There is a disturbing report out of Chicago where police were called when 95-year-old world War II veteran John Wrana refused to go to a hospital for a urinary tract infection. Called by paramedics to assist in getting Wrana into an ambulance, the Park Forest police showed up in riot gear and proceeded to shoot Wrana first with a stun gun and then with a bead bag fired from a shotgun. He no longer needed treatment for the urinary tract problem. He died from internal bleeding and blunt force trauma. He was about to celebrate his 96th birthday.
Wrana was reportedly frail and had difficulty walking. We have previously discussed other cases involving the killing of a bedridden elderly woman and an unarmed suicide case. The cases raise serious questions of the rapid escalation of such cases in the level of force used by police as well as the increasing use of “non-lethal devices” as a first response to threats.
Wrana was living in an assisted-living facility. Paramedics told police that he was threatening them with a metal shoehorn and a knife. Some reports indicate that Wrana had decided that he did not want to go through an operation. That may have been the reason why he was resisting. He said that he understood that not having the operation could kill him but decided against it. It is not clear whether he was declared incompetent before the attempt to force him to go to the hospital.
The family contests the claim of the knife. Even if he had a knife, it is hard to see why police could not stand back (particularly since they had riot shields) and avoid using such force on an individual who clearly would be a risk with either a stun gun or bean bag round. Even if the blunt trauma did not finish him off, the shock could easily trigger a heart attack in a near 96 year old man. Some reports indicate that multiple rounds of bean bags may have been used.
Wrana was U.S. Air Corps veteran who served in Burma and India during World War II. Sergeant Wrana survived the hellish fighting in Burma but would later die in the United States just short of this 96 birthday in a confrontation with police. Truly bizarre.
Just for the record. These bean bag rounds are often thought of as harmless, almost toy-like devices. The bean bags fired form a shotgun will initially travel at around 300-400 feet a second (though they have a range of 70 feet). They have been shown to break ribs and even push broken ribs into the heart. Internal bleeding is a well-known risk.
There was an almost identical incident in Chattanooga, TN last July. 95 year old man killed by blunt force trauma caused by bean bags.
http://sceniccity.proboards.com/thread/31966/bean-rounds-fired-park-forest
Standard training is supposed to teach those devices are NEVER to be used on anyone over 65-70 year old range. That includes OC (pepper spray). If those parameters were not taught, then it was the fault of whoever is in charge of training. If the officers chose to ignore training, then they are loose cannons and need to go into another line of work.
If they worked for an agency I do POST exams for, I would immediately notify their agency, as well as the POST Commission, that I was revoking the POST certification pending a full and detailed re-evaluation.
Here is another case out of Ontario on August 28. Police tasered an 80 year old woman with dementia:
http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2013/09/06/tasering_of_80yearold_woman_with_dementia_alarms_experts.html
Not only are the police tactics wrong here, but forcing people to have medical care that they do not want is wrong. A person should be free to decide for themselves whether or not they will have a medical procedure done. There will be many more cases like this one as we move toward implementing Obamacare which forces the government brand of medical care upon everyone, whether they want it or not.
” These cops had no compassion or empathy, and have not even been taught respect. They have no business being a cop.”
That is probably a pretty assessment of the officers. But it gets the solution wrong.
I greatly doubt that much has changed about the compassion, empathy or respect of officers over the decades.
What has changed is their training and equipment.
Things like this will continue until citizens demand changes in the training and rules of engagement for officers.
If he has any relatives with any gumption they will buy a good rifle or two and get even. This is why God made rifles.
By the way, a taser is a lethal weapon. If there is a lawsuit in this case then the plaintiff attorney should depose the mother of on of the igPays and offer to tase her on video just to prove the assertion of the defense and the police department that a taser is harmless.
The cops in question need a taser shoved down their throats and then have the trigger squeezed.
The irony – fight against fascists for your country, then get murdered in your country by fascists.
From linked article: “According to the Chicago Tribune, Wrana was scheduled to undergo an operation. On the night of the tragic incident, his doctor told Margenson [Warna’s stepdaughter] over the phone that even if he survives the surgery, her stepfather will likely end up on life support.
Wrana than got on the phone with Sharon, thanked her for everything she has done for him and told her he loved her before saying goodbye and hanging up. That was the last she’s heard of him.
Mr Wrana’s family are now deciding whether to file a lawsuit, according to their attorney.”
***
As long as he was not mentally incompetent and put under the guardianship of others why wasn’t his wishes not to have surgery respected? From the treatment my father received it was my experience repeatedly that old people, even when mentally fit in the main, are treated like children and scheduled for all kinds of tests and procedures -even needless, expensive and intrusive procedures, just because it’s on a medical checklist or IMO can make a treatment facility some money. Tests and procedures the ordering physician should know are unwise or harmful. Even when the patient does not want it done and states that.
Maybe Mr. Warna would rather have died in familiar surroundings than be on life support or die on the operating table and why should he not have that choice? The facts seem to be that he was killed, murdered actually, for refusing to have an operation he did not want to have. There shouldn’t have even been an issue from my reading of the articles.
I’d sure sue and there would be a substantial list of defendants on my list beyond just the thugs posing as cops.
Question, unless he has a guardian, does he not have the right to refuse treatment?
They could have throw a blanket over him. If these cops can’t handle a sick old man, they need to be fired. They are a danger to everyone. I hope this family sues them as well. My elderly mother needed police twice to take her to the hospital, involuntarily restrained when she was a danger to herself and others. I know it is often necessary. My mom had a gun–thankfully just a BB gun and shot my dad. A sweet-talking sheriff won her confidence the first time and she walked calmly into his car. Second time, hospital staff took her screaming and restrained.
Another horrible police murder. Why does this happen so often without consequence?
Minor correction, it’s “urinary tract.”
Lol @ Darren’s comment!
But seriously. If you were the officer/captain, handling the call, how would you handle the situation?
Take the antibiotics or we’re sending in the K-9!
Wait… The guy had a urinary track infection….hmmmm and he had difficulty walking…. Make total sense to shoot him….. They are saving Medicare, Medicade money…. Creeps…
Common Sense has left the Police force.
Is there a Psychologist in the building?
We need someone to conduct Sociopathy Tendency Testing for the “Boys with Nasty Toys” in Blue.
Senseless death.
Why on earth were these two weapons used against this man? Surely, if he had ACTUALLY threatened the officers with a knife (assuming for argument’s sake he did) that might be a different story, but using a Taser on a 95 year old man is NOT considered a proper use (to say the least) and is highly risky. But the bean bag round? overkill in my book.
I don’t have the full report but my gut feeling on this is that time and patience could have resolved this matter surely better than it was.
Yes and as Nancy has mentioned swat team for this? Unreal.
Wow! A very good friend of mine died in January. He was an 89 year old WW2 vet. Ray was the nicest man I have EVER known. I was honored to be asked by his wife to give a eulogy. The theme was that above all, Ray was a gentleman. Ray had Parkinson’s but he remained his kind self, w/ a great sense of humor. The last 2 years of Ray’s life he had 2 episodes where he was uncontrollable. He hit his wife and VA hospital staff, which is just unbelievable if you knew Ray. Both incidents were because of a UI infection. Ray’s wife is a retired nurse[and former nun]. She understood as did the VA staff which Patty said were nothing but understanding and kind to Ray even when he was combative.
One thing I’ve learned is that you can’t teach compassion or empathy. You can teach respect. These cops had no compassion or empathy, and have not even been taught respect. They have no business being a cop.
I keep reading of police showing up in full riot gear for regular police calls these days. What are they doing ? Is the public some kind of training field for something we do not know about? This is a tragedy of the very worst kind and my heart goes out to the family of this poor man. These officers should not only be fired but prosecuted for murder.
Cops had donuts to eat. Couldn’t be bothered with talking to the guy.
The highly armed and robotic police state takes no prisoners…
Let’s hope those thugs posing as peace officers are not working for the PD any longer.
Absolutely criminal. The officers should be charged with voluntary manslaughter. And speaking as one who has been shot with a beanbag round? They’re like getting punched by the Hulk. But I’m sure it was necessary in dealing with a 95 year old man! Idiots.