2010 - Tributes For Police and Military K9 Handlers

Note :  Some of these tributes are for police canine officers that were killed in the line of duty and some for officers that died while off duty. Also included are military canine handlers that were killed during wars.

Both officer and K9 were killed in line of duty

Lance Cpl. Jeffrey R. Standfest 

Jeff Standfest, 23, of China Township in St. Clair, Michigan, died while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan on June 16, 2010. He was killed by an IED. Jeff Standfest was deployed in April for his first tour of duty. Standfest, recently returned to duty after suffering a concussion in an explosion in an incident that killed his bomb sniffing K9 in May of 2010. He had returned to duty with a new K9 in which he was killed in this incident. Jeff Standfest was a canine handler and a combat engineer. Standfest was assigned to 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif. Standfest had been awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the NATO Medal. The Corporal had enlisted in the Marine Corps in October 2008. He is the son of Detective Timothy Standfest, of the Clinton Township police who is a 25-year law enforcement veteran specializing in fraud investigations.

Darren Smith 

Darren Smith, 26, a K-9 handler was killed along with his K9 Herbie, a 3 1/2 year old Collie Cross, by a road side bomb in Afghanistan while on patrol for his country of Australia on June 7, 2010. His friend, Jacob Moerland, 21, found the explosive device and sounded a warning. He then called up his friend Darren Smith along with his K9 partner Herbie.  As they approached the device, it detonated. A Taliban insurgent had detonated the device by remote control.  Both Darren Smith and Jacob Moerland were from the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment. This was their first deployment for both soldiers. They were on a routine foot patrol in the remote Mirabad Valley. It was just before lunchtime when an improvised explosive device, or IED, detonated. Darren Smith was killed at the time of the explosion and Jacob Moerland  received emergency first aid from his patrol mates and was subsequently, aero-medical evacuated to a nearby International Security Assistance Force hospital. It took just 38 minutes for a US medivac chopper to get the Moerland to the Dutch-run and Australian-staffed field hospital at Camp Holland in Tarin Kowt where he died from his wounds. Smith's military career commenced as part of the Army Reserve enlisting November 29, 2001 and completing Recruit training in January 2002, serving as part of 3rd Field Squadron, South Australia.  Smith went on to complete his Combat Engineer suite of courses in 2004 and become part of the Australian Regular Army where he was posted to 1st Combat Engineer Regiment in Oct 2004. He completed a number of driver courses up to heavy vehicle and Armored Personnel Carrier.  He successfully completed his Explosive Detection Dog Handler course in December 2006. He completed his Junior Leader Course in November 2008. Smith was posted to 2 CER in January 2009.  He deployed in March 2010. As part of his tour he has been awarded the Australian Active Service Medal with Clasp International Campaign against Terrorism, NATO Service Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. He also has received his Return from Active Service Badge.  Smith has also been awarded the Australian Defense Medal. In recognition of the bond between the pair, Herbie was cremated in Afghanistan and his ashes returned to Smith's widow, Angela. Smith leaves behind his wife Angela and a 2-1/2 yr old son - Mason who live in Brisbane, Australia.

Officer Bill Evans, 38,  was shot and killed on May 20, 2010 in West Memphis, Arkansas during a traffic stop while "running drug interdiction" on Interstate 40. The events started when Evans stopped a white 1994 Plymouth Voyager minivan with Ohio plates at 11:36 a.m. traveling eastbound on I-40 at Airport Road and then exited the Interstate onto an off-ramp near College Avenue. Sgt. Brandon Paudert, 39, a back up officer arrived on the scene within moments of the traffic stop. The suspects in the white mini van exited the vehicle with AK 47 assault rifles and shot canine officer Bill Evans and his back up officer Sgt. Brandon Paudert. During the shooting canine officer Bill Evan's partner, K9 "Kilo", was in Evan's vehicle. Paudert, the son of West Memphis' police chief, died at the scene and Evans died at a hospital shortly after. Both officers were wearing their vests. The suspects, Jerry Kane, 45, and his son, Joseph Kane, 16, then drove off in the white mini van. About 90 minutes later, a minivan that had been seen leaving the shooting site was spotted in a parking lot of a nearby Wal-Mart. There, it was approached by Crittenden County Sheriff Dick Busby and Chief Enforcement Officer W.A. Wren, who were traveling in the same vehicle. Both officers were wounded in a gun battle initiated by the suspects. Sheriff Dick Busby was shot in the arm and Chief Enforcement Officer W.A. Wren was shot in the abdomen and air lifted to Regional Medical Center at Memphis, where they were in critical condition. Officer  Michael Neal, a Arkansas Fish and Game wildlife officer in his state truck, had rammed the suspect vehicle, preventing an exit of the suspects who were then shot and killed. Neal's bravery likely put a stop to a hail of gunfire that had already wounded Crittenden County Sheriff Dick Busby and his deputy chief, W.A. Wren.  The Kane's family dog "valor" who was in the white van with them was shot eight times died 3 days later. Services for the both officers were held at Lehr Arena four hours apart from each other. Officer Evans K9 partner "Kilo" attended the service along with thousands who paid their respect. Officer Evans was with West Memphis Police Department for nine years. Evans, a 38-year-old father of two who was engaged to be married. Donations can be made to Bill Evans & Brandon Paudert at Suntrust bank or Wachovia Bank.

Jerry Kane had a long history with police and recently complained about being busted at a "Nazi checkpoint" near Carrizozo, N.M., where court records show he spent three days in jail before posting a $1,500 bond on charges of driving without a license and concealing his identity. Warnings were given to officers on July 21, 2004, about Kane, saying he might be dangerous to law enforcement.  Kane had complained in July 2004 about being sentenced to six days of community service for driving with an expired license plate and no seat belt, saying the judge had tried to "enslave" him.  Kane added that he was a "free man" and asked for $100,000 per day in gold or silver.

 

Sheriff Deputy Ian Michael Deutch, 27, was shot and killed 4/26/10 in a casino parking lot in Nevada. Ian Deutch was driving with a field training officer when they responded after gunfire was first reported at a home a short distance from Terrible's Lakeside Casino & RV Park in Pahrump, Nevada. Sabrina Hepler had called 911 at 3:41 p.m. from her vehicle who told dispatchers that she was in a car and her boyfriend Chaffin James Lacy Chaffin, 30, was in a pickup, following her and firing at her. She told dispatchers that she was going to the casino to escape him. Dispatchers told her not to do that because she would be heading away from sheriff's deputies who were going to try to pull Chaffin's truck over. She chose to park her vehicle and flee inside the casino anyway, with Chaffin following her. A short time later, Chaffin went back outside the casino, got into his vehicle and began driving around the parking lot. As Deutch and his field training officer were pulling up to the scene, they saw a parked, empty pickup in the parking lot with a white car pulling up in front of them. Because the girlfriend told dispatchers that Chaffin was driving a pickup and that she was driving a car, they got out of their department-issued pickup to look for the suspect inside the casino. But Chaffin was in the car, and in less than two seconds, he fired at least 11 rounds from an SKS Soviet 7.62x39mm caliber  semi-automatic rifle, which had a 30-round clip, striking Deutch five times piercing his body armor as he was just getting out of the driver's side -- three times in the chest and once each in the knee and pelvic area.  When the shooting happened both men were less than twelve feet apart from one another. Surveillance video of the incident showed there was little that could have been done to protect Deutch.  The shooting that killed Deutch was an unprovoked attack. Deputy Doug McKillips, 45, a seven-year department veteran, was with Deutch responding  in a marked sheriff's department pickup truck and escaped injury. A third deputy, Deputy Tom Klenczar, 39, a six-year veteran of the department arrived in a patrol vehicle and shot Chaffin four times in the back as Chaffin shot at Deutch killing the gunman at the scene. James Lacy Chaffin's girlfriend was not injured.  Deutch was flown by medical helicopter to University Medical Center in Las Vegas, where he underwent surgery but died approximately 9:00 p.m.  The whole disturbance began after Chaffin's ex-girlfriend,  refused to talk with Chaffin about the status of their relationship. She had been temporarily staying with a friend and his wife. About 3:30 p.m. she drove to the friends house on Cajon Lane, a block from the casino, to pick up the rest of her belongings. She was about to move to Arizona to stay with different friends,  A "calm, reasonable" Chaffin was waiting for Sabrina in her friends living room. Chaffin was under the impression that his girlfriend was willing to talk. When she refused, Chaffin took her keys and purse and refused to let her leave until she agreed to discuss their situation. He wanted to split everything down the middle because they had been together 12 years. She didn't want to give him a straight answer about if it was over or not, and started yelling and screaming getting Chaffin upset. She finally called police and fled in a co-worker's vehicle. An enraged Chaffin pursued her with a handgun, shooting out a tire and firing multiple shots through the vehicle's back window. A friend  tried to calm Chaffin but it was too late and Chaffin followed her to the casino. Deutch a staff sergeant and squad leader was a meritorious service medal winner and among 752 soldiers with the 1st Squadron, 221st Calvary who had just returned home 2 days earlier from Afghanistan identifying Taliban targets for artillery strikes outside combat outpost Nagil. Ian Deutch was a  ten-year veteran of the Nevada Army National Guard. Sheriff Deputy Ian Deutch joined the department as a patrol deputy on April 12, 2004 and six months later, he was transferred to the K-9 detail and was a canine officer until he was killed.. Sheriff Deputy Ian Deutch  was one of Nye County’s 108 sworn deputies to cover more than 18,000 square miles. He was assigned to K-9 Patrol with his faithful partner. About 1,000 people attended the memorial service. Deutch's flag-draped coffin was carried in the back of a pickup from the Nye County Sheriff's Office. "Taps" was played by a pair of buglers, riflemen on the roof of the church fired a 21-gun salute, a five-piece police band played "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes and drums, and a police dispatcher went on the radio to broadcast that "K9-3," Deutch's call sign, was at the "end of watch."  K9 Chico attended the service of his handler and was given to Deputy Ian Deutch's family . Deputy Ian Deutch was cremated after the service.  Sheriff Deputy Deutch  left behind a wife, Vicky; a 5-year-old daughter, Savonya; and an 18-year-old stepson, Jonathan and his K9 partner "Chico". Ian and Vicky wed in March 2009, shortly before his deployment to Afghanistan. A memorial fund has also been set up under Deutch’s name at Nevada State Bank, 1301 S. Highway 160, under the account No. 0258040427.

 

Cpl. J.R. Searcy, 33, was finishing his 12 hour day shift  around 6 p.m. on  3/4/10  when he  arrived at the scene to back up another deputy . Searcy, who was off duty at the time, responded to a call .  He just finished his shift, but went out to assist a fellow deputy. He was responding to a call about a reported aggravated assault on Browning Road near Louisiana 34 in southwestern Ouachita Parish.  It was reported that a suspect, Michael Tanner, 26,  had tried to run people over with his vehicle. When the deputies arrived, they confronted the suspect standing outside of his vehicle. Corporal Searcy had his Taser in his hand, and ordered the suspect to put his hands up who was approximately 15 yards away. As the suspect raised his hands, he suddenly pulled  a .40 caliber handgun that he had concealed in the small of his back, and opened fire, striking Corporal Searcy twice.  Cpl. Searcy didn't have a chance to pull his weapon from his holster. The second deputy returned fire, killing the suspect. Corporal Searcy was taken to St. Francis Medical Center. One bullet went through the brain, and the other was lodged at the base of his brain. His spinal cord was severed. The bullet went in through the armhole of Searcy's bulletproof vest, and ricocheted through the top of his spinal cord. A brain scan conducted two days later found no activity and was pronounced dead around 10:40 p.m., two days later on 3/6/10. Searcy's family was making arrangements with the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency to allow the deputy to become an organ donor, and so the life support apparatus had remained on. Corporal Searcy had served  with  the Ouachita Parish  Sheriff’s Office for eight years. He also served in the United States Air Force 4 years as a military police officer. He was also a successful business owner of C&K Searcy Enterprises, a lawn care business. Approximately 4,000 attended his funeral. Honor guards from Monroe, West Monroe, Louisiana State Police and the Sheriff’s Office will participate in the funeral. Kilpatrick Funeral Home donated its services and the burial plot for Searcy. Mulhearn Funeral Home also offered to provide services. Forty K-9 officers and their dogs from various law enforcement agencies lined the cemetery road leading to the grave. The State Police Color Guard conducted a 21-gun salute for Searcy at the cemetery. Horse-mounted officers and K-9 officers were stationed at the cemetery. The U.S. Secret Service contacted President Barack Obama’s office to get a letter from the president to present to Searcy’s family. “J.R. has worked with the Secret Service when dignitaries came to town.   He is survived by  his  wife, Kerry, of nine years and  three  children, a son Justin, a daughter Maegan and step son Nicholas Lambert.  Donations to the Family of Corporal Searcy can be made at any Progressive Bank at any of the following locations, Monroe: 1411 North 19th Street or 1398 Lamy Lane, West Monroe: 3421 Cypress Street or 701 Trenton Street.,  Winnsboro: 301 Fair Avenue or Bossier: 2600 Beene Blvd with Account Number 4022289.

Michael Tanner has a lengthy record with the sheriff’s office. The departments in Monroe and West Monroe had dealings with him many times. He has been arrested more than ten times.  His arrests include anything from drug possession to simple assault. Sept. 19, 2001 - Careless operation of a vehicle, May 30, 2002 – Speeding, June 19, 2002- Drug possession, June 21, 2002 - Careless operation of a vehicle, Dec. 12, 2002 - Illegal deer hunting, discharge of firearms, Oct. 17, 2003 - Following too closely, Jan. 14, 2004 - Reckless operation of a vehicle, June 23, 2004 - Drug possession, June 16, 2005 -  Speeding, July 12, 2006 - Obstructing the view of the driver, June 15, 2006 - Expired license plate, Nov. 8, 2006 - Failure to register, Nov. 29, 2006 - Driving while intoxicated, Feb. 13, 2008 - Criminal trespassing, Nov. 10, 2008 - Driving without proper equipment on vehicle, Nov. 13, 2008 - Illegal passing, June 14, 2009 - Disturbing the peace, Nov. 23, 2009 - Stop sign and yield sign, and Dec. 21, 2009 - Domestic abuse battery.  In December of 2009 Tanner was arrested for domestic abuse against his girlfriend.  She alleged he grabbed her throat and threatened to hit her. His court date on the domestic abuse battery charge was scheduled for March 30, 2010. In 2006, he was arrested for another domestic abuse charge against another girlfriend. In June of 2009 Ouachita Parish deputies picked Tanner up for aggravated assault with a knife, against his father. The two had an argument ending with Tanner pulling a knife on his father.  After initially entering a plea of innocent and failing to appear at one of the court dates, Tanner pleaded guilty to the charge. He paid a fine and courts costs totaling $296.

Rawlinson, who retired from the Tulsa Police Department as a sergeant in 1981. He died February 21, 2010, at the age of 75.  In  the 1960s, his first K9 partner, “Doc”. patrolled together as part of the Tulsa Police Department's new K-9 unit. Rawlinson, launched the unit with another officer in 1962. He served in the Marines during the Korean War. Rawlinson began his career with the Tulsa Police Department in 1961. He received K-9 training in Kansas City, Mo., the next year Rawlinson worked with Doc for years until the dog was diagnosed with brain cancer. In 1966, while Rawlinson was off duty, he "missed death by the skin of his thumb," He was working at a laundry he owned when he heard a traffic accident outside. He went out and saw a man fleeing into a nearby gas station. Rawlinson and an on-duty deputy sheriff followed him into the station's restroom, where the man shoved a German Luger into Rawlinson's stomach. As the man tried to pull the trigger, the web of skin between Rawlinson's thumb and index finger prevented the gun's hammer from firing. He was named Officer of the Month for his bravery. After 20 years of service, Rawlinson retired from the Police Department at age 46 as a sergeant. His wife, Joyce Eudy , died in 1991.  He is survived by three daughters, Rise Bennett, Dana Hardy, and Aubrey Hill; two sons, Randy Rawlinson  and Doug Rawlinson.

Officer Charlie Dallas, 56, a twenty year veteran of the Lakeland Police Department died on 1/18/10 in a two-vehicle collision at 4:20 p.m.  on U.S. 27 and Jackson Street, just south of Lake Wales after his SUV Ford Explorer  overturned and was declared dead at the scene. According to the Florida Highway Patrol the accident happened when Federico Vasquez, 23, of Sebring was driving a 2006 Pontiac G6 south on U.S. 27 and swerved left to avoid hitting a 1989 Ford station wagon, driven by Sharon Kolbinskie, 54, of Lake Wales, who was crossing the road at Jackson Street. Vasquez crossed the median and into Dallas' path. The left side of Vasquez's car struck the left side of Dallas' 2008 Ford Explorer and Dallas lost control of the SUV and it rolled over, throwing him out. Vasquez and his passenger, Katie Boyette, were not injured. Polk County emergency workers called for a helicopter, but by the time it arrived, Dallas had died. Dallas, at the time was working an off-duty detail for Lakeland Regional Medical Center and was not wearing a seat belt. Dallas' passenger, Karyn Spencer, 33, of Lakeland was taken to Lake Wales Regional Medical Center for unknown injuries. Spencer was a Lakeland Regional Medical Center employee accompanying Dallas on a patient transfer. The two were on their way back to Lakeland in the Lakeland Regional Medical Center vehicle. The others involved in the crash were wearing seat belts. Charges in the crash are pending. Officer Charlie Dallas, had been named the department's Officer of the Year in 1996 and 2000.  He was a canine handler for nineteen years and handled 3 dogs in his career and even kept his last dog, Dinx, after he retired. Officer Dallas and his K9 Dynx won top 4-man team honors in the USPCA Region One trials held in Pensacola in 2008 which made it the third year in a row the Lakeland Police Department K-9 Unit claimed the top 4-man team award. Others that comprised the team were Officer Ted Sealey (K-9 Bodo), Officer Jeff Barrett (K-9 Beno), and Officer Rob Manrow (K-9 Bask). The team competed against approximately 50 other teams to win the award. Officer Dallas and K9 Dynx came in 6th in the top 10 individual standings that year. Dallas received the department's Medal of Valor for his actions while catching two murder suspects in 1999. He also received an award after a double murder in 2008 in which  police tracked down the shooting suspect, who was pointing a short-barrel shotgun to his head and threatening to kill himself. Dallas persuaded the suspect to put down the gun and the man was taken into custody. Officer Dallas had planned to retire in a couple of months He is survived by his wife Elaine and their sons Dustin and Justin. The Dallas family is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the K-9 unit of Lakeland Police Department.

Officer McLaughlin passed away of natural causes unexpectedly at his home while sleeping on January 10, 2010.  Officer McLaughlin was a 21-year veteran of the Foster City Police Department. Mike was a well respected member of the Department and well known throughout the State for his experience and expertise with police service dogs. Officer McLaughlin joined the Foster City Police Department in 1989 after serving five years in the United States Army.  He graduated as the “Top Student” from the San Francisco Police Department Academy in May, 1989.  During his career, Mike received numerous commendations and accolades from the public. In April 2006, Mike was credited with saving the life of a 25 year-old man by administering CPR.  In March 2008, he was one of three officers who rescued an intoxicated driver who had driven her car into the Foster City lagoon.  This life saving action was recognized in 2009 by the Peninsula Council of Lions Clubs, when Officer McLaughlin received their Heroism Award. Officer McLaughlin served as a canine officer for 16 years, starting in 1993 and had five different service dogs during his career.  He competed locally and internationally with his canine partners and regularly took high honors during annual canine trials held in the local area. McLaughlin's passion for dogs sent him to Europe several times, landed him on the cable TV program "MythBusters". Around 1993 he started working closely with Witmer-Tyson Imports in Menlo Park, a kennel and import business that provides police dogs and training to 40 law enforcement agencies in the Bay Area. McLaughlin helped train dogs and officers, but he also spent a lot of his spare time at the company's headquarters. In 2007, he also ended up on camera, when an episode of "MythBusters" was staged at the Witmer-Tyson Kennels. During his appearance, McLaughlin brought out a fierce German shepherd named Eewan, who was used to test whether it is possible to effectively distract a guard dog. Over the 16 years he was involved with the kennel, McLaughlin took part in the training of nearly 250 dogs and their handlers. He also got heavily involved in the Menlo Park Schutzhund Club. McLaughlin did well in trials and ended up on a U.S. team that competed in an international police dog competition in Germany in 1998 and also competed in Austria. McLaughlin was known to demanded a lot out of his trainees in the name of quality and safety. He was a well respected canine handler in the community  and trained and worked with police canine handler teams from around northern California.  Mike was well known locally for his community presentations with his various service dogs.  He taught at the Citizens Police Academy and participated in canine demonstrations at Foster City community events, schools, youth groups and was a regular invitee to public canine presentations in several other local communities. Mike's son, Michael Jr. is picking up where his father left off and is a trainer at the Witmer-Tyson Kennels.  Mike is survived by his wife Kathy, sons Mike Jr. and Chris, and daughter Kim age 14. The Foster City Police Officers’ Association has established the McLaughlin Family Trust at Merrill Lynch.  Donations can be made by calling 925-945-4882.

Cpl. James Szuba

Shawn Devine has been in the police system many times. Devine was first convicted in 1997 when he was 18 years old for violating his learner's permit and disregarding a stop sign. In the course of 13 years, Devine was arrested for six more driving offenses, five of which ended in convictions and four of which were related to alcohol. In a 2002 incident in Mishawaka, Devine smashed into a woman's parked car near the 200 block of East Stanley and drove off. Mishawaka police caught up with the man at a 7-Eleven store where Devine failed multiple roadside sobriety tests and officers also found four unopened cans of "Icehouse" lying on the floorboard of Devine's car. Devine pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated in the case, in exchange for two other counts being dismissed. He was given one year of probation, ordered to pay restitution and ordered to undergo a substance abuse program, which he successfully completed. Devine also had drunken driving convictions in 2005 and 2006 and a driving-while-suspended infraction in 2007. In the 2006 case, Devine was charged with two Class C misdemeanors along with two Class D felonies for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated after a prior conviction and operation of a vehicle with more than 0.08 percent alcohol concentration after a prior conviction. As part of a plea agreement, Devine pleaded guilty to the first D felony count and the three other counts were dismissed. St. Joseph Superior Judge Jerome Frese then sentenced Devine to a one-year suspended sentence and one year of probation. Devine also was ordered to serve three 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. shifts at the county jail. The 2006 case was the only infraction considered as a felony in Devine's driving history. Police documents from Devine's 2006 arrest say Devine has never had a valid Indiana license and dispatch data showed repeated suspensions and prior convictions on only an expired ID card. On July 20, 2009, in Michigan, a drug informant notified Niles City Police Department he was arrested for the delivery of marijuana at the Wal-Mart, 2107 S. 11th St. When a female driver of the silver SUV in which Devine and another male were riding pulled into the Wal-Mart parking lot about 7:30 p.m. on July 20, 2009, three Niles city police officers (two undercover) were waiting for them. After Devine and the woman went inside the store and returned five minutes later with no shopping bags in their hands, they got into the SUV. Police made a traffic stop on the vehicle and asked, in separate interviews, why the three were at the Wal-Mart, according to police. "All three gave conflicting information as to why they were there," said court records. Police asked the woman driver and Devine if they could search the vehicle and they said yes, but they added that the vehicle didn't belong to them. In a twist of irony, a police dog with a Niles officer discovered marijuana in the back of Devine's vehicle. Police found 10 1-pound bags of marijuana in a camouflage bag. When the three were arrested both Devine and his male friend blamed the other for why they had marijuana in the SUV, court records revealed. Devine was sentenced on Oct. 19 after a plea agreement to two days in jail with credit for two days served. He also was placed on probation for 18 months with several conditions. He was convicted in October and placed on probation, but could face four years for violation of probation. According to the probation terms, Devine was prohibited from drinking and from being away from his Mishawaka house between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., according to Berrien County Drug Court records. Devine could break his curfew but his probation officer needed to be advised. Devine also had to undergo random alcohol and drug testing and his probation terms for alcohol was zero tolerance.

For this accident with Cpl Szuba, Devine faces five charges including: operating while intoxicated and causing the death of another person, two counts of operating with a controlled substance and causing death to another person, resisting law enforcement and a habitual substance offender. Devine's blood alcohol level was at .239 percent at time of the crash, nearly three times the legal limit. The legal limit is .08. Devine faces up to 31 years in prison. On 1/14/10 Devine was transferred from the hospital to the St. Joseph County jail. On 1/15/10, just after a few hours after the service started for Cpl. Szuba, Devine appeared in court for the first time in a wheelchair and was rolled in by deputies into a jail room to be arraigned before a judge via video conference.  A preliminary plea of not guilty was entered for Devine.  Devine’s next court date will be on 1/21/10 in front of St. Joseph Superior Court Judge Jane Woodward Miller and has a $100,000 bond.  A judge set Devine’s trial date for May 10, 2010. On his plea deadline date of March 30, 2010 he pleaded guilty to seven felony counts. •Count 1, causing a death – Operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (alcohol) •Count 2, causing a death – Operating a vehicle while under the influence of a Schedule 1 controlled substance (cocaine) •Count 3, causing a death – Operating a vehicle while under the influence of a Schedule 2 controlled substance (Vicodin) •Count 4, causing a death while resisting law enforcement •Count 5, he pleaded guilty to being a habitual substance abuse offender (this allows the court to impose an additional sentence) •Count 6, possession of cocaine •Count 7,  possession of controlled substance (Vicodin) The plea agreement says Devine will spend at least 20 years but no more than 37 years in prison. Devine had a long record of drunk driving offenses. Because of that he was also charged with being a habitual controlled substance offender. It allows the court to impose an extra 3 to 8 years in prison. On May 14, 2010 Judge Jane Woodward Miller sentenced Shawn Devine to thirty one years in prison.

 

                      

Both Michael Simon Martyn and Aaron James Vale have been both charged in the incident that happened on New Years Day. Michael Simon Martyn, 38, a builder's laborer, has been charged with one count of manslaughter over the officer's death and magistrate Melanie Little remanded Mr Martyn in custody until January 13.  Aaron James Vale, 28, appeared in the Darwin Magistrates Court charged with assault on a police officer  and causing harm,  for assaulting Const Carr. He's accused of punching Const Carr as he tried to assist his unconscious friend. Magistrate Daynor Trigg refused bail for Vale and adjourned the matter until January 14. 2010.

When Michael Simon Martyn appeared in the Darwin Magistrates Court court on 1/13/10 the court heard how he extensive criminal history spanning the NT, NSW and South Australia. Martyn's lawyer, Glen Dooley, told the court. it was possible a self-defence case would be raised. He told the court the incident had started when Martyn brushed past Sgt Meredith at Club 23. Mr Dooley said the security guards who removed Martyn from the scene gave statements claiming that Martyn shook their hands and apologised for his behaviour as he left the club to go home. He was later arrested by police. Constable Kevin Carr, who was celebrating New Year's Eve with Sgt Meredith, described Sgt Meredith as intoxicated but not "staggering drunk". Mr Dooley asked that his client be granted bail to reside with his young family in Adelaide.  Sgt O'Neill said SA police did not have the power to arrest Martyn if he breached the conditions of his bail agreement. He said granting Martyn bail to reside in NT would also pose problems, due to concerns he may try to interfere with witnesses. Previously convicted of multiple charges relating to assaulting police, aggravated assault and the deprivation of liberty, the court heard police in NSW describe Martyn as a "standover man" who intimidated witnesses. Magistrate Sue Oliver ordered a bail assessment report and adjourned the matter until January 19, 2010. On January 19, 2010 Martyn was granted bail on his birthday on the condition he did not associate with anyone on a list of hundreds of potential witnesses. He will have to report to police every day, is not allowed to buy or consume alcohol, is not allowed to leave the Darwin area, and has a curfew between 8pm and 6am. Martyn will appear before the court again on February 9, 2010. At his February 9, 2010 court appearance his restrictions were made less. Before he had to report to the police on a daily basis but now only has to report into police on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and is allowed to go fishing. On May 11, 2010, Michael Simon Martyn's committal hearing started with fifty witnesses to be called.

On 1/14/10 Aaron James Vale, 28, appeared in the Darwin Magistrates Court and will have to live at his grandmother's  house and not drink alcohol or go to any licensed venues. Mr. Vale's mother Kerry Vale had to put down a $1,000 cash security for Mr. Vale's release. Vale pleaded guilty to an aggravated assault of Constable Kevin Carr and on June 1, 2010 Aaron James Vale was sentenced in Katherine Magistrates Court  to seven months in prison , but it was suspended on the 14 days he had already served. Vale's seven-month sentence was suspended on the conditions that he be under supervision for 12 months, and not drink alcohol or enter licensed premises for six months.