SEPT 2022. Blues Vol 38 No. 9

AROUND THE COUNTRY

AROUND THE COUNTRY AROUND THE COUNTRY DISTRICT of COLUMBIA Special Police Officer Maurica Manyan was shot during a baton training exercise. DISTRICT of COLUMBIA - A retired D.C. police officer faces charges after fatally shooting a special police officer at a training session Thursday inside a public library in the Anacostia neighborhood, authorities say. Special Police Officer Maurica Manyan, of Indian Head, Maryland, was the victim, the Metropolitan Police Department said in an update Friday. She was 25 and worked as a special police officer within the DC Public Library’s public safety division. Jesse Porter, 58, was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter, police said. “I thought I had my training gun. Why did I do this? Is she ok?” witnesses told police that Porter asked. It wasn’t immediately clear if Porter has a lawyer. He retired from MPD in 2020 as a lieutenant, an online profile says. According to the initial investigation, Porter shot Manyan at the conclusion of a training exercise in a conference room of the Anacostia Neighborhood Library. Witnesses told police that Porter, who had been hired to conduct the training, suddenly pulled a gun from his holster, pointed it at Manyan and pulled the trigger once. About five officers wanted a group picture taken at the end of the training, a court affidavit says. Manyan was the subject of some playful jokes about her hair and said she wanted to take off her mask. That’s when Porter pulled out his gun and fired, the document says. Porter then said he thought he had his training gun, witnesses told police. Several people began CPR. First responders were called to the library at 1800 Good Hope Road SE shortly before 3:45 p.m. As Porter was led out of the building, he turned to a library officer, the affidavit said. “I’m sorry. I shot your officer,” he said. Library patrons were cleared from the building. No one else was hurt. Manyan was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. She had been on the force for less than a year. Her family declined to speak. Witnesses said Porter had a brightly colored training gun — a replica — in his holster until the time of the shooting. Camera footage in the room where the shooting occurred matched what Officer Maurica Manyan witnesses said occurred, the affidavit said. Chief of Police Robert Contee said Friday that it’s unclear why Porter pulled out the loaded gun. “There are props and firearm lookalikes that are in a training environment. They were present in this environment. But why and what kind of was in his mind at this time, I don’t know the answer to that,” he said. The retired lieutenant was conducting a training on how to use a police baton, Contee told reporters Thursday night. “I don’t have answers as to why the live firearm was in ASP baton training,” Contee said, EL PASO COUNTY, CO El Paso County Deputy Andrew Peery was shot and killed in the line of duty while responding to a shooting. EL PASO COUNTY, CO. (KKTV) - A decorated law enforcement officer was killed in the line of duty while protecting those around him from an armed suspect. “He put himself in the line of fire to save others,” said a friend of El Paso County Deputy Andrew Peery’s heroic actions at the scene Sunday evening. Peery, a 39-year-old married father of two and six-year veteran of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office was among the three law enforcement officers who responded to a 911 call near Widefield High School just after 5 p.m. “The caller was reporting a shooting in the area of the 500 block of Ponderosa, which is in Security,” said El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder. “We had additional callers who were also hearing gunfire in the same area. Two of our deputies, alongside a Fountain police officer, arrived on scene almost simultaneously. As soon as they arrived, they were immediately met with gunfire.” “Our deputies returned fire with at least one round, and after additional personnel arrived on scene, they immediately rendered aid and life-saving measures,” Elder said. Despite first responders’ efforts, Peery did not survive. “Andrew was a highly dedicated, highly decorated SWAT operator for the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, and he has been with my office since 2016,” Elder said in a news conference Sunday night. “He was a kind soul,” said friend Scott Stone. “He was a man’s man, he made sure that we were -- that the guys on his team were always taken care of. He would have given the shirt off his back to his fellow officers.” Stone, a former El Paso County deputy who was injured in the line of duty during the 2018 shooting that claimed the life of Deputy Micah Flick, spoke of what this loss meant to their law enforcement family. “It’s one of the worst feelings in the pit of your stomach. It’s a gut-wrenching thing. You feel for his family, you feel for his kids. It’s going to be a long healing process.” Fellow officers lined the streets Sunday night to show their respects during a procession from the hospital. Officers pay their respects to El Paso County Deputy Andrew Peery, who was killed in the line of duty while trying to stop an armed suspect. Deputy Andrew Peery Condolences have flooded in from law enforcement agencies across the country, including Kern County, California, where Peery once worked as a police officer. Gov. Jared Polis issued a short statement. “My thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of Deputy Peery and all our neighbors in law enforcement who put their lives at risk to serve others,” he said. Peery is survived by his wife, Megan, and two children. Those wishing to help his family can donate through Chase Bank under the “Hugh A. Martin Memorial Scholarship Fund,” with “Andrew Peery” on memo line. 22 The BLUES The BLUES 23