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Police officer drunk in charge of firearms unit

Published: 21 May 09 10:07 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/19580/20090521/

The Swedish prosecutor acquitted the police officers who shot at a man with an automatic weapon and who also hit cars and houses in the vicinity outside of Luleå in northern Sweden last year.

But new details have emerged that one of the attending senior police officers was drunk at the time.

The police special weapons and firearms unit commander was in fact engaged in an another case that night in September 2008. But he chose to also respond to the alarm outside of Luleå, despite the fact that he had consumed whiskey and strong cider, Sveriges Television (SVT) reports.

The operation concerned a man who had been threatened by his 23-year-old son.

According to SVT, which has gained access to the interrogation material in the case, a police officer in attendance felt threatened by the apparently armed 23-year-old and fired 30 shots, spraying both buildings and cars in the vicinity.

No one was hurt by the volley of shots. However the 23-year-old was later injured by another police officer.

Pär G Lindell, the prosecutor at the police internal crimes unit (riksenheten för polismål) in Umeå, later closed the investigation against the police officers.

According to the interrogation material the inebriated senior officer did not only witness the events but was also actively in command. Lindell was unwilling to comment on the details to the SVT programmed "Uppdrag Granskning".

The firearms unit commander retained his rank and still occupies his post.

Roger Jönsson, information officer at Norrbotten police, says that although he showed a "lack of judgement" it was not sufficient for him to be removed from his position.

TT/The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)

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13:36 May 21, 2009 by wissal. Aweda
he desserve to be given a brivilege
15:35 May 21, 2009 by eZee.se
Awww poor guy, this is Sweden, give him a beer and forget about it ;)
16:26 May 21, 2009 by Harding00
It's bad enough that the cops here don't really do police work here, but when they do they show up drunk!
18:12 May 21, 2009 by eZee.se
@Harding00, better than UK cops though... who dont carry a gun so basically if you have committed a crime and are running the cop will shout: STOP... and if you dont stop... I'll shout STOP again!

And when they do carry guys they shoot some poor innocent dude from Brazil and plant evidence or make up false stories as to the whole incident.
22:28 May 21, 2009 by Harding00
So they still don't carry guns, even after 9/11 and the bombings in England? Can he at least throw his billy club at them? LOL!
22:34 May 21, 2009 by Jasoncarter
Yep, next time someone tries to fly an aeroplane into the Houses Of Parliament let's just hope that they've had the foresight to issue firearms to every beat officer, that way some brave policeman will be able to stop that incoming jet with a few well aimed shots.
22:50 May 21, 2009 by eZee.se
Ah! We have a Brit in the house, displaying their famous dry sarcasm/humour!

> that way some brave policeman will be able to stop that incoming jet with a few well aimed shots.

Does that thing with jets happen a lot?

Forgive my bad memory but I can only think of one incident.. and that too was not in the UK.

On the other hand I'm sure a criminal running from a cop would have a little more respect for the copper if he heard: "Stop motherf##ker or I shoot!"

..but thats just my humble opinion.
01:54 May 22, 2009 by dtes
i think its sad that people dont react with an uproar over this type of behavior, these foolish morons could have killed someone, i dont think its cool at all, and its nothing to make jokes about, these pigs are doing drugs and risking our lives on our tax money, meanwhile they proudly enforce their drugwar and protect the banks and politicians, these fools should not only be demoted right out the door but they should also be thrown in the slammer.
10:01 May 22, 2009 by hardwood
swedish cops are just toddlers in a crime infested world. they have alot to learn and growing up to do. ALOT!!!
11:50 May 22, 2009 by Rubbi
Yeh because nobody runs away from the police in America or Sweden and they do carry guns. Judging by your statement its ok to shoot people who run from the police regardless of the reason or crime

Plus you seem to have really quite a small amount of knowledge about British policing and the increased numbers of police that carry firearms.
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