This just happened right off the coast here in California.

http://northshorejournal.org/coast-g...off-california

or

http://news.yahoo.com/california-sea...235521614.html

http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2012/1...ell-horne-iii/

Coast Guard crews followed the suspects by air and sea for nearly four hours until the vessel's engine died 20 miles north of the Mexican border, according to the complaint. An officer used pepper spray on both suspects.

Pursuing fleeing suspects that had just purposely rammed your patrol boat with intent to do great bodily harm while they try to escape back to Mexico, Why wasn't this boat sunk and then any survivors drowned?

This just doesn't seem fair.

This was like a typical hit and run accident here in Southern California.

Jim

 

I saw that Jim. Sad news.

I watch Border Wars. I find the rules of engagement frustrating. To me, it's like getting rid of rodents & varmints. You get rid of one or two at least those particular one or two won't be coming back. I have the same opinion of criminals too.

 

The Coast Guard will hopefully change their rules of engagement now. Lock and Load the 50 CAL on the deck should be the first move the Coast Guard should make. If they don't stop, open fire.

 

THIS ^^^


These drug runners have nothing to lose and no fear. They know our rules of engagement are lax at best. If we starting plinking off a few here and there they would figure out quickly the game has changed!!

 

Sixslug "likes" this comment!

 

I used to be Bosun's-Mate3( then 2) ChrisReyn, USCG

1980-1983 USCGC Diligence & USCGC Durable, Key West Fla, Drug Interdiction Cutters

I have been personally involved in the seizure of over 150 tons of marijuana bound for the U.S., and was on-board when we earned our first "gold leaf" for unit seizures totaling over 1000 tons...

At least at that time, our rules of engagement were simple...

Heave- to or you will be disabled and/or sunk

Ram us, fire at us or attempt to flee and you will be disabled and/or sunk

We fired on several vessels during my time aboard for failing to stop or failing to allow a boarding party on board..sank at least three I can recall...cut one shrimper in half with the .50 for aiming a WWII bazooka at us...put down a small boat, picked up the floaters and a few bales of dope for evidence and went along our merry way...

Under 14 USC 143, prior to its being amended, the CG had the authority to board and search ANY vessel operating in US territorial waters or registered in or bound to the US at any time to ensure compliance with ALL US laws and regulations , and to use any means necessary to enforce compliance

 

So what went wrong here?

Quote:
The suspect vessel is described by the Coast Guard as running without lights. When the inflatable approached using its law enforcement blue lights, the suspect boat maneuvered at high speed and struck the inflatable before fleeing. The boat and two suspects on board was stopped by another Coast Guard craft shortly afterward.

Could the fact that the USCG Halibut was not the pursuing ship have anything to do with how much force was used to stop them?

Seems that small deck gun could have sent a very serious message, instead all they got "try to kill us and we will pepper spray you"

How could you expect them to do their job if they cannot even protect themselves, even the part time security guard from Wal Mart gets to shoot people.


USCGC HALIBUT (WPB 87340)


Does the classification Marine Protector Class have any bearing on the type of armament carried?

Will this incident likely change any tactical protocols?

YES/ NO

Are the C-140's armed?

Jim

 

Common sense dictates if it is armed and authorized to use any force necessary to dispel a fight and or seize the individuals involved, and word gets out you will get blasted if you test them, things will straighten up in a hurry.

Of course, I said "common sense" and we already know how the Senate and Congress work......


Peace through superior firepower is for real, when are people gonna figure this out?!?

 

IMO this is 100% correct!

 

In all likely hood, the inflatable was armed with not much more than sidearms and a m-16, to the best of my knowledge, they dont mount 50's on them, at least not when I was in( that was a long time ago remember)the inflatables we had were nothing more than 20-25 foot Zodiacs with an outboard strapped to them.. Getting bumped hard in one of those would be like being in a car wreck, and the crew of the WPB was correctly more concerned with thier shipmates than with the suspect
I havent read anything on this about the second cutters actions, so I dont know if they suspect attempted to do anything when the Cutter stopped them, if they did not, then the Coasties acted correctly in not using force...as any LEO knows, use of force must stop once the suspects resistance stops, whether its an individual person or a vessel, the same rule applies..
Its common occurence for suspects in a high speed auto pursuit to ram one patrol car, then peacefully pull over and surrender to the next.. and ya cant beat'em for what they did 10 minutes ago..even if it was to kill a fellow officer..