16-12-2015, 01:29 AM
Drew Phipps Wrote:I would normally agree with you, but in this case it actually took (what did we decide in that other thread???) wasn't it 15 minutes to seal off the building? Back in 1963, did officers have body mikes to call for assistance? Maybe Baker should have called it in before leaving his bike with a radio attached; but as I recall, someone's motorcycle microphone was stuck open, interfering with some radio communications. I agree that there was a notable lack of organization, (and perhaps panicky reactions) at the scene, but let's face it: Baker was right, and he was first.
I would submit that it was Sheriff Decker's stand down order: "Watch and observe," wasn't it? that most hampered the response of available manpower within running distance. At least until individual sheriffs deputies bravely ignored their orders and went to help.
(You brought up Canada. No disrespect intended. Well, maybe a little bit of cross-border ribbing was intended.)
I don't know, Drew. You have to remember, Baker had just ridden slowly past the DPD building, and probably recognized the majority of officers, detectives and deputies standing on Houston St. watching the motorcade. If he was so sure he had the perpetrator cornered in the TSBD, wouldn't he have yelled across the street "Hey guys! He's in here! Come give me a hand!" ? But he doesn't. He doesn't even call out to the traffic officers standing on the corner of Elm & Houston.
Sorry, Drew, I know the American westerns are full of the fearless, lone lawmen but, this one just doesn't add up for me.
Mr. HILL. The right rear portion of his head was missing. It was lying in the rear seat of the car. His brain was exposed. There was blood and bits of brain all over the entire rear portion of the car. Mrs. Kennedy was completely covered with blood. There was so much blood you could not tell if there had been any other wound or not, except for the one large gaping wound in the right rear portion of the head.
Warren Commission testimony of Secret Service Agent Clinton J. Hill, 1964
Warren Commission testimony of Secret Service Agent Clinton J. Hill, 1964