Fresno DA Says Governor and Lawmakers Have “Blood of This Officer on Their Hands”

On Tuesday, a Fresno County District Attorney Lisa A. Smittcamp issued the following statement regarding the murder of a Selma Police Officer.

Included is the press release on the incident by the Fresno County Sheriff, followed by the letter by DA Smittcamp.

Fresno County Sheriff: Convicted Felon Kills Selma Police Officer

Around 11:45 am on Tuesday, a homeowner flagged down a Selma Police officer patrolling the 2600 block of Pine Street regarding a man being on her property. As the officer went to make contact, the man fired several shots, striking the officer. The armed suspect ran from the scene.

Selma Police officers, Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies, Cal Fire firefighters and Selma EMS responded and gave medical aid to the officer. He was transported to Community Regional Medical Center. He was taken to surgery and later passed away.

Multiple officers and deputies responded to the area. Around 12:10 pm, a deputy spotted the suspect near Fig and Sequoia and he was taken into custody. The 23 year old suspect’s gun was later recovered a short distance from where he was arrested. Law enforcement is familiar with the suspect. He has a criminal background, including charges for firearms possession and robbery. He has served time in prison and is currently on probation as part of California’s AB 109 law (prison realignment).

Eric White Elementary was temporarily placed on lockdown. Once the situation was deemed safe, students were released to their families.

The officer has been with the Selma Police Department for two years. This marks the first line of duty death for the Selma Police Department.

No officers fired their weapons. There are no other outstanding suspects. The names of the officer and suspect are not being released at this time. This remains an ongoing investigation.

The Fresno County Deputy Sheriff’s Association is supporting the Selma Police Officer’s Association by establishing a memorial fund in which all donations will be given to the officer’s family.

Fresno County District Attorney Lisa A. Smittcamp letter:

It is a tragic day in the County of Fresno and the State of California, we have suffered the loss of another fine peace officer who was shot and killed in the line of duty by a callous and violent criminal.

While we mourn this tragic loss and offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the fallen officer, and the Selma Police Department, we must also focus our energy on demanding that our legislators do more to hold criminals accountable for their actions.

This officer was the son of farmworkers. He went to the police academy and took the initiative to educate himself. He was part of the Explorer Program at the Reedley Police Department before he became a sworn peace officer with the Selma Police Department. He was a son, a brother, a friend, and an expectant father. While honorably serving his community today in Selma, California, he was shot and killed in cold blood by a 23-year-old felon with no regard for human life. The shooter is an admitted gang member and has been arrested for several felony offenses that were prosecuted by the Fresno District Attorney’s Office for charges related to robbery, weapons, and drugs.

In March of 2022, he was sentence by a judge to serve 5 years and 4 months in prison. However, because of laws passed in the last few years that give additional credits for time served in local jail, and other new laws which allow for arbitrary “accelerated time credits” upon entry to the prison system, his release date was set for August 2022, a mere 5 months after his original sentence. He was eventually released in late September 2022 and placed in a Post Release Community Supervision when he should have been serving more time in prison.

Today, Governor Gavin Newsom, and every legislator in the state of California who supports this over-reaching phenomenon they try to disguise as legitimate criminal justice reform, has the blood of this officer on their hands.

The Governor and certain members of the California legislator have created a warped system that allows active and violent criminals to receive arbitrary “time credits” in an effort to reduce the state prison population to reach their goals of closing more prison facilities. Dangerous criminals are being released from our prison system by these accelerated and exaggerated time credits and numerous opportunities for early release.  When they get out, they are empowered to continue and intensify their violent behaviors, as they have not had enough consequences or treatment. They are released without any significant punishment, rehabilitation programming, or educational opportunities. This madness is creating more victims and, furthermore, it is not serving the people who are committing the crimes.

Tonight, in the County of Fresno, we have two families that are suffering loss. The family of the slain officer, and the family of the shooter who will now be facing murder charges. If the prison system did an effective job of “corrections and rehabilitation” this would not be the case.

The Governor and his political allies who continue the quest to close state prisons are increasing the incidents of violence to everyone who live in, or visits, the state of California. No city or county is safe from the wrath of misguided thinking, and the mismanaged prison system.

How many more innocent officers and victims do we have to have before these politicians wake up and realize the destruction they have created? It is time to shine a light on the truth of what is going on in the California prison system and make some real changes. It is time to return to a place of responsibility and accountability.