MO - Off-duty officer (Katlyn Alix) shot dead by on-duty officer (Nathaniel Hendren), Jan 2019

[Betty P]

Do you have a link to her comments? I’m behind so am sure it’s already been posted, sorry.

I just re-read the article earlier, will look for her quote.

In the meantime, use Google Maps to cruise around the dangerous neighborhoods that these officers had to patrol (or not) in their jobs. Pfft.

Google Maps

ETA: I don't get there often, but while getting supplies I forgot to pack, I had to take a long drive down Hampton Ave. last month. I was so happy to see these neighborhoods are just as great as they were in the 60's. You can still find local shoe repair shops, local mechanic, barbershops, etc. These patrolmen couldn't even bother to work their job in that neighborhood?

 

[girlhasnoname]

It's shocking to me that 3 police officers, two of whom were on duty at the time, would be involved in such reckless behavior. It makes absolutely no sense and is even too bizarre for a Law & Order episode.

There has to be some back history with these officers that hasn't been disclosed yet. IMO I can't imagine what KA's husband is thinking, isn't he a PO as well?

The Police Chief looked mortified and a little angry to me.

JMO

 

[mickey2942]

What really bothers me here, is the issues of integrity. These officers are responsible for testimony in a court of law, and their supervision is saying that most of these officers need to be randomly monitored to verify that they are actually at their duty station.

If the officers lack this most basic integrity, there are a lot of problems in this entity.

 

[PrairieWind]

What really bothers me here, is the issues of integrity. These officers are responsible for testimony in a court of law, and their supervision is saying that most of these officers need to be randomly monitored to verify that they are actually at their duty station.

If the officers lack this most basic integrity, there are a lot of problems in this entity.

Yes. And while the Chief claims there isn't a culture problem, I'm skeptical. There is a culture in the police department where young police officers apparently feel comfortable blowing off their patrol duty and drinking beer at home instead. That would tend to lead me to believe there is a culture of unprofessionalism in the department.

 

[buttonbaby]

Please see attached.

Thank you Hercule...

 

[Seattle1]

Drinking on duty allegations against St. Louis officers involved in shooting death of off-duty officer

NH leaving Justice Center after making bail 1/31/19.

Updated with information from one officer's attorney

ST. LOUIS • Allegations of drinking on duty have been filed against two officers who were at the house when officer Katlyn Alix was killed last week, the Post-Dispatch has learned.

Lt. William Brown alleges in a disciplinary document that Officer Nathaniel Hendren "recklessly discharged a firearm resulting in the death of another officer," and that Hendren and his partner Patrick Riordan "consumed alcoholic beverages while on-duty," according to the document obtained by the Post-Dispatch.
[...]
Attorney James Towey said Thursday that his client, Riordan, "blew all zeroes" when he was given a breath test after the shooting. Riordan told investigators that he had taken "a few sips of a beer" while at Hendren's house, Towey said.

"He poured the rest out in a kitchen sink, leaving the can by the sink, and that should be confirmed by crime scene photos," Towey said, declining to answer any further questions.
[...]
On the night of the shooting, sources say Hendren and Riordan reported for roll call at 10:50 p.m. at the south patrol substation along Sublette Avenue. Their beat was bordered by Manchester Avenue on the south, Hampton Avenue on the east, McCausland Avenue on the west and Highway 40 (Interstate 64) to the north.

Hendren and Riordan, both 29, took Alix to St. Louis University Hospital after she was shot in the chest, calling dispatchers from their police radios at 12:56 a.m. Alix was pronounced dead at 1:07 a.m.

Brown filed the allegations of misconduct at 1:30 a.m. Jan. 24, according to the documents obtained by the Post-Dispatch.

He alleged that Hendren violated the department's policy on Standards of Conduct, which states, in part, "Any conduct unbecoming to a member which is contrary to the good order and discipline of the Department, on or off duty."

Brown also accused Hendren and Riordan of violating the department's alcohol policy, which states, in part, "No employee shall report for duty or remain on duty with an alcohol concentration of .04 or greater. Moreover, no employee shall consume alcohol while on duty and/or engaged in city business. This includes a prohibition on alcohol consumption during the entire work period, including, but not limited to lunch and dinner breaks."

 

[flute4peace]

Please see attached.

Wow!

 

[Betty P]

Please see attached.

Thanks, Hercule. That's it.

"Our team asked your staff for an Affiant to work with my office to produce probable cause statement required for a search pursuant to conducting a blood draw for the two officers as there was probable cause at the scene that drugs or alcohol may be a contributing factor in a potential crime...."

BBM

The whole situation is fishy with Lt. Green later telling her (the CA) that SLU hospital would not honor a search warrant to take a blood sample. Baloney, they do that all the time.

Later, they told her a "sample" had been taken, but didn't say what type of sample. Turns out it was only urine and breathalyzer. They're playing games, trying to run out the clock and obstruct the investigation, albeit in a passive/aggessive manner.

JMO.

I agree with the police chief this isn't a "cultural" issue, it just appears to be a police department trying to inappropriately protect it's officers and avoid transparency.

 

[mickey2942]

The issue of the breathalyzer, can be really tricky, who performed the test, who observed the results.

The bloodwork results would be completely different, with testimony from a lab technician, who did the blood draw, and laboratory work, done by another technician. With no connection to the police department. Completely objective results.

The document from the DA makes a lot of good points, definitely there needs to be a more precise protocol for Officer involved shootings.

 

[Seattle1]

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REMEMBERING OFFICER KATLYN ALIX

And now for the truth:

NH partner reportedly consumed alcohol at NH's home while he was on duty. (His attorney states he took a few sips of beer).

How much did NH consume?

I believe KA witnessed conduct in violation of everything we expect from officers on duty. She was silenced.

MOO

#justiceforkatlyn

 

[Jax49]

So, they didn't take the test(s) the prosecutor wanted AND what the did take was under cover of Garrity.

smh

 

[Seattle1]

St. Louis Post-Dispatch‏Verified account @stltoday
Nathaniel Hendren walks out of jail after posting 10 percent of $100K bail. Photo via @ColterP_Photo

11:02 AM - 31 Jan 2019

 

[Betty P]

So, they didn't take the test(s) the prosecutor wanted AND what the did take was under cover of Garrity.

smh

Apparently so. Still not clear about whether blood tests were taken. From what I'm reading, it the tests are done under Garrity protections, they can't be used against the officer in court.

Shouldn't those protections only apply if the officer is just doing his job? They weren't doing their job in this case, they were goofing off on company time and killed an innocent person. IANAL. Can any of our attorneys give us some instruction on Garrity? TIA

 

[Seattle1]

PD Crime Beat‏ @STLCrimeBeat
St. Louis police chief pledges changes to monitoring police movements, blasts prosecutor over allegations of misconduct in investigation
12:36 PM - 31 Jan 2019

St. Louis police chief pledges changes to monitoring police movements, blasts prosecutor over allegations of misconduct in investigation

 

[mickey2942]

Basics - Garrity Rights       

Garrity covers public employees from testimony that could be used against them in a criminal case. I suppose that also extends to bloodwork as well.

This would also be an issue with union rights as well.

I don't really understand the culture of some places. I taught school for years, paid into the union, but pretty much, if you did something wrong, you were on your own. At least, where I worked.

 

[HerculeHolmes]

Compelled Statements from Police Officers and Garrity Immunity

See Also

https://scholarship.law.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3772&context=penn_law_review

 

[flute4peace]

Basics - Garrity Rights

Garrity covers public employees from testimony that could be used against them in a criminal case. I suppose that also extends to bloodwork as well.

This would also be an issue with union rights as well.

I don't really understand the culture of some places. I taught school for years, paid into the union, but pretty much, if you did something wrong, you were on your own. At least, where I worked.

About 20 years ago I worked for a popular package delivery company. Had a driver caught with pot in his locker. He was taken straight to the hospital for drug test. Tested positive. Fired immediately. Was back at work a week later due to Union finding a technicality/loophole with the test at the hospital.

Of course that’s just one situation/experience , and has no bearing on this case.

 

[Seattle1]

IMO, this is a complete abuse of the Garrity rule.

The spirit of the rule was never to protect a party that did in fact violate the law. NH was criminally negligent. He also may have consumed alcohol while on duty. Through his attorney, his partner has already admitted to consuming alcohol at the residence of NH (whether or not he was under BA limit is not relevant). He violated policy, period.

 

[HerculeHolmes]

IMO, this is a complete abuse of the Garrity rule.

The spirit of the rule was never to protect a party that did in fact violate the law. NH was criminally negligent. He also may have consumed alcohol while on duty. Through his attorney, his partner has already admitted to consuming alcohol at the residence of NH (whether or not he was under BA limit is not relevant). He violated policy, period.

ITA. Hopefully CA can find either precedent and/or present compelling evidence (i.e. PR testimony) that NH violated procedure (on multiple counts) and get Garrity thrown out to continue with an impartial hair follicle test.

The premise, as I understand it is that this is designed to protect govt emps from providing self-incriminatory statements under duress... still unclear how this applies to a tox survey (following shooting death of a fellow officer).

BBM one might argue within the context of extenuating circumstances that Garrity does not apply to a toxicity screen especially given the fact the department understood these samples were requested for the purpose of a criminal investigation. Seems like it would have been reasonable enough to obtain a court-order (warrant) for the blood. Unreal.

 

[Seattle1]

During a morning hearing at the St. Louis Circuit courthouse, Nathaniel Hendren’s bond was raised from $50,000 to $100,000. Hendren could pay 10-percent of the new bond ($10,000) to be placed on house arrest, according to the judge.

With emotions running high in the case security was stepped up for the hearing.

The entire time Hendren was in the courtroom sitting at the defendant's table, two sheriff's deputies in uniform stood by his side, a physical barrier between the defendant and those in the courtroom for the hearing
[...]
Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner was in the courtroom, but did not answer questions afterward. Instead, she offered a short statement.

"My office is dedicated to getting to the bottom of this," she said. "This is a serious case. Katlyn's family deserves this. The community deserves answers."

Alix's widower, another St. Louis officer, also spoke to the judge. He declined to comment afterward.

Exclusive News4 video at link below:

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO | St. Louis officer accused in off-duty officer’s shooting death posts bond

ETA: NH is on house arrest. No word on whether he will stay at his home, or with family.