3 Oakland cops killed in 2 related incidents

[Celtic Rose]

(03-21) 17:32 PDT OAKLAND -- Three Oakland police officers were shot and killed Saturday in a pair of related incidents, a fourth was critically wounded, and the suspect in the shootings was killed by a SWAT team officer, who was also wounded in the attack, law enforcement sources told The Chronicle.

Two of the officers were gunned down about 1:15 p.m. after they pulled over a car in the 7400 block of MacArthur Boulevard, not far from the Eastmont Town Center.

About two hours later, two SWAT officers were shot when their team went after the suspect, who had hidden in an apartment building on 74th Avenue near Hillside Street, according to the two sources, who are close to the investigation but not authorized to speak publicly about it.

Three officers died in the attacks, and one was on life support late Saturday.

The suspect, who has not been identified, shot at the SWAT officers, who "returned fire in defense of their lives," said Officer Jeff Thomason, a department spokesman. The suspect, who police believe was acting alone, was killed.

Link

[Celtic Rose]

Prayers for their families, and for the healing of the injured officer.

[Ptarmigan]

That's horrible! My condolences to the family of the police who died. 
 

[bijou]

...Motorcycle officer John Hege, 41, had been in grave condition after being shot during a traffic stop at about 1:15 p.m. Saturday. He was pronounced dead at noon today, according to Oakland police spokesman Jeff Thomason. Hege's fellow motorcycle officer, Sgt. Mark Dunakin, died at the scene of that shooting.

...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/22/MNCT16L53S.DTL

[NHSparky]

Reading some of the comments there only reenforces my opinion that we have to nuke Gay Bay from orbit.  It's the only way to be sure.

[Chris]

A sad update...

SAN FRANCISCO, California (CNN) -- An Oakland, California, police officer who was critically wounded in a weekend gunbattle with a suspect has died, the Alameda County Coroner's Office told CNN on Tuesday.

John Hege, 41, had been pronounced brain dead Sunday. Police initially had said he was the fourth officer to die after a gunman opened fire on police in two separate incidents.

But they later clarified that while Hege was pronounced brain dead, his body was being kept on life support until a decision could be made on an organ donation.

Oakland police did not immediately respond to a CNN query Tuesday on what decision was made. However, the San Francisco Chronicle quoted Hege's father, John S. Hege, as saying his son's organs would be donated.

http://cnn.mlogic.mobi/cnn/ne/crime/detail/270763;jsessionid=921DA4D4259B290EA6646B18ED6BF0CD.live5i

[rich_t]

Cops have a tough job.  Their hands are so often times tied by foolish rules meant to protect the criminal element.  Sometimes the cost is the "ultimate" one.

I wish the families of the deceased peace and solace.