Deputy Sheriff Peter Herrera gave his life in the line of duty. He was shot multiple times by a felon, but survived initially. He was in critical condition but it appeared that he would likely survive, his body armor having stopped most of the bullets. Unfortunately, that assessment was premature. Deputy Herrera died two days later.
In just over two weeks, two Texas peace officers lost their lives. First, Officer Heidelberg in Midland, then Deputy Herrera. Officer Heidelberg, as I noted in a previous blog, lost his life due to one of the stupidest acts of a gun-owner that I have ever heard of in fifty years of living. Deputy Herrera lost his life because of the stupidity a felon who was "brave enough" to ambush a lone officer but, as is so often the case, meekly surrendered "without incident" when confronted by two or more officers. To be honest, I was just too heart-sick to publish this post on March 24th.
On March 22, Deputy Herrera found himself in a situation that many officers face, and quite often come out on the losing end. The problem: How to approach an "innocent citizen" in a dangerous situation, but one which may not be perceived as dangerous by the average person; the very MINOR offense, for instance, of having one tail light out on your car. To the average person in this situation, a cop approaching the citizen with gun drawn would be "too much." After all, the only "violation" is a minor traffic offense. A police officer has to balance the risk to his own safety with the need to appear as "nonthreatening" as possible to the citizen. To further complicate the situation, the officer actually does not know if he is approaching the "average citizen" or a felon who is violating his parole and thus will do anything not to go back to prison.
Deputy Herrera must have felt that he could not justify having his gun drawn when he stopped the man who would in seconds become his killer. Deputy Herrera followed procedure by calling in his location and the description of the vehicle. That was probably his last radio call. As he approached the vehicle, the driver stepped out and immediately emptied his semi-automatic pistol's magazine. Most of the shots struck Deputy Herrera's chest, at least one shot striking the officer's head, and other shots hitting his arms. The deputy was not able to return fire, or even to draw his own weapon. The suspect and his companion were found hiding in a shed a short time later, and of course, surrendered, probably yelling,"Don't shoot! Don't shoot!" And with the restraint demanded of professional peace officers, no officer did what many people would want to do to someone who had just killed a friend. The suspect was not shot, was not even injured.
I was in Deputy Herrera's situation many times. I have pulled over vehicles for minor equipment infractions during the hours of darkness, when most, but not all, "law abiding citizens" are usually at home in bed. I had good police trainers, and had read several books concerning police survival "on the streets." I am in no way criticizing Deputy Herrera's actions or his training, just talking about my own experience. There were times that I approached vehicles during the night with my weapon somewhere other than in the belt holster. I won't elaborate further, but my gun was ready to go. But there were also many times that I felt such an approach to be unjustifiable. Nonetheless, I, like Deputy Herrera, had no idea whether or not the driver, or someone else in the car, was about to shoot or otherwise try to harm me.
The truth is that no officer can know when a violator (major or minor offender) will shoot at him/her. And, as the Midland incident reiterated, an officer can not even be sure when a home-owner will shoot him/her. Law enforcement is a dangerous profession, and as long as police officers are expected to take the least offensive approach possible, to appear as non-threatening as possible, criminals will always have the edge. Nonetheless, officers continue to do their job every day, and new officers daily join the ranks of the Thin Blue Line. And, officers will continue to give their lives in the service of their communities and nation.
Deputy Herrera leaves behind his wife, his loved ones, and his fellow officers at the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. I am proud to honor Deputy Peter Herrera here, and to thank him for his eleven years of service to the people of El Paso and El Paso County.
In just over two weeks, two Texas peace officers lost their lives. First, Officer Heidelberg in Midland, then Deputy Herrera. Officer Heidelberg, as I noted in a previous blog, lost his life due to one of the stupidest acts of a gun-owner that I have ever heard of in fifty years of living. Deputy Herrera lost his life because of the stupidity a felon who was "brave enough" to ambush a lone officer but, as is so often the case, meekly surrendered "without incident" when confronted by two or more officers. To be honest, I was just too heart-sick to publish this post on March 24th.
On March 22, Deputy Herrera found himself in a situation that many officers face, and quite often come out on the losing end. The problem: How to approach an "innocent citizen" in a dangerous situation, but one which may not be perceived as dangerous by the average person; the very MINOR offense, for instance, of having one tail light out on your car. To the average person in this situation, a cop approaching the citizen with gun drawn would be "too much." After all, the only "violation" is a minor traffic offense. A police officer has to balance the risk to his own safety with the need to appear as "nonthreatening" as possible to the citizen. To further complicate the situation, the officer actually does not know if he is approaching the "average citizen" or a felon who is violating his parole and thus will do anything not to go back to prison.
Deputy Herrera must have felt that he could not justify having his gun drawn when he stopped the man who would in seconds become his killer. Deputy Herrera followed procedure by calling in his location and the description of the vehicle. That was probably his last radio call. As he approached the vehicle, the driver stepped out and immediately emptied his semi-automatic pistol's magazine. Most of the shots struck Deputy Herrera's chest, at least one shot striking the officer's head, and other shots hitting his arms. The deputy was not able to return fire, or even to draw his own weapon. The suspect and his companion were found hiding in a shed a short time later, and of course, surrendered, probably yelling,"Don't shoot! Don't shoot!" And with the restraint demanded of professional peace officers, no officer did what many people would want to do to someone who had just killed a friend. The suspect was not shot, was not even injured.
I was in Deputy Herrera's situation many times. I have pulled over vehicles for minor equipment infractions during the hours of darkness, when most, but not all, "law abiding citizens" are usually at home in bed. I had good police trainers, and had read several books concerning police survival "on the streets." I am in no way criticizing Deputy Herrera's actions or his training, just talking about my own experience. There were times that I approached vehicles during the night with my weapon somewhere other than in the belt holster. I won't elaborate further, but my gun was ready to go. But there were also many times that I felt such an approach to be unjustifiable. Nonetheless, I, like Deputy Herrera, had no idea whether or not the driver, or someone else in the car, was about to shoot or otherwise try to harm me.
The truth is that no officer can know when a violator (major or minor offender) will shoot at him/her. And, as the Midland incident reiterated, an officer can not even be sure when a home-owner will shoot him/her. Law enforcement is a dangerous profession, and as long as police officers are expected to take the least offensive approach possible, to appear as non-threatening as possible, criminals will always have the edge. Nonetheless, officers continue to do their job every day, and new officers daily join the ranks of the Thin Blue Line. And, officers will continue to give their lives in the service of their communities and nation.
Deputy Herrera leaves behind his wife, his loved ones, and his fellow officers at the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. I am proud to honor Deputy Peter Herrera here, and to thank him for his eleven years of service to the people of El Paso and El Paso County.
