KittyKitten
Nerdysillysweetspicysaucy
Philly Cop Fabricated Shooting Story
Ramsey: Cop Fabricated Shooting Story
21-Year Veteran Suspended With Intent To Dismiss
PHILADELPHIA - There were big, new developments Tuesday morning in the shooting of a Philadelphia police officer last month.
Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said that 46-year-old Sgt. Robert Ralston reported he was shot by a suspect on April 5, but an investigation has revealed the sergeant actually shot himself.
The 21-year veteran of the force has been suspended with intent to dismiss. In fact, Ramsey went so far as to say they're not only going to take his badge away but they're never going to re-issue that number again because Ralston "disgraced the badge."
Police said Ralston's story fully unraveled overnight when he came in for four hours of questioning.
Ralston – who had recently been transferred to the 19th District – was grazed in the shoulder in last month's incident.
Ralston claimed he was confronted by two males on train tracks near the intersection of 56th Street and Lancaster Avenue in West Philadelphia. He said one of the suspects pointed a gun at his head but he slapped it away, and the shot that went off struck him in the shoulder.
Ralston told investigators he fired back and believed he'd hit one of the two men. The Fraternal Order of Police even offered a $10,000 reward for information that might lead to an arrest in the shooting.
Ramsey said during Tuesday's 9 a.m. news conference, however, that the incident was completely fabricated. And one of the most troubling aspects was who Ralston blamed.
"The fact that he stated that two African-Americans were involved in this, again, just I think inflames tensions in our community, something that we certainly do not need," Ramsey said. "He was asked specifically why he did that. He said he did it because the 19th District is a predominantly an African-American district, and that's why he said it was two African-Americans. Fortunately, none of our officers stopped anyone or arrested anyone, I should say, as a result of this, but it could have led to a tragedy."
The nature of what really happened had been suspected since the first day in the hospital, when the sergeant first told his story to police investigators in the emergency room, Ramsey said.
But the turn in the case came when it was revealed that gunpowder residue on Ralston's uniform was the same kind of black powder the police use in their bullets.
That wasn't the only factor. There were a number of others, and nothing seemed to add up, Ramsey said.
Ralston, who became a sergeant in November 2007, has been investigated by the police department's Internal Affairs Bureau four other times and received prior suspensions ranging in length from one to five days, Fox 29's Dave Schratwieser reported.
Investigators believe Ralston's transfer to a new district was at least a part of the motive for his latest actions.
Ralston will not be criminally prosecuted, Ramsey said: "During the course of the investigation last night, in order for him to talk to us and tell us the truth, he was given a proffer, which pretty much granted him immunity from criminal prosecution but does not keep him from being charged administratively, which is what we're going to do."
The polcie commissioner said he did talk to Mayor Michael Nutter and agreed that they will total up the cost of the investigation -- from the crime scene unit to detectives to overtime -- and go after Ralston for those sums either administratively or civilly.
It was clear from the police commissioner's face and the tone of his voice at Tuesday's news conference that he was embarrassed by and disgusted with the incident, Schratwieser reported.
http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/news/local_news/Officer_Fabricated_Shooting_Police_Investigation_Shows_051110
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Of course he is not charged, they never charge cops. How many innocent men were harassed because of this nimrod? And you wonder why so many people hate the police!
Ramsey: Cop Fabricated Shooting Story
21-Year Veteran Suspended With Intent To Dismiss
PHILADELPHIA - There were big, new developments Tuesday morning in the shooting of a Philadelphia police officer last month.
Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said that 46-year-old Sgt. Robert Ralston reported he was shot by a suspect on April 5, but an investigation has revealed the sergeant actually shot himself.
The 21-year veteran of the force has been suspended with intent to dismiss. In fact, Ramsey went so far as to say they're not only going to take his badge away but they're never going to re-issue that number again because Ralston "disgraced the badge."
Police said Ralston's story fully unraveled overnight when he came in for four hours of questioning.
Ralston – who had recently been transferred to the 19th District – was grazed in the shoulder in last month's incident.
Ralston claimed he was confronted by two males on train tracks near the intersection of 56th Street and Lancaster Avenue in West Philadelphia. He said one of the suspects pointed a gun at his head but he slapped it away, and the shot that went off struck him in the shoulder.
Ralston told investigators he fired back and believed he'd hit one of the two men. The Fraternal Order of Police even offered a $10,000 reward for information that might lead to an arrest in the shooting.
Ramsey said during Tuesday's 9 a.m. news conference, however, that the incident was completely fabricated. And one of the most troubling aspects was who Ralston blamed.
"The fact that he stated that two African-Americans were involved in this, again, just I think inflames tensions in our community, something that we certainly do not need," Ramsey said. "He was asked specifically why he did that. He said he did it because the 19th District is a predominantly an African-American district, and that's why he said it was two African-Americans. Fortunately, none of our officers stopped anyone or arrested anyone, I should say, as a result of this, but it could have led to a tragedy."
The nature of what really happened had been suspected since the first day in the hospital, when the sergeant first told his story to police investigators in the emergency room, Ramsey said.
But the turn in the case came when it was revealed that gunpowder residue on Ralston's uniform was the same kind of black powder the police use in their bullets.
That wasn't the only factor. There were a number of others, and nothing seemed to add up, Ramsey said.
Ralston, who became a sergeant in November 2007, has been investigated by the police department's Internal Affairs Bureau four other times and received prior suspensions ranging in length from one to five days, Fox 29's Dave Schratwieser reported.
Investigators believe Ralston's transfer to a new district was at least a part of the motive for his latest actions.
Ralston will not be criminally prosecuted, Ramsey said: "During the course of the investigation last night, in order for him to talk to us and tell us the truth, he was given a proffer, which pretty much granted him immunity from criminal prosecution but does not keep him from being charged administratively, which is what we're going to do."
The polcie commissioner said he did talk to Mayor Michael Nutter and agreed that they will total up the cost of the investigation -- from the crime scene unit to detectives to overtime -- and go after Ralston for those sums either administratively or civilly.
It was clear from the police commissioner's face and the tone of his voice at Tuesday's news conference that he was embarrassed by and disgusted with the incident, Schratwieser reported.
http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/news/local_news/Officer_Fabricated_Shooting_Police_Investigation_Shows_051110
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Of course he is not charged, they never charge cops. How many innocent men were harassed because of this nimrod? And you wonder why so many people hate the police!
