[UPDATE 4:30 p.m.] FARMINGTON – Police released more details about the fatal shooting Saturday morning by a police officer after a man reportedly threatened him with a knife in front of the Farmington Municipal Building.
According to police, Justin Crowley-Smilek, 28, of Farmington, rang the bell at the municipal building where the police department is located. Officer Ryan Rosie answered the call and went out the front door as Crowley-Smilek was starting to leave. Rosie asked what he needed, according to Chief Jack Peck.
Crowley-Smilek turned and a verbal exchange took place. “Crowley-Smilek started walking aggressively toward Rosie. Rosie asked him to take his hands out of his pockets,” Peck said. “He (Crowley-Smilek) produced a knife.”
On his radio, Rosie called to dispatch: “officer needs assistance” and one or more shots were fired. Peck said Rosie isn’t sure how many times he fired. Ten or 20 seconds later, Officer Ted Neil, who had just started his shift at 11 a.m., came running out.
Leon Heckbert, owner of Pro Service automobile repair shop, was adding air to a customer’s tires outside, across the street from municipal building.
“I hear one shot then three more; four shots total,” he said. Looking over at the municipal building he could see an officer standing there. Heckbert ran across Maple Avenue to his old auto repair shop and saw the officer pointing his gun down at something.
“I thought it was an animal or maybe it was training, I didn’t know. Then I saw him lying there. Another officer came out the front door,” he said. Crowley-Smilek “was lying on his belly with his head turned to the left looking down Route 27. There was a blood trail coming from his head area. I said holy s–t,” Heckbert recalled. He added, “you just don’t expect to see that kind of thing here.”
Peck said the state’s Medical Examiner’s Office will perform an autopsy and the Criminal Investigation Division, along with the Attorney General’ Office, was on the scene to conduct their investigation. Peck said he will be conducting an internal review of the incident, which he said is standard in a case involving an officer-involved shooting. Officer Rosie has been placed on administrative leave, also a standard procedure.
Crowley-Smilek was well known to some of the more veteran officers on the Farmington department, although Rosie, who joined the force two or three months ago, did not know who Crowley-Smilek was, Peck said. The chief added, “It’s fair to say [Crowley-Smilek] suffered from some mental health issues.”
Family members say Crowley-Smilek was a veteran suffering from post traumatic stress disorder having served as a U.S. Army Ranger in Afghanistan and Iraq. According to his girlfriend, Destiny Cook, in a letter posted here on the main page, Crowley-Smilek “came home and struggled daily with civilian life.” Cook also said, “No matter how hard he tried to fight the demons within him ultimately he lost.”
His father, Michael Smilek said in a comment below, “He is finally at peace, after all the horrors he saw fighting overseas.” And he added, ” I forgive whoever shot my son, and pray that they too will find their peace.”
[UPDATE 2:58 p.m.] – The man fatally shot by a police officer following a confrontation has been identified this afternoon as Justin Crowley-Smilek, 28, of Farmington.
According to Farmington Police Chief Jack Peck, Crowley-Smilek was shot by Farmington Police Officer Ryan Rosie in front of the town municipal building, just after 11 a.m. Saturday morning.
Crowley-Smilek’s previous interactions with local law enforcement include a February 2010 incident in which he was arrested at the University of Maine at Farmington’s Dearborn Gymnasium during the North Atlantic Conference Championship basketball game, between UMF and Castleton State College. An off-duty FPD officer realized that Crowley-Smilek was armed with a pistol and informed UMF public safety.
Crowley-Smilek was discovered to be carrying a concealed, loaded .45 handgun, without a license to do so. He pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon illegally, a misdemeanor, on April 22 and received a 5-day jail sentence and $500 fine.
More recently, Crowley-Smilek was arrested on charges relating to an alleged assault of a 23-year-old man outside of Front Street Tavern on Jan. 8, 2011. The alleged victim told police he was assaulted in his car by a man after he refused to drive him and another man to a party. At an unrelated incident later that evening, police say they discovered Crowley-Smilek outside 401 High Street with blood on his hands and pants. Crowley-Smilek pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault in Franklin County Superior Court on May 20.
More details will be posted about this incident as they become available.
[UPDATE 1:08 p.m.] – Police say that a 28-year-old local man was fatally shot this morning when he confronted a police officer with a knife.
Farmington Police Chief Jack Peck said the deceased Farmington man’s name was being withheld pending notification of his family. The individual was known to the police department, he added. The name of the Farmington Police Department officer involved in the shooting is not being released at this time.
Peck said that “outside agencies” were investigating the shooting. Investigators from the Attorney General’s Office, the Maine State Police and the Office of the Medical Examiner were on the scene Saturday morning. The local district attorney’s office had also been notified.
Details from the original report can be found below.
[12:15 p.m.] FARMINGTON – A fatal shooting of an unidentified man involving a Farmington police officer occurred in front of the municipal building this morning, after an apparent altercation.
Details remain sketchy at this time, with emergency services blocking off the Farmington Falls Road between Maple and Franklin Avenue. Farmington Police Chief Jack Peck said he expects the detour to remain in place all day as the Maine State Police investigate the shooting. Fire engines, police cruisers and yellow tape have been placed around the building.
An unnamed police officer called for back up at 11 a.m. Saturday morning. As officers began to arrive to help him, the shooting occurred near the sidewalk leading to the municipal town building’s front door.
A husband and wife, who didn’t want to identified, said they were driving past the municipal building and saw the officer facing a man. Just then, she said, she saw two flashes of light.
“I thought it was a training exercise,” she said.
Peck said the officer was not injured, “but he’s pretty shook up.”
More details will be posted about this incident as they become available.
First off it is sad that somebody had to lose there life but to the people that said that he would never hurt anyone; could you define hurt? I believe beating a person in the head with a flashlight because they would not give you a ride somewhere is not just a “normal bar fight”. This guy had violent issues and if not for this police officer this guy could of really hurt somebody else if not kill them. Why walk aggressively at the police officer. People are just asking for trouble when they do that. He was there for a reason.
I’m sorry for thinking this but could this be a case of “suicide by cop”?
Thank You Officer Rosie for keeping everyone SAFE today. A man with a knife ready to use it…….Not a good day!
All these people who think it was NO big deal……….I pray God protects YOU. As for me I thank GOD for Officer Rosie and his commetment to protect ME and YOU !
the fact that he has had several encounters with the police that all involved weapons of some sort…… really doesn’t make me feel all that sorry for the incident that occurred today. I don’t know Justin, but if he had mental issues and liked to carry weapons, you would think that his friends would have taken a step up and maybe tried to help his poor soul…….. I commend and stand behind the FPD, PROTECT and SERVE… that’s the motto right.. How long would it have been before Justin killed somebody….. 2 offenses with weapons in a 2 years span…. I think that should be enough said.
Freedom of speech?
Even if it was a split second decision, not just criminals should be held accountable for there choices.
K9Cop- Thin Blue Line- My only response to you could be ” Why do we need anyone wearing a badge if all they are going to do is shoot the guy, heck I can do that.”
I do appreciate what has been done, what is being done, and the future things that law enforcement will do on behalf of our people. Can we all be trained to do what you do?No. Can we all do it as objectively as we trust that you do? No. That is why our taxes are there to pay you. That is what we ask of you.
Did this man, Justin, do right today apparently not, did this officer do right? That is not my job, and nor would I want it to be. But I hope that those who are involved in this investigation, and carry this though our justice system come at this as objectively as you are paid to do. Not from your own person feelings on this situation, not how you would feel if you were him, or how you felt in the same situation. Just the facts and what is written in the law.
This is not about protecting your own.
But when you take that oath -“To serve and Protect” its not just whom you deem worthy.
Officer Rosie, may you someday find peace in your own mind, and never take for granted a day that life has given you.
Justin’s friends and family, I am deeply sorry for your loss
Jon,
I was a student of Ron’s for over seven years — back in the early days, before Austin left and before Noel was even 1st dan. I can’t even begin to picture the Sensei I knew saying the sort of things you’ve said here. Maybe things have changed. It’s been a long time. But I remember compassion, respect, and moderation being drilled into us before we ever put our first foot onto a mat. My Sensei never would have blamed a police officer for having to use lethal force against a knife-weilding attacker because he hadn’t learned the right joint-lock at your dojo. My Sensei was a wiser man than that. I hope one day you will be, too.
In the short time that I knew Justin, I was honored to experience him as he is written about here. Justin was a man of truth, integrity, courage and strength. He had no ill-will towards others and was unashamed and open about the inner struggles he had after returning from years of service. He did not ignore or down-play the difficulties of civilian life and in my limited experience with him, Justin committed 100% to personal growth and self-betterment. The public eye was unfortunately never blessed by the company of Justin and therefore cannot and does not understand the man he truly was. Justin was a victim of his inner-struggle and the demons he faced. He was and will be remembered as an amazing man, a man that I am proud of. All who honor him, in his life and death, fight on, on his behalf. May peace finally find you, Justin. In remembrance of you, your friends and family will always allow you to be the man you were meant to be. You are accepted, loved and seen as your true self, despite the medias portrayal. As missed as you are, I choose to believe that for you, the struggle has ended and you have found the contentment and oneness you always wanted.
The first night I met Justin, he told me that he was not a bad man, but that he was misunderstood. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to, in small ways, understand you. You were one of the best men I ever knew.
People shouldn’t judge either side until they know the whole trutha, it was a sad situation all around.
Anyone who pulls a knife on a cop for no reason is a bad man. I thank Justin for his service, but what he did today was wrong and he paid the ultimate price. That is sad, but it was also unnecessarily violent and deviant. That is the reality. No shots would have been fired if he didn’t pull a knife or even bring one there. As a former Ranger he should have respected law enforcement more than that.
Regardless of the sh–ty things that Justin did (to myself and others), and bad decisions he may have made, I still confidently say he was, at the core, a wonderful human-being. I feel he dealt with challenges and demons the average person can’t understand. Something I always appreciated was how honest he was about his struggles.
I only knew him post-deployment, but I would often think about the person he probably was before his military service. Its really nice to read about the person he was before. But equally as important to note that, even though he was a changed man and was mentally ill, he was still a really genuine, kind-hearted and intriguing man.
My heart and thoughts go out to his family. What is going to happen to that wonderful dog of his? He and my dog were buds! I always enjoyed how much he loved his dog, and appreciated how passionate he was about proper care and training. If anyone had any doubts about whether or not he was a supposed monster, all you had to do is see how he interacted with his dog.
Also – denied medication because he was using marijuana? SERIOUSLY?
Prayers for everyone touched by this.
I have read the responses and want to ask the question: Do you believe everything you read in the newspapers? In reference to the incident at the Front Street Tavern many months ago, Justin responded to the other person only after that person pulled a knife on him. Are we no longer innocent until proven guilty in this country? Justin’s day in court for that incident will never come now, and we will never know the true details. Yesterday, on Friday, Justin appeared in court as his lawyer had filed 2 motions. But, ironically the Judge put that off and spoke with the DA and Justin’s lawyer in chambers as Justin’s counselor at the Vet Center requested a full psychiatric evaluation because he had became delusional from his PTSD. Were not the police notified of this? Did they not know that Justin suffered from a mental illness- yes, PTSD is a mental illness, and bi-polar disorder brought about by his PTSD? Is a person who is suffering from a mental illness to be simply shot? There are many ways to disable an individual armed with a knife. That being said, I am suffering the loss of my son, Justin, and I also grieve and pray for the person who shot Justin. I hope that out of this tragedy people will understand more about the terrible horrors that our servicemen go through everyday and let this incident teach them that we need to step up to the plate and help them. And yes, I also am very grateful for the police officers who serve to protect us; but, I do question the methods of their training. Again my prayers go out to the officer and his family. God Bless, Michael Smilek
a family member who remembers with sadness and fondness, her stepson,
it is a sad sad and pathetic thing that so much of the discussion here centers on john small and his beliefs that police officers should train in methods of taking someone down other than shooting them. shame on all who have responded on the to shoot or not to shoot platform. it is not the point. john was a dear friend to my stepson, justin crowley-smilek. he meant only the best in his posts here. john, in our conversation this evening, when he came to express his condolences– a brave act to a family who has just been involved in a police shooting–expressed that he wished more officers would walk through his door for alternative training. he never pointed a finger at the officer involved, and stated that the officer was only operating by his training. he just felt the police could learn more than their training offered.
we are grieving, john is grieving, i am sure the officer involved in the shooting, is grieving. that is the point. justin, as you all know by now, was an army ranger in afghanistan and who saw and did horrible atrocities to the people of that country in the name of war brought on by 911. he has spoken to me and his father about the horrors he saw. they were too much for him to comprehend. he had incidences with the law before this, which again, you all know. but justin had the hardest time reaching for help in the traditional manners. while he did seek counseling and had great help there, it was too little and too late to ease the agony of his mind. it was too late to block out the delusions that came with his ptsd. we leave behind our servicepeople and their suffering in this country. and yes, again, i say shame on us.
justin had a kind heart. i knew justin as few could. we talked, we argued, we agreed, we floundered with our words to one another. yet, my life will be ever touched by his. i will always remember his sad smile and his fears of telling the world what happened in afghanistan. he could not live with it. can any of us?
I want to paint a picture: imagine a war veteran. He was trained extensively for combat. He is punished severely if he does not have his gun within arms reach at all times. He hears many thanks and praises, from letters he receives while deployed, from people lined up at the airport when he returns, from people in the community. He’s told hundreds of times he’s a hero. People are grateful to him for “keeping us safe”. How do you suppose he perceives himself at this point? Consider how much training he gets on how to re-integrate into society. Now imagine a school shooting in Colorado, the news of which is plastered all over the tv for a week… Imagine a college basketball game at the end of that week… And our hero wants to attend there with his new girlfriend, but like the rest of the country, he’s scared that some psycho might show up with a gun. So, being the battle trained hero he is, who’s job it is to keep us safe, he makes the poor choice to bring his firearm (the one he’s trained intensively to not be without) to that basketball game, just in case that crazy gun-wielding psycho wants to make an appearance. He doesn’t even realize that it’s HE who is now being perceived as the crazy psycho. Imagine that. THAT was the exact circumstance surrounding Justin’s first weapon offense. So please, do not judge him based on a “prior convictions” report.
Based pn todays events, it triggered an event from my past. This article attached was about a man I knew in which I still wonder if better training could have prevented this tragedy 5 years ago. It’s really hard to say what our action would have been in the same situation. Knowing the outcome it makes it easier to try and figure out if another course of action would have been better, no one will truly know. Of course I’m sure if the officer could turn back the clock and have a guaranteed course of action which would have left the young man alive and him safe it would have been taken.
But from an observation this type of scenario happens a lot more often than seems statistically possible especially with a weapon situation, a mentally ill individual and a law enforcement agent.
I appreciate all opinions on this subject, and I think it is unfair to ridicule individuals on their opinion. and get personal in respect to who knew who’s parent etc.
I appreciate their needs to be a point where the officer has to take the training they have an make a decision. All I am asking is that are all officers getting that precious training or are municipal budgets and other factors limiting
the opportunities for that?
This situation should not only be studied by the AGs office but also by the town to ask what if any changes should
be if any to the current procedures at the Town Office. I’m thankful it was a Saturday and not a regular business day at the Town hall. This could have been an even bigger tragedy that it already is.
I intend for this will be my last post here on this topic, so those who wish to respond please read CAREFULLY so as to not misconstrue my words or change them outright (as this seems to be happening). First, let me make clear that, though I was a friend of Justin, I did not condone some of his behavior. I also recognize that Justin made his choice to go to the police station and engage with the officer as he did, so the ultimate responsibility lies with him. I believe he went there today with the intention to die, and not to hurt. My sympathies are also with the officer who was involved, and his family. The horror of taking another life is something I hope I never know. This is a tragedy all the way around. Katame-waza, I appreciate your kind words, though I must admit I’m a little bewildered. I can’t quite understand how you perceived that I ever blamed the officer, as you seem to be insinuating. In fact, I’m quite certain that I stated clearly in both of my above posts that I will not presume to judge the officers actions in this matter. So please, if you are going to take issue with what I say, at least do that instead of with something I didn’t say. Jason, you make good points, but fairly irrelevant since it’s obviously foolish to face an armed attacker while unarmed unless there is no alternative. That is not at all what I was advocating. What I offered was a mere observation in response to other posts. It was not intended to disparage the individual police officers in any way, but rather to raise the awareness of people and cops alike about the amount of hand to hand combat training cops receive. I want cops to go home to their families at night too. I do believe that their likelihood of being able to do that is improved with more training, be it firearms, self-defense, driving skills, etc. Honestly, I don’t care if they don’t study from me, I’d just like to see more of them studying from someone. My apologies to anyone whom I may have offended, and if I’ve lost WOW’s respect, considering it’s an anonymous name to me, I care very little, but I’m sorry for that too. Peace to you all.
A sad day…………a sad life time. A before……………..and after. Prayers for all.
Sad Day for all
OMG…Did he have to shoot to KILL…coundn’t he have just shot is foot?
@JustAnother
>Even if it was a split second decision, not just criminals should be held accountable for there choices.
The officer *IS* being held accountable, and it is being investigated, and it would have been regardless of the situation. Lets not muddle the issue with pointless emotional dithering, lest we forget that TWO families are emotionally affected here. Ofc. Rosie will not just be walking away from this, he will carry this with him for the rest of his waking life. How many of us can honestly say we have been in that situation of having to take another man’s life? I can tell you have no idea what it is going to be like for him in the comming years.
>Why do we need anyone wearing a badge if all they are going to do is shoot the guy, heck I can do that.
Its *not* about “shooting people” and insinuating otherwise is a discredit to your intelect. Its about having a force that is trained to deal with these subjects and other matters of law & order. Contrary to popular belief, cops are not bloodthirsty mainiacs who want to shoot people. Lethal Force has been, and will continue to be, the last defensive option. Let us not forget who pulled a weapon first and what that entails.
>Did this man, Justin, do right today apparently not, did this officer do right? That is not my job, and nor would I want it to be.
Understand this, we ALL wished this could have resolved differently, and very few people ever want to see blood shed, but it didn’t. As a citizen, you have the right to defend yourself against those who wish you harm. Do you believe the officer did not have that right when a subject came at him with a knife, intending to do harm? Are you one who believes the officer should have attempted to cripple the subject? Do you understand how incredibly naive that train of thought is?
>But I hope that those who are involved in this investigation, and carry this though our justice system come at this as objectively as you are paid to do. Not from your own person feelings on this situation, not how you would feel if you were him, or how you felt in the same situation. Just the facts and what is written in the law.
This is not about protecting your own.
What nerve you display, good sir! To insinuate as you have that this investigation will not be objective, or that its going to be found in the officers favor simply because he walks the thin blue line is without warrant! You have several agencies doing seperate independant investigations, and far be it for you to insinuate that this will be taken lightly. You are most certainly right when you say “this is not about protecting your own”, it has been about protecting the people. Rosie may never be the same again after this, and you have baseless concerns that the investigation won’t be conducted good enough? Your nerve astounds me!
I hope when the final say has come down, and that (as I believe wholeheartedly) Smilek did indeed intend to kill Ofc. Ryan Rosie, that it will be enough for you to acknowledge Ofc. Rosie’s conduct was justified in every aspect.
>But when you take that oath -“To serve and Protect” its not just whom you deem worthy.
I find your view on law enforcement to be offensive. The facts as we know them now are cut and dry, regardless of whomever was on either side. Farmington PD has never, I repeat *NEVER*, been a police department that has not done its job or not been thurough in its duty because of who someone is. My opinion would not change, regardless of who the subject was that pulled the knife.
This may be a bit blunt, but if you draw a weapon on a Police Officer and approach with intent to kill, I hope you have made peace with God. In that instant, with no emotions clouding the issue, Ofc. Rosie made the call that anyone with or without training would have.
Why was this guy on the street to begin with? I saw one of his victims after the beating that was endured by this guy. It is a shame that it had to come to this but remember cop has a family to go home to and sometime tough choices must be made. The cop made the right choice and that was to protect himself from this guy. All that feel differently are not putting them self in the cops shoes. If he had a way of safely disarming this guy that would have been best but this is a big guy with combat training.
Those that are accusing others of second guessing… Are second guesing! The only ones that realy know what happened is Rosie & Justin. Even you officers that are guessing and justifying… are guessing… I imagine it is part of the mental process that you need to go through.
Training training training! It can help. Be it training to dissarm or scituational training. But what we can not know is how at the moment of time, that we are put in the scituation, how we will respond. The best trained person may still not make the optimum decision.
What we should do is stop justifying the death of a troubled citizen a war veteran! We, yes we, all of us citizens, may have helped create Justin. Because everyone, reguardless of training, will react and deal with what we see in war differently.
Rosie will know in his heart if this was the best result that he could have had. ONe man is dead and another is changed for life!
@Jon Small
> However, in light of this tragedy, I do think that it’s worth raising questions about level of training that police receive when it comes to making an actual “arrest”
> I also think it’s worth raising questions about how our most disturbed vets are handled when they return.
You are raising two completely separate issues here, and yet you still do not seem to understand what exactly the implications of what you are saying.
No man, trained or not, is going to go into a life-or-death confrontation as Ofc. Rosie was forced into and limit himself. To ask that he first attempt to disarm an assailant that means to take his life is ridiculous, and is not something I would EVER ask or expect an officer to do. As martial artists, we are trained on how to attempt to disarm an opponent in a situation where their is no other means than to defend yourself with what you have available, namely your own body.
However, Ofc. Rosie had other defensive options available, and he had to use them. It is sad what happened, and its going to be an emotionally trying time for all involved, but at the end of the day Ofc. Rosie used what he had available to keep the subject from killing him, and anyone else in the community.
Was shooting this person justified? It seems to be questionable! And 4 shots why? My condolences go out to the family of Justin.
Can we all just keep our opinions to ourselves? Please remember Justin leaves family behind & they should not have to deal with everyone’s opinion!
this matter is very sad to me…but farmington an wilton police are good people..if you were hurt or needed help..they are the first ones to help you..they protect and serve..a very hard job….
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3946700/Crazed-knifeman-stabs-four-cops.html
Timely example of what happens when you try to meet deadly force with non-deadly force. Even 4 against 1 was not enough to keep four cops out of the hospital.
My prayers are with everyone involved. I thank Justin for serving our country and protecting us. I’m sorry that what he saw and went through over seas affected him so badly. Life is not the same over there as it is here.Thank you for all you did. Thank you to Officer Rosie for keeping us safe at home as well. It is not easy to make the decision he had to make.
@ all of you who think you know either side of this story and must press your ignorant opinion on others.
Yes, I am a vet in the USMC. No, I never once had to fire my weapon at another person, and I thank God daily for that. I have however held a firearm pointed at a person and was fully prepared to pull the trigger on more than one occassion. Each time was in self defense and while a direct threat persisted. Would I have pulled the trigger in any of these situations? YES. Fortunately, I never had to. The way I look at it is, if you don’t want to die, don’t put yourself in the situation to begin with. If you pick up a knife, gun, sharp stick, baseball bat, or just have very big, well trained fists, it doesn’t matter, if you threaten other people with a weapon, you can expect to die.
Now, that being said, regardless of what most tv shows portray, I have never in my life known a cop who gets up in the morning, puts on his weopons, and says to himself, “Boy, I sure hop someone gives me a reason to use this today”! In fact, every cop I have ever known (and I have at least 5 direct relatives plus several dozen friends who are on the force, including one who was forced to shoot and kill a very good friend of the police department he worked for) gets up in the morning, dons his weapon, looks up, and says “LORD, PLEASE don’t put me in a situation where I have to use this today!” However, when placed in the situation on a daily bases, it is bound to happen eventually. When it does happen, these officers are more often than not traumitized by the incident for years afterward, and on top of that they have to put up with months and sometimes years of internal scrutiny by their own department while being investigated to see if it was justified. They also have to put up with the abuse from self centered idiots who think they know what was best, and don’t hesitate to tell the world what they would have done under the circumstances and what the officer should have done, never mind the fact that they were nowhere near the incident, nor have they EVER been close to being placed in the situation. The closest most of you have probably ever been to a real weapon was picking up a kitchen knife and threatening your tomatoes.
As for the person who was shot, I don’t know his story either, but he was obviusly very troubled. Was there any helping him, I don’t know. What I do know, is that it sounds as if he had a lot of people who loved him very much and knowing that love, I am positive they constantly tried to give him every ounce of support and encouragement they could physically muster, yet he snapped anyway. Would a lifetime of imprisonment have cured this poor mind in any way, I highly doubt it, it most likely would have exasperated it. From the sounds of what I have read today, the guy was looking for relief for his pain, and knew exactly how to find peace at last. Coming out of the US Army Rangers, I guarentee he was highly trained in the use of weapons, stealth combat, and up-close and personal fighting tactics. He did not just randomly get himself shot.
In conclusion, don’t go around judging others, on either side of the coin, until you have directly walked in their shoes. Each party did what they felt was appropriate for the situation, and the results were very unfortunate for both sides. One must live with their choice for life, the others family must live with it for life. Both sides will suffer for life. This is purely a matter between the officer, the family of the young man, and the people involved in the investigation. The rest of you need to keep your mouths shut, or at most, simply say a prayer for both victims then leave it in Gods hands.
Here we go again, with the blame thing. Plus we have an individual who is seeking more enrollment in his Do Jo. What about the thousands of brave men and women who have returned from battle with severe, life changing injuries. Do you see these people using battle as an excuse for bad behaviour? It is a diservice to the many returning vets to claim battle made them mentally ill. These fine people just sucked up the many horrific situations they were placed in and moved on with thier lives. If there is blame I would think that our military does not do a thorough enough job of weeding out those unfit for service.
How about the emotional pain that Officer Rosie is going through now? We hire fine young men and women to protect us from the ills of society. If an Officer has to use deadly force to protect those, he/she is sworn to serve, then it must happen. What if the deceased had run from the Officer and commandered a motorist or attacked an innocent civilian out for a walk. What if he had bolted through YOUR door and attacked YOU?
Officer Rosie had to make a split second decision and all you Monday morning quarterbacks are trashing what was done.
Officer Rosie, pleased be advised that all your brothers and sisters in law enforcement, support you and I know Chief Peck will be a strong force in your recovery.
Bulldog. I can’t believe that you censured my comments about a political situation a few days ago and PRINTED these attacks on Officer Rosie. I’m disgusted!
By the way, my heart and prayers go out to Officer Rosie that he finds peace and forgiveness in this very unfortunate incident, and the same exact prayers go out to the family and friends of Mr. Crowley-Smilek. Also to all who are placed in similar situations as this that they do the right thing, regardless of which side they are on initially.
May God bless and forgive Mr. Crowley-Smilek for his actions and give him eternal peace.
This speaks for itself. Take the time to listen to it. Could YOU do their job?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB9-NcunsKc
“ I NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE KNIFE”.. Was it serrated, sharpened, dull, gleaming, a jackknife, butcher knife, just wtf was the knife ??? “…
Alright. One final response because obviously people do not read. They would rather just trash-talk instead. I do not have my own dojo. I am not actively teaching a regular class at the moment, and it’s just the way I like it. Therefore I am NOT seeking more enrollment in my dojo.
Would someone please put this man’s rank up (preferably in the article). After serving his country as an army ranger, he at least deserves to have his name and rank posted in the article.
I notice none of the above quoted officers mentioned his military background, it only came to light after the family mentioned it. That’s just sad. Where they hopping we wouldn’t find out ???
According to the article in the Sun Journal today Mr. Crowley-Smilek was in court on Friday and the judge ordered a full psychological evaluation. Clearly, the young man needed help. Why, oh why, did the judge not order psychiatric hospitalization until the evaluation had been carried out? The man beat another individual with a mag light. He brought a loaded handgun to a UMF basketball game. There is no doubt he needed help. IMMEDIATELY.
What a sad ending for all. My thoughts and prayers are with the Crowley’s and the Smilek’s but also with the officer and his family. This tragedy could have been prevented by the judge on Friday.
Yes good question, why, four shots?
If a suspect comes at an officer with a knife drawn, the officer is authorized to use deadly force. End of discussion.
My heart goes out to all of those involved, and to Justin’s family and friends. Let’s try to remember that a family will be saying goodbye to a beloved son this week and the offensive comments/opinions are beyond unnecessary.
Peace be with you, Justin.
Very,very sad for all parties involved. My heart goes out to the families who are suffering at this time. Prayers are with you all.
This is a sad thing to happen. It worries me that there is just not enough help for mental illness in the area. I myself have suffered from depresion and the lack of help from the area hospital is not good and I have no faith at all in there system,. Yes there is a dept at the hospital grounds for mental illnes but you are felt like another number, an assembly line and not a human being. Sorry this had to end this way and it is hard for the family as well as the officer(s) involved.
Honestly our whole society is horrible when it comes to addressing mental illness. Go to the doctor, get some pills, make the pharmaceutical companies happy as you continue to suffer.
I don’t do the whole doctor thing.
I had the pleasure of learning of this man’s story first hand last year, when I moved into an apartment adjacent to his. Although I had heard the things on paper that he had done, I did not form an actual opinion until I met him a couple of weeks in. Justin was one of the nicest people that one could meet. He was always trying to overcome the trauma that he encountered while in service and would never give up, no matter the setback. The incidents he was involved in appear extreme in some cases, but there is always other sides to the matter that are left untold. Speaking from someone whose bedroom was 10 feet from his door, I never felt threatened or unsafe. May others speak up and show that this is a gentleman that needed support. The officer that took action was put in a position that no one should ever be put in. Rather than blaming either side for error, I feel that we should all take a look at what we are subjecting our troops to in the world more closely and develop the means to support them in our communities when they return so that incidents like these no longer are an issue. My condolences go out to Justin’s family, he was truly a great kid at heart and did not deserve to be taken from the world so early. As for the officer, my condolences go out to you as well, for you were put in a position where you had but a fraction of a second to make your decision. May the investigation clear you and prompt attention for more programs to support our veterans.
im not saying the officer wasnt justified just because of the number of shots or how quickly he popped them off. im just as curious about the facts as the next person is and i hope this officer can heal quickly and get back to work to protect and serve the town of farmington.
Sickofstupidquestions… you said it best.
War. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing. The real issue is war. It’s such a primitive and unacceptable way to solve differences or settle disputes. Old men create the wars and young me fight them. Many of the young soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have been asked to do things that go against the human spirit. When you are asked to open fire and kill ever person on a bus that doesn’t stop, or every person in a village – how do you deal with that? Women and children screaming in horror as they are all shot. It’s so wrong. Have these last 2 wars been worth it? The financial cost has been huge, with the US going from surplus to debt in a very short time. But as bad as that is, the human cost seems worse than that. Look at the before and after photos of of the young soldiers. I feel so badly for the Justin’s of America right now. There are a lot of them coming home, with many more on the way. Let’s lobby to get these soldiers the counseling they are entitled to so their nightmares will end, and their days will seem normal again. We owe them that. Let’s learn from this, and stop sending our troops to police the world. I think most Americans would rather see us police the crooked bankers and others that are robbing us of our futures than the people of the Middle East. Lars
Interesting discussion about a traumatic community event. The problem of returning vets having difficulty adapting is real and well documented. I think the real story here is how we as a society fail those who sacrifice everything, not realizing the pain and psychological distress war and death can cause. Obviously not everyone is affected the same way, but those who have served in combat have higher rates of suicide, crime, homelessness, divorce, domestic abuse and depression. Post traumatic stress disorder is real. There is no denying that, things like this happen because we don’t spend the money to help our military service people after the war. We give them parades, but don’t spend on psychological support and help reintegrating. Someone risks his life for our country, is scarred by the experience, and not given the support needed. We should be ashamed, and we certainly shouldn’t judge him! I certainly don’t blame the cop, but as a country “support the troops” is easy when it just means yelling slogans and going to parades. It’s harder when it means helping young men and women after the fact. But that’s when the support is really needed.
-Scott
Thank you for your service. Why I not more help for these veterns who literally give us their lives? Fallen soldier…thank you
This is such a sad situation on all levels. My thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Crowley-Smilek’s family and friends and to Officer Rosie. They are all suffering.
Dear Sick of Stupid Opinions,
You have the right to spout off about people making stupid comments, not because you are a usmc vet but because you’re american. Guess what genius, so do the people who in YOUR opinion make stupid remarks. That’s the way freedom of speach works.
I agree there are many stupid comments made on various newspaper blogs, but I read them then laugh at their stupidity and move on. We do not all think and say the same things, this is not North Korea, China or any other nation where we have to worry about what we say.
Oh and yes, people say very mean and hateful things that maybe the family of those involved wouldn’t want to read, if this was one of my family members involved in matters such as this or any other thing, the last thing I wuld do is read these comments but hey that’s just me.
Besides for someone that doesn’t want people to make stupid comments, you sure are a chatty Cathy.
@SICK OF STUPID OPINIONS I was going to write something, but then in reading your write up, you said pretty much what I had to say. I have nephews who were/are rangers in the army, and when they come home, they do receive love and support from “family and friends” but i truly believe they do not get the mental help that they need from the people who SHOULD be helping them. It is to easy for them to get pushed aside. This is a sad story, and I do believe he is now at peace. RIP Justin.
For all of the people who have questioned Officer Rosie’s decision, I ask the following… What if someone had been coming at YOU with a knife? Would you have wanted Officer Rosie to make the same decision for YOU? Officers are not trained to wound. They are not trained to “wing” someone. They are trained to protect the lives of everyone around them. Would you want an officer to risk YOUR life by making a different decision or would you prefer to know that YOU were alive because to the split second, life-or-death decision made by this courageous officer? It’s very easy for all of us to look at the situation retrospectively and wonder “What if…”. What if the Officer was protecting YOU and he tried to disarm the person, tried to “cap stun” the person or use a taser? What if it didn’t work and the knife was plunged into YOUR chest? Would you still be saying “What if…”? The Officer would never be able to take that decision back.
I agree that this is a tragedy with multiple victims. One young life lost. Another young life altered forever. And of course there is all of the collateral “damage”. Two families will never be the same. A community is in mourning.
I would like to thank Justin for his service and I grieve that we were not able to do more to help him as a veteran. I would like to thank Ryan for his service to the town and I pray we are able to do enough to help you through this difficult time.
maybe it was a suicide by cop? its not unheard of, and considering his rap sheet seems pretty consistent with traumatized war vet. trigically i think too many of our returning veterans died over there. their bodies survived, but who they were was taken away in country. i feel bad for justin and the officer who shot him. at least one of them is done suffering.
I am curious as to why they haven’t shown a picture of the knife. Generally they do show an example of the weapon used in these situations if not the actual weapon. Are we talking a pen knife or a saber? Yes, that should matter.
I just do not understand this country of ours. These men and woman go to different countries and fight for our freedom and for the most part many of these brave people come home, but some have severe injuries, bad dreams about what they had to do and see, and some have had to be put into institutions because they feel they can no longer be a decent part of the communities any longer. That is very sad. My father and grandfathers fought for this country, luckly they came back home and lived a good life, but for others, they were not so lucky. I know of several people I grew up with that went away to Irac, Desert Storm, and came home very distraught, unable to work, sleep, continue with a normal every day life because of what went on over there. One very good friend sent home letters to my younger brother, in one of those letters he wrote, “Sorry if you are having a hard time reading this, the only time I can write is when the sky lights up with bombshell light and shines in my fox hole.” That stays in the back of my mind and I will never forget that, that is a scary thing. I can honestly say I feel this whole situation needs to be re-investicated. I think there is a lot of information that is not be told. My heart and prayers go out to this young soilder, I may not have known this young man, but when something like this happens it touches you. I believe the goverment has to start taking responsiblity for these yopung men and woman that fight for us.
Sheryl Massachusettes
WHERE? AND WHAT DOES THE KNIFE LOOK LIKE? IS IT A PLASTIC KNIFE? RUBBER KNIFE?
Officer Rosie, be strong. You did the right thing, what you had to do, tragic as it may be.
Before some of you awarded this guy “decorated war hero” status, and forgave all of his sins, did anyone check his record to see how long he was in the service, how long he spent out of the country, how much actual action he saw? And has anyone seen a record of the events leading up to his discharge?
So the knife should matter? A saber is LESS likely to penetrate a kevlar vest than the finer blade of a pen knife. Kevlar is a fiber and a knife will cut through it. A pen knife is more apt to be a danger with a vest on. Additionally, when an emergency chest decomression is done by medical personnel, it is often performed with an 1.25 inch 14 gauge needle. Something just over an inch long can enter into the chest cavity to the area surrounding the lung(s) and could easily penetrate one of the major vessels such as the aorta. So yes, a pen knife is potentially as dangerous (or moreso) as a saber.
Why is it so important for the public to be intimately aware of every minute detail while the investigation is
on-going? The state Attorney General’s office conducts an independant review of all police officer involved shootings. Is the public so much more qualified than the AG’s investigators? If that was the case, the laws of the state would indicate that an independant invesigation of all police officer involved shootings will be conducted by the public at large.Ahhh, takes me back to Salem, Mass in 1692.
@ed
as my understanding goes, justin served two tours as an army ranger. he was on the front lines seeing things most couldnt imagine. possibly having to do things unimaginable. correct me if im wrong, but he came back after a major battle pretty beat up emotionally and physically. i think the events leading up to his honorable discharge were what i just mentioned. so yes, justin IS a hero who came back and unraveled before a communities eyes, and perhaps his run ins with the law were cries for help. im not saying they were because i dont know, but it is a possibility. and it appears his final cry for help was to be put out of his own misery.
thank you justin for being a hero. may your mind finally be at peace.
ian…………
I didn’t ask what your understanding was, I asked if anyone had checked the facts, times, durations and locations.
Have you?
Ed, my understandings come from what ive been reading and watching in the news and from conversations with people close to Justin. i understand that if you dont know anything about justin, then you have the right to wonder and ask. i was just trying to paint a better picture for you with the information i have gathered.
Ranger units complete 3 month tours. they do 3 months at a time due to intensive combat. Justin completed two tours in Afghanistan, receiving a medal for bravery.
so yes, Justin Crowley-Smilek is a decorated war hero.
may his memory live on.
I keep seeing people obsessed with four shots being fired. Maybe the first three were misses! Think about it!
Officer Rosie hadn’t been to the Police Academy. He was scheduled to go in January 2012 according to the Sun Journal Paper this morning from Chief Peck. My questions are” What training did he have and what gun training did he have?”
My son, Justin Crowlet-Smilek, is dead; and Officer Rosie and his family will be emotionally affected by the tragic incident perhaps for the rest of their lives. As a Christian I mourn for Officer Rosie, his family and friends. This horrible tragedy has started people to question many values that they hold. As a veteran I believe that all servicemen, and law enforcement personal will at one time or another willingly put themselves in situations that are dangerous and can change their lives forever. They do this I believe because they know that this is the only way to protect our freedoms so that we as a nation can sleep comfortably at night.
Justin’s family is here in Farmington to see him and to pay their respects to him. On Wednesday services will be held at Wiles Funeral Home located near the Police Station ; and after that there will be a celebration of his life at our home. If you are interested in attending please contact me. Our family has many things to do to prepare for this on such short notice. But, after Saturday I hope to have time in which I will be more than happy to speak with you and answer any of your many questions about my son’s life, and more importantly honestly speak with you about the questions that have been brought up both by the media and yourselves.
As a veteran myself I hold in highest value the freedom of speech that we enjoy, and which is not only sometimes taken for granted, and denied in many countries which have yet to experience the power of being able to speak with a right that we have become complacent with. If you would like to chat on the phone, or go out for coffee, to discuss these issues with me I would be more than grateful to do so with you, You may contact me at home- my number is: 860-2578. I will be there, to listen and address any concerns you have.
In closing, if you feel like doing so, in remembrance of a young man who was trying to make sense of the horrors of war, you may help others in his situation by making a donation to “Veterans for Peace”, or place a simple wreath or flowers on the lawn of the Municipal Parking lot adjacent to the Farmington Police Department.
God Bless,
Michael Smilek
ian said
” i understand that if you dont know anything about justin, then you have the right to wonder and ask.”
ian…. Who said, or where did you read that I don’t know anything about Justin?
I appreciate you giving me the right to ask and wonder about Justin, but I never wondered or asked anything about Justin.
I asked if you, or anyone else had checked a few things.
ian said
“i was just trying to paint a better picture for you with the information i have gathered.”
Thanks for trying, what is happening here is that a lot of folks have gathered their own information and painted their own pictures.
Mr. Smilek, you said it all. Everyone else. The debate is over. Post your respects and move on.
My condolences to all parties involved.
From a newspaper website this morning,
Cook said she has her boyfriend’s military records stored on her computer. They show he entered active duty on Aug. 11, 2005, and left active duty June 27, 2007, and that he was discharged from the service under honorable conditions.