Now you know why we always avoid the cops in AmeriKa:
"Trooper faces string of charges; Allegedly drove drunk, pointed gun at officer" by John M. Guilfoil, Globe Staff | September 26, 2010
A Massachusetts State Police trooper and Army war hero was arrested after a chaotic scene unfolded early yesterday morning when he allegedly drove drunk and crashed his car on his Dorchester street, pointed a gun at an off-duty Boston police officer, and then ran into his house and fired his gun into a ceiling. He came outside and was wrestled to the ground by responding officers.
Timothy J. Walsh, 41, is an 18-year State Police veteran who has been on military leave for the past five years, said David Procopio, a spokesman for the State Police. Walsh has done multiple tours in Afghanistan and he received the Army Commendation Medal for valor in December 2009....
According to witnesses cited in the report, Walsh struck three parked cars on his street and then fled onto Neponset Avenue. He returned a short time later and parked his battered car in his driveway, the report said....
Procopio said Walsh turned in his service weapon when he went on military leave and that the gun he fired was a personal weapon. Walsh has a license to carry firearms, he said.
Walsh did tours in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, said Richard R. Brown, president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts, the troopers’ union, and he recently returned from one.
The Trooper Newspaper, the union’s official publication, listed Walsh as a staff sergeant in the Army. His photo is on the cover of the February issue, which reports on a December 2009 event at Florian Hall, where he received the Army Commendation Medal for valor.
According to the newspaper’s narrative of the ceremony, Walsh was serving in Balkh Province, Afghanistan, in May 2009, providing support for an 84-man commando task force when they came under heavy fire.
As the commandos appeared to be in grave danger from “overwhelming fire,’’ they headed north to take cover, but they were pinned down by heavy machine gunfire.
Walsh stood up, in the line of fire, and provided covering fire with his rifle and grenade launcher while the commandos moved out of danger.
Walsh then noticed one of his teammates dragging a severely wounded commando with a gunshot wound. He stood up again, putting himself in the line of fire, and provided covering fire so that the commando could be moved out of danger.
Behind cover, but still taking fire, the soldiers were pinned down and decided they needed to retreat. Walsh stood up a third time and yelled to his men to fire their weapons and escape “the kill zone,’’ according to the narrative.
“His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflect distinct credit upon himself, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, Special Operations Command Central, and the United States Army,’’ the narative read.
Is this another Lynch or Tillman piece of propaganda or what?
Brown said in a phone interview that Walsh has union representation and support.
“He’s a war hero,’’ Brown said. “I wish him the best with everything he’s dealing with, and my thoughts and prayers go out to the Boston Police Department for the whole situation.’’
You know, a blanket excuse.... sorta of like "I was drunk."
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"State Police panel expected to suspend veteran trooper; Accused of DUI, firearm discharge" by Brian R. Ballou, Globe Staff | September 28, 2010
Yesterday, during his arraignment in Dorchester District Court, Walsh stood behind a glass partition, his hands cuffed in front of his body. He wore a light-blue, long-sleeve dress shirt and appeared sullen, tilting his head down throughout the proceeding.
In the courtroom, six soldiers dressed in camouflage fatigues occupied an entire row. The soldiers and several state troopers attended the arraignment to offer support for Walsh, said Lisa Medeiros of Quincy, his lawyer.
Assistant District Attorney Gretchen Sherwood asked judge Robert Tochka to set bail at $2,000. Medeiros, who entered a plea of not guilty on her client’s behalf, asked Tochka to release Walsh, saying he has deep roots in the community and received several commendations while serving in Afghanistan. She described her client’s alleged crimes as “a complete aberration for him.’’
It's what the war did to him.
Flags of Our Fathers?
When Tochka asked Walsh’s supporters to stand, about two dozen people rose, including Walsh’s father and other relatives, the soldiers, and troopers.
Tochka released Walsh on personal recognizance, ordering him to undergo a mental health evaluation within a week through a Veteran’s Administration program for post-traumatic stress disorder.
When asked later by reporters whether her client may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, Medeiros replied, “We’re not looking into anything at this point specific to mental health.’’
Tochka also ordered Walsh to surrender all firearms and his firearm identification card and to stay away from establishments serving alcohol and remain alcohol-free.
Outside court, Medeiros said of Walsh: “He’s not comfortable being paraded out. This is humiliating for him.’’ Walsh is due back in court on Nov. 29 for a pretrial hearing.
At least he didn't have a bag over his head as he headed for the waterboard room.
Medeiros said Walsh graduated from Boston College High School in 1987 and a year later joined the US Marine Corps. He served in the Marines until 1993.
He then joined the State Police. While working as a trooper, he attended night school at Western New England College and graduated in 1999.
When he took a leave from the State Police to serve in the Army more than six years ago, Walsh turned in his State Police service weapon and department cruiser.
And it ruined him.
Yesterday, an unidentified man who had attended the arraignment answered Walsh’s door on South Munroe Terrace.
The man said of Walsh, “He’s our man, and we’re behind him.’’
Of course, if I played demolition derby while drunk, threatened a cop with a gun, and fired of a round I would receive the same support.
Sig heil.
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Update: State Police suspend accused trooper
