Officer Arnold Strickland, along with Officer James Crump and Dispatcher Leslie Mealer of the Fayette Police Dept. were shot dead in the police station on June 7th at 5:30 a.m. The officers had arrested suspect Darnell Moore, an 18 year old piece of trash, and were booking him when Moore grabbed Strickland’s gun and opened fired on the three men. He then stole a police cruiser and fled the scene. Law enforcement caught him in Mississippi. He’s back in Alabama on 3 charges of capital murder.
Arnold Strickland worked for the Demopolis Police Dept. from 1992 to 1995 as an officer. He’s been described by everyone that knew him as a great policeman and friend. Strickland also worked as a security guard at Bryan Whitfield Hospital. The love and prayers for Strickland and his family radiate from his former town.
After reading this story a few times, my mind keeps going back to former Demopolis Police Officer Sgt. Tony Gary, who was terminated from his job after being arrested and then convicted of assault on an unruly suspect with a flashlight. Our society is making it so police officers are afraid to physically restrain suspects for fear of lawsuits and bad press. If someone had cracked that spineless piece of **** Moore with a flashlight, three good men would still be with us, instead of one waste of humanity.,
Theo Ratliff continues to show hometown love.
I remember seeing him in high school, this impossibly tall guy as big around as a pencil lead. Then he went to college and became the 3rd all time blocked shots leader, behind Alonzo Mourning and some fella named Shaq. Then he’s drafted in the first round to the NBA by the Detroit Pistons, then went to the Philadelphia 76ers, where he’s good enough to make the All Star team. Later, he’s traded to the Atlanta Hawks in a deal that included Dikembe Mutumbo, considered then to be the best defensive player in the league. All through his career, Ratliff has come back home to Demopolis to visit family and hold his annual basketball camp. Though he isn’t shown “Rubin” love when he drives into town, he should be. You’ll be hard pressed to find a Demopolite more nationally known as Theo is today; or would you find one as nice.
A few years back, the City of Demopolis, lead by Mayor Caldwell, proclaimed a day “Andy Phillips Day”. Andy Phillips had just graduated from Alabama and was drafted by the New York Yankees to play in the minor leagues. In a ceremony held ad D.A., Mayor Caldwell gave Phillips a key to the city. At the time, Ratliff had already been an NBA All Star and was giving annual basketball camps here in Demopolis, yet no such honor had been bestowed upon him. It took a letter to the Times by our own Patrick Ellis (Statpat) pointing out the injustice for the Mayor to do similar for Ratliff what he had done for Phillips. I praise the Times today for giving Ratliff proper praises, and I wish the city would do a little more to show it’s appreciation as well. On a side note: When looking at a minor league baseball card of Phillips, it lists Tuscaloosa as his hometown. When you look at an NBA card of Ratliff, it says Demopolis.,
Last edited by dave; 06-12-2003 at 14:26 PM.
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He also led the NBA in shots blocked this year as well just edging out out Ben Wallace of the Pistons. If you know anything about basketball you know Wallace is a very good defender as per his NBA defensive player of the year award last year
"Nobody ever got back-slapped into winnning anything"
Wallace Wade
Dave,
I read your post here about the murders in Fayette. I have a connection in that two of the people killed were my friends. As much as I hate what Devan Darnel Moore did to my friends there, he did not deserve to be, nor was he being mistreated at anytime during his arrest process. From all accounts I received, there was no indication from Devan Moore that there was going to be any trouble at all until the shooting started. Fact is, both the arresting officers knew this kid and his father, and didn't consider him to be dangerous. Any law enforcement officer can relate to arresting someone they know and feel comfortable with. Hell, any one of the law enforcement officers in this county could testify to that! Use me for example. In the three times I have been arrested in this county, not one of the arresting officers felt the need to handcuff me. Had I any inclination to do the same thing Devan Moore did, I had perfect opportunity to do so even before I got to the booking room. The only difference in me and Devan Moore is the fact that I do not fool with drugs in any shape, form, or fashion unless prescribed to me by a physician. Race was not a factor in this crime either. Devan is black, Cpl. Crump is black, and all three people Devan killed were above that. Those two officers and the dispatcher were performing their duties professionally, courteously, and heroically when Devan Moore took their lives. It is a shame that all three of them died that day. They were fine people and will truly be missed.
As I watch the news reports on TV, I see that Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Department is taking great pains to protect this young man from harm. I hope they continue to protect him and keep him safe from harm. I want him to face a jury of 12 people of the State of Alabama. I want him to be found guilty of capital murder of Ofc. Arnold Strickland, Cpl. James Crump, and Dispatcher Leslie "Ace" Mealer. I want to be able to sit in that courtroom, hear all the testimony, see all the evidence, and hear Devan Moore's account and reasons for killing those three people. I want that 12 member jury to be able to convict him of three counts of capital murder with a clear conscience and beyond a shadow of a doubt in their minds. I want to see him sentenced to die either in the electric chair or by lethal injection for what he has done. I want to see that death order carried out. I feel that capital punishment is the only way Devan Darnel Moore can pay for what he did on the morning of Saturday, June 07, 2003 at 5:30 am in the Fayette Police Department. No, it will not bring those three men back to life, but it is the only way I feel he can pay the debt he owes to us. Life in prison will not do this man any good. He has already chosen his path and no amount of rehabilitation can do him any good. He has taken from us a precious resource. He took away three loyal, honest, faithful, hardworking public servants who gave their lives protecting the people of Fayette and the State of Alabama.
Nicely say Stick. Maybe I'm getting too cynical in my old age. I see this boy remaining silent throughout the trial. As soon as his attorney sees the trial unwinnable, they plead guilty to avoid the chair. He'll go into the system a hero among the cockroaches that spend the rest of there lives in prison for killing, raping, molesting, or whatever they do to get in there. The needle is too easy for him, and the chair is too quick.
The only fault to be laid here is on Moore for making the decisions he made. What his actions have done will force law enforcement to take maximum precautions on every arrest now, which would mean if your booked, your handcuffed. What Moore did was destroy what little humanity and compassion a cop can have for someone who's broken the law. Maybe that's how it should be. As you know in the medical field, we have a saying when dealing with patients, whether you know them or not, when it comes to precautions against diseases. Treat ALL patients like they can give you something, not just the ones that look like they could. Same should problably hold true for criminals. Treat them all like they could kill you if given an opportunity.
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