VOLUSIA EXPOSED

Frankly, this publication has zero concerns regarding the actions of Deputy Watson. However, we do have some concerns, that failures within the administration of the Volusia County Sheriff's Office (VCSO) placed Deputy Watson's life and safety, as well as residents of that neighborhood, in undue danger - and that these failures were factors in Mr. Alquisitra's violent and untimely death.

Even The Lone Ranger Had Tonto

As is stated in an 2007 edition of PoliceOne.Com - So, why would ANY police department send a lone deputy to a domestic disturbance call? Heck, Batman had Robin, Starsky had Hutch, and the Lone Ranger had Tonto - but according to a recently .

In Memory Of Police Officer Alma Walters

One would imagine that the December 28, 1985 murder of Meridian, Mississippi Police Officer Alma Walters, 29 would have sent the message long and hard - never send a lone officer to a domestic disturbance call.

In the early morning hours, Officer Alma Walters, 29, arrived as the lone officer on the scene of a domestic disturbance call. It was the home of John Lanier, 29, and his 51-year-old girlfriend, Catherine Smith. Lanier and Smith had fought over his usage of alcohol. Smith called the police and Officer Walters responded.

Officer Walters invited Lanier to go for a walk with her. Lanier testified at his trial that he had been drinking and taking drugs for eighteen (18) hours prior to his outburst of anger. As Ofc. Walters and Lanier got to the driveway a struggle occurred. Officer Walters was badly beaten. Lanier took her gun and dragged her back inside the home. Shortly later, as a back-up officer arrived - Officer Walters warned her colleague to stay outside, yelling, "He's got my gun." Lanier then took the gun, placed it at the back of Officer Walters' head and pulled the trigger, killing her instantly.

Volusia County Sheriff's Office
Sixteen (16) Minutes Of Indecision

According to the initial 911 call (

)- it took Volusia and Putnam County dispatchers over sixteen (16) minutes to determine whether the domestic disturbance was located in Volusia or Putnam - it took Deputy Watson another nine (9) minutes to arrive once dispatched. Therefore - from the initial 911 call, to the arrival of Deputy Watson - the record tends to indicate that twenty-five (25) minutes had elapsed. The body cam video provides us with another nine (9) minutes prior to Deputy Watson usage of deadly force. This publication would argue that during those minutes, over a half of an hour, the VCSO could have dispatched another Volusia County deputy, or as per a mutual aid agreement, requested that Putnam County provide Deputy Watson with back-up.

Pending FDLE Investigation

Now, we await the conclusion of the FDLE shooting investigation. It will be interesting to see if FDLE is at all critical of the VCSO for responding to a domestic disturbance call with only one deputy. Whether the FDLE investigation addresses the delay in Mr. Alquisiras receiving emergency medical treatment due to the fact that Deputy Watson had to retreat from the shooting scene, instead of providing emergency medical care.

The first step in fixing a problem - is to acknowledge the existence of the problem. VCSO may have already taken this first step. , the VCSO states that it "is examining every factor that played a role in Friday's incident. The agency is taking steps to increase the number of deputies available to respond in a shorter amount of time in Zone 21, to request and receive aid from neighboring counties when needed and to communicate the status and location of backup units to the initial unit on scene.

Volusia's citizens and deputies deserve nothing less. Stand by to stand by ... there is surely more to come of this....