Bill Nemitz: In today's world, a little dab of camo paints a deeper picture
It must have been the face paint.
This July 8 photo of members of the Maine State Police Tactical Team prompted reader comments about their gear.
Kennebec Journal file photo
Reports of Thursday's fatal shooting by police of an armed veteran near the Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Togus had no sooner hit this newspaper's website when the reader comments began piling up.
Most, not surprisingly, debated (with precious few available facts, mind you) whether a Togus police officer and a Maine game warden were justified in firing at former Marine James Popkowski of Grindstone in a wooded area adjacent to the sprawling Togus campus.
But other readers zoomed in not on the actual story, but on an accompanying photo by Kennebec Journal photographer Andy Molloy.
It showed two members of the Maine State Police Tactical Team -- both clad in camouflage uniforms and body armor, with no-nonsense rifles at the ready and generous dabs of camouflage paint smeared across their cheeks and chins -- heading into the woods long after the gunfire had subsided.
One commentator called it "a sad day for Maine" when police officers show up to the scene of an emergency dressed like "soldier-wannabes or SWAT 'secret squirrel' ninjas."
"What is with the cops in camo?" asked another. "Are they afraid that a moose may get them if they are not disguised?"
Then there was the reader who called the tactical officers "a gestapo force" and lamented, "That picture is worth a thousand words of how we have finally become a police state."
And last but not least, one pontificator went so far as to concoct a fictitious conversation between the two officers as they applied their face paint:
Cop #1: Hey, think I need more green?
Cop # 2: No, you look real scary with what you have on now -- maybe hang a few more hand grenades on your vest, though.
Cop # 1: Yeah, good idea -- maybe strap another knife on my leg, too, and tuck a 9 (mm handgun) in my sock! The media might be there!
"I can fully understand why people are concerned," said Maj. Raymond Bessette, who oversees the Maine State Police Special Services units. "Because it's so different from policing when we were growing up."
Indeed.
Back when it was formed in 1982, according to its Web page, the Maine State Police Tactical Team "consisted of a handful of State Troopers armed with limited equipment."
Not so today.
The unit now boasts 19 "tactical operators" -- all state police troopers, detectives and sergeants scattered around the state with day jobs that have nothing to do with camouflage. In addition, there are two "tactical K-9 units" along with two "tactical medics" trained to deal with whatever calamities might arise in a crisis situation.
Add to that the various weapons "platforms" ranging from sidearms to high-powered rifles to tear gas launchers, the hands-free radios, the military-style helmets and outer tactical vests (and yes, that hard-not-to-notice face paint) and it quickly becomes hard to tell these guys from an Army Rangers unit crawling up and down the treacherous mountains of Afghanistan.
But is it all necessary? Or is it, as some on the sidelines suggest, an over-the-top reaction to a situation that could be resolved just as easily without a force that looks like a walking catalog for www.bulletproofme.com?
Maine State Police Lt. Christopher Grotton, who supervises the Tactical Team, said Friday that different crises warrant different responses. A hostage situation inside a downtown bank, for example, calls for different weapons and tactics than does a guy running around in the woods firing a rifle.
But in any case, Grotton said, when faced with the possibility that law enforcement officers' and/or civilian lives are in danger, "we need to be able to respond safely with the right tools and the right tactics to resolve that situation as quickly as possible."
Thursday's shooting was just such an incident, according to both Grotton and Bessette.
When the call came in to the Tactical Team, they noted, the encounter between Popkowski and the officers on the scene was already resolved. The team's job was to search and secure the woods -- from which shots had been fired before the first officers even responded.
"It was still not known 100 percent whether (Popkowski) had acted alone or someone was in there with him," said Bessette, adding that as more information is made public about Popkowski's activities that day, people might better understand just how high the threat level was.
Bessette also noted that armed confrontations with police -- the Tactical Team mobilizes about 50 times annually -- seem to get more dangerous with each passing year.
From video games that teach kids at an early age which virtual combatants perform better with which weapons to the real-life availability of an ever-expanding smorgasbord of firepower (and training in how to use it), Bessette said, the threats faced by police in any confrontation these days are without question more potentially lethal than they were a decade or two ago.
"The threats and the death counts both seem to be climbing," observed Bessette.
That said, put yourself in the place of those two Tactical Team members.
For whatever reason, an armed, 37-year-old man with intensive military training already has been shot and killed.
There's no way of knowing whether one or more other armed subjects, perhaps with the same or better levels of training than Popkowski, are still in there hiding. Or, worse yet, waiting in ambush.
And your job is to go in and take a look around.
Now I'll freely admit that when I first saw that photo last week, I did a double take.
I may have even wondered aloud, like all those online commentators, whether these guys were responding to a real emergency or just playing G.I. Joe.
But the more I think about it, the more I realize I wasn't the one being asked to tiptoe into that anything-but-secure thicket and see what happens. And if I had, I'd have opted for all the protection I could get my hands on.
Maybe even a dab of face paint.
Columnist Bill Nemitz can be contacted at 791-6323 or at:
bnemitz@mainetoday.com
Were you interviewed for this story? If so, please fill out our accuracy form
Most...
Copyright ©2010 MaineToday Media, Inc.
50 COMMENTS
MyVan said...
Well,that's a good way to smooth everything over, Bill....I'm glad too, that I have a truckload of all the same gear they do.......
July 11, 2010 at 12:10 AM Report abuse
BenMatlock said...
Reacting to the moonbats who post craziness in here was a poor choice, Bill. Ignore them...
July 11, 2010 at 5:58 AM Report abuse
Rocky4 said...
test one two
July 11, 2010 at 6:20 AM Report abuse
Maine_Huntah said...
I did a triple take at that photo when it was published. I understand where they're coming from, but it looked like overkill to me.
July 11, 2010 at 6:53 AM Report abuse
punk51 said...
they can send in tanks if its gonna take out some crazy man in camo with weapons walking about the woods shooting his gun off...did he need to kill people before the swat team was sent in? then you cry babies about 'overkill' would be screaming--where was the protection?...welcome to the new america brought to you by the bush administration for homeland security--if you gonna be a crazy with a gun strutting around in public places, you are gonna get blown away. good job done.
July 11, 2010 at 8:08 AM Report abuse
dfghdfghdfgh said...
Good job Bill. For once you put yourself in the shoes of those that are asked to put themselves in harms way. In fact, excellent job. In my opinion, here was the conversation that took place between the officers: #1 There is an unknown person shooting a weapon in the woods located next to the VA hospital. His intention and metal status is unknown. Find this person, disarm him, and apprehend. #2 What are our rules for engagement. #1 Protect yourself, don't let yourself be a victim of a person intent on harming himself or others.
July 11, 2010 at 8:08 AM Report abuse
hallowellboy said...
Shoot first, ask questions later. Look out folks, the military and law enforcement yahoos are on the rampage. Here's a US veteran dying of cancer, the VA cuts his healthcare and then shoot him in the head. If these storm troopers were trained properly in the handling of firearms they could have taken him down, if necessary, with a leg shot. As for committing suicide, that's just bogus and part of the cover-up. If this isn't a case of police over-reacting and causing the death of an innocent American citizen, I don't know what is.
July 11, 2010 at 8:14 AM Report abuse
dfghdfghdfgh said...
Hey Maine-Huntah, try a sport where the hunted shot back (I can see you now, strutting around the woods with your face painted green, military greens, black boots, hunting bambi) Why it looks like overkill to you, is that there was a man with a load gun in the woods who MIGHT kill them first. Their objective was to find the guy with the gun BEFORE the guy with the gun found them. GET IT?
July 11, 2010 at 8:15 AM Report abuse
dfghdfghdfgh said...
Hallowell boy, Turn off your Rambo movie and listen up. When a high powered rifle is pointed at you, from a man who's intent is unknown, your first thought is NOT leg shot. Your first thought is not yelling out BOOO. Your first thought is not "what are the moon-bats gunna think." Your first thought is self preservation, kill or be killed. "Innocent" you say? The second he armed himself with a rifle, and enter the woods at the VA, "we the people" became the victim, his health and healthcare status no longer mattered.
July 11, 2010 at 8:32 AM Report abuse
Matt_L said...
"From video games that teach kids at an early age which virtual combatants perform better with which weapons..." IMHO that's a rather poor argument for arming police like an army. I think you'll find that there is no credible evidence that playing violent video games leads to real violence. The statistics simply do not show any correlation. Video games have exploded in popularity over the past 20 years and yet violent crime has been steadily decreasing. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080514213432.htm I think that kids who play video games can understand the difference between fantasy and reality. I'm not so sure about some of those in law enforcement.
July 11, 2010 at 8:34 AM Report abuse
nikonwilly said...
What has changed ? Law enforcement now assumes Rambo is sneaking up on them 27/7. They justify military training, arms and appearance with Hollywood's modern day version of every 'bad guy' regardless that this isn't the case...When you train Law Enforcement as we do Military you unleash trained killers , not against an enemy that is also suppose to kill, but against the civilization your suppose to protect! There are far too many tainted killings because of this one sided training ...you can't un-train them at the scene! How many butter knife welding ,mentally disturbed or wheel chair bound civilians do we need to read about being shot to death because RoBo -Cop has just been trained to go up against a small army ? On the pretext of terrorism we have become absurd!
July 11, 2010 at 8:41 AM Report abuse
Jack24 said...
Well said Bill!
July 11, 2010 at 8:56 AM Report abuse
heyjoe said...
Note to self...Next time your at VA Togus don't go for a leisurely walk in the woods for fear of Rambo wannabes....
July 11, 2010 at 9:07 AM Report abuse
Bicycle2Work said...
This was no butter knife wielding senior citizen. This was a trained marine corps officer that was sick and depressed, with a rifle in the woods. The police face an ever increasing threat from society, so they need to increase their response to remain effective. People forget Columbine, Virginia Tech, etc. very quickly. As for shoot him in the leg, that is just foolishness. If you're going to pull the trigger you do so because you believe you life or the lives of others is in imminent danger, not to "wing" the assailant.
July 11, 2010 at 9:10 AM Report abuse
hiker04101 said...
(repost....from july 7th) ......Sorry to let the facts get in the way of a "wonderful" rant, however SWAT teams have been around long before 9/11 including the MSP Special Reaction Team and for good reason. I am more afraid of a "homegrown terrorist" than anyone from overseas. Let's take Carl Drega 8/97 Colebrook, NH injured 4, killed 4 including 2 Troopers. Guess where he hid......the woods. Should the troopers go walking in the woods with blaze orange asking him nicely to come out. How do you think that would work out? Columbine.....multiple shooters. If the state police yesterday didn't go looking for other suspects and they were out there, just imagine the post of the police not doing their jobs. Lastly, it was a troubled sick veteran who blew up the courthouse on Oklahoma City....Timothy Mcveigh. All these events before 9/11.
July 11, 2010 at 9:11 AM Report abuse
hiker04101 said...
(another repost from july 7)They were following training....You shoot to kill when threatened with deadly force.TV and movies have warped reality for most people. If someone is pointing a gun at you you shoot to kill, not wound,a wounded person can still shoot you. july/1988 Lewiston Police Officer Payne shot and killed ( in the woods,near roadway) by a wounded man.
July 11, 2010 at 9:14 AM Report abuse
Yopeace said...
Defending the slaughter of a sick man is a descent to a lower level. I am guessing that exposure to the senseless carnage in Afghanistan may have been a source of desensitizing to the reality of life and death. How is it that gunshots in the woods, without any other information translates to the need to kill the source of the shots? This defense of the overreaction, coupled with the "involuntary manslaughter" verdict for the murder of the man who was flat out on the ground of the BART subway platform, killed by the cop with the lame excuse " I thought I was reaching for my Taser gun and shot the subdued person with my bullet gun" demonstrates where all of this is headed. Crossing over to the other side and defending the murderers helps for a little while but eventually you too become the hunted. First them came for the Jews.... Achieving peace in society is never easy but the first step is to stop defending the killing.
July 11, 2010 at 9:19 AM Report abuse
Wade said...
Dress up day to impress one another. I'd like to know how many of these state troopers actually served in the military. Not a guess but factual numbers. What if someone was in the woods with the veteran who was killed? What if someone was on a rooftop on a Togus buidling with a sniper rifle or what if a cesna aircraft was about to crash into the VA center. With all the "what if's" folks can use we needed air support, along with drones in the air, surface to air missles, along with a Navy Seal team landing that same night on the Kennebec River in case a cohort of this troubled man had plans to blow up a bridge. The facts speak for themselves so let's stop with the the rationale when the event was over. It was just a chance to practice the "what if's" and play with all their bells and whistles.
July 11, 2010 at 9:27 AM Report abuse
CJK said...
Well, will wonders ever cease? Nemitz actually "gets it." Punk51, get over it. The Bush Administration hasn't been in office for 2yrs! You can't blame Bush for everything, but nice try.
July 11, 2010 at 9:43 AM Report abuse
Gwedd said...
The problem with the image, and with the SWAT team dressed out like this, is that there is nothing to indicate that these are police. The SWAT teams adopt these weapons, uniforms and equipment because of the "kewl" factor, and to try and intimidate everyone around them. It also adds to the rush of adrenaline they have when they get called out. Citizens should be able to easily tell the difference between a cop and a soldier. There is no need for SWAT teams to dress like this, nor carry M-4's. There are plenty of civilian rifles and shotguns available to them to use. Let the cops dress like cops. Let the soldiers dress like soldiers. And yes, I'm a veteran. I've been there and done that, and I don't want cops playing soldier.
July 11, 2010 at 9:54 AM Report abuse
Mindreader said...
You all can give your opinion. But, do the job for a day and then come speak to me about 'overkill'. And to the comment about violent crime on the decrease. Come ride with me for a week and see the 'decrese'. Its easy to speak from your computer and say how the police 'kill'. Well sit in our shoes and feel what it is like for an armed subject to walk towards you with a thousand mile stare and then try shooting him in the leg when he is hell bent on killing YOU. Thank you BIll for this article. It gives people an understanding of why police do what they do. More articles such as this are far and few between.
July 11, 2010 at 10:03 AM Report abuse
Riml said...
Mindreader - BTDT in a city where there was real crime. That's why I moved to Maine where you have one of the lowest violent crime rates in the US when I retired. We used to disarm crazy people with guns and knives - not blow them away. Reckon we got good at it with experience.
July 11, 2010 at 10:09 AM Report abuse
Aquaman said...
Mr. Nemitz reliably parrots the police talking points for the necessity of tactical units. Aside from "evidence" without a shred of research support (care to name the study that proves video games turn kiddies into psycho bell-tower shooters?), Bill happily ignores the real statistics that prove that nationwide use of SWAT teams is not restricted to the most dangerous situations and suspects faced by police. "Overkill" by Radley Balko provides an excellent study on this, primarily because his thesis is supported by studies and statistics. Perhaps Mr. Nemitz should consider this before publishing another hagiography of men in uinform.
July 11, 2010 at 10:10 AM Report abuse
trisailer said...
Most of the gear and the training for the SP is paid for by Homeland Security grants and was justified by the terrorist threat. I do agree that when the police get called into a unknown situation they need to be able to deal with whatever comes up, but it is difficult to accept that this is where we've come in this country where the Andy Taylor approach to police work has vanished. I remember in third grade being told that the reason that we should hate communism is because of the power of the police in Russia and now it is in our own neighborhoods. We are a violent, depressed society and it is only going to get worse. Live by the sword, die by the sword
July 11, 2010 at 10:28 AM Report abuse
Riml said...
Grotton said: "We need to be able to respond safely with the right tools and the right tactics to resolve that situation as quickly as possible." - BS - You don't need to resolve it as 'quickly' as possible, but rather as 'safely' as possible. Do you have these things stacking up on you so there's a time-line?? We don't pay you to execute people, but to extricate them. - Ron Riml, Ret. LT - Kankakee IL Police Dept.
July 11, 2010 at 10:42 AM Report abuse
Truthseeker said...
Regardless, it's still bs.
July 11, 2010 at 11:04 AM Report abuse
mrrogers said...
WHERE IS THE VIDEO OF THIS THE GUY TOOK ON HIS PHONE? Exactly....................
July 11, 2010 at 11:05 AM Report abuse
henryelm said...
OVERKILL and just wanting to use the equipment they bought with homeland securities funds. Wouldn't just cordoning off the area be just as effective and safe. And HOW deep were these woods?? "Their objective was to find the guy with the gun BEFORE the guy with the gun found them. GET IT?" except the incident was over by the time camo men showed up!! I suppose there could have been a domestic militia camp set up in the woods, though. In which case I'd be calling the ATF. It was unnecessarily bringing more "drama" to the scene.
July 11, 2010 at 11:06 AM Report abuse
henryelm said...
"How is it that gunshots in the woods, without any other information translates to the need to kill the source of the shots? " Maybe WE didn't KNOW what the COPS DID know??? And WAS reported in the BDN but not the PPH. NOTE: after this incident Obama said in his weekly speech yesterday he was acting to make sure the diagnosis of PTSD was easier( and didn't ADD to their stress) for our veterans. A day too late for this poor guy.
July 11, 2010 at 11:18 AM Report abuse
trisailer said...
Remember Ruby Ridge?
July 11, 2010 at 11:20 AM Report abuse
Wade said...
As a veteran, and one who has received services at Togus, this entire story sickens me. I agree with what an earlier poster stated about let cops dress like cops. It's been tough for veterans to receive proper mental health treatment, to even admit they have a problem, and we have come a long way. However, this band of macho men with camoflauge on is shameful. To whomever the cop is who is posting about spending a day in your shoes.....how about you spending a lifetime trying to deal with the trauma of seeing extreme death and destruction. You sir, with our what 20 year retirement plan, and extra O/T on roadside construction details are a far cry from those who have fought for our freedoms to post on forums like this.
July 11, 2010 at 12:03 PM Report abuse
hallowellboy said...
Too bad the VA police and the camouflaged weekend warriors didn't have more knowledge on how to handle a situation like this. Instead, due to their ignorance, bravado and lack of training an innocent US Veteran gets shot to death. It's out of control folks.
July 11, 2010 at 12:53 PM Report abuse
PhyllisY said...
"Remember Ruby Ridge", Trisailor? So from your post, one can only assume that your'e a big fan of white supremacists. Not a good argument. As for Bill, his parting comments illustrate the major problem in this country of people unquestionably accepting the official story and hiding like wusses while hoping that the government saves us from all the evildoers.
July 11, 2010 at 1:08 PM Report abuse
MeJeepNut said...
PhyllisY said... "Remember Ruby Ridge", Trisailor? So from your post, one can only assume that your'e a big fan of white supremacists. Not a good argument.--I also have no use for white supremacists but I have even less use for the sniper who shot and killed an unarmed women holding a baby at ruby ridge.
July 11, 2010 at 1:24 PM Report abuse
homeboy said...
I had a gun aimed at me by a police officer back when I was in college. I was bicycling between campuses when the blue light and siren came on, and he waved me over. I went to get off of the bike, only to turn and see the officer in a spread legged stance with the gun aimed right at me, and he was yelling "don't move!". I did as I was told, and didn't move, nor did I question him in any way. It turns out that only minutes before, someone riding a white ten speed, just like I was riding, had robbed a jewelry store under one mile away. The officer backed slowly backed to his car, and radioed in. After a brief radio conversation he holstered the weapon and came over to me and apologized for what had just happened. It seems that the man that they were seeking was a shade different than me. When an offcier of the law tells you to do something, that is not the time to argue or dispute their instructions. I will reseve judgement pending the completion of the investigation.
July 11, 2010 at 2:20 PM Report abuse
Wade said...
Homeboy. What an interesting story that no one can confirm or deny. A man on a bike robbed a jewelry store and had a bike "just like yours." I take it if you had, in your desire to get to class, made a move toward the officer to ask "why" or your bike fell over and you quickly reached to pick it up and been shot dead this would have been justified correct? I guess his apology, after aiming a loaded gun at you, made all the difference especially since you were a "shade different." If you had not been a "shade different" and listened perfectly would you have felt it was fine for serveral officers to show up and pile drive you into the pavement? You would have just accepted an apology after a night in jail for you do what the police say. What a joke.
July 11, 2010 at 4:26 PM Report abuse
henryelm said...
My concern is this : There are WAY too many so called or wanna be "leaders" acting irresponsibly to get elected or obtain POWER. They are IRRESPONSIBLY saying things like "Lock and load,"(PALIN) "we need a 2nd ammendment solution"( that tea party FEMALE candidate) and " annie get your gun"( BECK), to excite the crowd, without regard to the consequences OF THEIR WORDS. At the same time they SAY they want to "normalize" gun ownership, while talking about or implying armed revolution directly or indirectly. All this BECAUSE THEY LOST AN ELECTION AND ARE just plain MAD( mentally AND emotionally)as a wet hen!!! NOW THAT is OVERKILL. THIS is what "normalization "of gun ownership brings People start USING them IRRESPONSIBLY!!
July 11, 2010 at 6:07 PM Report abuse
henryelm said...
The WHOLE right needs to take a pill and get some impulse control!!!
July 11, 2010 at 6:20 PM Report abuse
null said...
Gosh, the back woods of Maine. I thimk the only reeeeelee up armored vehicle that the state has is a m48 tank on display at the commando headquarters at camp keyes in augusta. If janet reno were here, they could have had beaucoup m113s, some m60a1's and maybe even some green weenie snake eater consultants to forward the attack. That could have been maines own waco. Again, thimk about it. wee coulda made the big times on cnn, maybe even gotten a federal bailout(disaster pay). Geez, they could have attacked togus, used gas and flame throwers. Then we could have had a new place to handle the wannabe killer cops (and wardens) when they crash like the rest of us. Opportunity lost and a damned fine Marine lost.
July 11, 2010 at 6:24 PM Report abuse
nonesuch said...
Although I think the outcome of the Togus situation is deplorable and the death of the LT a tragedy in defence of the responding authorities just a few days ago in Florida two cops were killed in a more or less routine traffic stop. Cops are in danger constantly and are not going to give anyone the opportunity to shoot first.
July 11, 2010 at 7:29 PM Report abuse
mainejeff said...
Once again....thank-you to the officers involved for protecting the public and preventing an even more tragic situation.
July 11, 2010 at 7:49 PM Report abuse
null said...
mainejeff,"thanks for protecting the public" from what?? What was/is the public doing on federal property? Que, was it even federal property? Perhaps if you can get cured of CRANIAL RECTITUS, you will understand.
July 11, 2010 at 8:05 PM Report abuse
Gwedd said...
henryelm, You crack me up with your leftist tinfoil rant. I',, give Palin and Beck and all those on the conservative my support every day, because, unlike the loonies who you hang with, THEY at least respect ALL of the Bill of Rights. Seems to me that you're the one that needs a bit of a lie-down.
July 11, 2010 at 8:18 PM Report abuse
russellofnj said...
rocky4 very very funny if it meand what I think it means I am still laughing
July 11, 2010 at 8:57 PM Report abuse
russellofnj said...
Wade, you do make alot of sense to most folks on this planet. Bravo to you
July 11, 2010 at 9:08 PM Report abuse
TomC said...
"This was a trained marine corps officer that was sick and depressed, with a rifle in the woods." Ummmm.... no. It was a handicapped guy with a squrrel gun hobbling around on a hunting trail - who didn't drop his .22 fast enough when the cops were screaming 5 different commands at him.
July 11, 2010 at 10:25 PM Report abuse
FedUpToo said...
Bill you should try this new information service called google. Here's one of the many links I found that references people who have actually studied violent video games and children. http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100609/1109309754.shtml Most military and policeman I know play Call of Duty and other violent games. I guess we'll have to fire all of them. The games could change them into real violent people. By the way the number one genre of video games that the researcher saw directly translate into behavior modifications: driving games.
July 12, 2010 at 7:24 AM Report abuse
Hawkeye9909 said...
For those of you who think the authorities response was "over the top" how about putting down your keyboards and going to speak to a family that has lost a husband, a brother, or a son in the line of duty protecting the citizens of this country and ask them their opinion on the incident in question.
July 12, 2010 at 8:39 AM Report abuse
ACHILLES said...
Fresh back from his embedded assignment Nemitz has a clearer understanding of some of today's uglier realities and doesn't shoot from the left hip without careful consideration of the facts and very real dangers our men and women in uniform face abroad and even in little old Maine. Nice column Bill.
July 12, 2010 at 9:28 AM Report abuse
august1 said...
I'd be curious to see the video a witness took of the incident, apparently he got the whole thing on his phone. He said the guy didn't lift his gun when the cops shot him.
July 12, 2010 at 11:20 AM Report abuse