out everything I could about him.

As far as shielding people from the information, I can't think of anything more disruptive to a community than the police saying they had a fellow officer murder someone and is on the loose. Their phones would be lit up like a Christmas tree with citizens asking all sorts of questions preventing the honest and hard working officers from doing their job. If the allegations are true and he is charged, I would expect some sort of a press release so everything can at least be said at once rather than thousands of independent citizens taking low shots against the police integrity. J

[Bubba]

Let me be clear about what I mean when I say I question the DCPD's judgement on hiring people and protecting their own. I mean the people in charge making the decisions. I am sure there are many individual officers that feel it is an outrage that the info isn't being released as it should be, they are more than likely following orders. It is the people giving those orders that I have a problem with.

Originally Posted by WizardofOz

As far as shielding people from the information, I can't think of anything more disruptive to a community than the police saying they had a fellow officer murder someone and is on the loose. Their phones would be lit up like a Christmas tree with citizens asking all sorts of questions preventing the honest and hard working officers from doing their job.

I strongly disagree. If it would have been a normal citizen, and we were wanted for suspicion of murder, that picture and info would be all over the media asking for help from citizens to locate and call crimestoppers with any information. Also, it would probably be on Dodge City's most wanted website, but since it is an officer, I am sure that is a major reason that the people making the decisions are trying to hide it from the public. But the "most wanted" website is full of people that are wanted for no insurance, or driving while suspended, and transporting an open container. [sarcasm] Everybody knows those crimes are of much more importance than a person wanted for suspicion of murder. [/sarcasm]

That is the problem with governments on all levels. They try to keep to many secrets. We, the public, have the right to full disclosure. The government works for us, we don't work for the government.

[wordsmythe]

If you are a cop you should be held to a stronger degree of accountability.