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• Kalamazoo Resident Killed at the Fox Ridge Apartment Complex

  ostranderd in KDPS News on Sep 25, 2011
  Tagged in: News, Homicide

   

  Kalamazoo Man Killed at Fox Ridge Apartment Complex

   

  Kalamazoo, MI:  Public Safety Officers were sent to the Fox Ridge Apartment Complex at 10:40pm on 09-24-11, on a report of a man down from a gunshot wound.  Officers arrived and found the victim, a 29 year old Kalamazoo resident, in the hallway on the second floor, suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper torso.

  The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

  The suspect, a 22 year old Kalamazoo resident turned himself in to police a short time later.  He has been arrested and lodged in the Kalamazoo County Jail on Open Murder.

  Anyone with further information on this investigation is asked to contact Kalamazoo Public Safety at 337-8994 or Silent Observer at 343-2100, www.kalamazoosilentobserver.com

  By authority of:

  Lt. David O’Strander
  

  Date:  09-25-11

  Address:  150 E. Crosstown Pkwy., Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001

  Contact:  Capt. Julie Parsons    337-8139 

• Statement from City Manager in Reference to the Death of PSO Eric Zapata

  kdps in KDPS News on Apr 21, 2011
  Tagged in: News, Homicide

  Last night one of our finest public servants lost his life in the line of duty.  Public Safety Officer Eric Zapata was killed responding to a report of “shots fired” on Hays Park.   Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

  Just as Eric honorably and courageously executed his duty, it is now our duty to honor his selfless sacrifice made in support of Public Safety’s mission to keep our city safe.

  We all know that this type of outcome is possible in any community on any given day; officers’ safety is constantly threatened by the presence of violence exacerbated by the presence of guns and drugs in our neighborhoods. 

  At times like these, we must recommit to supporting the men and women of law enforcement and the fire service as they go about their appointed rounds.  In order to properly honor Officer Zapata’s memory, we must do our best to eliminate the type of violence that took his life from our homes and streets.
  

  On behalf of the city administration and the people of Kalamazoo, I want to publically thank PSO Zapata and his family for his decade of service to our community.  We offer our most sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues in their time of grief.

• Zapata Family to Give Statement

  kdps in KDPS News on Apr 19, 2011
  Tagged in: News, Homicide

  The Zapata family will be giving a statement tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m. at Kalamazoo Public Safety headquarters.  The family wishes to issue only a statement and field no questions.

  By authority of:  Chief Jeff Hadley

• Prepared Statement of Chief Jeff Hadley in Response to the Death of PSO Eric Zapata

  kdps in KDPS News on Apr 19, 2011
  Tagged in: News, Homicide

  Video Link

   

  My name is Jeff Hadley and I am the Public Safety Chief for the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. I will read a brief prepared statement concerning the Officer Killed in the Line of Duty last evening in the 1400 Block of Hays Park.
  
  On 4-18-2011 at approximately 11:18pm Public Safety Officers responded to the 1400 Block of Hays Park in reference to a "Shots Fired Call". The first responding officer on the scene encountered a subject on the porch at 1411 Hays Park and asked him if he had heard any gun shots in the area. The subject, later identified as Leonard D. Statler began firing a weapon at the officer. The officer returned fire and radioed for assistance as he sought cover. Mr. Statler then produced a long gun and came towards the officer. The officer continued to return fire as Mr. Statler fled between the houses. The officer was able to radio alerts to responding officers that were entering the area. This officers presence of mind to alert responding officers while engaging in a gun battle is remarkable to say the least.
  As Mr. Statler fled to the alley behind 1416 Hays Park he encountered another Public Safety Officer. Mr. Statler proceeded to shoot the Public Safety Officer in the head and chest area. We believe that Mr. Statler then took his own life with the long gun. Mr. Statler was pronounced dead at the scene.
  
  The wounded Public Safety Officer was transported to Bronson Hospital by other responding Public Safety Officers and was later pronounced dead.
  
  The mortally wounded Public Safety Officer is identified as PSO Eric Zapata 35, a ten year veteran officer of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. Our hearts and best wishes go out to the Zapata family as they grieve the loss of this fine Public Servant.
  A little less then three weeks ago I stood before you giving a press conference on an officer involved shooting. In that press conference I conveyed my expectation that every officer comes home safe. I now stand before you and must report that that expectation wasn't met. We as a community did not send one of our officers home at the end of his shift. For that I am truly Sorry!
  
  Unfortunately this incident follows a growing trend nationally in that the rate of violence against officers is increasing at an alarming rate. Officer deaths increased last year almost 40% (from 117 in 2009 to 162 in 2010) PSO Zapata makes the 62nd officer killed in the Line of Duty this year alone.
  
  At this time the Office of Professional Standards and the Criminal Investigations Division are conducting independent investigations into this matter. These investigations will take time to interview all associated witnesses, review evidence and lab results and complete the necessary documentation. No tapes or other related paperwork or reports will be released until we have completed these investigations.
  
  We will not identify the other involved officers at this time. They currently are on excused time off to be with their families and may come back to work when they feel they are ready to do so.
  Be mindful that we are in the beginning stages of this investigation we do not know how many shots were fired by Mr. Statler, by the initial responding officers, or by PSO Zapata if any. We do not know if Mr. Statler was wounded by the initial responding officer's gunfire or by Officer Zapata.

• Kalamazoo Public Safety Officer Killed in Line of Duty

  kdps in KDPS News on Apr 19, 2011
  Tagged in: News, Homicide

  On Monday, April 18th, 2011, at approximately 11:18 p.m., Kalamazoo Public Safety officers were dispatched to the 1400 block of Hays Park on a report of shots fired.
  A preliminary investigation indicates that responding officers encountered a man standing on the porch of a home and the officer asked if he had heard any gun shots in the area.  The man, a 31-year-old citizen of Kalamazoo, advanced towards the officer, brandished a handgun and an exchange of gunfire occurred between the suspect and the initial arriving officer. The suspect then ran between houses located on Hays Park.  Within mere seconds, officers heard a second round of gunfire. The suspect had confronted a second officer wherein the officer was shot and killed in the line of duty.  The suspect died at the scene from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.
  The investigation into this incident will be completed by the Criminal Investigations Division and the Office of Professional Standards. No further information regarding this investigation will be released until the afternoon of Tuesday, April 19th, 2011.
  Kalamazoo Public Safety request prayers for the officer’s family, loved ones and members of our Department in the aftermath of this tragedy.
  By authority of:  Chief Jeff Hadley

   

• Homicide Victim Identified from December 4th incident at Douglas and Conant

  stoufferc in KDPS News on Dec 05, 2010
  Tagged in: News, Homicide

  Date:  December 5, 2010

   Address:  150 E. Crosstown Parkway, Kalamazoo, MI 49001

   Contact:  Captain Julie Parsons, Criminal Investigation Division, 337-8139

  Homicide Victim Identified

  Kalamazoo, MI:  On Saturday, December 4, 2010, at approximately 3:30 a.m., Kalamazoo Public Safety Officers responded to the area of Douglas and Conant on a report of a possible shooting.  Responding officers located a man down on the ground and discovered that he had been shot. Officers and LIFE Ambulance personnel administered aide on the scene but were not able to revive the victim. 

   The victim has been identified as Alfred Dupre Dunning, a 47-year-old Kalamazoo man. Kalamazoo Public Safety extends its condolences to the family of Mr. Dunning.

   Kalamazoo Public Safety Detectives continue to investigate this homicide. Anyone who may have witnessed this homicide, or who may have information pertaining to it, is asked to call Public Safety @ 337-8994 or Silent Observer at 343-2100 or www.kalamazoosilentobserver.com.