POLICE SHOOTING OUTSIDE US CONSULATE ADANA

UNCLAS ADANA 000069 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC TU SUBJECT: POLICE SHOOTING OUTSIDE US CONSULATE ADANA ¶1. (SBU) On Sunday, April 2, 2006 at 10:40 am an altercation occurred between a TNP police member on duty at the US Consulate in Adana and his Supervisor. The Supervisor has been working at the Consulate for approximately four years and the other policeman only six weeks. The two policemen have worked together previously at another location several years ago. ¶2. (SBU) The junior policeman was late to work, which has happened several times in the last couple of weeks. The Supervisor asked another junior officer to tell the employee to report directly to him when he arrived at work. The employee arrived an hour and a half late and did not report to his Supervisor as directed. During a routine check, the Supervisor realized the junior officer had arrived at his post and an argument ensued between them. This argument took place at the police booth on the front side of the Consulate next to the Turk Telecom building. Other police officers were in the immediate vicinity but did not witness the entire argument as they were outside the police booth. ¶3. (SBU) The argument dissolved into a fistfight and ended with the junior officer pulling his gun and firing three bullets, two of which hit the police Supervisor in the leg. Hearing the shots the other policemen immediately joined the scene. The supervisor was able to walk to his car parked only 20 feet away. His driver then took him immediately to the hospital. Two other policemen took control of the booth, removed the gun from the junior officer, and detained him until further support arrived. Both the Sensitive Unit Police Chief and the Consulate Guard Supervisor arrived at the scene within 30 minutes of the incident. ¶4. (SBU) The junior police officer was taken to a local station where he was questioned and then jailed. He will remain in jail until his hearing. The Sensitive Unit Police Chief has estimated that the junior officer will likely receive anywhere from 3 to 5 years in jail after which he will not be eligible for employment with any branch of the government and his police commission will be removed. ¶4. (SBU) The PSO and the Guard Supervisor at post have both reviewed the Consulate camera sequences which show some but not all of the altercation. The cameras concur with the reports received from the Consulate guards on duty, the policemen on duty, the Supervisor's statement, and the Sensitive Unit Police Chief's report to the PSO. The PSO met with the Sensitive Unit Chief on Monday at 2:00 pm at the Consulate. ¶5. (U) The Supervisor was released from the hospital on Monday, April 3, 2006 and is on leave for two weeks to recuperate. His deputy who has been working at the Consulate for a number of years will serve as the on site supervisor until the regular Supervisor returns. The Sensitive Unit Police Chief informed the Consulate that the incident is being taken very seriously and has been discussed at the very highest police levels in Adana. The PSO mentioned the possible impact this may have on the other police still working and guarding the Consulate. The Sensitive Unit Chief said that a complete review of the team working at the Consulate is underway, they are looking at some additional training, and are working to maintain morale and effectiveness at work. He also stressed that this incident was in no way related to the US government or the Consulate. The PSO made a survey of the police booths today and did not notice anything out of the ordinary in terms of the policemen's behavior, and even remarked on the greatly improved relations between the police and the Consulate guards. REID