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COPS Crew Member Fatally Shot By Police While Filming in Omaha

posted 10 years ago by SeanLTX
11 replies | jump to latest

I'm not a fan of this show, but thought that others might be interested. The article seems to indicate that the suspect was holding an "airsoft" gun, and that only the police fired any shots (more than 30 rounds) :

http://www.omaha.com/news/crime/officials-cops-tv-show-crewman-dies-after-being-shot-during/article_a919c242-2d98-11e4-9cee-001a4bcf6878.html

Officials: 'Cops' TV show crew member dies after being shot during Wendy's robbery

Posted: Wednesday, August 27, 2014 1:17 am | Updated: 10:29 am, Wed Aug 27, 2014.

By Emerson Clarridge and Jay Withrow / World-Herald staff writers

A suspect was shot dead and a crew member with the “Cops” television show later died after the apparent disruption of a robbery Tuesday night at a Wendy’s restaurant in midtown Omaha, police said Wednesday morning.

More than 30 shots were fired, officials said. The fatal shots apparently were fired by an Omaha police officer. Officials said it appears the only shots fired came from police.

Officials said the robbery suspect apparently had an Airsoft gun, a type of gun that often looks like an actual firearm.

The victim was described as the crew member who holds the microphone. He was taken from the scene in extremely critical condition.

snip

[–] zilla7777 10 years ago

My condolences go out to that man's family and friends; I'm so sorry for their loss. I am a huge fan of the show.

[–] GrammarMatters 10 years ago

American police are out of control.

Way, WAY too often they pump dozens and dozens of rounds off at a suspect - and it might not be so bad if they could hit the broad side of a barn door. They usually miss about 80% of their shots.

And does anybody remember the, was it 71 bullets they fired into the pickup truck of the newspaper delivery women the morning they were HUNTING Christopher Dorner?

No other country would tolerate this sort of wild west type of shoot-em-up.

It's sad that an innocent was killed by the cops - but a TV show that, in a sense defends the police, by portraying them 99% of the time in a positive light is also to blame. So the producer who got shot is a teenie tiny bit to blame himself. He has been part of a TV show that is partially pro-cop propaganda.

[–] chrisjohnson-2 10 years ago

American police are out of control.

That may be true sometimes, not true all of the time. Most police use their firearms training correctly and do their best to follow procedures. Unfortunately, all too often cops are in situations where they have to make split second decisions, and sometimes they aren't the right ones. And as with any profession, there are bad apples wherever you go.

The bigger thing to consider here is that this is a tragedy that could have been avoided if this show didn't exist in the first place. Innocent people are caught in harm's way between police and criminals all the time. But if a show like this wasn't made, there wouldn't have been any cameraman, sound person, producers, etc. in harms' way. At the end of the day, the people doing this show are unnecessarily putting themselves in harm's way. Yes, I'm well aware of the fact that TV reporters get caught up in dangerous situations with their reporting all the time. But this show isn't a newscast, and not all newscasts have reporters putting themselves in harm's way all the time.

With this show, they're putting themselves in harm's way in every episode to make entertainment. There's a reason so many episodes of this show are in Las Vegas, southern California and Florida. Most larger cities, i.e. Chicago, New York, want nothing to do with this show because police work is not supposed to be entertainment.

I am not one to suggest this show be taken off the air, it's a free country, and I'm sure an imitator would take its place if it was taken off the air, but at the end of the day, this show is just a bad idea.

[–] TerraFirma69 10 years ago

Think it'll be featured in an episode soon?

...then whoa, differences...

[–] blash 10 years ago

Sure thing, they will show this as soon as possible. After all they show police brutality, too. Right?

How do you think they even get the ride alongs for years after years... This "documentary" is nothing more than promotion for law enforcment. I have yet to see a single episode where they show cops in a slightly bad light, at all.

I have seen every single episode of Cops because i still like the show but i think i am not the only one seeing how the episodes have just been
- African Americans getting arrested for drugs
or
- White Americans getting arrested for drunk driving, drugs or domestic violence

for the last couple of years. They basically removed anything involving real action a long time ago.

[–] FunkyWinkleBean 10 years ago

There was a guy that worked audio on cops that posted here under the name sound dude, hope it wasn't him.

[–] csweetleaf2 10 years ago

that is really sad to hear about a COPS crew member getting shot and killed while filming an episode of COPS, I grew up watching this show and it's really unfortunate that a crew member ends up getting killed, may he rest in peace and my thoughts and condolences will go out to his family and loved ones.

[–] CGlMDB 9 years ago

Anyone else surprised this has never happened before (that we know of)?
This show has been on forever, & those crews go through some pretty rough stuff. I remember years ago when one of the cruisers got hit by another car & they showed the cameraguy or soundguy with blood down the side of his face. Other than that, I don't remember ever seeing a crew member on camera unless they were in the background of what we were supposed to be watching.

[–] Charlie_Foxtrot_Company 9 years ago

does anybody remember the, was it 71 bullets they fired into the pickup truck of the newspaper delivery women the morning they were HUNTING Christopher Dorner

It was like a 102 bullets. Sorry but I thought this was ****ing hilarious xD They both survived so I don't feel bad about finding it humorous. And they got millions of dollars.

Back to the topic, yeah that is very tragic and I don't even remember any special tribute or memorial they have done for him in the end credits like they have done for other officers in the past.

To the above post, yes this is actually surprising that's the first time this has happened in the show's 25 years. There was one episode though were the camera guy had to put the camera down and help an officer being overwhelmed by a guy high on meth.

[–] gc18 7 years ago

Actually there have been several it just doesn't always make it to the news or able to be aired in TV

In Houston in 1991, an overeager officer and inexperienced camera crew found themselves in trouble. The officer chasing someone lost his radio almost had a heart attack and the camera Op got busted in the face with a 2x4.

In Denver a car with camera crew was T-Boned by another police car.

In Portland a car they were riding in was hit by a wrong way driver.

In Virginia Beach a camera op cought some buckshot from a shotgun

[–] haroldbaines 7 years ago

I'm surprised after 29 seasons this is the first time a crew member has been hurt. You'd think with all the stuff they're there for someone would have been hurt in some way - punched or tackled or shot at. These guys are right in the thick of things and they're the ones who are not armed.