Officer Down.
 

One man dead, officer in critical condition following overnight shooting


<b>The family of Jason Tye Pratt kept a hospital vigil Friday as the Omaha police officer, husband and father lay in critical condition following a traffic stop the night before that ended in gunfire and death.

Pratt, 30, had been in critical condition since being shot once in the head about 10 p.m. Thursday near Miami Street and 34th Avenue, according to police and scanner reports.

Interim Police Chief Al Pepin said Friday that Pratt's outlook "is not good."

Another man involved in the shooting, Albert W. Rucker, 21, died at 2:21 a.m., police said. According to scanner reports, he was shot multiple times.

Officer Robert Branch and Officer Frank Platt pulled over a rusty green Chevrolet near 33rd and Corby Streets for erratic driving at 9:50 p.m. Rucker was the car's only occupant.

The officers announced by radio at 9:53 p.m. that they were chasing a man on foot. Soon after, Platt announced that he had lost sight of the man in the area of 34th Avenue and Corby Street.

Pratt, Officer Erik Gustafson and two other northeast precinct officers arrived in the area as backup, along with four other officers. A command officer was at the scene, and a police dog unit was en route.

The officers set up a perimeter and began searching the area. During the search, Pratt found Rucker near 34th and Corby.

Pratt then came under fire. Platt returned fire, hitting Rucker.

An officer announced on the police radio that an officer was down and had been shot.

Officers put handcuffs on Rucker soon after he was shot - following normal procedures - but removed them at the request of medical personnel at the scene. </b>

http://66.180.7.47/np_0/medium/0912ahpratt2.jpg
Officer Jason Pratt
http://66.180.7.47/np_0/medium/0912ahrucker.jpg
Albert W. Rucker


Albert Rucker has been arrested 47 times, and has had over 100 run-ins with the law. Read on:


<b>According to court records, Rucker had outstanding warrants for his arrest in Douglas County for failing to obey court orders.

He was found guilty and sentenced in 2000 for second-degree assault. A judge ordered Rucker to serve jail time and three years of probation.

He also was awaiting a court hearing for violating his probation and a trial for being a felon in possession of a weapon in 2002.

Relatives of Albert W. Rucker met at his father's house Friday to remember the 21-year-old's brief life.

Tears covered several faces as the family dealt with a range of emotions - shock, anger and grief.


Charlene Tate-Haynes, an aunt of Rucker's, said her nephew had "a few run-ins" with police in the past, but she did not want to discuss them.

Court records show that Rucker spent time in a youth rehabilitation center, had been convicted of assault and faced weapons charges.

Tate-Haynes said she wanted to talk about the positive things about Rucker, such as how he liked spending time with his four children.

One picture that relatives were looking at Friday showed Rucker's 5-year-old son, Daytrel Thomas. The boy was wearing a shiny, blue gown after graduating from a preschool program run by the Child and Family Development Corp.

Rucker also had a 3-year-old son, Albert Tate-Rucker, and 1-year-old twin girls, Cytaya and Saytaya Tate-Rucker.

Another picture showed Rucker with his arm around his grandmother and a smile on his face.

"He loved being around people," Tate-Haynes said. "Little Albert has a smile like his dad."

The family photo is a stark contrast to a mug shot of Rucker released by Omaha police.</b>


Now, Albert Rucker's family has the nerve to go on a local Omaha news channel, and complain that Prayer Vigils are being conducted for the downed Police Officer, while there is no public mourning for their loss. WTF!!! STFU!!! You're man was a career criminal that shot a Police Officer. Maybe if Mr. Rucker was even slightly concerned for his 4 children, he wouldn't have been out shooting police officers.

That's bullshit. And people say the system works.

I can't wait for Sixate to reply to this.

This makes my blood boil. This country's justice system is all about NOT punishing the criminal!!!! I can't wait till I'm down and out so that I can have free reign to do whatever the heck I want to, and not worry about it in the least - cuz I KNOW I sure won't answer for my crimes here in the good ole Land Of The Poor Old Less Fortunate. AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!

Oh calm down. You take one situation like this and generalize it to the entire criminal justice system. Quit overreacting. The criminal justice system is not perfect and things like this are examples of that imperfection. But one anecdotal story like this - or a hundred anecdotal stories, even, is hardly call to declare that all ciminals fail to answer for their crimes and are not punished by our criminal justice system. Why automatically jump to "fail to punish" instead of "fail to rehabilitate"? What evidence do you have that the system is "all about NOT punishing the criminal"? And I hardly think this is the "land of the poor old less fortunate" when there are 2 million people currently in U.S. prisons.

http://www.charleston.net/stories/06...ailbirds.shtml

In fact, as mandatory sentencing has become the norm, and as sentences have become harsher (particularly for minor drug offenses), and as the prison population has risen (in short, as our criminal justice system has gotten harsher) the recidivism rate has risen:

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/reentry/recidivism.htm

What changes would you make to the system to improve it, and what evidence do you have that those changes would reduce crime? (Not being a smartass, just wondering if you have any ideas to contribute.)

At least that guy got what he deserves. I hope the officer recovers.

the system is what it is.. there are those that get past it and fall through the cracks, there are those innocent that get convicted, but overall....

overall the system does what it's supposed to do.

look at how many dockets and cases go through the system daily across the nation... its not 100% but it's better than other countries where it's 0% justice

No system can be perfect, not the justice system or health care or education or social services. But, they work as best they can for the majority of the people. Nothing is perfect.
This story breaks my heart as I have a good friend who is a police officer and people just don't realize that these men and women put their very lives on the line each and every day they go to work. Talk about committment. I have a huge amount of respect for them, the job they do and the service they provide to all of us.
It makes my blood boil to think that Rucker's family is boo hooing about the unfairness of it all. He was a criminal....plain and simple. Even bad people can have children and a family - that does not make him special in this case. He deserved what he got absolutely.
I will be saying a prayer for the recovery of Officer Pratt.

Lurkette,

I didn't mean to overreact, but you must admit that this type of crime - where a cop almost pays with his life - is one that stirs the emotions.

What changes would I make? That is a good question. To be honest, I have never thought about that. Now is as good a time as any. I don't know exactly what changes would effect better rehabilitation, but at the same time I'm not so sure that rehabilitation is the answer. Look at this guy - he's been in the slammer and under probation. Apparently rehabilitation didn't work for him. And if recidivism is on the rise, it's not working for a lot of other people, either.

What evidence do I have that the system is about not punishing the criminal? OJ Simpson, for one. OK, that's an extreme example, but what about the countless people who drive drunk, received a slap on the wrist, then do it again and kill someone? What about the ease with which killers claim insanity and get counseling instead of jail time?

Punishment works for me. If I went to jail, that would be all the warning I need not to commit a crime again. So that makes me wonder what's up with the criminals who go back and back again. Can they be rehabilitated, if they don't get the hint from serving time in jail? I guess one of the changes I would make would be to make prisons a lot less comfortable. I know that sounds harsh and antiquated, but I think people would be a lot less willing to commit a crime again if they knew that they had to look forward to gruel twice a day and solitary confinement.

I hope this isn't threadjacking.

Anybody know which country's criminal justice system has the lowest recidivisim rate? I'd be interested in finding out what their practices are.

Hmmm...this is not taking the path that I had intended. Yes, Albert Rucker fell through the cracks in the Criminal Justice system. While that in itself is somewhat of a travesty, that was not the point that I was trying to make.

Albert Rucker was a 21 year old career criminal with 4 children, the oldest being 5 (do the math). He has a "rap sheet" as long as I am tall, which while that may be only 5' 7", that's pretty damn long for a rap sheet. This man was by far no stranger to the local (Omaha) Law Enforcement Community. He shoots a cop, while trying to evade capture, and is subsequently killed in the process.

Now, Albert Rucker's family goes on a local news station, and is trying to paint him to be some kind of Dad-Of-The-Year family man. They are upset that the community is not mourning him as the community offers up support to the Police Officer's family. That was what had me irate.

Officer Pratt is still in critical condition in Creighton University Medical Center, by the way. Whether he makes it or not is very questionable at this time, but it doesn't look promising.

*edited because i can't spell worth a damn*

Bill,

I think this is a good example of the mindset some people have adopted that everybody should get equal representation in every area of life. Why should the family expect the community to memorialize this criminal, when he has already shown that he is unworthy of respect? He's no great hero; he ran from the law and tried to kill an officer of the law. I find it hard to care too much about his private life, when his public actions show no concern for the law. I just hope that some rights-activist group doesn't turn this into an issue.

Hey Bill O.

Sorry to contribute to the jacking of this thread.
(But it is an interesting tangent :D)

You have a right to be irate - I'm pretty sure most all of us share your outrage - one person is killed in the line of duty, which happens to be protecting the rest of us. The other is the guy who shot him. Duh. I know it has to be hard for his (Rucker's) family, but what are they expecting, a 21-gun salute?

I'll keep the other cop who was shot in my thoughts. I know things don't look good but miracles happen.

If our jails weren't so jam packed with people convicted of minor offences. The true badasses that need to be locked up would not have the opprotunity to commit such a hanious crime.

Don't let your blood boil over bullshit like this because some everly sensitive people will have their feelings hurt. http://www.boomspeed.com/sixate/icon_rolleyes.gif

I think everyone should already know what I think.

Rucker the fucker deserves NO sympathy.

Whatever.

The direction I went with the article was the same as Bill's. I am not suprised that a guy with that kind of record is on the streets. It's a fairly regular occurance. Remember that woman last year who drowned her children? From what I've read, she was a nice woman, a religious person, and she loved her children. Do we (Should we) feel sorry for her? Hello? McFly? Regardless of how nice of a person she was, even if she was a perfect person up until that point, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
She killed her children.
Let me repeat.
She Killed Her Children.
She deserves what ever punishment we can give her, and probably more.
This man ran from police, and then shot at them. again, he deserved what he got. why should we feel at all sorry for him? Yes, he has children. The police didn't go out that night with the intent of making orphans. He chose his path, and although he doesn't have to live with it, his family does.

(side note: People are trying to help//encourage the family of the officer, as they go through a stressful time, waiting for him to (probably) die. the other guy is Dead. kaput. finis. why even say a prayer for someone who is beyond reach?
Heal the wounded, THEN bury the dead. )

In my personal opinion, Rucker's family needs to shut the hell up. I am not a big fan of cops. In the small town I live in, they just seem to hassle people. But I still respect them. I think that you should never put your hands on a cop, or point any weapon at them, and you definitely shouldn't shoot at them. If you do those things, and you live, consider yourself lucky, even if you are in the hospital or in a coma. If you end up dead, you got what you deserved. I'm not advocating a gestapo state, but these are people who carry guns because they do a dangerous job, do you really want to push them? Most cops are decent people, and if you do what they say and treat them with respect, you will be just fine. If you have a problem, take it up with the cop's boss after the fact.

The whole point of a discussion is that it takes on a life of its own and chooses its own path. I'm glad you expanded on your reasons for starting this thread, but lurkette was right when she said it was an interesting tangent.

And to answer lurkette's question, I'd guess Saudi Arabia. They just beheaded their 40th drug smuggler this year.

Once again, woodchipper justice is the way to go! :thumbsup:

Eek! Forget I asked ;)

/me runs from facts

We need to remember this officer's family as well. Consider the emotions they are going through at this time. Fear, worry, Anger, Resentment.

Personally I think that our justice system does not apply penalties that are harsh enough. I wish we went back to having the prisoners work while they are in jail. At least they'd be "earning their keep" so to speak. The TV's available to prisoners seems unnecessary to me. I have to pay for cable why in the world should I pay for a criminal who is willing to endanger my family and friends to watch cable?

If I were to make a mistake, I know I wouldn't enjoy it but I think I wouldn't resent having a harsher punishment enforced on me knowing that those criminals who are repeat offenders are being punished just as harshly. I also think repeat offenders should have even stricter penalties enforced.

What kind of father could this man have been to his children? If he was willing to carry weapons around with him then he is endangering them by that simple act.

I dunno about 'sconny, but in minnesota people beg for the right to carry concealed weapons because guns supposedly make the world safer. Dubious, i know.

Not all people who carry guns want to shoot a cop with it.

To be fair to Lurkette, I found an article yesterday that featured a corrections officer who had found that harsher punishment does not have much of an effect on recidivism. However, it did not specify what was considered 'harsher punishment.' I still postulate that harder labor and less comfortable living conditions would result in fewer return trips, although I have no proof (at this time).

I'm all for guns. I've used them since Elementary school. We own several but they are kept unloaded and in a safe place not on my person. Especially since I run a Home Day care.Oh I am not against guns in the least or even carrying them but if he'd been convicted for carrying a concealed weapon it was likely we was causing trouble and was arrested and then the weapon was discovered. I realize he may have been a fine Dad but when you are willing to shoot an authority figure when the authority is in the right and you are breaking the law then what kind of Authority will you be to your children? I just don't think you can be a good authority and leader if you don't respect those above you.

Although I have no hard facts, figures, studies etc. to back me up, I'll agree with your statement based only on common sense. For example, If I were living in poverty, or close to poverty, and I had to wonder if there was going to be money to buy groceries for dinner tomorrow (let alone pay the cable bill) then the prospect of the state providing me with 3 square meals a day, and clean sheets, doesn't sound so bad. Think about it...a clean place to stay, 3 meals a day, free cable television, free use of excercise equipment, a library system (in case there's nothing good on cable), free college classes, job training, etc. HEY!!! Wait a minute!! That's what the government gave me when I was in the military! Only...they expected me to work for it! O.K., enough of that little temper tantrum...back to the subject. We give prisoners these ammenities, I believe, to keep then placated and docile. In my opinion, they should be put to work (picking up trash if nothing else) to pay for their keep. Otherwise...where is the deterent, if prison could, in many cases, be better than life on the outside?

If you want to lower the recidivism rate give them options when they leave prison.

http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/...5/28-rice.html

If you really want to rehabilitate then you should offer them an education. Otherwise, if you just got out of prison and the conditions that you lived in and accepted were exactly the same as when you offended initially, you're probably gonna reoffend.

I don't understand how people think jail prevents crime by magically rehabilitating people.

The only way jail prevents crime is by keeping the crooks locked up...so they can't commit the crimes.

when does the madness cease
 

Been arrested 47 times, that's crap in my opinion. I got arrested one time and learned my lesson, now I am not saying that I am better than him, but I am a quicker learner.

You probably have a job, too.

I don't think jail prevents crime by magically rehabilitating people. It works (or should work) to prevent crime on a number of levels:

1. keeping criminals locked up. But if that's all it does, then as soon as you let them out, they're likely going to re-offend

2a. deterring crime in the first place by being massively unpleasant. Largely failing in that respect, as a number of people have noted.

2b. massively unpleasant: punishing criminals by restricting a number of their rights.

3. if you want to make #2 effective so that you don't have to rely so much on #1, there should be some kind of rehabilitative effect built into a prison sentence, at least for those who are able to be rehabilitated (I believe some aren't, and there's not much you can do about those folks but keep locking them up). Before you release them, give them some kind of job skill so they have some alternative to crime when they get out; work on developing a sense of empathy (hard to do) and give them something to lose if they re-offend.

Officer Jason Tye Pratt died today at 4:25 a.m. from complications of the gunshot wound.

[img] http://66.180.7.47/np_0/large/jasondaughters.jpg [/img]

I was reading this entire thread with intrigue from beginning to end. I think many of you have some very well thought out responses. I then read the last one Bill O. wrote and I got more upset at Rucker and our system. He has been arrested 47 times. Come on people! I know with three felonies you are someone else's bitch for life, but how many misdemeanors does one need to rack up before our system gets a fucking clue? Rehab? What possible rehab is available for a 21 year old father of 4, who spends more time fucking with police then finding a way to be a responsible, contributing member of society, not to mention a better father to his kids who he should have not even been allowed to bring into this world. That's a whole thread in itself...

Damn, I hate reading stuff like this.

Does Nebraska have a "three strikes" law?