Stewart Rhodes interviews Oath Keeper SWAT Officer About the LaVoy Finicum Shooting

 

In this audio Interview Stewart Rhodes interviews Greg McWhirter, an Oath Keeper SWAT officer, about the road block and tactics used on LaVoy Finicum and the rest of the Citizens for Constitutional Freedom on that fateful night last Tuesday, January 26, 2016.  Greg gives us his expert insight into why most police departments across the country no longer use road blocks, as was used in Oregon this last week that ended with such needless bloodshed.

Greg and Stewart discuss how this barricade/roadblock was placed after a curve, which did not afford Lavoy ample time to see the barricade and stop his vehicle.  Greg also covers exactly why barricading/use of roadblocks is considered deadly force and inherently dangerous and life-threatening, and why most jurisdictions in the United States considers them antiquated, and have gotten away from using them.

They also discuss the shooting itself, in detail.

Greg McWhirter has 11 years experience with the Marion County Sheriffs Office (MCSO)in Indianapolis, Indiana. He spent seven years as investigator and four years on the MCSO tactical team. He is also an Indiana Law Enforcement Academy certified instructor.

 note:
Greg has requested a copy of the Oregon State Police’s policies, and we are waiting to review them, but the danger of roadblocks is reflected in the Portland Police department’s policy, which forbids the use of a roadblock (a.k.a. “barricade”) in the manner in which we saw used last week:

630.05   VEHICLE PURSUITS:
d.  Barricading: Barricading is considered deadly physical force and subject to DIR 1010.10.
1.  Barricading requires the approval of a supervisor. Furthermore, the barricade must be set up in such a manner as to afford the fleeing suspect ample time to see the barricade and stop his/her vehicle.

Go here to read the policy.
We can also look to The National Institute of Justice document Restrictive Polices for High Speed Police Pursuits which states:

Boxing-In, Ramming, and RoadblocksBoxing-in and ramming to be used only against violent felons and with permission by sworn supervisor monitoring pursuit. Not to be used by officers who have not completed prescribed training. Roadblocks allowed when possible to pick safe location.
Roadblocks are “dangerous and difficult to properly establish.” No roadblock maybe established until both dispatcher and pursuing officer have been notified. There are three kinds of roadblock:1. Fixed roadblocks, which block road to extent that little or no outlet remains.”Fixed roadblocks are extremely dangerous and are rarely justifiable.”

Click here to see the original document.

Please listen to the interview and read important details at our website:

https://www.oathkeepers.org/9870-2/