CA: Two rookies accidentally kill undercover cop

17 Jan 2001

Final result from Oakland, Ca: Rookies 11, Undercover Cop 0 (The rookies killed him accidentally with 11 shots.)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/01/13/MN182790.DTL

Saturday, January 13, 2001
Friendly Fire Fells Oakland Officer
Two rookies accidentally kill undercover cop arresting suspected car thief

(Photos included)

Two rookie Oakland patrolmen shot and killed an undercover narcotics officer Ö who they didn't realize was one of their own - as he arrested a suspected car thief, authorities said yesterday.

The unidentified officers, ages 23 and 29, fired their weapons near the corner of 90th Avenue and B Street in Oakland about 11:15 p.m. Thursday when they saw Officer William "Willie" Wilkins, 29, dressed in plainclothes, with a gun in his hand, Oakland Police Chief Richard Word said yesterday at a somber news conference attended by top police and city officials.

The two patrol officers, each with no more than a year of police experience, did not recognize Wilkins, a seven-year veteran who witnesses said was clad in a stocking cap, blue jeans and a coat with a T-shirt underneath. (rest snipped)

*****

Oakland Police Rookies Kill Fellow Officer Friday, January 12, 2001

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/01/12/MN57472.DTL

Cops Kill Cop
Horror in Oakland as officer is shot by mistake
Undercover cop the first to die from friendly fire
Friday, January 12, 2001

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/01/15/MN189411.DTL

Oakland Rookie Cops Didn't Hear Warning Monday, January 15, 2001

Seconds before two rookie Oakland patrolmen killed an undercover officer last week, a third officer yelled to them that William Wilkins was a fellow officer -- but his plea wasn't heard in the commotion at the scene, investigators said this morning.

(rest snipped)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/01/16/MNW180657.DTL

Slain Cop Lived for Family, Job
Wilkins knew as a teen police work was his destiny
Tuesday, January 16, 2001

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/01/16/MNW31259.DTL

Oakland Defends Cops in Shooting
Experts question pairing 2 rookies
Tuesday, January 16, 2001

excerpt:

Scarrott and Koponen arrived on B Street just after the chase ended. Nash pulled up 50 feet away, recognized Wilkins and shouted, "Hey, it's Willie."

But Scarrott and Koponen didn't hear him, police said, firing 11 shots at a man they thought was intent on doing harm.

"Both officers gave command to the individual with the gun to drop it," Berlin said. "(Wilkins) looked at the officers and then looked at the suspect and took a step toward the suspect."

Fearing that he would shoot the man, the patrol officers "made a decision as they were trained to, to use lethal force to stop that threat," Berlin said.

Although an internal investigation is continuing, interviews with officers and witnesses indicate that the rookies acted according to department policy, Berlin said.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/01/17/ED184690.DTL

Killed by 'Friendly Fire'
Wednesday, January 17, 2001