Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Mike Campagna's Day In The Sunshine

Proof that CMPD directives were often just something that was made up on the fly, CMPD Captain Mike Campagna told the jury that Officer Kerrick's decision to draw his service weapon when Officer Little drew his taser was against training.

Campagna testified that Kerrick’s decision to pull his gun to back up an officer who had drawn his Taser violated CMPD policies. 
But according the the Observer:
Out of the jury's presence, the judge reviewed evidence that after a 2012 incident Kerrick was told to draw his gun if another officer draws his Taser.
Prosecutors sought to block the testimony as confusing and misleading. Though Judge Robert Ervin didn't issue a ruling, his comments suggested that he would allow Kerrick's fellow officers to testify about the incident.
C.T. Thompson told the judge, after jurors left for the day, that he and Kerrick responded to a suspicious vehicle call in 2012. They thought the suspect was armed. Both officers drew their Tasers.
Afterward, a lieutenant counseled them that if one officer draws his Taser, the second officer should draw his gun.
That contradicts the testimony by Capt. Mike Campagna who said CMPD does not teach officers to do that. Kerrick, however, told investigators a few hours after he shot and killed Jonathan Ferrell that he was trained to pull his gun if another officer pulled his Taser. Read more here:
Campagna looked terribly uncomfortable during his testimony, at times looking to prosecutors for guidance so he could stay on script. But when asked about Officer Kerrick's use of deadly force Campagna stated that the action was against CMPD directives.  
As anyone at CMPD can tell you the department and more so Chief Monroe had a habit of changing the SOP as necessary and often without any real thought process, but never putting it in writing. 
Cedar's Take: isn't there a directive against male officers wearing makeup? Is that something Campagna does normally or is the eyeliner just to make his eyes seem honest and a little less like a beady eyed snake?

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/crime/article30687696.html#storylink=cpy

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Last i checked officers have been being trained at the acedmey during im service trianing to go one non lethal/taser one lethal backup. Well we don't let pesky facts get in the way. Campangna has been out of the training director position toolong to be an "expert" anymore. Bus he sure can drive a bus over his people.

Anonymous said...

Maybe I am missing something that was already mentioned before.... but if Campangna is not over training anymore, why is he the one testifying in the trial rather than the current training director?

Anonymous said...

Maybe he's the only idiot that would take the stand and lie in order to defend the morons in charge of this circus.

Anonymous said...

@12:49 That is exactly correct. They couldn't find another "expert" to tell the jury what they wanted them to hear, so they used the usual suspect to tell their lies.

Anonymous said...

Regarding the eyeliner comment, he's trying to look like Prince.

Anonymous said...

Forget "Hands Up - Don't Shoot" the real crime is men wearing eyeliner! Seriously it looks pretty stupid.

Anonymous said...

Everyone hold on! The real trial starts today; and it isn't the Kerrick trial. CMPD going to trial 101. The Defense is about to have a field day. All of the arrogance of CMPD "High Command" are about to be humbled. To all you lesser officers: you were always right to doubt blind faith. And, keep in mind, Charlotte is not worth getting killed over.

Anonymous said...

@9:29 you're right! We're about to see just how incompetent the brass of CMPD really are. And it is high time they get humbled. Their egos and arrogance are nauseating.

CMPD DIV 12 said...

The famous line from captain C at the training academy during PT: "Get your butts out of the air, are you open for business?" Anyone else rember this during push ups?! That cat was seriously deranged

Anonymous said...

Captain C is a good division commander. It's hard to comprehend the training / academy side of him where he is basically helping to prosecute another officer. I knew that he did training and advertisements for Taser, but I thought he was still all CMPD and a cop's cop - but maybe not:(

Anonymous said...

I thought I was imagining the makeup/eyeliner. Glad to see it is not just me. Makeup for the cameras, "I'm ready for my closeup, Captain." HA HA. There was a clear hesitation before responding to the question about it was against the policy. Plus, written policy means nothing when other actions and procedures teach otherwise. You can't just act like it's the end-all be-all when it is convenient and then ignore it the rest of the time.

Putting all faith and hope that the Jury will see through this entire charade and end this terrible mockery of our in-justice system.

Anonymous said...

So is Kip saying he did or did not train officers to be ready and take action when someone is trying to injure or murder you? Same ol thing, is it day or night?

Anonymous said...

Here's what I am gather Kip is trying to say or thinking. My videos with my perfect stand and expert shooting ability is cool but when it comes down to battle: all bets are off. He could have or maybe not have shot. And, this is just day one.

Anonymous said...

Campagna sux. What a little, pitiful excuse for a "man".

Anonymous said...

He better pray he never finds himself in a crossfire.

Anonymous said...

A dangerous situation involving that toad is highly unlikely. He would have to unglue his ass from his cushioned chair first. Assuming he was able to do that, he would likely burn a hot trail away from anything even slightly resembling danger.

Anonymous said...

What do you call testimony that is proven to be false by the testimony of others, evidence, and a consensus that academy and in service training is far different than what the Capt. stated it was under oath? Do you call that perjury?

It would be just desserts for him to catch a Class F Felony...

Anonymous said...

Campagna is a douchebag.

Anonymous said...

I bet he would change his tune if this all went down on Flourmill Ct. Traitor.

Anonymous said...

If I was in fear of my life and I had a raging bull coming at me refusing to obey commands given, I don't think that I would be reaching for a taser,mace or anything else but my pistol. Has everybody forgotten our incidents of the past 20 more so years where our officers have been injured and killed because the made the wrong choice or they hesitated in some way that cause their death. The policy of the cmpd seems to be in conflict with state law in this case. Why does the jury have such a hard time figuring this use of force out? I'm sure that if the officer in this case would have had just 15 min to talk to the guy he might have been able to have an answer to please everyone involved. I don't believe for any reason that he went to work with the idea that he was going to hurt or shoot anybody. Look at the jury, I'll bet they spend more time picking out fingernail polish colors than the officer had time to decide if he was going to live or die. The captain maybe better think about keeping his cushy desk job because he might not survive the streets of Charlotte unless he changes the way he thinks.

Anonymous said...

As of this evening, the radio indicates that the Capt. is in the shit downtown as his reward. Keep you head low and make sure to tell the protestors you were part of the prosecution.