Posted on Aug 2, 2015
Is the Coast Guard correct in charging LT Lance Leone with negligent homicide?
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The Coast Guard is charging Lt. Lance Leon with negligent homicide in the death of two crew members as the result of a helicopter crash in 2010. Lt. Leon was the copilot of the helicopter. The Air station commander did not want to pursue these charges after reviewing available data on the crash and hearing the legal argument to pursue the charges. Coast Guard commander in Alaska, Rear Adm. Thomas Ostebo overrode this decision. Is this the correct way to handle this decision? I'm not familiar with this area and I'd like to hear other's opinions on the matter. It doesn't seem to me that this is right. //juneauempire.com/local/2011-12-09/sitka-commander-was-prepared-drop-charges
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Capt Seid Waddell
PO2 Gary Wood, it sounds to me like Rear Adm. Ostebo has chosen to make an example of LT Leon for reasons of his own; justice is not the primary consideration here from what we know.
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Capt Seid Waddell
PO2 Gary Wood, unfortunately, the example Rear Adm. Ostebo is setting is not a good one.
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Wait, so do I understand this correctly? The co-pilot, a young officer new to the area, is being charged with negligent homicide for not questioning the decision of the pilot, an experienced aviator with more experience in the area, for doing something not all that unusual?
That makes no damn sense.
That makes no damn sense.
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CPT (Join to see) Given the facts this seems outrageous to me! It is so far out my area of expertise I don't understand how a co-pilot not having direct control and the junior officer is supposed to override a superior in this situation. Negligent homicide is a much lower standard but no mens rea (mental state) for the co-pilot to do anything but the safest possible action.
Another stupid decision by 'leadership'.
Another stupid decision by 'leadership'.
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