Super Troopers IRL.
Officer Meade
Courtney Gordon
1. Super Troopers IRL
A police officer in Lexington, OK initiated a traffic stop for speeding. The driver just happened to be the county Sheriff. The Sheriff informed the officer that he was headed to a “SWAT call-out”.
The officer responded that he was unaware of the SWAT call and appeared annoyed that he lacked this information.
The officer informed his dispatch and then several officers arrived at the scene of the SWAT incident.
This is where city cops and county deputies engaged in a screaming match and started threatening each other.
This was Super Troopers in real life.
In my experience, typically, law enforcement agencies fight to NOT take primary on calls.
Both agencies were at fault:
The city cops - Mind your own business or ask how you can help.
The Sheriff’s deputies - There is no need to be secretive assholes.
Everyone should be on the same team. No matter the internal politics or past disagreements - this argument was not more important than apprehending the bad guy. Behave like adults, get the guy into custody, and then fight in the parking lot like high schoolers.
2. Officer Meade
This police shooting occurred in Columbus, OH in December 2020.
Officer Jason Meade was working as part of a US Marshalls “fugitive task force”.
He was driving an unmarked vehicle and in plainclothes wearing a vest that said “US Marshalls”.
Officer Meade claimed that as his vehicle passed by a vehicle driven by Casey Goodson (23) - that Mr. Goodson brandished/waved a gun at him.
Officer Meade reported that he then turned his car around, followed Mr. Goodson, and when he exited the vehicle and started walking towards a residence - chased Mr. Goodson on foot and caught up to him as he was entering the home.
Officer Meade claimed that Goodson pointed a gun at him and that is why he responded with deadly force - shooting him six times.
Mr. Goodson died from his injuries. A was found gun was on ground near his body.
The family of Mr. Goodson claimed that he had a gun but it was concealed in a holster and that he had been carrying keys and a sandwich in his hands and did not brandish the gun.
The family also claimed that Officer Meade did not ID himself and that Mr. Goodson and dad air pods in his ears and did not hear the officer - even if he did identify himself.
•Officer Meade is currently on trial for murder. The case resumes this coming Tuesday.
**The Issue** - Was the gun out of the holster and pointed?
If so - it’s a legal use of force. If the gun was holstered then it is likely not a legal use of deadly force. This case is that simple.
The evidence indicates that the gun was in Mr. Goodson’s hands at the time of the shooting. This is because the gun was found next to his body. It is very unlikely/impossible that a holstered gun would would fly out of an “inside the pants” holster and land next to Mr. Goodson.
3. Courtney Gordon
There is almost no more justified police shooting ever caught on body camera. On December 3, 2023 police officers in New York City were called to a stabbing. Four people had been stabbed to death (including two children).
While detectives investigated and crime scene technicians processed the scene a couple of street cops on the perimeter noticed a guy just hanging out and started talking with him.
This man was Courtney Gordon and officers had no idea that he was the offender.
During the casual conversation Mr. Gordon pulled out a knife and quickly stabbed both officers (who were injured but survived).
The officers responded with immediately deadly force.
This case is far more representative of officer-involved shooting cases than the rare “bad” shootings from a decade ago that anti-police activists keep talking about.
Because this case was undoubtedly a lawful use of deadly force - it will not make national news. But, it is important to highlight cases like this - to remind people that the vast majority of police shootings are reasonable.
I would agree with your assessment about agencies getting along. I was pulled while driving an unmarked Crown Vic state police package (new) by a deputy. I was driving among heavy city traffic and NOT driving stupidly. I quickly pulled over and hit all my emergency lights and exited in full uniform. He told me to get back into the vehicle and I refused, which resulted in face to face argument that was broken up by another deputy that arrived at the scene. Embarrassing, bad for PR, and dangerous.