Reader comments
Deputies shoot Utah County gunman

Anonymous | 2:01 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Another suicide by cop, very sad.

Surprised | 2:03 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

What a surprise - another man killed by cops. I wonder, were there any witnesses to his pointing a gun at them?

Anonymous | 2:12 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Are you kidding me "Surprised"? In this obvious suicide by cop you're still waving the conspiracy theory flag? Quit smelling your own farts for a minute and see the world for what it is. Is this a tragic situation? Yes. Did the cops do the right thing to protect themselves? Hell Yes.

Comments continue below

Eric | 2:13 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Every murdered person could witness that a gun was pointed at them. OH... sorry they can't witness anymore because they are now unable to speak..

Thankful | 2:22 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Instead of bashing on the officers involved in this terrible situation, maybe you should be thanking them for protecting YOU and YOUR FAMILIES! Anonymous and Surprised, I would like to see you put yourselves in the line of fire with an armed individual who had obvious mental issues. Definitely a terrible situation for all involved, but I for one am glad we have brave men and women willing to deal with these adverse situations so they don't impact our own families.

Anonymous | 2:24 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

You act as though the people had nothing better to do, spotted this guy and shot him. READ THE STORY, he called and fired off shots, he wanted confrontation.

anonymous | 2:29 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

This is ridiculous. Stop blaming cops for everything. I live in Vernal where a cop got shot. This cop did not fire back. In my opinion, if a person points a gun at a cop or fires at a cop, he/she waives any rights they think they have. The vernal cop should have downed this punk who thinks he can just shoot at cops when he feels like it.

Drugs Consequences | 2:30 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Absurd comment: Surprised.

Our society openly promotes violence in movies, TV, and video games--and yet you use the moniker: "surprised"? I know--it was intended to be facetious...but I would suggest 'faceless'.

You ought to visit this place, rather than just spreading your anonymous diatribe from wherever it is that you live. Cops are still the good folks around here.

I send my condolences to the family of this troubled man AND the Deputies. I am sorry that this happened and extend my sorrows to the families of those who are impacted by this situation.

Anonymous | 2:35 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

So ERic, you are ok with someone calling cops, saying he took pills, fire off a gun and then ram a police car and expect nothing to happen?

patriot | 2:39 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Too bad the coward didn't have the guts to do himself in. Now the police have to deal with his mess for the rest of their lives. Too bad for the family but even worse for the cops involved, as for him, no sympathy.

The Rock | 3:04 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Police officers are people too.
They have feelings and families.
I have a neighbor who is a police officer. His daughter was killed in an auto accident. This was devastating. There was an investigation into possible drug use (there was none). Very sad situation.
I don't know any police officers who would not do everything they could to protect life, especially innocent life. Yes, they will use lethal force when necessary, but only if necessary.
I used to work for a company that supplied equipment to law enforcement. I have heard that there are a few bad apples; however, I have never met one (except for that cop who followed me for 300 miles from Provo to the state line by St. George just because I was driving with a car capable of doing 230+ mph but that was when I was young and stupid

Now I am old and stupid.

Common Sense | 3:09 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

No COP would fire on any person he didn't have too.
1. There is way too much paper work.
2. He gets grounded (desk duty).
3. Somebody has to tell the family.
4. There is always an investigation (nasty things).
5. He could go to jail or lose his job.
6. He has to look himself in the mirror and sleep at night.
7. You get the idea.

And we didn't even tough on the moral issues.

Jesus | 3:14 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

I am so sick and tired of the badge thugs killing people!

AC | 3:16 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

It's hard to fault the individual officers in this case - they were just responding in accordance with the training and procedures they've used for years. They put their lives on the line in this case, and are heroes in my book.

That said, when are those responsible for police procedures going to recognize that a mentally unstable individual requires different treatment than an armed robber? Why can't they use methods more appropriate to the situation? Does the system have to make it so easy to commit suicide by cop?

Sad | 3:16 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

It is a bad deal for all involved and I as one am glad we have the police in our towns that do protect and serve. That is why we pay taxs. My heart goes out to all familys involved in this sad turn of events.

calling you out! | 3:25 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

WHAT WERE YOU DRIVING THAT WOULD GO 230 MPH? IM CALLING BS #1 YOU WOULD HAVE HAD TO STOP FOR FUEL IF YOU WERE IN THIS FAKE CAR YOU SPEAK OF? AND WHAT WAS THE COP DOING WHEN YOU STOPED TO FUEL UP? DONT LIE AND STICK TO THE SAD EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE HERE TODAY.

Cowardly | 3:37 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Suicide is a cowardly way out. Even more so when you make someone else do it for you.

Anonymous | 3:43 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

"calling you out! | 3:25 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009"

Dude, learn how to read. He said the car was "capable of 230" he never said he went 230 for any distance.

So | 3:47 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

sad... That you can read things like this and the only thing that comes to mind is the cop shooting in the bar a few weeks ago or the cop tazering kids at the mall or people with heart conditions or even people in wheelchairs.

Who do these cops answer to? They shoot and kill someone and they go on leave for a few weeks? I know cops put their lives on the line, and it's horribly stressful, but seriously what is going on with situations like this? These are human lives I read about being taken by police on a daily basis... It is getting very difficult to give them the benefit of the doubt anymore, where's the training and discipline for these cops?

To: "Jesus" | 3:49 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

"I am so sick and tired of the badge thugs killing people!"

You're an idiot.

some huy | 4:31 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

None of you should feel threatened by Police, pretty simple answer, if you point a gun, or any other weapon at police the law, UCA 76-2-404, states that if the officer feels that his life or the life of another is threatened, than deadly force is justified.I just hope that those who call them badge thugs and questioning the police response remember you are allowed to do so due to the officers defending your freedom daily on the beat. Yet again, no one should be surprised if they point a weapon at police and deadly force is used, please visit the Utah Law enforcement memorial web site and see what is the on the line when officers confront those using deadly force.

Maybe............ | 4:38 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Maybe he had considered suicide anyways and this event was just a more exciting way for him to get the job done. Can't always blame the cops.

Anonymous | 4:47 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

It is proven that in times of economic distress, suicide by cop goes up. If the guy downed a bunch of pills as he said, he probably didn't have much time left anyway. Don't point a gun at a cop, period.

AC | 6:28 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Certainly an officer has a legal right to use deadly force when provoked. If you point a gun at a cop, he has a right to shoot you. Nobody doubts this. However, that does not mean that deadly force, even when justified, is always the best solution.

If a man calls in ans says he is suicidal, his death is a foregone conclusion if the responding officers come in with weapons drawn. One would hope the police could be trained not to provoke such drastic situations, if for no other reason than to discourage future suicide-by-cop maniacs.

dj | 7:10 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

the cops do not "provoke" such situations, they respond to them. And I am thankful.

DW | 7:29 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Agree with you AC

taschic | 7:41 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

To 'Cowardly"...you are obviously not well educated on the topic of suicide to make such an uninformed statement. Sure there may be cases where people have chosen to die because they cannot face the consequences of their actions but there are also equal number of people or more who have mental illnesses that cause them to feel that dying is their ONLY option. You cannot generalize all suicides into one catergory! Making such a statement is hurtful to the families of those who have chosen this route.

Anonymous | 8:11 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Good job guys, thank you for you dedication to your profession and keeping my family and I safe. You Guys are HEROES. Thank you, Thank you, God bless you.

What kind of pills? | 8:26 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

My bet is Anti-depressants.

This appears to be a classic adverse side-effect to them.

My condolenses to officers and all the families (including the victim's) involved.

Al | 10:18 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

I completely agree with Anonymous. THANK YOU to the Cops, for all you do. You do an incredibly hard job that few could or ever would want to do. You are amazing. Thank you to you and your families for the sacrifies you make. I know it isn't easy. Stay safe out there.

My heart goes out to all the families involved.

Thanks | 7:49 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Thank you to our police people who are working for our good. I am sorry that you were placed in this kind of a situation. Sorry to the family of the gentleman that was killed. A heart felt condolence to them and him. I hope that he now finds peace to his problems. God will work it all out.

Heartfelt Thanks | 9:13 p.m. Nov. 22, 2009

I am grateful to the deputies who put their own lives on the line trying to protect the public. They have a very difficult job and are put in situations daily that nobody should have to encounter. Thanks you to all those in law enforcement, we greatly appreciate what you do for us.

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