Retired Army colonel kills Colorado State Trooper: what are the lessons in this tragic event?

CPO Andy Carrillo, MS — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 13:47:51 -0500

DENVER – A retired Army colonel struck and killed a Colorado State Patrol trooper with his truck as she was investigating a crash south of Denver, then fled before he was arrested on homicide and drunken driving charges, authorities said Monday. Trooper Jaimie Jursevics, 33, died Sunday night on southbound Interstate 25 near Castle Rock.
Eric Peter Henderson, 52, who had served in Iraq and Kuwait, hit the trooper as she was using her flashlight to direct him to the side of the highway to see if he was driving while drunk, an arrest affidavit states. A trooper who had been following Henderson's pickup truck told investigators he heard Jursevics scream and saw her flashlight fly through the air.
Henderson drove about 15 miles before he was arrested on charges including vehicular homicide, leaving the scene, careless driving causing death and driving under the influence. He was being held in the Douglas County jail on $1 million bond.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/11/17/retired-army-colonel-accused-in-colorado-trooper-death/?intcmp=hplnws

Retired Army colonel accused in Colorado trooper's death

A retired Army colonel struck and killed a Colorado State Patrol trooper with his truck as she was investigating a crash south of Denver, then fled before he was arrested on homicide and drunken driving charges, authorities said Monday.

Response by SFC Anabel Cepero made Nov 17 at 2015 1:52 PM

SFC Anabel Cepero — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 13:52:39 -0500

This is quite sad, this shows that nobody is invincible and eventually you will get caught. I cannot imagine that it was his first time drinking and driving. It's just sad that he finally got caught and killed someone.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2015 1:57 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 13:57:21 -0500

Drunk guy being a Col has nothing to do with it. Neither does CSP trooper. Still when broke down to its most basic facts, some drunk ran down someone. It is sad. Here in Wisconsin we regularly see 5, 6, 7, 8 and even 10th award DUI's. !st offence is even considered criminal, you just get a municipal ticket.

Response by SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz made Nov 17 at 2015 1:58 PM

SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 13:58:44 -0500

No excuses for that type of behavior; he deserves the death penalty.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Nov 17 at 2015 2:12 PM

SN Greg Wright — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 14:12:03 -0500

Ehhh. Neither that he was a Colonel or she was a trooper makes this any better or worse. It's tragic, all around.

Addressing the fact that he WAS a Colonel, well. Colonels are human, too, as susceptible to all the shortcomings of the human condition, just like the rest of us. And just like the rest of us, he had a choice, and made the wrong one.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Nov 17 at 2015 2:29 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 14:29:06 -0500

Is a tragedy no matter who was involved. Please pray for the family of the trooper who lost her life.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made Nov 17 at 2015 5:08 PM

SPC Charles Brown — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 17:08:45 -0500

Saw the story of the officer's death in a half finished news story, but to find out that it was a retired colonel this is just stupid.

Response by SSG Keith Cashion made Nov 17 at 2015 5:19 PM

SSG Keith Cashion — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 17:19:59 -0500

Such a sad story, and yet people still drive drunk. No sympathy for him as he knew better. By this, there is nothing that his passed military career could provide that could give any positive spin on this story. He could be an MOH recipient and still would lose all creditability. I am biased when it comes to Drunk Driver CRASHES, as my father was killed by one, and I have been in three crashes caused by drunk drivers. Remember, these are not accidents, these are CRASHES. And accident is something that happens and you have no control over it. A CRASH is knowingly getting behind the wheel of a car after drinking. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against drinking, I drink, but I refuse to get behind the wheel of a vehicle. Another child having to grow up without a parent, because of some senseless idiot.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Nov 17 at 2015 6:48 PM

PO1 John Miller — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 18:48:33 -0500

Media sensationalism, nothing more. It doesn't matter that the person who did the killing is a retired military Officer. The military is a reflection of American society. The liberal media often tries to portray the military as a bunch of mercenaries for hire and this type of story just adds fuel to their fire(s).

A person is dead (doesn't matter that it's a police officer either) and that's all that matters.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Nov 17 at 2015 7:56 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 19:56:23 -0500

This is a huge tragedy. Does the COL have PTSD or other behavioral issues from his combat tours? This likely led to his alcohol abuse, and the tragedy. Sadly, I've seen too many vets with PTSD and other issues self-medicate because they don't know where to turn, or don't trust "The System" to get help.

The Soldier's Project http://www.thesoldiersproject.org provides free counseling services to all Post 9/11 vets who are suffering and seek help. We don't report to any agency unless

a) the veteran requests a record release (for instance to support a claim for benefits) - or -
b) we evaluate the veteran/client as at risk to themselves or others, in which case we are OBLIGATED to report this...

Also, COL Mikel J. Burroughs is working with "Save a Veteran's Life" to establish an additional counseling resource...

Home - The Soldiers Project

Between 3pm and 6pm, tomorrow, Olympic College in #Bremerton, Washington will host a movie screening of Homefront Movie. They will also hold a discussion panel with some of our volunteer therapists at this FREE public event! ... See MoreSee Less

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made Nov 19 at 2015 12:00 AM

MAJ Keira Brennan — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 00:00:49 -0500

The Colonel was drunk and fled the scene. Bring this woeful coward back to AD and prosecute him for discrediting the US Army. He’s drawing a retirement check and it is possible.

Under Article 2 of the UCMJ, the Army maintains court-martial jurisdiction over retired personnel. Army Regulation 27-10, Military Justice, states Retired members of a regular component of the Armed Forces who are entitled to pay are subject to the provisions of the UCMJ . . . and may be tried by court-martial for violations of the UCMJ that occurred while they were on active duty or while in a retired status. Department of the Army policy, however, does limit these trials to cases where extraordinary circumstances are present. The Army normally declines to prosecute retired Soldiers unless their crimes have clear ties to the military, or are clearly service discrediting. If necessary to facilitate courts-martial action, retired Soldiers may be ordered to active duty to be prosecuted.
http://forums.militarytimes.com/showthread.php/7331-Retirees-subject-to-recall-for-UCMJ-Prosecution

Retirees subject to recall for UCMJ Prosecution

I realize most of us know of this, but it the first time I have seen it publisized. From the Current Issue of Army Echos Did You Know? Retired Soldiers and the Uniform Code of Military Justice WASHINGTON â Have you ever heard a retired Soldier say, âThey canât touch me now; Iâve retired.â? Fortunately, for the sake of military justice, this is not true when it comes to retired Soldiers who violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)...

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Nov 28 at 2015 1:18 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 13:18:22 -0500

That is terribly sad news SCPO Private RallyPoint Member. Is is doubly sad that retired Army colonel Eric Peter Henderson is accused of killing a Colorado State Trooper Jaimie Jursevics in a hit and run Sunday night while the former was drunk.

Response by SFC Richard Lee made Nov 28 at 2015 1:49 PM

SFC Richard Lee — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 13:49:18 -0500

That takes me back to the last fatal accidents i investigated as a school trained Traffic Accident investigator. The one in Korea was a double fatality and the one in Germany was also a double fatality. Since this individual was a Colonel, it makes me wonder how many times he dealt out punishment to one of his soldiers for drunk driving and how many times he has driven drunk himself. Maybe he felt that since he was retired that the rules of conduct for himself changed once he retired and maybe he forgot that he was still in the military in the retired reserve. When I drink, I only drink at home and no where to go except to bed. It doesn't mean that everyone will learn from this tragedy, we can only hope it's an eye opener. Here in Texas where i live and work, everyday is a no refusal day. You refuse, the officer will get a warrant and you will give blood. Maybe if that was the law of the land the level of drunk driving will start to change. My prayers to the family and friends of Colorado State Trooper Jaimie Jursevics and the family of Colonel (RET) Eric Peter Henderson.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Nov 28 at 2015 1:53 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 13:53:42 -0500

Nothing said or done will make this right, SCPO Private RallyPoint Member. Requiescat in pace.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Nov 28 at 2015 2:22 PM

COL Jon Thompson — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 14:22:17 -0500

This shows that all the safety briefings in the world and all the mandatory training will not necessarily change behavior if people do not personally buy in to what is being said. While this person was retired, he probably listened or gave dozens of safety briefs in his 27 years. It is so sad to see that this resulted in the death of a police officer and all the stuff he did for 27 years will not make a difference. He killed a person and will live with it for the rest of his life.