Sam Spade's San Francisco
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
SFPD Officer Nick Birco Killed by Steven Petrilli
Wednesday morning SFPD Officer Nick Birco was broadsided by a speeding van and he was killed.
Inside the van were four cowards; three men and a woman. They had just beaten and robbed a victim who was waiting at a bus stop on Bayshore Boulevard. The van was spotted by police and a wild chase began through the streets of San Francisco.
After slamming broadside into Officer Birko's police cruiser, the van struck two other cars and even struck two buildings before SFPD officers were able to bring the bad guys down and put them in cuffs.
Officer Birko was assigned to the Bayview Station. That station also lost Officer Isaac Espinoza to a Bayview - Hunters Point dope dealer in 2004 who shot and murdered the officer at point blank range.
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Taken from elswehere on the net.
Supposedly the van had gotten away from other officers, and the officer that was killed was trying to get into a position to intercept the suspect vehicle. He was not activley pursuing the van. The van blew a stop sign, striking the police car, and driving it into parked cars, and a building.
The media has apparently indicated that if the police didn't get into high-speed chases with violent felons, the public would be safer, and the officers would be safer.
The also focused on the crash, indicating it was more or less the police dept's fault.
There has been far less focus on the suspect driver's signifigant criminal past. He was out on bail for 2 different felonious crimes, and apparently failed to show up to a bail revocation hearing. There may or may not have been a warrant issued for his failing to show up.
I think he is also currently on parole for a previous high speed chase.
But the crash is the dead officer's fault, according to the media.
One of his previous arrests is for sexual activity with a 13 year old boy. I think that is one of the charges he was out on bail for.