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Schuyler (Nebraska) Police Out of Fake Robbery Business
Omaha World-Herald ^ | 12/11/2003 | DAVID HENDEE

Posted on 12/11/2003 1:01:08 PM PST by Hat-Trick

By David Hendee | World-Herald Staff Writer

Gas 'N Shop's letter of thanks aside, Schuyler Mayor David Reinecke said the Police Department probably won't participate in future fake robberies involving unknowing victims.

Reinecke said Gas 'N Shop officials asked Schuyler Police Chief Leonard Hiltner to help stage a bogus armed robbery as a reality-training exercise for a group of its convenience store managers.

"We probably wouldn't do it again," Reinecke said Wednesday.

The Nov. 14 episode at the Gas 'N Shop in Schuyler involved two out-of-uniform police officers who burst into the convenience store with guns. One carried a handgun, the other a modified shotgun. Both were unloaded, it was learned later.

The bogus bandits ordered everyone to lie on the floor and to hand over purses and wallets. Among the "victims" were 11 company managers and supervisors from eastern Nebraska and western Iowa who were at the store for a meeting.

The incident unnerved manager Kristine Johnson of South Sioux City, Neb., to the point that she could not return to work and quit her job.

Johnson said she feared that the gunmen, who were not masked, would panic at the sight of so many potential witnesses and kill everyone in a massacre reminiscent of last year's slayings at a Norfolk, Neb., bank. Norfolk is 45 miles northwest of Schuyler.

The incident, first reported in Tuesday editions of The World-Herald, raised concerns about someone inside the store or an armed passer-by defending the "victims" by shooting the "robbers" or attacking them with other weapons.

Gas 'N Shop's lawyer declined to comment, saying it was an internal training matter.

Reinecke said the danger-to-police issue surfaced among city officials after the incident.

"It was staged pretty good," he said. "I'm sure it looked like a robbery."

Reinecke said he didn't know whether the Police Department's role in the episode will require an administrative directive governing any future proposals for similar performances.

Hiltner said Wednesday that he had no comment on the issue of officer safety in the incident or whether the department would do it again.

Shortly after the training episode, Schuyler officials received a letter of thanks from Gas 'N Shop's corporate headquarters in Lincoln.

Reinecke said the letter indicated that the robbery incident was excellent training and that the store managers learned a lot.

The incident is receiving international attention. A British cell phone news service lists the story under "quirkies at a glance." It also was posted on an Internet forum for Smith & Wesson firearm collectors under the heading, "Good Thing I Wasn't There."


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; US: Nebraska
KEYWORDS: 2ndamendment; banglist; cops; crime; guncontrol; guns; idiotic; keystonecops; nebraska; police; robbery
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To: big ern
LMAO......!!!............... (°¿°)

Stay Safe !

21 posted on 12/11/2003 10:40:51 PM PST by Squantos (Support Mental Health !........or........ I'LL KILL YOU !!!!)
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To: KO5A
This article may or may not be true, but this last tidbit is the greatest, silliest lie since we were reading lips. If any ready clerk had attempted to defend himself, he would have met Mr. Glock, and Mr Buck, coming at him from body-armored "robbers", then he would have met his maker.

It may be somewhat embellished for drama's sake. Normally the Omaha World-Herald isn't fit for lining a bird cage. I don't doubt, however, that the story is true. A local police chief, when asked by a local business's remote office HQ to conduct this "training" - made an absolutely assinine decision to accomodate their request. It amazes me that people, particularly those who are sworn to protect life and property, have so little ability to visualize the potential consequences of their decisions. This was a training exercise, for goodnesssake, and deciding to proceed was not something that required the split-second, spur-of-the-moment decision making normally required of LEO's! This decision was made at a desk, and the Chief should issue an apology and promise to never do this again, and if he can't do that, he should resign or be fired.

This never would have happened in Norfolk, lest we forget what happened at the U.S. Bank branch office last year. It's no wonder those folks were terrified. I truly hope you're not attempting to defend the Chief's decisions in this situation - mainly participating in this ill-concieved "training" exercise.

Hat-Trick

22 posted on 12/12/2003 6:58:34 AM PST by Hat-Trick (Do you trust a government that does not trust you with guns?)
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To: Hat-Trick
"two out-of-uniform police officers who burst into the convenience store with guns. One carried a handgun, the other a modified shotgun. Both were unloaded, it was learned later."

Yeah both were unloaded later that evening when they cleaned their weapons. this is the blatant lie i must address. No LEO would enter any situation on the street unarmed, or unloaded NEVER. A spokesman would however issue a feather-unruffling lie to sooth the frightened sheep.

This article may or may not be true, but this last tidbit is the greatest, silliest lie since we were reading lips. If any ready clerk had attempted to defend himself, he would have met Mr. Glock, and Mr Buck, coming at him from body-armored "robbers", then he would have met his maker.

Let's please not kid ourselves.

"It may be somewhat embellished for drama's sake. Normally the Omaha World-Herald isn't fit for lining a bird cage. I don't doubt, however, that the story is true. A local police chief, when asked by a local business's remote office HQ to conduct this "training" - made an absolutely assinine decision to accomodate their request. It amazes me that people, particularly those who are sworn to protect life and property, have so little ability to visualize the potential consequences of their decisions. This was a training exercise, for goodnesssake, and deciding to proceed was not something that required the split-second, spur-of-the-moment decision making normally required of LEO's! This decision was made at a desk, and the Chief should issue an apology and promise to never do this again, and if he can't do that, he should resign or be fired.

This never would have happened in Norfolk, lest we forget what happened at the U.S. Bank branch office last year. It's no wonder those folks were terrified. I truly hope you're not attempting to defend the Chief's decisions in this situation - mainly participating in this ill-concieved "training" exercise.

No, I'm saying that I personaly don't know if it's true, if you say it is, then now I do. My point is, the "robbers" guns were loaded, and if any clerk had attempted to defend himself, he would have gotten BLOWN AWAY, and his return fire would have only met body-armor. Im saying this as a reality-check to posters who say this excercise would have ended differently had they been present.

Well, yes, but not in the way they imagined. I must not be making clear points, sorry.

I wasn't defending this bizarre "training" op. I can see wheels turning in minds though, this could be used as a way to insure those who exercise self defense in the neo-USSA (streng verboten) are gunned down by the state. Sort of a criminal-protection act. Surrender like sheep as you should and live, defend your life and get what you deserve, death at the hands of the state which is what the gun-banners wish for us anyway.

23 posted on 12/12/2003 7:16:45 AM PST by KO5A (my HTML is acting weird)
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To: KO5A
Sort of a criminal-protection act. Surrender like sheep as you should and live, defend your life and get what you deserve, death at the hands of the state which is what the gun-banners wish for us anyway.

Now I understand the points you were making. Yep, unfortunately, this is the direction we are heading in. It'll be real interesting to see the progress of LB265 this year in the Nebraska Unicameral (Concealed Handgun Carry Act), as I'm anticipating never seen before levels of hysteria and Chicken-littling from the gun grabbers.

24 posted on 12/12/2003 8:40:49 AM PST by Hat-Trick (Do you trust a government that does not trust you with guns?)
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To: big ern
Why is it whenever I read a story about somebody doing something totally stupid and firearms are involved it reminds me of a story from when I was in the Navy?

I don't know, but were you, by any chance, on the Harry E. Yarnell around 1969?

25 posted on 12/12/2003 9:01:58 AM PST by Bob
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To: Hat-Trick
The employees passed the test with flying colors because none of them was armed or attempted to thwart the would be robbers. They were nice and cooperative, just like they've been taught.
26 posted on 12/12/2003 9:12:25 AM PST by Fester Chugabrew
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To: Bob
The only thing I was on in 69 was my momma's tit.

Was the Yarnell an Adams class? It sound familiar and I was on the Barney from
86-'88 and it was an Adams class; DDG-6.
27 posted on 12/12/2003 9:22:00 AM PST by TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig (A weapon should be hardy rather than decorative)
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To: big ern
Was the Yarnell an Adams class? It sound familiar and I was on the Barney from 86-'88 and it was an Adams class; DDG-6.

No, HEY was a Leahy class DLG (DLG-17). It didn't have squat for guns but it did have Terriers at both ends.

I was on an Adams class DDG, the Hoel DDG-13 from 71-73, though.

On the Yarnell, we had one particularly clueless ensign who thought it would be a good idea to have a guy fake a nuke weapons intrusion. Poor Guido damn near got himself killed when he ran away just like the ensign told him to.

28 posted on 12/12/2003 9:29:48 AM PST by Bob
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To: Bob
You know, the story I was reminded of had me playing the Guido.
29 posted on 12/12/2003 10:00:48 AM PST by TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig (A weapon should be hardy rather than decorative)
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To: Bob
Now I rememeber. The Yarnell is where guy from my boot camp and Sonar A school got sent off to. His name was Stoddard I think and he was from S.C.
30 posted on 12/12/2003 10:02:19 AM PST by TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig (A weapon should be hardy rather than decorative)
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To: big ern
Yeah, I remember cussing you guys every time we hit heavy seas.

That sonar dome did some really strange things to forward berthing compartments underway. (I think the only thing forward of us was the boatswain's locker.)

When it popped out of the water, there was a huge jump up, then it acted like a parachute on the way back down. Of course, as soon as it hit the water again, it dug back in for a quick jerk down. Real fun trying to sleep in the north Atlantic. :=)

31 posted on 12/12/2003 10:21:41 AM PST by Bob
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To: Hat-Trick
Omaha World-Herald isn't fit for lining a bird cage

Back in my day, the dark ages or thereabouts, many called it the Wierd Harold, but those were the commie pinko hippy types, claiming it was biased in favor of Republicans and Tricky Dick. But when I've read it of late, I'd say your assement is correct. Imagine what the Lincoln Paper, which was liberal even then, is like now. :)

'Bout the only thing that hasn't changed since then is that Ernie Chambers is still a state Senator. Sheesh.

32 posted on 12/12/2003 10:35:57 PM PST by El Gato (Federal Judges can twist the Constitution into anything.. Or so they think.)
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To: El Gato
Quite an interesting history at the O-W-H. My mother-in-law has worked there for over 25 years. The editors & publishers have never hesitated to ingratiate themselves with the local "captains" of industry (U.P.R.R., Mutual of Omaha, Con-Agra, etc.).

Like any media outlet, they aren't in the business of news reporting. They are in the business of selling advertising, yet they tout all these "principles" and this "journalistic integrity" crap, and rarely do they ask the difficult questions, lest they napalm a political bridge that the O-W-H leadership has spent decades maintaining. That said, I still love Nebraska, as it is as good a place as I've found to raise a family. If we could just get the CCW legislation passed......Freegards,

Hat-Trick

33 posted on 12/13/2003 9:17:07 AM PST by Hat-Trick (Do you trust a government that does not trust you with guns?)
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To: Hat-Trick
-really this is to everyone-
This manger that quit is my aunt thank you! No lies! And I swere you to you people this story is neither embellished nore lying to you! except those guns where loaded! they were and my aunt had every right to quit. Right now she's sueing the police and the store for this 'prank'. She still is shacken and if you can't believe me then you say so and I'll give you a quote that came straight from my aunt..."I jump at every little sound now, those dogs bark once and i have another freak attack." People I have No reason to lie to you I just want you all to know how safe you are...The cops aren't always to be trusted especially when they pull this shit!
34 posted on 12/27/2003 8:56:33 PM PST by Sandtiger (They were loaded guns....)
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To: Sandtiger
You see this is the problem with American society today. This shoot first ask questions later mentality is reminiscent of the old west. Well wake up people this the the new millenium. Need I remind all those that commented they would have bust in there and shot the officers. So what makes you any different than the cops/burglars. Other than you had live ammo and the cops guns were empty. My brother was and is the Cheif of Police. I have first hand knowledge of what actually happened as well. As for your Aunt, you failed to mention she has had several frivolous lawsuits thrown out of court or never made it to trial because she has been classified as a professional victim. Don't take my word for it, a simple search of Nebraska public records will show you all the proof you need.
35 posted on 03/24/2004 7:56:44 AM PST by JDHnSC (Enough is Enough)
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