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deport_scum · Joined: 21 Sep 2004 Posts: 4

azcentral.com Phoenix 86°Tucson 84°Flagstaff 60°Traffic | Weather JOBS AUTOS REAL ESTATE RENTALSclassifiedlocal shoppingnewspaper adscouponsAhwatukeeChandlerGilbertGlendaleMesaNorthwest ValleyPeoriaPinal CountyPhoenix-CentralPhoenix-NortheastScottsdaleSouthwest ValleySun CitySurpriseTempeA&ETravel & ExploreViewpointsFood & DrinkHome/Real EstateMovie PreviewYesSundayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdayGet today's Arizona Republic front page via RSS[info | more feeds] NEWS online print edition Print Article Email Article Most Popular Change Type Size Officer slain; gunman takes hostage, is killedJaywalker shoots 8-year police veteranJudi Villa, Lindsey Collom and John FahertyThe Arizona RepublicSept. 19, 2007 12:00 AM Phoenix police Officer Nick Erfle survived two bouts of cancer to put back on his uniform and patrol the city's streets.On Tuesday, a jaywalker shot him in the face and killed him."He's a hard charger. Even though he had a serious illness, he came back to work the streets as soon as he could," Sgt. Joel Tranter said. advertisement "This will affect the officer's family and the Phoenix Police Department forever. . . . It will always be a loss."The gunman, an illegal immigrant who had been deported last year, fled after shooting Erfle, commandeering a stopped car at gunpoint and ordering the motorist to drive. About an hour later, a Phoenix police tactical team surrounded Erik Jovani Martinez, 22, on a west Phoenix street and shot him dead as he pointed a gun at the hostage. The hostage was not hurt."The city of Phoenix, the citizens of Phoenix have lost another hero in our community," Assistant Phoenix Police Chief Michael Frazier said, announcing Erfle's death. "He died a hero doing the job he loved doing most."Erfle was the second Phoenix police officer killed since July and the third Valley officer killed this year. He was married with two children and had a large extended family."This is another tragic day for the citizens of Phoenix. We have lost one of our family," said Dave Siebert, the city's vice mayor. "This has happened way too many times in the city of Phoenix. . . . He was one of our finest."Martinez, who had three children, was a gang member with a history of drug abuse, police say. He was convicted of theft in 2004 and served a short stint in prison in 2006. Immigration officials confirmed he had been deported in March 2006.A deadly morningPolice say Erfle, 33, and Officer Rob Rodarme were patrolling in a two-man car around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday when they saw three people jaywalking across 24th Street near Pinchot Avenue, interfering with traffic. The two officers stopped the three, a man and two women, on Pinchot to talk to them and asked for identification. Police rarely issue citations for jaywalking, telling people instead to just cross at a safer spot in the future, Tranter said.The man didn't have identification but gave officers a name and birth date that Erfle ran through a police computer. That search turned up a misdemeanor warrant for shoplifting out of Tucson. Police would later find out the man hadn't given his real name. Martinez likely used an alias because he was trying to hide the fact he had felony warrants for aggravated assault and false imprisonment, stemming from a 2006 domestic-violence incident. But the officers didn't know any of that and tried to arrest him on the misdemeanor warrant.That's when Martinez shoved Erfle to the ground, pulled a gun and fired multiple times. Police said it all happened in a matter of seconds."There was three shots, and there was a pause, and then one more shot," said Bob Newnum, who lives nearby. Rodarme ran after the fleeing suspect but couldn't return fire because the area was too crowded, Tranter said.Police flooded into the area. Newnum said Erfle's body was facedown across a sidewalk, with his feet partly in the street. His partner was kneeling over Erfle, cursing."It's a shame," Newnum said. "I'm all choked up. I'm a real admirer of the police force. They go above and beyond all the time, and when one of them get hurts, it really bothers me."Roger Elliott, who works nearby, came outside after a maintenance man told him to dial 911."Oh, my God, there was just blood all over the place," Elliott said. "I can't even describe it. I've never seen anything like it.""There was no movement at all. . . . I'm sure he was dead."Elliott said it took three officers to pull Rodarme away from his partner. Paramedics pumped on Erfle's chest before whisking him away in an ambulance."It was just a feeling I will never, ever forget," Elliott said. "I just cannot believe it. . . . It's such a stupid thing."After the shooting, the assailant ran to the intersection of 24th Street and Thomas Road, where he carjacked the sedan. Witnesses were able to give police a description of the vehicle and a license plate. One hour later, a tactical officer in an unmarked car spotted the stolen vehicle with a passenger matching the suspect's description. Officers began a covert surveillance of the vehicle and managed to box it in near 27th Avenue and McDowell Road. The suspect raised his gun to the hostage, and an officer fired through a window once, killing him, Detective Bob Ragsdale said. The two women did not flee after Erfle was shot. They were questioned by police and were cooperative, Tranter said. Police don't anticipate filing any charges against the women.A life cut shortErfle had been an officer for eight years. He was pronounced dead at 9:30 a.m. In Erfle's north Phoenix neighborhood Tuesday night, Tiana Iannuzzi, 17, tearfully remembered the officer as a playful and patient family man who never raised his voice. Iannuzzi baby-sat for Erfle's two sons, ages 3 and 5, and said the officer was "a great guy."Erfle had twice battled testicular cancer."We miss him a lot," said Tiana's mother, Carmella Iannuzzi. "He was just so strong during his cancer treatment. It's just very sad. He was just an all-around good guy."Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon was vacationing in Hawaii when he heard of the officer's death and was trying to make arrangements to get back to the city. He issued a statement, saying, "Once again, a hero has died too young.""He and his wife were still making the plans all young couples make," Gordon said. "Today, they are left with too few memories and too much heartache. I share the grief of a caring community and continue to pray for his family."Earlier in the day, Virginia Roper, who owns Amy's Beauty Salon on 24th Street, said she heard the police cars swarming the area and figured something serious must be happening. Her eyes welled when she heard Erfle had been killed."I feel sorry for his family," said Roper, whose son-in-law is a Chandler police officer."They work so hard, and their life is always on the line," she said. "It's just very sad. Very, very sad."Gary Dubay watched the aftermath from the parking lot of Phoenix Bicycle, where he works."I don't know how to react to something like that," Dubay said. "He was just stopping those people, and all of a sudden that breaks out. It's pretty crazy."THIS is why i never leave the house UNARMED!It makes me want to do some TARGET PRACTICE of my own!

kevw25 · Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 2

YES, DAMNIT.learn how to freeking cut and paste.Rest in peace Officer Erfle , you will not be forgotten.

bluddy_well_pissed · Joined: 25 Sep 2004 Posts: 5

Crime is crime.Stop trying to play the race card.

nonzionist · Joined: 26 Sep 2004 Posts: 4

One illegal down, 12 million to go.

ret_roch_cop · Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Posts: 5

Maybe we should send a copy of this story to Dickie Durbin.

magy · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 6

Hehe, you sound like my husband who is a LEGAL immigrant and likes to carry- we live in NH just over the MA border, he tries to stay out of MA when driving about because he can't carry in that state.As for the post- how tragic BUT I am glad to see he had been deported once before this incident- the son of a gun just snuck back in. TIGHTEN BORDER CONTROL folks!I see an above poster is trying to place the 'race' card. It's not about race, it's about legal status, which this one didn't have.

WhereamI · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 1

The lay out of your question does look weird, but yes, this is ver sad for this cop and his family. It happened 3 blocks from my house.

Patrioticlib · Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 5

yes, it always outrages me someone recovered from cancer comes back to work,he'd still be alive if he didnt return to work

whiz · Joined: 06 Oct 2004 Posts: 2

Yes it does. This person would be alive today if it weren't for that illegal alien that had already been deported once. He should be killing cops in his country, not ours. Illegal immigration issues such as this are sickening. He was a known drug abuse and gang member. He never would have been allowed to immigrate legally. This is WHY we need to enforce LEGAL immigration, so we can control who is in our country so things such as this don't happen when it could have been prevented. It obviously IS an illegal immigration issue (to the poster below me).

Carol · Joined: 08 Oct 2004 Posts: 5

Yes this is sad. Again this is not an illegal immigration issue. IF this guy was here legally do you think he would of acted different? Do you think this guy wouldn't have done that if he was a legal or american citizen??? The answer is no because as the article stated he was "Martinez, who had three children, was a gang member with a history of drug abuse, police say."He was a nasty scumbag who cared about no one but himself. Killing a cop in cold blood for no reason. I have no sympathy for that loser but being illegal didnt make him kill the cop. Being a loser and a scumbag did.

RoXaNnA · Joined: 10 Oct 2004 Posts: 6

What are you going to do about it besides waste energy? LOL!Crime is crime. Would it had been that bad if a Polar Bear would have done it???

halfshaft · Joined: 12 Oct 2004 Posts: 4

Yes it does.Glad to see the tactical team not only saved a hostage, but saved the taxpayers of Arizona a good deal of money in legal fees and incarceration costs.

cheezbawl2003 · Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 2

It makes me feel ill with sorrow for his family. I have a daughter and it just kills me when I hear about families that lose a mom/dad/ or husband/wife. The guy was only 33! "He and his wife were still making the plans all young couples make." That is just heartbreaking...

PaulaRevere · Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 4

Illegals kill 9,000 Americans a year!

ivegotastalker · Joined: 17 Oct 2004 Posts: 3

ok and your point is???? dont get me wrong i feel sorry for these families... but american citizens do the same thing everyday.....but it is how amazing that you anti immigration groups single out the mexicans.....