A friend passed along the following clipping this morning, the aftermath of a police officer’s rescue of a hostage in New Jersey:

WOODBRIDGE, NJ
She was grabbed by a desperate parolee and who held her with a knife to her
throat in Woodbridge Center Mall until a police officer shot and killed the man.

Now the woman, Ellen Shane, 62, of Carteret, plans to sue the township for $5
million, claiming it failed to protect public safety and that she was injured as
a result of the officers acts.

Both Shane and her husband, Ronald Shane, “are suffering from post traumatic
stress syndrome and both have been dramatized from this incident,” according to
the tort claim notice filed by their lawyer, David Corrigan of Eatontown.

Wow. Just wow. Her attacker is dragging her by the hair with one hand and holding a knife to her throat with the other. Probably not a good candidate for verbal negotiation, which requires rational people who think normally to be on BOTH sides of said negotiation. A cool-headed, highly competent police officer saved her life from nearly ten paces, according to one account, by performing the indicated response. A 230 grain dose of Pb, intra-cranially injected, relaxed the muscles of the hostage-taker instantly with no postagonal response.
The remote control injection that saved the woman’s life, I’m told, was performed from nearly 30 feet away, and the mechanism of injection was a Heckler and Koch .45 caliber service pistol. The bullet struck exactly the right part of the brain to prevent “death throes.”
Didn’t people used to express gratitude when their lives were saved? Instead, the newspaper’s comment section was filled with people who excoriated the cops for not preventing the man from grabbing her in the first place. Ironically, it was ten years ago yesterday that “Minority Report” first appeared in movie theaters…but cops who can arrest you before you commit a crime remain, thankfully, in the world of fiction. Some were upset with the officer for not attempting to reason with someone obviously bereft of reason. Some expected a disarm: From thirty feet away, it would have taken about two seconds to get close enough to grab the knife, ample time for the hostage taker to slash his victim’s throat or stab her so many times her corpse would look like a pin cushion.
Did the plaintiff’s lawyer say “dramatized” when he meant to say “traumatized,” or did the person who wrote it up have either a Freudian slip or a wonderful sense of humor? I dunno…but the choice of words as printed seems absolutely appropriate to such a travesty of the civil lawsuit process.

1 COMMENT

  1. Its stories like this that makes me lose faith in the human race.

    This also serves as a PRIME example why I will use my gun only to protect myself, my family and my friends. Strangers are, unfortunately, on their own.

    I’m happy to place the 911 call, be a good witness, give my statement and go home knowing that I haven’t opened myself up to litigation, bankruptcy, and financial ruin all because of some entitled, unappreciative drone who won’t take responsibility for their own safety…but will blame others for everything.

    I won’t stoop so low as to wish the cop let the criminal do the inevitable to this screeching, entitled harpy…but I’ll tell you, knowing what I know now about her, I wouldn’t shed a single tear.

  2. These things make me sick. But I think we’re going to see more and more of this. How can we not?

    I remember when my school district (while I was in middle school), instituted a new rule: Combat, of any nature, including self-defense, will result in suspension.

    Aka, defending yourself was wrong.

    So when I defended myself, and really hurt a bully who gave me no outs, I was suspended for a day longer than the bully who threw the first punch.

    It’s a sad, sad time we’re living in, but we shouldn’t be surprised. We live in a world that wants to ban guns for law abiding citizens. We live in a world that let’s criminals sue homeowners for injuries they receive. It’s a joke.

  6. “It alleges township police, Barrett in particular, failed to provide proper safeguards or warning, violated state, county and local policies pertaining to shoplifting and were negligent in hiring, training and supervising personnel.”

    Really!? Shoplifting? Really?

  7. New Jersey is just as insane as NY when it comes to gun carry and self defense. Just maybe after getting sued by these idiots (sorry I meant “victims”) NJ mat decide to loosen up and just tell people its their own responsibility to protect themselves. I doubt they’ll win. Unless the person that issued the statement fell victim to spell check I don’t think we’re looking at the brightest bulb in the pack here. Like the saying goes “no good deed goes unpunished ” 🙂

  8. I worry for this world greatly. This is no surprise, though. People are so against violence against the wicked that this world will soon be in their possession. How can the anyone do anything in the name of justice, when the masses condemn those that do right.

    People have to understand that violence exists in this world and is an integral part in justice. No good person enjoys violence against others, but the fact is that when evil, unsavory people act, we must act in kind.

    Honestly, who in the hell thinks a person desperate enough to take a hostage isn’t willing enough to kill that hostage? and perhaps rinse and repeat?

    I desperately worry and pray for you, Massad, and others who share your profession. I aim to be one among your ranks in the coming years, but until that time I will do my damnedest to make sure you’re treated with the kindness, respect, and appreciation you deserve. As well as a simply honest look into understanding the difficulties of the job.

    I’ve even had friends who were cops/soldiers that, despite knowing that they did everything right for the world, had nightmares about the death they caused. As if the officer in this story doesn’t already have enough on his shoulders. What a shitty way to say “thank you.”

    I feel sick after reading this.

  9. Random observations:

    1. Good shot.

    2. If you say, “Thank you officer for saving my life” you get a nice warm feeling, but if you sue the township you get five-million dollars (less the lawers cut).

    2a. Or how ever much cash the township decides to settle for out of court (less the lawers cut.)

    3. I am not a great fan of Dr Freud, but I think that the “dramatised” does indeed look a particular sort of undergarment.

  10. “A 230 grain dose of Pb, intra-cranially injected…” and by “remote control,” too. Mas, your word choices bring smiles and admiration from this old wordsmith. The situation is absolutely absurd. I hope they not only lose their suit but go broke paying their own attorney.

  11. Wow…all I can say is WOW! A police officer saves your life and you think the town and the officer should pay you $5 million dollars because basically the whole experience scared you. Maybe the officer should counter-sue for $6 million for PTSD because he had to make the right decision and take another humans life in this situation. I sure hope the judge of this lawsuit throws it out on merit alone.

    And Tom Walls is right “Sheepdogs do what sheepdogs do. And sheep act like sheep act.”

  12. I second the “good shot”, and thanks to steady hands and a cool head there’s one less scumbag in the world.

    As to the lawsuit, in Bowers v. DeVito (a 1986 Supreme Court case) the Court ruled that a police department owes no “individual right to protect” a citizen. Here’s hoping the city cites that case.

    Or maybe an Amicus brief might be in order, Mas?

  14. Had to share this on my FB page. I just can’t believe the nerve of this stupid woman. Frankly, the Officer should sue this ungrateful bitch for putting him in the position of having to waste a perfectly good bullet to save her miserable litigious life. Hope she chokes on the millions she is sure to get.
    God bless this Officer for his service to the people in his community, even the ungrateful ones 🙁

  15. Oh well, something about human nature.

    Blame it on the Ambulance chasing lawyer who dangled visions of a multimillion dollar settlement in her face, and talked her in to filing the law suit.

  16. Thanks for the good exposure of this terrible example of “perpetual victim entitlement,” as I like to put it.

    I’ll itemize my thoughts as has been done above:

    1) The officer’s performance was remarkably proficient and infinitely commendable. Period.

    2) NJ is full of idiots- and a victim who is an idiot is still an idiot.

    3) The Supreme Court ruled (quite reasonably to me, I might add) that the police have no actual duty to protect others more than once. DeShaney v. Winnebago County, Gonzales v. Castle Rock, and the one about the incident in DC (can’t remember it)…as terribly unfortunate as the victimizations that spawned these cases were, it is completely unreasonable to expect all police, anywhere, to protect anyone and everyone at any and all times. It is literally impossible.

    3a) If this $5 mil lawsuit is allowed to proceed, it will (and should) fail- and it WILL be a huge waste of taxpayer funds regardless of the outcome. Not that I expect the NJ-idiot population of the taxpayers to care, of course. =P

  17. Too many people looking for a big pay day without regard to ethics. I’m sure this same victim would be suing if the police officer hesitated and the victim was injured. Just another example of entitlement attitude and sea full of lawyers willing to help.

  18. NJ needs to be cordoned off until Christie can get the nuts back into the nuthouses. (Though I must say, considering the taxes they pay, maybe it’s not unreasonable to expect the state to provide everyone their own security valet.)

    Also, along the lines of Wolvie’s post, when I went to my CCW class, I distinctly remember the instructor saying “don’t shoot anyone unless you’re willing to go to jail for it.” That meant self and loved ones.

  19. More evidence that tort reform is needed! I hope they do not settle and can find a way to counter-sue.

  20. In my state ( New Hampshire) that woman, and her lawyer would be shamed out of town. In a hurry. It is as if we lived in different countries…

  21. How terrible that she had to endure such behavior from that murderous, macho cop. The police officer should have shot the knife out of the suspect’s hand or at least used pepper spray to make him release his hostage. Of course the best outcome would be for the cop to reason with the misunderstood person and maybe trade him a delicious donut for the hostage’s release. Well, on the other hand, I would rather fire off a bullet than give up MY donut.

  22. I figured it was just the ‘journalist’ keeping up to lofty modern quality standards and not realizing the difference.

    I hope the judge throws this out before it wastes more taxpayer money and LEO goodwill. If it goes on, you have to wonder if it could make the next officer put in this sort of situation hesitate.

  24. We can only hope that this ludicrous suit will not discourage the next officer, who finds himself in an identical hostage situation, from solving the problem as perfectly as Officer Barrett did in this case. This woman makes ambulance chasers look like saints. Her court action should not make it past the clerk’s office.

  25. Jaji has it right. If this hateful cretin gets to Court on the basis of “failing to protect” it will be thrown out. If, however she merely pleads to the “dramatization” (!!!???) of he event, a roomful of hand-picked microcephalic wombats in the jury box will give her millions.

    If I were a cop and were to encounter such a situation, I think I may well suggest to the hysterical victim to call their Lawyer. But make sure he or she know their grammar.

    That shot, under such circumstances, speaks well of his training. 30 feet is a ways with a handgun; kudos to the cop. Mega-boo’s to the ingrate and her weasel husband.

  26. Well see, greed motive aside, there is this magical thinking from too much Hollywood. The nice policeman was supposed to fly through the air, wink at the victim and do a Spock sleeper hold thing on the bad guy. Then the bad guy is converted to an upstanding citizen who volunteers at soup kitchens.

  27. It could only get weirder if the parolee’s kin joined in the suit and @Dutch, you are right; kudos to the cop.

  28. Damn GREEDY sheep. She, her husband, her lawyer are worse morally than the perp that got taken out.

  30. The Court system has found time and time again that the police have NO requirement and NO obligation to provide for anyones safety!

    This woman is nothing more than a greedy low life looking for quick money! When her lawsuit fails, I know of a Nigerian Prince that has a money making plan for her!

  31. Gov. Christie award that officer the medal of officer of the year. The officer should also see if other departments could use his skill of proficiency with a firearm.
    Old Sarge

  33. Worse than this one event, is that folks just like her will VOTE this November.

    I’m sorry but I keep hearing the Merle Haggard song ” Are the good times over” over & over in my mind.

  34. At this point the only thing the township should be sued for is interfering in a much needed dawrin award. You know as a herd, it is better for the herd as a whole for the sick, weak, and stupid to end up as coyote food. It does suck if you are that member of the herd… At this point I am wondering why the guy selected this woman, and am wondering if he was right? Baaa Baaaa

  35. The first day of firearms training in the police academy the instructor put us in a very similar situation and asked how we would react. After giving all of our wrong answers coming directly from TV and cinema the instructor told us that the only right way to respond to this situation was to do exactly what the officer in this case did.

    He followed that up with telling us that it would be the most costly right thing we would ever do. We were taking law at the same time and he told us that half the class would listen to the lawyer and not pull our guns. The other half would listen to him and do the right thing. The ones who listen to the lawyer would find themselves dead or have the blood of someone on their hands and the ones who listen to him would find themselves being litigated to death but would be able to sleep at night knowing they did the right thing.

    The right to sue is the 21st century’s gold rush. Don’t miss out on getting yours!

  36. Cop: “Drop the knife!”

    Goblin: “Screw you!”

    Cop: “BANG!”

    Short and sweet.

    Perfect.

  37. Mayor John McCormac stood by the officer’s actions. “No lawsuit will change the fact our officer is a hero for saving her life,” he said.

    I don’t mind criticizing the bad guys when they wear a badge, but to do so also generates the responsibility to praise the good men when they do, too. Officer Barrett is a hero. This is a classic situation where we expect cops to be the White Knight to save those in distress, and Officer Barrett went the distance. He took a successful shot in a high-risk and (barring later evidence that it was unwarranted) low-options situation.

    I just hope that Woodbridge’s insurance company doesn’t try to hang the city (and by extension, Barrett) out to dry for this shooting.

  39. Unbelievable BS. 1. Officer should counter sue, for defamation of character, Loss of future Income and Mental Duress, Attorney Fees for his own defense, including Court Costs. 2. The Judge if he/she has any balls should cite the attorney for a friviolus law suit and wasting the courts time. Also seek 30-90 days disbarment, to set a fine example to other asshole lawers, who might think up this crap. Hmmm, but they are still in the same union, which allows a sitting judge to stil be a member of the Bar! See a problem here gang, called Conflict of Interest??

    Until we strip the cloak of immunity from all elected judges, city, county state and federal officials…this type of crap will continue. Next force the re-establishment of the seperation of powers, as per our Constitution. No Lawers allowed in the Legisature, or Executive functions of government. Oh, and remove their legislative cloak of immunity as practicing attorneys as well. Make them just a liable to citizens, who have been harmed, as we are to each other! Finally, start clearing Law Books of unnessary BS, including doing Tort Reform…Nuff Said…Tom

  40. Almost makes you wish to be selected for jury. Personally, the judge should toss out her claim and …is it possible to fine her for contempt of court before she ever appears in court? Slap her with a heavy fine, slap her husband with a baseball bat, slap her lawyer with a tank or something, and force all of them to do 12 months community service helping those who have been actual victims of violent crimes.

  41. NJ should conduct an investigation. Pass a short term law that does not let respondant officers or sheepdogs from firing their weapon until such perp has slashed a neck or stabbed at least 3 times. (Cause we all know that a knife is not as dangerous as a handgun!) Then have a special election and let the people decide.

  43. And this is why officers conducting their lawful duty are protected from individual lawsuits… so that they aren’t sued by any lawsuit sally who takes offense when the Cop is just doing his job.

    That’s why the city is being sued, not the cop. And it sounds like the city has every intention of continuing to employ Mr. Barrett in his role as a police officer. So good on the city and good on Officer Barrett.

    I hope a judge sees this, gets a good hearty laugh and officially dumps the complaint into the shredder as he says “Case dismissed.”

  44. I suspect the thought of litigation never entered the woman’s head until a lawyer got in touch with her — a suspicion bolstered by having had a friend who became a lawyer, as well as seeing the inundation of legal reps trolling for cases on TV — to help her realize the degree to which she had been victimized, and to understand the depth of her suffering at the hands of her rescuer (also to help her calculate her potential litigation lottery winnings up to 7 figures, minus the HEALTHY cut for the attorney’s time and trouble).
    Unfortunately, there is no sufficient degree of public ridicule for the counselor, nor for its client, that would dissuade them or others of their ilk. Those who are shameless enough to go down this road are likely to be more driven by the opportunity, than to be put off by being thought of as clowns, ingrates, and greedy scum.
    The perpetrator was not just ‘on parole’. He was wanted for a parole violation. What consequences are there for parole boards (or judges, for that matter) who release felons into the community, when those felons return to crimes which cause harm? None, as far as I can see. Perhaps if they had some degree of responsibility for the effects of their leniency, people who decide to subject society to the ravages of savages who were already incarcerated would be more discerning in who they consider worthy of releasing into the public.

  45. Kudos and recognition for the officer.

    Disbarment for life for the lawyer.

    2 years of community service for the sheep.

    Perp has been handled.

    ’nuff said.

  46. This incident reminds me of the advise given by my “Training Officer”.

    When responding to a domestic call.

    You may be rescueing the wife from her abusive spouce but never turn your back on her while you are doing it !

    Some of the people you are protecting just happen to hate your guts.

  47. Deep brain shot on at that distance with a hostage, that Officer deserves a medal! Heck, if that was my wife or me that Officer saved. I’d gladly buy that man any handgun or rifle he wanted. A trip to the hospital will easily run a few grand.

    @Wolvie- Too true. In this day and age, I’d be awfully hesitant to save a stranger. They just might show their appreciation with a lawsuit. Like you, I’ll call it in but I won’t get more involved than that.

    @Mas- Love the intra-cranially 230 grain Pb injection line. First thought when I saw the Pb was “what duty ammo is that?!” then I remembered my chemistry…

  48. I second that silly TV shows and movies had a part in this.

    If someone has a hostage the cop is supposed to point the gun, have a shouting match, then agree to drop the gun, then do something sly to takedown the bad guy, usually after a long car chase. The cop went off-script and one wonders if that doesn’t have something to do with it (not matching popular perceptions of how these things are done). The part of the suit claiming poor training is laughable, sounds like he was trained remarkably well and had nerves of steel.

    Several years ago I was rear-ended in a fairly large city. The other driver admitted fault, and their insurance company took care of everything. Fine. Then I started getting calls from lawyers every other night. They apparently had someone troll the police reports to find easy wins. Never called them back, and did start to think there must be an oversupply of them if they had to drum up business that way.

  49. Mas,
    Can you comment on the officer’s decision to shoot with a hostage in such close contact?
    As with others, I commend his skill and heroic action.
    I am curious if it is standard policy to take such shots with the hostage so close in to the criminal.
    thanks.

  50. “dramatized” when he meant to say “traumatized?”

    I think even the reporter’s spell check could see this frivolous lawsuit.

    And speaking of good shots, thanks Mas for mentioning the great Independence, MO shot Wild Bill took with his cap and ball back in 1865 in your #116 Complete Book of Handguns. Not just because Bill is one of my relatives, but also because it is testament of skill over volume.

    While the cop in your post was only 30 feet away compared to Wild Bill’s 70 yard shot, it is critical to remember that a full mag is worthless when you only have one chance at the shot.

    I often hear my friends “brag” about the amount of ammo they carry, but much like digital photography, its not the number of pictures you take but the quality. And a good shot is quality no matter how many rounds sit unfired.

    Oh, and Wild Bill never got to throw a few hundred rounds down range on an afternoon. His 1851 .36 Navy Colt cap and ball meant he had to be a good (single) shot, or the other guy got a turn.

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