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The Shooting Death Of Gregory Howe Was The Level Of Force Used By Sheriff Deputies Really Necessary? |
May 16, 2020 |
between the police and the populace" - Alan Grayson
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Becomes Deadly On Tuesday, May 12, 2020 around 3PM, the DeLand police department conducted a traffic stop of Gregory Howe. During the traffic stop, Howe appeared to be somewhat distant in his interactions with the police officers. The officers expressed to each other, that Howe may have mental health concerns (commonly referred to as a "signal 20"). One of the officers, for good reasons, had a concern, that Howe had a firearm within his vehicle. A record check would later conclude, that during a May 1, 2020 traffic stop in Daytona Beach, that Howe had been arrested for possession of a concealed firearm (see attached arrest report). Also during the Daytona Beach traffic stop, it was determined that Howe was driving with a suspended license. Due to his arrest, his truck was towed to an impound yard. When on May 12th, the DeLand officer again advised Howe of his license suspension status, inquirying whether he had anyone to drive the truck home, it apparently became clear to him that once again he was headed to jail, and his truck was going to again be impounded. That appears to have been Howe's breaking point. He put the truck into gear and departed the DeLand traffic stop. His departure from the traffic stop led to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office's (VCSO) ground and air pursuit of Howe, as captured on the available police video. As per the available police video, Howe was eventually gunned downed outside his Deltona home. The VCSO account of Howe's demise wavers a little bit. An initial press release first indicates that Howe pointed his firearm at the deputies prior to the deputies opening fire. Later, the press release amended that account, stating that it was believed that Howe fired at least one shot at the deputies. Either way, it now appears, that the responding deputies fired over eighty rounds at Howe, with fourteen of these rounds striking and killing him. Fortuately, none of these other, so far unaccountable rounds, injured anyone else within the residential community. Apparently, per their pursuit policies, the DeLand police (DPD) did not participate in the pursuit of Howe. This decision by the DPD not to participate in the pursuit later became a point of contention between Police Chief Umberger and Sheriff Chitwood. Umberger held a press conference to clarify, and correct some statements that Chitwood had made, which indicated that DPD had participate in the pursuit. Chitwood responded by holding his own press conference calling Umberger a law enforcement "light weight". No Christmas card exchanges are expected this year between Umberger and Chitwood. This publication also questions whether some comments by the Volusia County Deputies Association (VCDA) were accurate, appropriate, and finally professional? Within an OPEN LETTER to Chief Umberger, VCDA President, Brodie Hughes* stated that Umberger was a "cowardly leader(ship)". We (this publication) disagree with Hughes' assessment on two levels. * Brodie Hughes is an active VCSO deputy |
May 12, 2020 Shooting Death Of Gregory Howe CLICK TO READ COMPLETE REPORT IN PDF FORMAT  OPEN LETTER TO DELAND POLICE CHIEF UMBERGER  
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First, Chief Umberger has the right, and the obligation, to set the record straight. The VCSO had incorrectly released to the media, that the DeLand PD (DPD) had also engaged in the pursuit of Howe. Based on what they (DPD) knew about Howe when he drove off from the traffic stop, they (DPD) did not have enough cause to pursue Howe.
Police pursuits are dangerous. These pursuits place lives in danger, police lives and civilian lives. DPD knew who drove away - and they had evidence of it via their police body cameras. They could pick him up (arrest) later, under a more controlled environment. That's not being a coward - that's smart police work, AND prioritizing the safety of both your officers and the public.
Second, Hughes states that the actions of the Volusia County deputies that shot and killed Howe made them heroes. If the definition of a hero is shooting a man down through the windshield of your patrol car, then the deputies are indeed heroes. But let there be no doubt, that the two DeLand PD officers that dealt with Howe at the traffic stop are also heroes. Even as they suspected that Howe was armed, they engaged him in conversation, trying their level best to de-escalate the situation (Watch the video).
Pure Evil?
So, what was known to the deputies as they pursued Howe. Well, they knew he had fled from a traffic stop, connected to a seat belt violation. They knew that the DeLand officers suspected that he was armed. They knew that he was driving on a suspended license. So how does any of that, equate to Howe being labeled as being "pure evil", as defined within Hughes' letter to Chief Umberger?
Yes, Howe is NOW a "suspect" in an April 26th shooting of a Orange City woman. However, this information was not apparently available to the pursuing deputies. And, yes, the deputies that shot him dead are alleging that he either pointed, and maybe fired a rifle at them. Hopefully, the FDLE shooting investigation brings some clarity to these issues. Because absent his actual involvement in the Orange City shooting incident, and him pointing a rifle at the deputies - in our "OPINION", it's hard to label Howe as "pure evil". However, he may qualify for the famous Sheriff Chitwood label of being a "scumbag".
Did The Level Of Force Equate To The Level Of Threat?
This publication has received several press releases from the VCSO regarding the Howe shooting incident. These press releases waver on whether Howe only pointed a firearm at the deputies, or whether Howe actually fired his rifle. Even Hughes, in his open letter to the chief, would ONLY commit to the account, that Howe "brandished a semi-automatic rifle, and took aim at our deputies". Which account is accurate, and, more importantly, is either account accurate?
One would imagine that this would be a significant fact, and would have been rather quickly determined.
Watch the video for yourself. Determine for yourself, if you see any gun fire coming from Howe's truck? Determine for yourself, if the deputies fire through their own windshields into the cab of Howe's truck (two white patrol cars)? Determine for yourself, if Howe exits his truck un-armed, and is immediately shot down by responding deputies? Determine for yourself, the level of concern the VCSO deputies had for the residents of the neighborhood, as they fired off over eighty (80) rounds. Could a mere five rounds have neutralized the alleged threat?
The Importance Of Transparency
Now, in as far as transparency, Sheriff Chitwood is our hero. Some Florida sheriffs would have not turned the shooting investigation over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). They (other sheriffs) would have "conducted" this investigation in house.
Further, the VCSO has provided this publication, along with many other media outlets, a montage of selected police videos, which depicts the final minutes of Gregory Howe's life. Which allows us, and the entire public, to draw their own conclusions of whether the handling of the Howe matter was over-kill?
While we hold the OPINION, that the VCSO militaristic approach regarding a seat belt violation, placed lives in danger, we shall await the FDLE investigative findings prior to drawing any firm conclusions, and prior to hailing the deputies involved as "heroes".
These investigative findings should provide us with the deputies body cam videos, which should answer at the very least, whether Howe "brandished" his firearm. We should discover where the firearm was located in the truck. Whether Howe's rifle had been fired during the pursuit, and whether his truck's window was up or down.
Hero Worship & Law Enforcement Investigations
This publication, unlike the VCSO or deputies association, is hesitant in assigning "hero" status to the four deputies involved in the Howe shooting. Why? Well, we float the "OPINION" that once you assign hero status, it becomes difficult to conduct, or participate in, an unbiased, and fact driven investigation, into the event that made the deputies heroes.
Also, doesn't it send the wrong message to other law enforcement officers? Want to be a "hero" - then pursue, and gun down a mentally ill man running from a seat belt violation.
So realizing, that we are going to "poke the bear" a little, we shall stand by to stand by, and await the investigative findings, prior to our determination of whether the deputies are heroes.
Until then...dust off your disco shoes or roller skates, because we have reached back to the 1970s for our tribute songs to both Chief Umberger and Sheriff Chitwood.
Jive Talkin' ~ The Bee Gees
Tragedy ~ The Bee Gees
We look forward to your comments on this situation.
Drop us a line to let us know what you think.
EMAIL US
Police pursuits are dangerous. These pursuits place lives in danger, police lives and civilian lives. DPD knew who drove away - and they had evidence of it via their police body cameras. They could pick him up (arrest) later, under a more controlled environment. That's not being a coward - that's smart police work, AND prioritizing the safety of both your officers and the public.
Second, Hughes states that the actions of the Volusia County deputies that shot and killed Howe made them heroes. If the definition of a hero is shooting a man down through the windshield of your patrol car, then the deputies are indeed heroes. But let there be no doubt, that the two DeLand PD officers that dealt with Howe at the traffic stop are also heroes. Even as they suspected that Howe was armed, they engaged him in conversation, trying their level best to de-escalate the situation (Watch the video).
So, what was known to the deputies as they pursued Howe. Well, they knew he had fled from a traffic stop, connected to a seat belt violation. They knew that the DeLand officers suspected that he was armed. They knew that he was driving on a suspended license. So how does any of that, equate to Howe being labeled as being "pure evil", as defined within Hughes' letter to Chief Umberger?
Yes, Howe is NOW a "suspect" in an April 26th shooting of a Orange City woman. However, this information was not apparently available to the pursuing deputies. And, yes, the deputies that shot him dead are alleging that he either pointed, and maybe fired a rifle at them. Hopefully, the FDLE shooting investigation brings some clarity to these issues. Because absent his actual involvement in the Orange City shooting incident, and him pointing a rifle at the deputies - in our "OPINION", it's hard to label Howe as "pure evil". However, he may qualify for the famous Sheriff Chitwood label of being a "scumbag".
This publication has received several press releases from the VCSO regarding the Howe shooting incident. These press releases waver on whether Howe only pointed a firearm at the deputies, or whether Howe actually fired his rifle. Even Hughes, in his open letter to the chief, would ONLY commit to the account, that Howe "brandished a semi-automatic rifle, and took aim at our deputies". Which account is accurate, and, more importantly, is either account accurate?
One would imagine that this would be a significant fact, and would have been rather quickly determined.
Watch the video for yourself. Determine for yourself, if you see any gun fire coming from Howe's truck? Determine for yourself, if the deputies fire through their own windshields into the cab of Howe's truck (two white patrol cars)? Determine for yourself, if Howe exits his truck un-armed, and is immediately shot down by responding deputies? Determine for yourself, the level of concern the VCSO deputies had for the residents of the neighborhood, as they fired off over eighty (80) rounds. Could a mere five rounds have neutralized the alleged threat?
Now, in as far as transparency, Sheriff Chitwood is our hero. Some Florida sheriffs would have not turned the shooting investigation over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). They (other sheriffs) would have "conducted" this investigation in house.
Further, the VCSO has provided this publication, along with many other media outlets, a montage of selected police videos, which depicts the final minutes of Gregory Howe's life. Which allows us, and the entire public, to draw their own conclusions of whether the handling of the Howe matter was over-kill?
While we hold the OPINION, that the VCSO militaristic approach regarding a seat belt violation, placed lives in danger, we shall await the FDLE investigative findings prior to drawing any firm conclusions, and prior to hailing the deputies involved as "heroes".
These investigative findings should provide us with the deputies body cam videos, which should answer at the very least, whether Howe "brandished" his firearm. We should discover where the firearm was located in the truck. Whether Howe's rifle had been fired during the pursuit, and whether his truck's window was up or down.
This publication, unlike the VCSO or deputies association, is hesitant in assigning "hero" status to the four deputies involved in the Howe shooting. Why? Well, we float the "OPINION" that once you assign hero status, it becomes difficult to conduct, or participate in, an unbiased, and fact driven investigation, into the event that made the deputies heroes.
Also, doesn't it send the wrong message to other law enforcement officers? Want to be a "hero" - then pursue, and gun down a mentally ill man running from a seat belt violation.
So realizing, that we are going to "poke the bear" a little, we shall stand by to stand by, and await the investigative findings, prior to our determination of whether the deputies are heroes.
Until then...dust off your disco shoes or roller skates, because we have reached back to the 1970s for our tribute songs to both Chief Umberger and Sheriff Chitwood.
Jive Talkin' ~ The Bee Gees
Tragedy ~ The Bee Gees
Drop us a line to let us know what you think.
EMAIL US