Has anyone asked this question? Did the sheriff of Lake County properly handle the case involving the standoff between his department and Robert Cook and Carol Johnson over the growing of marijuana plants? (“2 found dead after standoff,” MetroLake , Sept. 17).
During 15 hours of negotiations, Lake County Sheriff Gary Del Re stated: “During the negotiation he (Cook) indicated he would not go to jail. He was indicating he would kill himself.”
The training given to law-enforcement personnel in the handling of barricade cases specifically states that the No. 1 priority at the scene is the preservation of human life.
Why, then, was the situation exacerbated by tossing canisters of pepper gas into the residence, which forced Cook to follow through with his threat to kill himself and Ms. Johnson?
Some will suggest that it was Cook’s choice. But leaders of law-enforcement organizations have learned that in these types of cases, continued negotiations and other non-threatening measures are to be followed. The FBI learned this from its disastrous handling of Waco and Ruby Ridge.
