Texas Tech Police Officer Floyd East Jr., was shot and killed by a suspect he was questioning inside the Texas Tech Police Department. Officer East had been a Texas University system security officer for several years, serving at the University of Texas - El Paso for the past several years. Only this year, in May, Mr. East was commissioned and sworn in as a police officer for Texas Tech University in Lubbock.
On Monday night, Officer East and other police officers went to the killer's apartment to check on his welfare after receiving a call about him from his family. Officers entered the killer's apartment. He was not at home, but officers found drug paraphernalia in plain view. At some point the killer arrived and was taken into custody. He was transported back to the Texas Tech Police Department. Officer East was shot a short time later, just after 9:00 PM. The killer then fled the scene of the shooting but was caught by police a few minutes later near Tech's football stadium. Officer East died where he was shot inside the police building.
Officer East was 48 years old when he was killed, but had worked as a security officer for several years. And he had just graduated the required Texas police academy in May. His police career was cut tragically short by a young man who was clearly dangerous and who clearly had a high stake in escaping custody. I have no idea what happened and cannot second guess Officer East. I can only wonder how a search of the arrested person did not reveal the large caliber pistol concealed on his person. Was the killer searched at all? A common "rookie" mistake is either not searching a prisoner, or not searching the prisoner ADEQUATELY.
Another common mistake for new officers is, out of compassion, to release a dangerous person (i.e. a person possibly under the influence of drugs and who KNEW he was probably going to go to prison) from handcuffs because the person says the cuffs are hurting him. An act of kindness is often repaid (in the criminal world) by an assault, or by taking the compassionate officer's life. This tragedy is compounded by the fact that more experienced officers who observed the unhandcuffed prisoner did not intervene and explain to this new officer the dangers of leaving a felon suspect unsecured.
These mistakes were tragic, but did not justify the killer in taking this officer's life. While the situation could have and should have been handled differently, ultimately only ONE person was responsible for this officer's murder, and that person is the one person who should pay the most severe penalty available for murderers.
Officer Floyd East, Jr., fulfilled his dream of being a police officer and serving his fellow men at Texas Tech. His career was tragically short, but nonetheless his sacrifice and courage are deserving of honor. Rest in Peace, Officer East.
My prayers, and those of thousands of other Texans as well as people across the nation go out to Officer East's wife, his two daughters, his family, and his fellow officers. As far as I could determine, Officer East was the first Texas Tech Officer to die in the line of duty. I may be wrong on that count, and please correct me if you know different.
The Thin Blue Line in Heaven is one man stronger tonight.
May God keep and protect the officers who strive to protect this nation, and
May God Bless America!
On Monday night, Officer East and other police officers went to the killer's apartment to check on his welfare after receiving a call about him from his family. Officers entered the killer's apartment. He was not at home, but officers found drug paraphernalia in plain view. At some point the killer arrived and was taken into custody. He was transported back to the Texas Tech Police Department. Officer East was shot a short time later, just after 9:00 PM. The killer then fled the scene of the shooting but was caught by police a few minutes later near Tech's football stadium. Officer East died where he was shot inside the police building.
Officer East was 48 years old when he was killed, but had worked as a security officer for several years. And he had just graduated the required Texas police academy in May. His police career was cut tragically short by a young man who was clearly dangerous and who clearly had a high stake in escaping custody. I have no idea what happened and cannot second guess Officer East. I can only wonder how a search of the arrested person did not reveal the large caliber pistol concealed on his person. Was the killer searched at all? A common "rookie" mistake is either not searching a prisoner, or not searching the prisoner ADEQUATELY.
Another common mistake for new officers is, out of compassion, to release a dangerous person (i.e. a person possibly under the influence of drugs and who KNEW he was probably going to go to prison) from handcuffs because the person says the cuffs are hurting him. An act of kindness is often repaid (in the criminal world) by an assault, or by taking the compassionate officer's life. This tragedy is compounded by the fact that more experienced officers who observed the unhandcuffed prisoner did not intervene and explain to this new officer the dangers of leaving a felon suspect unsecured.
These mistakes were tragic, but did not justify the killer in taking this officer's life. While the situation could have and should have been handled differently, ultimately only ONE person was responsible for this officer's murder, and that person is the one person who should pay the most severe penalty available for murderers.
Officer Floyd East, Jr., fulfilled his dream of being a police officer and serving his fellow men at Texas Tech. His career was tragically short, but nonetheless his sacrifice and courage are deserving of honor. Rest in Peace, Officer East.
My prayers, and those of thousands of other Texans as well as people across the nation go out to Officer East's wife, his two daughters, his family, and his fellow officers. As far as I could determine, Officer East was the first Texas Tech Officer to die in the line of duty. I may be wrong on that count, and please correct me if you know different.
The Thin Blue Line in Heaven is one man stronger tonight.
May God keep and protect the officers who strive to protect this nation, and
May God Bless America!
