Army Determines Troop Use In Samson Alabama Shooting Was Illegal

October 19th, 2009 (4) Posted By Hardball1911.

samson

SAMSON, Ala. (AP) - An Army investigation found that soldiers should not have been sent to man traffic stops in a small Alabama town after 11 people were killed in March during a shooting spree.

An Army report released to The Associated Press on Monday in response to a Freedom of Information Act request said the decision to dispatch military police to Samson from nearby Fort Rucker broke the law. But an Army spokesman said no charges have been filed following the Aug. 10 report.

“As a result of the findings of the report, the Army took administrative action against at least one person,” Lt. Col. Christopher Garver said.

The action was less than a transfer or discharge but Garver would not elaborate.

The report from the Department of Army Inspector General found the use of military personnel in Samson violated the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits federal troops from performing law enforcement actions. The names of those involved were redacted from the report.

The officer who made the decision to send the soldiers thought he had the authority based on his experience with responses to Hurricanes Katrina and Andrew, the report said.

According to the report, the officer’s “intent was to be a good Army neighbor and help local civilian authorities facing a difficult, unique tragedy affecting the local community. There were no apparent adverse collateral effects to the support provided.”

The Army has said 22 military police and an officer were sent after Michael McLendon, 28, shot nine people to death in Samson and killed a 10th in neighboring Coffee County. The March 10 spree ended when McLendon killed himself.

The soldiers arrived in the hours after the shootings, which stretched the town’s tiny police force and county officers to the limit with several different crime scenes.

The report said troops were dispatched after the Geneva County Sheriff’s Office and Samson Police requested assistance from Fort Rucker to relieve law enforcement at traffic check points around the crime scene area.

The mission in Samson lasted about five hours. The military also guarded bodies at a makeshift morgue.

Jihadi Killer Radio Hour
Follow Pat on Twitter
  • http://HBCIndy.com Dr. Jerry

    Good! The government needs to be made to obey its own laws. I am not certain that this will have any effect and I am also aware of the use of military personnel at road blocks in southern California. With the establishment of NorthCom, who under a President like GW Bush, could be given some element of trust, but under Obama then bring to me an element of concern that boraders on fear.

    • ZenDraken

      I’m fairly confident most professional military officers would not have done this.

      I hope this is a reminder to the rest to keep their enthusiasm tempered by their oath.

  • GRIZZ

    I knew it.It was just a practice run.I sure as hell dont want to fight our own soldiers.But if thats the only choice……

  • midusa

    Where is was found that US troops where deployed to Sampson Alabama, there is no indication they where deployed there by order of President Obama acting in his capacity of commoner in chief. While it’s good to note the deployment, and discuss it. Also as important to note and discuss is the course of events that lead to the deployment, a sad tale of the laissez faire capitalism gone mad. Every President from Reagan to Obama contributed to the problem, and course the rot goes much deeper than the Federal executive branch. :beer: