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Oakland police officer Hector Jimenez finally fired; he murdered both Moppin and Woodfox
OPD officer Hector Jimenez shot and killed an unarmed Andrew Moppin exactly one year before BART police officer Johannes Mehserle murdered an unarmed Oscar Grant. Andrew Moppin was murdered by Hector Jimenez on New Year's Eve 2007. Hector Jimenez was then placed on temporary adminstrative leave (i.e. paid vacation) and was allowed to return to patrolling the streets of Oakland a short time later. Just seven months passed before Hector Jimenez killed again, this time shooting an unarmed Jody Woodfox III in July 2008. Once again, Hector Jimenez was placed on paid leave, where he remained for a full year until he was finally fired this month for having murdered Jody Woodfox.
While Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff refuses to press charges against OPD for any killings -- six citizens murdered in 2008, five in 2007, and 45 shot in all between 2004 and 2008 -- this firing in and of itself is extremely rare. Usually the excuse Jimenez gave after both killings is sufficient to avoid any "discipline" worse than paid leave -- Jimenez claimed both times that the unarmed young men he killed were reaching for their waistbands. This time, though, OPD said Jimenez violated use-of-force policies because Woodfox did not pose a threat to the officer at the time of the shooting.
Another known repeat offender is OPD Sergeant Patrick Gonzalez who murdered 20 year-old Gary King Jr. by shooting him in the back on September 20, 2007. Sergeant Pat Gonzalez also shot and paralyzed 17-year-old Ameir Rollins in 2006 and murdered his first Oakland citizen, 19-year-old Joshua Russell, in 2002. Sergeant Pat Gonzalez was the fifth officer shot and wounded in the events of March 21st, 2009 which left Lovelle Mixon and four Oakland police officers dead. Sergeant Patrick Gonzalez remains in good standing on the force to this date. No real discipline from OPD internal affairs and no charges from Alameda DA Orloff. He remains free to shoot and kill again.
"Jody" Mack Woodfox's family has a pending $10 million dollar lawsuit against the City of Oakland and Jiminez. Robin Glenn, Jody Woodfox's aunt, spoke at a tribunal on police brutality in Oakland on 3/22/09: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/03/23/18580918.php#18580929
Andrew Moppin's family spoke at the Citizens' Police Review Board in Oakland to demand justice on 2/5/09: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/02/06/18568540.php
Another known repeat offender is OPD Sergeant Patrick Gonzalez who murdered 20 year-old Gary King Jr. by shooting him in the back on September 20, 2007. Sergeant Pat Gonzalez also shot and paralyzed 17-year-old Ameir Rollins in 2006 and murdered his first Oakland citizen, 19-year-old Joshua Russell, in 2002. Sergeant Pat Gonzalez was the fifth officer shot and wounded in the events of March 21st, 2009 which left Lovelle Mixon and four Oakland police officers dead. Sergeant Patrick Gonzalez remains in good standing on the force to this date. No real discipline from OPD internal affairs and no charges from Alameda DA Orloff. He remains free to shoot and kill again.
"Jody" Mack Woodfox's family has a pending $10 million dollar lawsuit against the City of Oakland and Jiminez. Robin Glenn, Jody Woodfox's aunt, spoke at a tribunal on police brutality in Oakland on 3/22/09: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/03/23/18580918.php#18580929
Andrew Moppin's family spoke at the Citizens' Police Review Board in Oakland to demand justice on 2/5/09: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/02/06/18568540.php
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When Patrick Gonzalez saw Gary King, Jr. with a group of his friends in West Oakland, Gary was considered a person of interest in a murder earlier that year. The OPD later said that Gary King,Jr. had nothing to do with the murder. However, given that he might have been considered a person who could be dangerous or have been involved in a murder, wouldn't proper procedure be for a cop to not act alone - on his own - to engage this "person of interest." - especially if he is with a group of his friends? Well, that is not what he did and he ended up creating a totally unstable and dangerous situation - for himself and the young men who he confronted. After he brutalized and humiliated Gary King, Jr in front of his friends, he murdered him by shooting him in the back.
No where do I ever here of anyone bringing up the fact that Gonzalez created an unstable, dangerous situation by not having additional police officers involved. Isn't this odd when you see some (what appear to be routine) police stops with three or more cop cars involved? He was never called to account for his dangerous, unneccesary and homicidal behavior.
Apparently Gonzalez is a "good old boy" of the OPD who is militaristic and serves as an important member of the SWAT team. He can do no wrong. Many Oakland residents know better and think his treatment is another example of corruption, incompentence, negligence and homicide in the OPD.
No where do I ever here of anyone bringing up the fact that Gonzalez created an unstable, dangerous situation by not having additional police officers involved. Isn't this odd when you see some (what appear to be routine) police stops with three or more cop cars involved? He was never called to account for his dangerous, unneccesary and homicidal behavior.
Apparently Gonzalez is a "good old boy" of the OPD who is militaristic and serves as an important member of the SWAT team. He can do no wrong. Many Oakland residents know better and think his treatment is another example of corruption, incompentence, negligence and homicide in the OPD.
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