Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) Near Miss is a voluntary, non-disciplinary officer safety initiative that allows law enforcement personnel to read about and anonymously share stories of close calls or “near misses,” which provide lessons learned that can protect fellow officers in similar situations.
EVENT SUMMARY
An officer was dispatched to a break in that had already occurred.
Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the complainant and homeowner and asked if the homeowner had already cleared the house. The homeowner said yes. The officer then proceeded to take the report. The report consisted of property damage, stolen firearms and miscellaneous items. The officer finished the report and cleared the call.
Approximately 3 minutes after he cleared the call and left the residence, dispatch raised the officer over the radio. Dispatch advised that at the residence the officer just left, “A black male ran out of the closet and out of the house carrying an AR-15 style rifle.” The closet the suspect ran out of was the same closet the officer looked into to document missing items. The perpetrator was standing in a dark corner.
The suspect ended up being apprehended without incident. The officer always tells young officers to clear the house again because of his experience. He also stated he had to pull over to the side of the road because he got so sick following the incident.
Lessons Learned
- Always clear the residence or building in the case of a break in that has already occurred. It is possible the homeowner interrupted the break in, causing the suspect(s) to hide.
- Conduct your own search, whether it is a building, vehicle, or prisoner. Always assume everything is not all right until you have confirmed otherwise. The life you save could be your own.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR NEAR MISS
Support this critical officer safety initiative by reading and sharing the near-miss stories and lessons learned that your fellow officers have shared, and consider sharing your own near-miss experiences at LEOnearmiss.org.