I graduated from high school in Montgomery County (north of D.C.) in 1968 and PG County (east of D.C.) cops had a reputation back then. I've been reading the Wash. Post regularly over the years (know thy enemy) and these cops-out-of-control-in-PG stories make the rounds regularly - maybe they'll do something about it this time around.
Read the last paragraph from this excerpt from an article in today's Post and tell me what you think. John
"Gregory Allen Cooper, 39, was killed in the early hours of Dec. 9, 1999, after he led police on a foot chase along Central Avenue in Seat Pleasant and tried to escape in a police cruiser whose key was in the ignition.
Seven officers fired 66 rounds at Cooper, a burglary suspect who was high on cocaine, after he got behind the wheel. He was hit three times in the head and abdomen, according to the autopsy report.
Police said they acted to save the life of an officer who was grappling with Cooper as the suspect put the car in reverse and tried to get away.
Cooper's family sued the seven officers and Prince George's County in December. Ralph Lotkin, an attorney for the family, said the police account didn't add up.
"You shoot an unarmed man who is backing up a car with the officer hanging on?" Lotkin said. "And you shoot 66 times? This makes no sense."
One of the officers who shot Cooper was Cpl. Robert P. Hettenhouser. During his career, Hettenhouser has been involved in the fatal shootings of three unarmed men, records show. He also has fired his gun at two other people, but missed."