Ambushed trooper dies

The search for the sniper who shot Trooper Joseph A. Longobardo took on a new urgency Sunday afternoon.

Longobardo, 32, a husband and father of a 13-month-old son, died Sunday afternoon in Erie County Medical Center. And escaped convict Ralph "Bucky" Phillips remains the prime suspect in Thursday's ambush-style shooting.

Doctors at the Buffalo hospital had battled day and night to try to save the life of the respected member of the elite Mobile Response Team but faced staggering odds from the beginning.

Thursday evening, a round from a high-powered semiautomatic rifle had blasted through Longobardo's left thigh, severely damaging a major artery.

Longobardo underwent at least two surgeries and received more than 100 pints of blood as doctors tried to stop the relentless hemorrhaging.

Saturday, they were forced to amputate his leg. Overnight, he went into cardiac arrest twice.

A second trooper, Donald H. Baker Jr., was also shot in the same attack. He remains hospitalized in Hamot Medical Center in Erie, Pa., and his condition has been upgraded to serious.

News of Longobardo's death quickly spread among the hundreds of troopers, federal agents and other local law enforcement who had gathered in Chautauqua County since the Thursday shootings.

The news was officially announced at 7:45 p.m. by State Police Superintendent Wayne E. Bennett, who told a news conference at Fredonia High School that Sunday had been "a very, very difficult day."

Then, Bennett said that the resolve to catch Phillips, who has spent most of his five months on the lam in his native Chautauqua County, is now even stronger.

"We will bring whatever resources we need to get this job done," he said. "This person . . . has to be stopped."

When asked if he hopes Phillips receives the news of Longobardo's death, the superintendent replied in blunt terms.

"You bet your life I do, because I think he's responsible for killing him," said Bennett, adding that he hopes Phillips continues to "keep looking over his shoulder, and to know he can run but can't hide."

Bennett said new resources and manpower continue to aid in the search led by state troopers. He said he has asked for the assistance of the Rochester Police Department's SWAT team and today will contact the New York Police Department in an effort to tap its extensive resources.

He said that help is sought in addition to that already provided by the Buffalo Police Department, Jamestown Police Department and several sheriff's departments and other state and federal agencies.

He also said there is no question that Phillips remains dangerous, urging the public to call with any potential sightings or suspicions.

"We will follow up on each and every lead, even if they are anonymous," the superintendent said, adding searchers continue to believe Phillips remains in the Town of Pomfret area.

"For whatever reason, he doesn't choose to leave," Bennett said. "We still feel his level of comfort is here locally."

Meanwhile, fellow troopers were reacting with sadness and anger. Daniel M. De Federicis, a Buffalo native who is president of the Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers, said he views Phillips as a "terrorist and assassin."

"I am asking Mr. Phillips to end this and just turn himself in," he said. "If he has any shred of decency left, and for the sake of his family and the community, he should turn himself in."

De Federicis said the strain on troopers involved in the search for Phillips is overwhelming, especially since Phillips is armed with high-powered weapons that he has allegedly already used to ambush with surprise.

"We are in harm's way, that's the reality of our job," he said in a telephone interview Sunday evening, noting that three state troopers have died in the line of duty so far this year as well as one in combat with the military in Iraq.

"This tragedy is not over," he said. "This is the most tragic set of circumstances that we've ever dealt with," De Federicis said.

Others close to Longobardo began remembering a man described as quiet, capable and dedicated. Detective Lt. Tom DiMezza of the Amsterdam Police Department said he taught Longobardo as a substitute teacher in middle school in the victim's native Amsterdam, Montgomery County.

"He was just such a nice, young man," he said. "If you met him one moment, you'd like him the next. He was just that type of kid."

Longobardo, an eight-year State Police veteran, was also a technical sergeant in the New York Air National Guard base in Scotia, Schenectady County. He was assigned to the Wilton substation in Saratoga County, and lived with his wife, Terry, and son, Louis, in Ballston Spa, also in Saratoga County.

Gov. George E. Pataki issued a statement late Sunday night calling Longobardo's death a "painful reminder of the great risks our state troopers face each and every day."

". . . Longobardo epitomized the professionalism, courage and compassion that have become the hallmarks of the New York State Police and we are profoundly inspired by his sacrifice," the governor said.

Phillips escaped April 2 from Erie County's Alden Correctional Facility after slowly cutting through a kitchen tile with a can opener.

Authorities also suspect he shot a state trooper in June near Elmira, after the trooper pulled him over for a traffic stop. Trooper Sean Brown survived the shot to his stomach and is recuperating.

Ok folks, lets try to untie our panties for a moment. We've seen these things happen before and this one will probably go down just like all the others. Bucky will eventually get caught in a situation he can't handle and they'll shoot him.
Maybe he deserves it, but maybe not. So far, the only press reports have come from the police who "believe" Bucky shot all those cops. We haven't heard anything from Bucky or his attorney or even a close friend who just might be able to furnish an iron-clad alibi.
Everyone is jumping to the conclusion that Bucky is a bad guy and the cops are the good guys even though we all know that sometimes it's the other way around. Anybody remember David Koresh? Janet Reno dropped the little tidbit that she thought he was having sex with children and the whole country dropped into lock-step, calling him a child molestor. Later it was shown to be incorrect but Koresh and seventy or so others were already dead by then and unable to testify.
Randy Weaver escaped a similar fate only because a bunch of people congregated around the government command post and gave the impression that they wouldn't put up with a complete massacre of the Weaver family.
Bucky Phillips is no sweetheart but when the police arrest his daughter and separate her from her nursing child in order to flush him out, they're not too clean either. If I were half the age I am now and someone - anyone - did that to one of mine... Well, I too might react as he is supposed to have.

Bucky Phillips is no sweetheart

No sweetheart? He spent years in prison for multiple burgleries. His daughter was arrested on charges of harboring him after he broke out and shot a trooper. The two troopers were shot while staking out a residence he was believed to be using. He is accused of 15 more burgleries and car thefts since he broke out, including a gun store burglery. One of his friends says that bucky told him he would "fill chataqua with pig meat or blood" or some such. Sure it's mostly accusations, but it certainly quacks like a duck.

Yeah, his daughter was arrested for suspicion of harboring a known fugitive. But, since there were police officers watching her house day and night, don't you think they could have come up with something better, like Bucky himself?
Sorry, but I've watched police agencies over the years and while I know most are good guys there are also a lot of cops who are no better than the criminals they're supposed to catch. I've learned to reserve judgement on those who are supposed to be the bad guys until I hear both sides of the story. Sadly, with today's ultra-militarized police forces working their magic, only one side of the story usually comes out.
Like I said, Bucky may be everything the cops say he is, and worse, but I'd like to hear his side before I pass judgement on him.

Sounds to me like he ought to be on the FBI's ten most wanted list, and if it was possible, his daughter and grandchildren ought to be in custody, until she realizes it's Bucky's fault, not the State Police. Unfortunately this is clearly a case of "I ain't going back", and the only way Bucky is going, is feet first. The death of one policeman, and the wounding of two others is going to guarantee Bucky's demise. The only question is how many more will he take with him.

Unfortunately this is clearly a case of "I ain't going back", and the only way Bucky is going, is feet first

City of Rochester sent 7 officers down that way yesterday from the TAC squad our SWAT unit. I wouldn't be suprised if other wny departments are also contributing.

You don't suppose Bucky is wondering why a simple prison break is causing so much trouble? I didn't think you were supposing so. I would guess one of these days the odds are going to be in favor of the police, and he just won't be able to shoot all of them before they get him. One thing seems clear, he isn't going back. He done vowed a vow, too bad he didn't vow he wouldn't rob, kill, and run.

Like I said, Bucky may be everything the cops say he is, and worse, but I'd like to hear his side before I pass judgement on him.

I'm afraid that probably won't be possible. Our friend Bucky has vowed that he is not going back to prison. So it will in all likelyhood end up as another case of "suicide by cop". I suspect that if they get the chance that ole Bucky will end up like Clyde Barrow with multiple ventilations in him.

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