Martinez PD

[pgg]

One of my partner's friends was just killed today. He used to work with this officer. Your thoughts and prayers would be appreciated.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...PECB.DTL&tsp=1

(09-06) 13:51 PDT MARTINEZ -- A Martinez police officer responding to a domestic-violence call was shot and killed today by a man who also killed a female acquaintance and who was then shot and killed by other officers, a police source said.


The incident happened near Pacheco Blvd. and Morello Avenue.


I will post more info as it is publicly released.

[pgg]

http://www.contracostatimes.com/news...nclick_check=1

Two dead, three shot at Martinez hair salon
FROM STAFF REPORTS
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Article Launched: 09/06/2008 01:05:28 PM PDT


At least three people were shot and two killed today at a hair salon in Martinez in an apparent domestic dispute.

One of the shooting victims apparently was a Martinez police officer who was evacuated from the scene by a helicopter and taken to a local hospital.

The shooting happened when the estranged husband of the owner of Elegant Hair Designs at 3596 Pacheco Boulevard, identified by witnesses as Felix Sandoval, entered the business around 11:30 a.m. Brandishing a weapon, the man searched the premises for the owner and started shooting. At least one customer hid in a closet as others fled the building.

More shots were then fired outside in the parking lot, when the suspect was confronted by one or more police officers.

"I heard two gunshots," said Kevin Almazan, a nearby resident. "People from the salon were outside screaming and crying. Police came in at 100 mph and popped their trunks with their rifles. Once the cops came, I heard more gunshots. They came out and grabbed an orange bag. One of the people from the salon said he (the gunman) was looking for his girlfriend." He said police arrived less than five minutes after the initial gunshots.

Police cordoned off Pacecho Boulevard for a block in each direction from Morello Avenue.

[Jenna]

I'm sorry for your loss. May the officer rest in peace.

[CTR man]

Damn, PGG. That hits a little bit too close to home, doesn't it?

My condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the fallen.

God has another angel at his side.

[Willowdared]

Thoughts and prayers en-route.

[BigDawg]

RIP my Brother

[2 Blue 4 U]

Rest in Peace, My condolences to his family and Friends

[pgg]

http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_10398838

Three dead in shooting at Martinez hair salon
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Article Launched: 09/06/2008 01:05:28 PM PDT


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At least three people including a Martinez police sergeant were shot and killed today at a hair salon in Martinez in an apparent domestic dispute.

Sgt. Paul Starzyck was evacuated from the scene by a helicopter and taken to a local hospital where he was declared dead, Martinez Police Chief Tom Simonetti said this afternoon. Simonetti also confirmed that a man and a woman, whom he did not identify, were also killed.

Starzyck was first officer killed in the line of duty since 1973, Simonetti said, adding that he's "still in a daze" over the loss of the officer.

The shooting happened when the husband of the owner of Elegant Hair Designs at 3596 Pacheco Boulevard, identified by witnesses as Felix Sandoval, entered the business around 11:30 a.m. Brandishing a weapon, the man searched the premises for the owner and started shooting.

About 15 stylists and customers, including a bridal party, were in the salon, witnesses said.

Police have not confirmed witness reports that the gunman is among the dead.

At least one customer hid in a closet as others fled the building. The gunman opened the closet, looked at the woman, and closed it again.

"He wanted to get (his wife)," said one stylist who asked not to be named. "He didn't want to shoot anyone else."

The owner of the salon was not injured, according to witnesses.

No one was shot inside the salon, witnesses said.

"I blacked out, to be honest with you," said


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stylist Jacklyn Ocanas. "I really thought I was going to die."

The daughter of the salon owner and another man tried to hold her father back, witnesses said. He told his daughter that if she tried to stop him, he would shoot her, witnesses said.

More shots were then fired outside in the parking lot, when the suspect was confronted by one or more police officers.

"I heard two gunshots," said Kevin Almazan, a nearby resident. "People from the salon were outside screaming and crying. Police came in at 100 mph and popped their trunks with their rifles. Once the cops came, I heard more gunshots. They came out and grabbed an orange bag. One of the people from the salon said he (the gunman) was looking for his girlfriend." He said police arrived less than five minutes after the initial gunshots.

Police cordoned off Pacecho Boulevard for a block in each direction from Morello Avenue.

[armsmaster270]

Rest in peace Brother.

[PapaBear]

Martinez police sergeant, two others killed in shooting at hair salon

Bay Area News Group
Article Launched: 09/06/2008 03:15:55 PM PDT

At least three people — including a Martinez police sergeant — were shot and killed today at a hair salon in Martinez in an apparent domestic dispute.
The sergeant, whose name has not been released, was rushed to a hospital by helicopter.

Martinez Police Chief Tom Simonetti confirmed this afternoon that the officer died. Another man and a woman were killed in the shooting.

The shooting happened when the husband of the owner of Elegant Hair Designs at 3596 Pacheco Boulevard, identified by witnesses as Felix Sandoval, entered the business around 11:30 a.m. Brandishing a weapon, the man searched the premises for the owner and started shooting. At least one customer hid in a closet as others fled the building. The owner of the salon was not injured, according to witnesses.

More shots were then fired outside in the parking lot, when the suspect was confronted by one or more police officers.

"I heard two gunshots," said Kevin Almazan, a nearby resident. "People from the salon were outside screaming and crying. Police came in at 100 mph and popped their trunks with their rifles. Once the cops came, I heard more gunshots. They came out and grabbed an orange bag. One of the people from the salon said he (the gunman) was looking for his girlfriend."

He said police arrived less than five minutes after the initial gunshots.
Police cordoned off Pacecho Boulevard for a block in each direction from Morello Avenue.

Sgt. Paul Starzyck
Martinez PD
EOW: September 6, 2008

At approximately 11:30 this morning, Martinez PD responded to a domestic dispute at a hair salon on Pacheco Blvd., in Martinez. The salon owner's estranged husband had entered the salon with a weapon looking for the woman. The suspect fired shots as he searched the salon.
As responding officers arrived at the scene shots were exchanged with the suspect and Sergeant Paul Starzyck was struck. Sergeant Starzyck was flown to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds
__________________

[CTR man]

http://www.odmp.org/officer/19546-se...-paul-starzyck








Sergeant Paul Starzyck
Martinez Police Department
California
End of Watch: Saturday, September 6, 2008
Biographical Info
Age: Not available
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Saturday, September 6, 2008
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Not available
Sergeant Paul Starzyck was shot and killed while responding to a shots fired call at a local hair salon.

The salon owner's estranged husband had entered the business with a weapon looking for the woman. As he searched the salon he fired several shots.

As responding officers arrived at the scene, they exchanged shots with the man and Sergeant Starzyck was struck. Sergeant Starzyck was flown to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.

[PapaBear]

An accounting from the Chief of Police:

From the Martinez chief

Sent: 9/7/2008 6:00:58 PM
Subject: Sgt. Paul Starzyk-Martinez PD

I wanted to let you all know that I appreciate all of the calls &
e-mails supporting both me & my Department during this difficult time.
In particular the Office of the Sheriff, the California Highway Patrol,
Pleasant Hill PD & Concord PD have all gone far & above anyone's
expectations in rendering assistance to my employees & the citizens of
Martinez.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to share with you the correct version of what occurred here on Saturday; as usual, preliminary information is rarely accurate.

MPD Dispatch received a 911 call @1135hrs of an ex-husband (HMA
49yrs) who had arrived at his wife's place of employment on Pacheco Blvd
near Morello Ave. Apparently as the HMA was exiting his vehicle, the
ex-wife locked the front door due to his prior threats; additionally she
had an active TRO against him.

As two (2) MPD officers were en-route, updated info was that the HMA had
shattered the front window of the business & was displaying a handgun.
Moments before the first officer arrived, the majority of the patrons
fled out the back door into a parking lot; the ex-wife hid in a storage
closet while the HMA followed the patrons into the rear parking lot.
While in the parking lot, the HMA's teenaged daughter confronted him &
pleaded with him to leave; the HMA told his daughter he intended to kill
his ex-wife & the rest of his children.

The suspect then ran to an upstairs apartment adjacent to the parking
lot as the first MPD unit (K9-1) arrived, two (2) minutes after the call
was received. As that officer exited his vehicle with his MP-5, he
immediately heard gunshots from the upstairs apartment. Sgt Starzyk
arrived with 30 seconds of the first unit & deployed his AR-15 rifle,
realizing that they had an active shooter situation. Sgt Starzyk & K9-1
approached the upstairs apartment safely as there were no windows facing
their approach; as they neared the apartment they encountered an "L"
shaped intersection with two (2) facing apartment doors. At this time
they heard small children & an adult female screaming from inside the
apartment; as they got within ten (10) feet of the front door, the HMA
extended his left arm out & around the front door & fired two (2) rounds
from a .38 handgun, both of which struck Sgt Starzyk in the neck &
shoulder areas above his vest. Both Sgt Starzyk & K9-1 engaged the HMA
with .223 & .40 cal, after which Sgt Starzyk fell to the floor.

A second K9 unit (K9-2) arrived & as he attempted to remove Sgt
Starzyk, the suspect again began firing from behind the partially closed
front door. K9-1 again engaged the HMA, striking him multiple times
through the door. At this point K9-2 sent his K9 into the apartment,
locating the HMA inside the front door; the K9 bit the suspect & began
dragging him out of the apartment. As K9-2 approached to view the HMA,
he saw that the HMA was still armed and waving his handgun at the K9;
K9-2 engaged the suspect with his handgun & ended the confrontation.

Inside the apartment three (3) small children were found hiding in a
closet, along with a hysterical HFA; located in the kitchen was a
deceased HFA & another WFA who was actually under the body of the HFA.
The survivors were removed from the apartment while additional MPD &
CCSO units arrived to assist Sgt Starzyk.

In closing, I wanted all of you to know that Sgt Starzyk's death is a
tragedy but it was not in vain; five (5) people are alive today due his
& his officer's actions. Please share this story with your respective
departments.


Chief Tom J. Simonetti

Martinez Police Department
525 Henrietta Street
Martinez, CA
94553-2394
(925)372-3446
(925)228-3753 FAX
tsimonetti@cityofmartinez.org

[kjlaw]

Rest easy my Brother