THIS LOOKS LIKE A WORTHY CAUSE

by Bob Walsh

I am a member of IALEFI (International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors). I just got an email from one of the members regarding the National Police Defense Foundation and Officer Jonathan Roselle, South Whitehall Township, PA. He has been sacked and is being prosecuted on what may very well be a politically motivated beef.

Officer Roselle is a veteran. He was a captain in the U. S. Army (so he isn't a dummy) and did two seven months in the sandbox (so he isn't a coward or inclined to over react). He was on active duty for nine years and, at the time of the incident that got him fired, was a major in the PA National Guard.

On July 28 of 2018 he was approached by a hysterical woman reporting an attempted carjack-kidnapping. She directed him to the scene where she believe the bad guy might still be trying to jack somebody.

When he got there he saw Joseph Santos hanging onto the side of a moving car. He saw broken auto window glass at the scene. Santos' arms and hands were cut up. Santos came up to the police car and began banging on the drivers window. Officer Roselle called for backup. Santos jumped on the hood of his car and pounded on the windshield so forcefully he dislodged the dashcam mount.

Roselle originally intended to stay in his car, and said so on the radio. However Santos began to move away so Officer Roselle was fearful that Santos would attack somebody else. He exited the vehicle and Santos turned and moved "briskly" towards the officer, ignoring his orders to stop. By this time Roselle had drawn his duty weapon.

Santos approached to about 10-12 feet. Officer Roselle did not feel he could retreat as that would give Santos access to his vehicle, which had a rifle and a shotgun in it. Santos appeared to be much stronger and larger than Roselle, and seemed to be drugged and impervious to pain. He also did not appear to be afraid of being shot. Roselle did not feel he could successfully engage Santos one on one and so fired five shots, hitting Santos with all five. Santos died. As one might expect, he was drugged out of his mind.

Officer Roselle was fired and is being prosecuted.

The National Police Defense Foundation is attempting to raise funds for his defense. Their address is 21 Kilmer Drive,Bldg 2 Suite F, Morganville, N J, 07751. phone 888-safecop.

Check it out. Give if you feel it worthwhile. (I do, and did.)