As deputy grabs a bite, someone grabs patrol car and then sets fire to it

By Eric Cramer
The Examiner, MO - 1/28/99

Independence Police are investigating the theft and arson of a Jackson
County Sheriffs Department car.

A thief stole the car from the driveway of a Sheriffs Department deputy
while she was eating dinner at her home.

According to police reports, firefighters and police responded to the car 
fire at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. The car was abandoned in the 10500 
block of East 35th Street Terrace, not far from the deputy's home.

The thief apparently used road flares from the car's trunk to set fire 
to the front and rear passenger areas of the car.

The deputy told investigating officers her car was locked, with the key 
in the ignition. The key securing a Sheriffs Department shotgun was 
left in the shotgun's rack.

Missing from the car are the deputy's shotgun, bulletproof vest, and helmet.

Police are continuing to investigate the theft and arson.

Col. Tom Phillips of the Jackson County Sheriffs Department said this
morning there is no standard department policy for securing a vehicle.
We don't have a written policy. I guess you could write a policy about
anything,"  Phillips said. "She probably thought the car was secure because
it was backed into her driveway. Obviously, common sense says it's not a 
good idea to leave the keys in the car"

He said the deputy faces no disciplinary action as a result of the theft.

Phillips said an arson investigator from the Sheriffs Department is 
assigned to assist the Independence Police.

Phillips said currently there are no leads in the investigation. "We're 
looking to see if there were similar incidents in the area. My guess would 
be it was more of an opportunity than someone targeting this particular
officer," Phillips said.

Copyright 1998  The Examiner

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