November 20, 2009

Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104

COP Shoots, Kills Suspect

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By Carl Pommier

Story Created: May 9, 2009 at 3:58 PM CST

Story Updated: May 9, 2009 at 9:27 PM CST

Friday night a Tribal Police Officer fired a single round during an encounter with a suspect.

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The Day County Sheriff's Office had been responding to a call from the Tribal Police Department. A subject was fleeing from Enemy Swim Tribal Housing.

As Day County responded, police radio dialogue indicated that an undetermined number of rounds had been discharged from a firearm. It was later determined that only a single round had been fired.

The subject was airlifted to Avera St. Luke's in Aberdeen, where the subject died.

Names have not been released at this time.

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Saturday, Aug 8 at 7:52 AM Machelle in Oklahoma wrote ...

I will always miss you Rich!!!

Thursday, May 14 at 5:32 PM Leo wrote ...

Why don't they have jobs?

Thursday, May 14 at 3:39 PM TM wrote ...

Please let that be the last post on this blog!

Thursday, May 14 at 8:02 AM it feels unreal wrote ...

but who who put us here... the white man. who introduced out people to alcohol... the white man. so before anyone tries to put a name on my people think about your peoples past too. we all miss rich. it hurt me at the wakes and funerals to see the family hurting like that. my prayers are with you all. Rich may have made choices without really thinking of the consequences but only because he didnt know how to deal with things. But remember hes in the spirit world now. im sure he forgives Cordell.

Thursday, May 14 at 7:58 AM it feels unreal wrote ...

ive been friends with rich since 5th grade. i miss him like crazy. i really feel the situation coulda been handles differently. cops have tons of trainings and this is why. rich meant no harm to anyone, every time i close my eyes i see his smile and goofy faces, everybody has things in there life that they dont know how to deal with. Rich being an artist shows he had lots of emotions, sometimes that emotion is too much. people try to stereotype native as drunks and think our reservations are bad

Tuesday, May 12 at 6:31 PM Just Terrible wrote ...

I'm sorry for the loss of this nice young man, to The Bissonette families peace be with you. Pray for the man who shot him, that is all you can do...We love you Richard! And we will miss you forever!

Tuesday, May 12 at 9:43 AM For Barry wrote ...

Alcohol is rampant everywhere. It's easy to use a reservations statisticts against a this country because we are less populated and the media spotlight. If you really think about my people aren't cowards about it and hide from the world...against all the white/black/spanish...etc closet drinkers out there.

Tuesday, May 12 at 6:51 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Cordell is a power hungry nut, nobody can deny that, but it sounds like he was justified.

Monday, May 11 at 10:33 PM SWO PRINCESS wrote ...

ronald squatting elk!!!! were u there? U sure sound like u were. Maybe u should quit assuming and wait for the facts to be released later this week! What if that was ur relative u would want answers too! U wont say it was Justice served.

Monday, May 11 at 9:05 PM *NativeWiyan wrote ...

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Bissonette family, Richard will be missed terribly!!

Monday, May 11 at 8:22 PM Barry wrote ...

Alcoholism is rampant on the rez.

Monday, May 11 at 6:42 PM Ronald SquattingElk wrote ...

Cop goes home safe. Bad guy made all the choices. Cop reacted to choices made by bad guy. Sounds to me like justice was served.

Monday, May 11 at 6:41 PM Crazy wrote ...

Your all CRAZY!!! This is how tibe gov. works!!! Native always blame everyone else for there problems.

Monday, May 11 at 6:40 PM Ronald SquattingElk wrote ...

Cop gets called to scene for investigation. Cop arrives and finds bad guy holding tire iron. Cop gets hit by tire iron and suspect runs. Cop, just assualted with deadly weapon, chases bad guy. Bad thinks cop won't cross boundary. Cop knows bad guy is threat to other officers because bad guy just assualted him. So cop continues hot pursuit outside of jurisdiction as permitted by law. Cop catches bad guy. Bad guy raises weapon in threatening manner. Cop shoots. Threat eliminated. cont...

Monday, May 11 at 9:12 AM SWO Member wrote ...

Cordell let his emotions outweigh his intelligance.....WTF! For all of you saying he was just doing his job...let's just hope and pray you never have to go through anything like this. Maybe let's just defend this officer, and maybe all officers will handle their situations like Cordell handled his....hmmmmmm..... and out of all the people who will end up like Richard, we'll just hope their not related to you!!!! So before you judge Richard just pray it wasn't you....beacause it could've been.

Monday, May 11 at 7:50 AM Dont judge wrote ...

For the record Richard did work!!! And the officer wasnt doing his job...thats the point! He isnt god, he is a police officer. He was fleeing from a misdemeaner offense, he did not deserve to be shot! So quick to judge, I hear the officer was in the wrong...Even cops make mistakes...and bad judgement. They aint perfect. So don't disrespect Richard. You didnt know him. I knew them both!!

Monday, May 11 at 5:42 AM to obnoxious people who know it all: wrote ...

I THINK IT'S CRAP HOW PEOPLE THINK THEY CAN JUSTIFY WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW. I LIKE HOW WHEN PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, THINK THEY KNOW IT ALL. THE OFFICER DID WHAT HE WAS TRAINED TO DO.(IF YOU WERE A CERTIFIED OFFICER YOU WOULD KNOW WHAT AN OFFICER IS TRAINED TO DO.) AND IF THIS KID THAT WAS SHOT WAS SUCH A GOOD KID THEN WHY WAS THE OFFICER AFTER HIM IN THE FIRST PLACE? THERE MUST BE A REASON THE OFFICER WAS AFTER HIM.DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A SUCH A GOOD KID TO ME.***CONTINUE***

Monday, May 11 at 4:47 AM T wrote ...

Looks like somebody brought a tire iron to a gun fight! lol

Monday, May 11 at 12:07 AM Wolf wrote ...

Wow! The ignorant ranting here on this blog is only punctuated by the mis-spellings and poor grammer. Don't let the facts cloud your judgement of this officer who was doing his duty. Drink another quart and pass judgement on the guy who works for a living.

Sunday, May 10 at 11:40 PM mourning wrote ...

I know the officer, he goes around acting all big and touch in his sun glasses and gloves acting like he can take on anyone!!! Even brags about all the people he was taken down!!! He should of stayed a dispatcher. At least Richard would still be alive. I know alot more level headed officers who would have gotten a better outcome and approach to the situation!!!

Sunday, May 10 at 11:37 PM My prayer is with the family. wrote ...

When i went to the poice academy i guess i was just taught how to handle things a little better!!!Richard was being pursed for misdemeaner charges!!! that is what the cops were called for and petty misdemenear!!! he wasnt killed for a felony he didnt harm anyone!!! STUPID is what i call it...Let him go instead of pursuing him!!!!stand off and use your regotiating skills...it was a secluded area, noone was in immeadiate danger!! i think the officer was intimidated! and panicked!

Sunday, May 10 at 11:32 PM this is directed to D wrote ...

The fact is that we dont have the all the facts..we will just have to wait and see what DCI and the FBI find out!!! Maybe the officer wasnt doing his job...Maybe he took a life in his own hands! U can blame and officer if the job he did was uncalled for. I live her and Sisseton and know both the people involved and for u to say he was just doing his job, is ignorant. Were u there do u know what happened. The facts arent out yet! So dont jump the gun! I to hope justice is served!

Sunday, May 10 at 11:19 PM LE wrote ...

Good example of why Tribal LE should stay on their land and State on their's. Tribal LE is always on State land stopping people. They should stay off our highways and patrol there own lands

Sunday, May 10 at 11:15 PM -d wrote ...

I read all sorts of comments painting the officer as a monster. Facts are facts: suspect engaged the officer with a weapon and was subdued. A young life lost-tragic, but what if he had hit the officer WHO WAS DOING HIS JOB with the weapon? Would you call for swift and immediate justice then for the officer? Do not fault a person for doing his job. -d

Sunday, May 10 at 10:53 PM Richard's cousin wrote ...

and u people have no idea of what really happened so don't put words in your mouths that u can't understand.....there are some pretty agry people out there that want to see that justice is served...to the cop that did this...my family is havin a very hard time dealing with the loss of richard

Sunday, May 10 at 10:47 PM Richard's cousin wrote ...

Richard never deserved this...he would never hurt a fly or a person...he was kind and gentle well liked and loved as well...we are gonna truly miss him...i do hope that the cop does get into alot of trouble for taking a life that wouldn't do harm to anyone or anything...WE LOVE YOU AND WE ARE GONNA MISS YOU RICH

Sunday, May 10 at 10:22 PM Friend of the family wrote ...

SWO Member said it well...The area Richard ran to was was an area where there was no houses or people around who would have been in danger. He could of backed off and waited for back off, had a stand off...HE DIDNT HAVE A GUN...he had a crow bar...get a safe distace away and do what you were taught at the academy.

Sunday, May 10 at 10:17 PM to carrie.... wrote ...

Yes he had a crow bar and yes that is a weapon, but from what eye witnesses at the seen have told me he didnt use the crow bar on the officer he lifted it up as though he was going to throw it and he shot him. He should of distanced his self from him or moved from the area he was aiming on throwing...And what happened to mace, rubber bullets, tazors...it wasnt a fair match to me, and bad judgment on the officers part.

Sunday, May 10 at 7:23 PM SWO Member wrote ...

(Cont.)Also years ago there was an incident in the same exact area where there was a "DRUNK" member swinging around a crow bar at a crowd of people and officers and it's weird because Cordell was one of the responding officers. Hmmm...so why didn't he shoot this guy?? And why did he shoot Richard?? I know other tribal officers who were attacked who didn't shoot. This officer used his authority for his personal revenge. I know that Tribal Law Enforcement will do anything to get Cordell off

Sunday, May 10 at 7:14 PM SWO Member wrote ...

Well Richard Was not drunk and he hit cordell with the crow bar. He then fled on foot off of tribal land cordell obviously knew he didn't have a gun and knew he was leaving tribal jurisdiction. If the County officer was already in route he should've stopped at his jurisdiction and allowed the day county to do his job. Also where Rich was running was no place he could've hid and got away from cordell or county. Cordell obviously shot him because he was mad and wanted some kind of personal revenge

Sunday, May 10 at 5:32 PM GC wrote ...

you dont know the same cop I do. Hes a professional so leave it alone. Both families have enough pain with out lies on either side!!!

Sunday, May 10 at 5:14 PM Oyate Member wrote ...

Looks like someone finally gave Barney Fife his bullet. He's a scarey cop and I'm just glad it wasn't one of my family members that he shot, it was just a matter of time. I feel bad for the mother of the kid he killed. That's what happens when you have a trigger happy scared cop with a gun.

Sunday, May 10 at 3:24 PM Carrie wrote ...

A crow bar is a weapon. If he was drunk and swinging a crow bar at the officer it's justifiable.

Sunday, May 10 at 1:38 PM Just saying wrote ...

I heard the kid didnt have a gun, he only had a crow bar or something...he was in a field by himself no one around. This so could of went differantly, i hope the investigation shows that.

Sunday, May 10 at 1:09 PM formerwaubayan wrote ...

My prayers to all involved. It has to be hard on everybody.

Sunday, May 10 at 12:34 PM friend of the family wrote ...

I know both parties involved in the situation! Richard was a good kid who does not deserve the negative comments on here! His family is mourning and does not need critisim from the bloggers. I am sure the officer is going throught a hard time also. Of course things could of and should of been done differant but there is nothing we can do about it now..let DCI and FBI do their investigation and if u were not here or see what happened keep ur mouth shut...let the family mourn!!!!

Sunday, May 10 at 12:32 PM friend of family wrote ...

Sunday, May 10 at 8:53 AM GC wrote ...

Cordell is a great officer, he would not shoot unless there was a reason. Names should not have been put out. Think of the familys and you may impede the investagation.

Sunday, May 10 at 6:20 AM A Friend of this Native. wrote ...

MAY YOU REST IN PEACE RICH. AND GOD BLESS THE MAN WHO KILLED HIM.

Sunday, May 10 at 6:18 AM Machelle in Stilwell,Ok wrote ...

May Justice be served and the person who took Rich's LIFE be punished.He will face his judgement day.He might say he was doing his job but WHAT POLICE OFFICER SAYS THAT THEY ALL SAY THAT.What if it was one of there family members being shot

Sunday, May 10 at 1:21 AM respect! wrote ...

COME ON KSFY!!! TAKE THIS S*** OFF! THIS IS VERY INAPPROPRIATE AND DISRESPECTFULL... YOUR ALLOWING IGNORANT IDIOTS TALK TRASH, THE FAMILY IS GREIVING DID YOU THINK OF THEM? OF COURSE NOT..

Sunday, May 10 at 12:46 AM Garbage wrote ...

Why does KSFY allow this garbage? Any critisim of there news coverage or comments on this site is not allowed.

Saturday, May 9 at 11:26 PM A Native wrote ...

To Ted and Rick...Those are very sad comments to leave...tonight a family mourns the loss of a loved one, they might even read this...why be disrespectful?

Saturday, May 9 at 9:43 PM Ted wrote ...

The native was probably drunk.

Saturday, May 9 at 6:59 PM to whom it may concern wrote ...

ambulance assistance, do you think they were supposed to just let the kid lay there and die? they obviously attempted to keep him alive if he was air lifted to aberdeen. keep your opinions to yourself, as they don't make any sense to begin with and let the officers and newscasters do their job. thanks.

Saturday, May 9 at 6:56 PM to whom it may concern wrote ...

dakota, it's not right that you have put the names on line-family members may not have been notified yet and you may have messed up an investigation-there are many reasons why names are not released right away. also, if mr cordell is an officer, which is what we have to assume according to the article, then i'm sure he had a reason to shoot. also, according to the article, the tribal dept is who notified the sheriffs office for ambulance assistance (cont)

Saturday, May 9 at 6:21 PM RICK wrote ...

sounds like somebody was a little bit DRUNK or SMOKED.

Saturday, May 9 at 5:44 PM dakota wrote ...

the shooter was johnny cordell. he deserves to get in trouble for taking a life. if its tribal then they should deal with it and not involve the sheriffs office. the young mans name is Rich bissonette

Saturday, May 9 at 5:34 PM to whom it may concern wrote ...

wonder why the officer was going after the subject?

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