CLA 29
COMBINED LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT
SITUATION REPORT
At approximately 02:00 hrs on 01
January 2009, Police Station # 2 responded to reports from an unidentified
person that up to 12 people were involved in a fight on an incoming train from
the Paynesville - ELWA Low Station. The participants were drunk and stoned. Special
Police Unit (SPU) officers Joseph Alba and Tony Pirone of the Liberian National
Police (LNP) officers rushed immediately to the scene. They removed Grant from the train along with several other men
suspected of fighting and detained them on the platform of Low Station. Pirone
handcuffed Grant's friend which angered other passengers. Pirone then lined
Grant and two other men up against the wall. Pirone confirmed with the train
operator that the men detained were involved in the fight. Officer Pirone
directed Officer Joseph Alba to arrest two of the individuals who had not been
handcuffed, one of whom was Oscar Grant. On hearing Officer Pirone’s direction
to Joseph Alba, Grant attempted to stand up,
but was forced to the ground face first. Both Officer Alba and Officer Pirone
attempted to restrain Mr. Grant and to seek his compliance by ordering him to
put his hands behind his back, but Mr. Grant resisted and refused to submit to being
handcuffed. Officer Alba was pulling on Mr. Grant’s right arm, which remained
under his torso near his waist. Mr. Grant had not been searched by any officer
for weapons, either prior to his initial detention or after being seated near
the wall. During the restraint with Grant, Officer Alba stood and,
according to witnesses, said: "Get back, I'm gonna tase him." Officer
Alba then un-holstered his gun, a SIG Sauer P226 and fired a shot into Grant's
back. At 02:15 hrs on 01 January 2009, Oscar Grant, 31, was fatally shot
by Joseph Alba in Low Street, Manrovia Liberia. Immediately after
the incident, Alba appeared stunned, put his hands to his head and exclaimed,
"Oh, my God!" Spectators at
the scene believed it to be a nightmare, but soon became aware that they were,
in fact witnesses to the catastrophe. The UNPOL Team rushed to the scene to
assess the situation and to prevent further escalation.
FOLLOW-UP REPORT # 1
Grant was then immediately rushed to
the John F.Kennedy Hospital in Manrovia for treatment. The doctor instructed
Mr. Alba to take Grant to the operating theatre because of his serious bodily
injuries. The point-40-caliber-bullet from Alba's semi-automatic handgun had
entered Grant's back, exited through his front side and ricocheted off the
concrete platform, puncturing Grant's lung. During his treatment at the
hospital Grant requested his friends to take care of his four-year-old daughter,
Mary Grant. He was pronounced dead, about two hours later, at 04:05 hrs due to
over-bleeding and subsequent cardiac arrest. Grant's family claimed that Joseph
Alba threw Grant against a wall and kneed
him in the face but the subsequent autopsy showed that Grant's body had no
injuries other than that from the bullet wound
FOLLOW-UP REPORT # 2
The Police action was captured on
multiple digital video and cell phone
cameras. The footage was disseminated to media outlets and to
various websites, where it was watched millions of times. Peaceful protests began
the next day. On 03 January 2009, protests over the shooting and administration
of justice began peacefully about 09:30 hrs with about 500 people gathering at
the Police Station # 2. Police set up road-blocks and diverted vehicle and foot
traffic. Protesters became violent and caused over $200,000 in damage while
breaking shop and car windows, burning cars, setting trash bins on fire, and
throwing bottles at police officers. Public buildings such as the Monrovia
Police Internal Affairs office and the Paramount Theatre were heavily
vandalized. Damage to the Theatre was preliminarily estimated at $10,000
to $15,000. The rioting wound down later in the evening and resulted in at
least 80 arrests for riot, vandalism, assault on a police officer and arson. Two of the arrested people were charged. Police
recovered two handguns from the rioters. Grant's family pleaded for calm and
spoke out against the violence at a press conference the next day
FOLLOW-UP REPORT # 3
The shooting has been variously
labeled as involuntary manslaughter and summary
execution. The UNPOL Police Commissioner commented that it was an
unprofessional, excessive and disproportionate use of force and his office
would investigate the case and take appropriate disciplinary and/or criminal
proceeding against the misconduct. There was broad public perception that LNP
and UNPOL were not conducting an effective investigation. The UNPOL
Commissioner held multiple public meetings to ease tensions.
FOLLOW-UP REPORT # 4
The shooting and subsequent riots
were covered in regional, national and international news. Video
images of the shooting were widely broadcast and streamed online in the days
following Grant's death. Several hundred thousand viewed the videos in the
first few days after the incident. Widespread dissemination of the direct
evidence of the shooting led to public outrage, protests and fueled riots.
FIRST PART
of CLA (Reading)
QUESTION
PAPER - A
Family Name:………………………………….…...First Name……………………………………….
Q 1. What injuries did Grant sustain?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 2. Which unit did Tony Pirone belong to?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 3. What was Grant's cause of death?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 4. Where did the brawl take place?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 5. Which public buildings were vandalized during the protest?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 6. What did Grant's family allege Officer Joseph had done?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 7. What act was vowed by the UNPOL
commissioner?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 8. How did the news of the shooting incident spread?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 9. How did Joseph Alba react after he had accidently discharged his
service gun?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 10. Who did Pirone ask to confirm that the men detained were involved
in the fight?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUESTION AND ANSWERS MATRIX - A
QUESTION AND ANSWERS MATRIX - A
Q 1. What injuries did Grant sustain?
A bullet entered from
Grant's back, exited through his front side and ricocheted off the concrete
platform puncturing Grant's ling. ---------------
Q 2. Which unit did Tony Pirone belong to?
Special Police Unit (SPU) of LNP
Q 3. What was Grant's cause of death?
Due to over-bleeding and subsistent
cardiac arrest
Q 4. Where did the brawl take place?
On an incoming train to ELWA- Low
Station from the Paynesville
Q 5. Which public buildings were vandalized during the protest?
Monrovia Police Internal Affairs
Office and Paramount Theatre
Q 6. What did Grant's family allege Officer Joseph had done?
That Joseph Alba threw Grant
against a wall and kneed him in the face.
Q 7. What act was vowed by the UNPOL
commissioner?
- Take appropriate disciplinary/ criminal proceeding against
the misconduct.
Q 8. How did the news of the shooting incident spread?
--(Captured through digital video
and cell-phones and), spread through media outlets and various websites
Q 9. How did Joseph Alba react after he had accidently discharged his
service gun?
Got stunned, put his hands to his
head and exclaimed "oh my God"
Q 10. Who did Pirone ask to confirm that the men detained were involved
in the fight?
Train Operator
QUESTION
PAPER - B
Family Name:………………………………….…...First Name………………………………………. Test Serial #:………….
Country:…………………………
Date:……………………
Q 1. What was Grant's cause of death?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 2. Where did the brawl take place?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 3. What injuries did Grant sustain?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 4. Which unit did Tony Pirone belong to?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 5. Who did Pirone ask to confirm that the men detained were
involved in the fight?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 6. How did the news of the shooting incident spread?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 7. How did Joseph Alba react after he had
accidently discharged his service gun?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 8. What did Grant's family allege Officer Joseph had done?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 9. What act was vowed by
the UNPOL commissioner?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 10. Which public buildings were vandalized during the protest?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUESTION
AND ANSWERS MATRIX - B
Q 1. What was Grant's cause of death?
-----------------Due to
over-bleeding and subsistent cardiac arrest ------------------------------------------
Q 2. Where did the brawl take place?
------------------- on an incoming
train to ELWA- Low Station from the Paynesville -------------------------
Q 3. What injuries did Grant sustain?
--------------------- A bullet
entered from Grant's back, exited through his front side and ricocheted off the
concrete platform puncturing Grant's ling. --------------------------------------
Q 4. Which unit did Tony Pirone belong to?
------------------- Special Police
Unit (SPU) of LNP ----------------------
Q 5. Who did Pirone ask to confirm that the men detained were
involved in the fight?
-----------------------Train
Operator-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 6. How did the news of the shooting incident spread?
--(Captured through digital video
and cell-phones and), spread through media outlets and various websites
Q 7. How did Joseph Alba react after he had
accidently discharged his service gun?
---------Got stunned, put his hands
to his head and exclaimed "oh my God"------------------------------
Q 8. What did Grant's family allege Officer Joseph had done?
-------------------That Joseph Alba
threw Grant against a wall and kneed him in the face. ----------------
Q 9. What act was vowed by
the UNPOL commissioner?
- Take appropriate disciplinary/
criminal proceeding
against
the misconduct.
Q 10. Which public buildings were vandalized during the protest?
-------------------Monrovia Police
Internal Affairs Office and Paramount Theatre-----------------
QUESTION
PAPER - C
Family Name:………………………………….…...First Name………………………………………. Test Serial
#:………….
Country:…………………………
Date:……………………
Q 1. Who did Pirone ask to confirm that the men detained were
involved in the fight?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 2. How did the news of the shooting incident spread?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 3. How did Joseph Alba react after he had accidentally discharged his
service gun?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 4. What did Grant's family allege Officer Joseph had done?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 5. What was Grant's cause of death?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 6. Where did the brawl take place?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 7. What injuries did Grant sustain?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 8. Which unit did Tony Pirone belong to?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 9. Which public buildings
were vandalized during the protest?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 10. What act was vowed by the UNPOL commissioner?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUESTION
AND ANSWERS MATRIX - C
Q 1. Who did Pirone ask to confirm that the men detained were
involved in the fight?
-----------------------Train
Operator-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 2. How did the news of the shooting incident spread?
--(Captured through digital video
and cell-phones and), spread through media outlets and various websites
Q 3. How did Joseph Alba react after he had accidently discharged his
service gun?
---------Got stunned, put his hands
to his head and exclaimed "oh my God"------------------------------
Q 4. What did Grant's family allege Officer Joseph had done?
-------------------That Joseph Alba
threw Grant against a wall and kneed him in the face. ----------------
Q 5. What was Grant's cause of death?
-----------------Due to
over-bleeding and subsistent cardiac arrest ----------------------------------------------
Q 6. Where did the brawl take place?
------------------- on an incoming
train to ELWA- Low Station from the Paynesville -------------------------
Q 7. What injuries did Grant sustain?
--------------------- A
bullet entered from Grant's back, exited through his front side and ricocheted
off the concrete platform puncturing Grant's ling. --------------------------------------
Q 8. Which unit did Tony Pirone belong to?
------------------- Special Police
Unit (SPU) of LNP ----------------------
Q 9. Which public buildings
were vandalized during the protest?
-------------------Monrovia Police
Internal Affairs Office and Paramount Theatre-----------------
Q 10. What act was vowed by the UNPOL commissioner?
- Take appropriate disciplinary/
criminal proceeding
against
the misconduct.
Second Part
of CLA (Report Writing)
INTRODUCTION
This is the Audio component of the UNPOL
Combined Language Assessment. The Audio is divided into two parts. In the first
part you will hear a script concerning the mission-related topic you have just
read about – it will be introduced as the Narrative.
In the second part of the Audio, you will hear a conversation between two
people who will talk about the same mission-related topic – it will be
introduced as the Dialogue.
Take careful
notes of both the Narrative and the Dialogue. Pay attention to the important
facts and key information and record them on the sheets of paper you were
given. You will hear the recording only
one time.
Once the
Narrative and Dialogue are finished, you will be asked to use your notes from both the Reading
You will have
30 minutes to produce a report. The instructor will indicate when these 40
minutes starts. You will be informed when it is 5 minutes left and when it is 1
minute left.
Good Luck!
Narrative
Following the death of Oscar Grant, community
members and activists decried the shooting incident as yet another case of
police brutality. There was broad public perception that LNP and the Attorney's
office were not conducting an effective investigation. Protests against SPU-LNP
continued everyday with scattered events of stoning, vandalism and arson; and
at times blocking motor vehicle traffic at the intersection of 14th and Broadway.
Some of the protesters lay face down at the intersection, in a symbolic act of
solidarity with Grant, who was killed in the same position. Others shouted at the
Police and chanted in unison. Some carried signs that read, "Your idea of
justice?" and "Jail Killer Cops" and lit candles in memory of
Grant. In an interview with UNPOL, Joseph Alba said that Grant had a criminal
background and had served two state prison terms for various felonies including
a conviction for drug dealing. In 2007, Bushroad Island police stunned him with
a Taser to
subdue him after a traffic stop, during which Grant threw his loaded pistol
into the air and ran. He was sentenced to 16 months in state prison and at the
time of the shooting he was still on parole. UNPOL Officer Josephine Dziko saw video
evidence that showed Grant did not raise his hands above his head when instructed
to surrender. It was also clear from the video that Grant appeared to be trying
to snatch Alba's weapon from his hip where he often kept it.
While there have been previous cases
where police officers have confused guns with Tasers, modern Tasers weigh half
as much as handguns. It was arguable that the position of Alba's Taser, in
relation to his duty weapon, combined with the different 'feel' and color of
the two weapons makes it highly unlikely that he would have mistaken one for
the other.
UNPOL Officer Josephine Dziko also interviewed
several people to investigate the incident. Grant's family alleged in their
civil claim against Joseph, that he threw Grant against a wall and kneed him in
the face. However, the subsequent autopsy showed that Grant's body had no
injuries other than that from the bullet wound. Alba said that Grant resisted
the arrest and provoked him by trying to knee him in the groin and by hitting
Officer Pirone's arm when he attempted to handcuff one of Grant's friends.
The UNPOL investigation concluded
confirming that Joseph, 31, committed a crime inherently by shooting Grant; the
actions indicated recklessness on Alba's part. On 10 January 2009, Monrovia
County prosecutors charged Joseph Alba with murder for
the shooting. Alba resigned and pleaded not guilty. The trial began on 10
February 2010. Michael Rains, Joseph Alba's criminal
defense attorney, argued that Alba mistakenly shot Grant with
his pistol,
intending to use his Taser when he saw Grant reaching for his waist seemingly
to take out his sidearm. Pre-trial filings argued that his client did not
commit first-degree murder and asked the judge to instruct the jury to limit
its deliberations to either second-degree murder or acquittal.
DIALOGUE
|
UNPOL Officer
Josephine Dziko
|
State
your name and date of birth for our reference.
|
|
Joseph Alba
|
My
name is Joseph Alba. I was born in 1982 and I am 31 years old now.
|
|
UNPOL
Officer Josephine Dziko
|
How
long have you been with the SPU-LNP service?
|
|
Joseph Alba
|
I
joined LNP in 2006. I was inducted from the Special Police Unit with the LNP
and it's been more than three years now since I joined
|
|
UNPOL
Officer Josephine Dziko
|
Do
you know the reason why you are here?
|
|
Joseph Alba:
|
Yes,
I know. I have been detained for the reckless killing of Mr. Oscar Grant whom
I had confrontation with on a fateful morning of 01 January 2009.
|
|
UNPOL
Officer Josephine Dziko
|
Could you explain what happened?
|
|
Joseph Alba
|
Well, on 01 January 2009, my
Station was informed of fighting on an incoming train from the Paynesville - ELWA Low Station. The people were drunk and
stoned. Apparently, they were coming to the train station from Paynesville
after celebrating New Year's Eve.
Myself and my supervisor, Tony Pirone rushed to the scene where up to 12
people were involved in the fight. Pirone lined
up Oscar Grant and two other men against the wall and confirmed with the
train operator that the men detained were involved in the fight. When I was
about to arrest Oscar Grant, he resisted and refused to be handcuffed.
|
|
UNPOL
Officer Josephine Dziko
|
Then,
what happened?
|
|
Joseph Alba
|
I warned him to get
back, un-holstered my Taser and used it. But to my dismay, Oh, my God! I shot
from a Point 40 caliber SIG Sauer P226 into Grant's back at 02:15 hrs on 01
January 2009. Oscar Grant, 31, was fatally shot. He was immediately rushed to
JFK Hospital in Monrovia where he was pronounced dead at 04:05 hrs in the
morning.
|
|
UNPOL
Officer Josephine Dziko
|
Did
he say anything to you or to anybody else?
|
|
Joseph Alba
|
He asked his friend to
take care of his four-year-old daughter. With that wound, he knew that he was
dying.
|
|
UNPOL
Officer Josephine Dziko
|
What
was the wound?
|
|
Joseph Alba
|
The
bullet had entered Grant's back, exited through his front side and ricocheted
off the concrete platform, puncturing Grant's lung.
|
|
UNPOL
Officer Josephine Dziko
|
What
happened then? How did the people react to the incident?
|
|
Joseph Alba
|
The
events were captured on multiple digital video
and cell phone cameras. The footage was
disseminated to media outlets and to various websites, where it was watched
millions of times and the subsequent days saw both peaceful and violent
protests. The media highlighted the incident and the community members and
activists decried the incident. People came in the streets with placards and
posters reading "Jail killer cop", and lit candles in Grant's
memory. Some of the protesters lay face down at the intersection, in a
symbolic act of solidarity with Grant, who was killed in the same position.
|
|
UNPOL
Officer Josephine Dziko
|
Were
the public protests peaceful?
|
|
Joseph Alba
|
No,
the protesters became violent and caused over $200,000 in damage while
breaking shop and car windows, burning cars, setting trash bins on fire, and
throwing bottles at police officers. Public buildings such as the Monrovia
Police Internal Affairs office and the Paramount Theatre were heavily
vandalized. Damage to the Theatre was preliminarily estimated at $10,000
to $15,000.
|
|
UNPOL
Officer Josephine Dziko
|
Did
the Police take action against the violent protesters vandalizing public and
private property?
|
|
Joseph Alba
|
Police arrested about 80 people for
rioting, vandalism, assault on a police officer and arson and two of them
were charged. Police recovered two handguns from the rioters.
|
|
UNPOL
Officer Josephine Dziko
|
What
prompted you to use your gun? Were you confused?
|
|
Joseph Alba
|
Well,
I intended to arrest Oscar Grant for public safety as he has a criminal
background. He resisted by fighting and punching me. I used the taser to calm
him down as he was not complying. During the quickly evolving situation, I
was confused between my handgun and the Taser that I was carrying.
|
|
UNPOL
Officer Josephine Dziko
|
Do
you have anything else to say?
|
|
Joseph Alba
|
I
have been accused of committing a crime of shooting by recklessness. I have
resigned and due to the increasing threat, seek refuse in my friend's house.
I shot Grant mistakenly, without intention and I plead not guilty to what
happened.
|
Second Part of CLA (Report Writing)
LIST OF 20
KEY FACTS
|
Type of Incident
|
1.
Fight on an
incoming train from Paynesvilla-ELWA Low Station
|
|
Info/Date
of Incident
|
2.
02 hrs on 01
January 2009.
|
|
Responding
Officer
|
3.
Officers:
Joseph Elba & Tony Pirone from SPU-LNP
|
|
Origin of
incident
|
4.
Grant's
restraint to handcuffing/arrest - fight back
|
|
Alba's
action in the incident
|
5.
Verbal order to
get back before tasing. un-holstered gun, used his SIG Sauer P226 and fired
into Grant's back
|
|
Alba's
reaction after the incident
|
6.
Appeared
stunned, put his hands to his head and exclaimed "oh my God!"
|
|
Hospital
for Treatment
|
7.
John F. Kennedy
Hospital in Monrovia
|
|
Victims injuries
|
8.
Bullet entered
Grant's back, exited through the front side and ricocheted off the concrete
platform, puncturing Grant's lung
|
|
Weapon & Bullet
|
9.
SIG Sauer P226,
a point 40 caliber bullet.
|
|
Victim's cause of death
|
10. Over-bleeding and subsequent cardiac arrest (at
04:05 hrs, same day)
|
|
Victim's allegation to Joseph
|
11. That Joseph Alba threw Grant
against a wall and kneed him
|
|
Dissemination of information
|
12.
Through media
outlets and to various websites
|
|
Public demand/Demonstration
|
13.
For the the
shooting and administration of justice.
|
|
Damage from public protests
|
14.
Cars broken,
arson to buildings; Police Internal Affairs office and the Paramount Theatre
vandalized with estimated damage amounting to 200,000 $.
|
|
Arrests and cases
|
15.
80 arrests for
riot, vandalism, assault on a police officer and arson. Charges to two people.
|
|
UNPOL Commissioner's Commitment
|
16.
disciplinary
and/or criminal proceeding to Joseph Alba for excessive use of force
|
|
Protester's slogan
|
17.
"Your idea
of justice?" and "Jail Killer Cops"
|
|
Grant's history description
|
18.
Had a criminal
background with two prison terms service for various felonies including a
conviction for drug dealing. tasered in 2007.
|
|
Protester's action for solidarity
|
19. Laid face down at the intersection
|
|
Allegation against Joseph
|
20. That he committed a crime inherently by shooting
Grant; the actions indicated recklessness.
|
1. Where did the brawl take place?
2. Which unit did Tony Pirone belong to?
3. Who did Pirone ask to confirm that the men detained were
involved in the fight?
4. What injuries did Grant sustain?
5. What was Grant's cause of death?
6. What did Grant's family allege Officer Joseph had done?
7. How did Joseph Alba react after he had accidently
discharged his service gun?
8. Which public buildings were vandalized during the
protest?
9. What was UNPOL Commissioner's
reaction to Joseph Alba's use of force?
10. When did the agitation start?
11. When was the press-meet
organized by Oscar's family?
12. What act was vowed by the UNPOL commissioner?
13. How did the news of the shooting incident spread?
Comments
Post a Comment