By Mansfield Frazier
Any cop will tell you the worst calls to go on, the one’s they dread, are those involving domestic disputes. Emotions are often out of control, tempers are flaring, and situations can turn violent or deadly in an instant.
That’s seemingly what happened at a Cracker Barrel restaurant in Brooklyn last Thursday. Kate Allen informed her husband Kevin, to whom she had been married to for over a decade, she was leaving him and taking their two daughters Kerri and Kayla with her. That evidently was too much for this overly-controlling man (who had been arrested on domestic violence charges while in a previous marriage) to accept and he went off the deep end in a way that literally defies comprehension.
Kate Allen called Brooklyn police as she sat in the restaurant and she’s clearly heard on the 911 tape saying her husband is circling the parking lot, but then she says that she also sees a police vehicle. However, according to a news release from Brooklyn police, officers arrived on the scene and heard gun shots inside the restaurant, and then encountered the shooter, Kevin Allen, leaving the restaurant while holding a shotgun. Officers then shot and killed Allen when he refused to put the gun down. But not before he killed his wife and one daughter, Kerri, while critically wounding the other. Kayla Allen remains in MetroHealth and is in need of all of our prayers.
It’s easy to second guess, but the question is out there in regards to how police handled this situation. If officers arrived in the parking lot before the shooting — as the 911 call clearly indicates — why didn’t they simply go inside the restaurant and protect the woman and her kids?
Were they simply confused and stayed outside looking around the parking lot in an attempt to locate the husband? If so, this demonstrates the wrong mindset, albeit probably one shared by probably too many officers, and perhaps the legal system itself. The emphasis of law enforcement — at least in this case — seems to have been overly focused on corralling the potential perpetrator (arresting someone) rather than shielding the potential victim from violence (protecting someone).
This is not to suggest that proper procedures were not followed, or that some officer should be brought up on charges (thus compounding an already tragic event), but this could prove to be a teachable moment and improve police reaction in these types of confrontations. However, the Brooklyn police, rather than embarking on that course of action, seem intent on circling the wagons and stonewalling… no doubt to protect the city from any legal jeopardy by way of a lawsuit.
But they will no doubt learn that eventually the truth might come out, and that in situations of this kind it’s far better to tell the truth right from the beginning rather than attempting any kind of cover up. There’s simply no way for the two versions of when police arrived and how they reacted to jibe — either the woman was wrong in thinking she saw police, or the officer(s) first on the scene handled the situation badly. With Kate Allen dead, it’s going to be all too convenient for investigators to simply say she was mistaken in what she saw.
From Cool Cleveland correspondent Mansfield B. Frazier mansfieldfATgmail.com. Frazier’s From Behind The Wall: Commentary on Crime, Punishment, Race and the Underclass by a Prison Inmate is available again in hardback. Snag your copy and have it signed by the author by visiting http://www.neighborhoodsolutionsinc.com.
5 Responses to “MANSFIELD: Something’s Rotten in Brooklyn”
Elaine
I’m so glad I read your post.
Regarding police procedure, and more:
A month, or so ago, I was sitting with a friend watching “Miss Jane Pittman” when her doorbell chimed. The lights were low in the room, much like in a theater. It was 9:50pm. When she went to the door, she saw her son and opened the door … behind her son were several officers who walked in, without asking permission to enter. One of them had a flashlight that was turned on. My friend was startled and scared, thinking she had done something wrong.
The officers spoke politely … and said they needed her to sign a typed statement about the report she made earlier that day (or the previous day) concerning an intruder on her property.
Now again … it was 9:50pm, the room was dark, and she was completely caught off guard. The total number of officers on the scene .. at least 3. Anyway, with the officers within less than a foot away, she signed the statement without reading it.
I thought about the incident after they left … asked her if she had read the statement … she said no. I told her to make sure she got a copy of that report.
The next day, I sent an email to people who lived in that city … asking them to email me back if they had personal complaints about police conduct, etc. An ex-police officer, called me a day later, and stated he also had police from this particular city show up at his doorstep (banging on his door) on a routine (non emergency) matter. The time they showed up was 12 midnight.
Now this particular city (of which I speak) has 1/2 or none African American police officers (I say 1/2 because the officer looks AA, but according to what I’ve heard, he stated he is not African American). The city is 70% African American, but the 30% completely run the city. No Blacks in the fire department, or the mayor’s administration. … etc etc etc
There are constant complaints of police officers being disrespectful, and there are complaints of racial profiling. Well, showing up at a resident’s (people who pay their salaries) home after 9 pm on a routine (non emergency) matter shows disrespect; and I also wonder why it was necessary to have more than 2 officers at her home? Those other officers could have been protecting and serving other areas of the city.
One other resident, told me she overheard a police officer talking about attending a white supremacist party.
If you’re an African American in the city of which I speak, … you’ve got to be greatly concerned.
bob w
SAD…I am not black but CAN understand…sounds like miscues,fear,paronia,screwups,CYA,etc. TRAVYN M is a perfect example…Zimmerman? U tell me…reacting to past crime,perceived crime,”other”? ? Overzealous in job? OTHER stuff happened elsewhere at other time n maybe personally affected Him? Tried to log good to become a cop? Sounds like Travyn got *$*@ about the whole thing n turned tables on Mr.Z…and this struggle ensued…
bob w
NEED a MAP,timeframe of events…Far as above…the poo dead mom/wife…EVEN SADDER GAL has to literally set up separate secret new life,make contacts w/everyone n their bro n then BOOK big time to escape X……HOW a guy can do THAT to OWN fam ESPECIALLY OWN kids….
IF IFFf PS1 n NGOs have ANY value…A CLASS SHOULD be taught in this stuff…USUALLY AFTER the fact this show n tell info class given on X subject at community colleges,theatres,etc.concerning hideous subject matters like domestic abuse violence…..OUTTA ask FRANK J when gonna have such classes,seminars,etc. NOT out to get a black politico or even a CMSD,etc. I know have these safe houses for kids who feel in danger,etc.etc.SEE phamplets advertising rape crisis ctrs to rest of it….REMEMBER THAT poo Ortiz gal…one whose face got shot up or off n went to MetroHealth…every X yrs NEAR SAME horror…
RAPE thing…among other things..TIME for maybe CELLSCOPE meets WEB…so NO lost ‘kits’LITERALLY UPLOAD to even the gals PDF @address…whutever it takes…DAYS of instant tests coming…techie cheap,fast,accurate enough..food for thought…if not willing to go THERE…GAL SHOULD get test/samples RIGHT THEN at hospital as well as CPD,etc.
Ok Mr.Dewine,etc. Howz bout THAT jazz…or Dems…put up or shut up time…
bob w
YOUNG CLEVE.COPS SEEM to be more rough bout stuff …..COULD be wrong…not sure if just grew up in x culture AND THAT carries over or what it is…or feel have to act like *$@* to keep the peace…install fear as were…
bob w
VICTIM PROTECTION…H EASIER,SAFER,CONCRETE,CHEAPER THEN DEALIn w/fallout like ABOVE situation…..sadder part…CWP thing…SUSPECT w/THIS dude THAT would not have made any difference..HE was prepared to die…or least thought went thru mind…then again maybe in his onw bizarre whutever He didnt expect that n just waltz out…doubt it thou…LATER find this dead body…”sucide”….