Tomorrow, the city of Philadelphia is burying a police officer killed in the line of duty.
Last Tuesday, Highway Patrol Officer Patrick McDonald was shot to death after a routine traffic stop in a bad neighborhood. The city is furious, and rightfully so—the killer, Daniel Giddings, had an extensive and violent criminal history. He was convicted of robbery and aggravated assault in 2000 for carjacking and kneecapping the victim in the process. Yet Giddings was paroled from a maximum-security prison to a halfway house on August 18, 2008, which he promptly fled.
On August 27, Philadelphia police pulled Giddings over for a traffic violation in a car that was later discovered to be stolen. He fled on foot and ducked into a house. Giddings struggled with police, injured two cops, and escaped. A warrant was issued for his arrest.
Gidddings’ mother said the criminal vowed he was never going back to prison.
So when the car Giddings was riding in was pulled over for a broken tail light on September 23, he bolted again. Officer Patrick McDonald radioed for backup and pursued him on foot. The officer caught up with the criminal, and Philadelphia Homicide Capt. James Clark described what happened next:
“Mr. Giddings pulled out a .45-caliber semiautomatic, shooting the officer, striking him several times,” Clark said. “The officer went down, and then he stood over him and executed him, shooting him several more times.”
Giddings seized a bicycle and rode up the street, where he was confronted by three motorcycle cops. Giddings threw the bike at one cop, and started shooting at another, Officer Richard Bowes. Bowes returned fire. When it was over, Bowes was wounded and Giddings was dead.
Violent behavior started young
Daniel Giddings’ first conviction was for beating and robbing a mentally disabled man in 1991. Giddings, at the time, was 10 years old.
Articles in the Philadelphia Inquirer recount Giddings’ continuing life of violence:
- Gidding spent his youth in and out of juvenile institutions. He was charged several times with assaulting staff, sending some of them to the hospital.
- He told the court in 2000 that he sold drugs on the corner, raised pit bulls for fighting, and gambled.
- While in prison for the robbery and assault charges, Giddings was charged with disciplinary problems 27 times and spent 537 days in solitary confinement. He had been moved from medium-security prisons to a maximum-security prison.
- Giddings was found guilty of 13 misconduct charges between 2001 and 2006, including stealing from cellmates, assault, passing sharpened metal objects to another inmate and other offenses.
- Before going to prison at age 17, he fathered three children.
- Psychiatric evaluations described him as highly self-centered and manipulative. He was not, however, impulsive. His violence was planned and deliberate.
Shaping up to get out
So how did this guy get out? Twice, Giddings cleaned up his act long enough for authorities to think he had changed.
The first time came in 2000, during his trial for carjacking and kneecapping the victim. Giddings faced a potential sentence of 22½ years to 45 years in prison. During the sentencing, Assistant District Attorney Joseph Coolican told Common Pleas Court Judge Lynn B. Hamilton there was no reason to believe it would ever be safe to release Giddings.
“From what I have seen in the four years of prosecuting violent crime, I have never seen an individual who presents a higher risk of re-offending,” Coolican said.
Although the judge was alarmed at Gidding’s criminal history, she was impressed by his grades in finishing his high school diploma while in custody. She gave Giddings the minimum mandatory sentence—six to 12 years.
For the first six years in prison, Giddings racked up all those disciplinary charges. But after 2006, he entered drug and alcohol counseling, participated in group counseling, took courses in anger management, citizenship, violence prevention, victim awareness and parenting.
The Philadelphia Inquirer interviewed Susan McNaughton, a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. “You have to look at his overall situation,” she said. “The fact that he was misconduct-free for the last couple of years was good, and he had completed a lot of programs.”
War on judges
The mayor of Philadelphia is outraged that Giddings was paroled. The governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell, has ordered a review of the parole board’s decision. And the city’s Fraternal Order of Police has declared war on “L” judges, as in liberal, lenient or light-sentence.
The FOP is demanding a comprehensive review of sentencing practices of Philadelphia judges. But although the cops are justifiably angry, they’re fighting the wrong battle. What is really needed is a comprehensive education program for the judges and parole board members to teach them about psychopaths.
The behaviors exhibited by Daniel Giddings are the behaviors of a psychopath.
Psychopaths do not change.
It’s that simple.
For more information on this case, see the following articles in the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Patrick McDonald shot to death; 2nd cop wounded; gunman slain
Phila. Officer’s killer “just evil,” commander says
From age 10, a life of violence
Rendell wants review of Giddings’ parole
Are you an “L” judge? The FOP wants war
kat your above post makes me think of The Body Gaurd – i have a few gun’s – my sons are hunters – I dont care to kill bambie – but too each his own, About 3 months after M moved in with me I took my guns over too my son’s gun safe – I was afraid someone might get hurt if they stayed in the house – it’s sad to think of all the bizzare things i did – changed the locks several times – but always ended up giving him a new key – it was a TOXIC relationship – whoever was to blame – I knew early on (he) was a very sick man – I just tried harder to fix him – I wanted him to be happy and feel love – I included him in my family – something I have never done in my life with another man – i always respected my son’s and never pushed my lifestyle or friends on them – I was just so sure that (M) was the one – i wanted him to have a family – something he always said he never had – but when I would have a get together with my son’s and family (M) was uncomfortable and would go play computer games or take a nap – I realize now ‘he knew he had me fooled – but he didn’t want to have to fool them – so he just avoided them – and they could see right through him and he knew it.
Henry, In my case at least, I think I WAS ARROGANT, in that I kept thinking if I tried hard enough there was nothing I couldn’t FIX! I gave myself “magical powers” that if I just clicked my heels together we would “all be back in Kansas” Yea, right, we were all in OZ! And I didn’t even know it.
Yea, Henry, they want to isolate us from the family so that we don’t have the support and the extra “sets of eyes”—they may not be able to snow everyone. What was it Lincoln said, “you can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people SOME of the time, but you CAN’T FOOL ALL OF THE PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME.”
WE ARE MUCH MORE VULNEARBLE to them if we don’t have family near by.
Also, that’s why NC works, because when we are away from them, we start to quit being BLIND and DUMB! I started to put deaf in there, but you know what, I guess I should, cause we are sure DEAF to the TRUTH! We don’t listen to our guts so we are Blind, Deaf and Dumb.
5/27/06: D called me on mother’s phone number (xxx-xxx-1936) around 10:am. I explained that I would drop off her property at the Spring Hill Mall by Officemate and ask her to go right in front of the Store Street. To take that behind the Walgreen’s store. I asked her who would be coming with her and asked if she would not bring her **mother. D said that her mother wasn’t home and would not be coming. D informed me that her and her sister (M) would be the only people coming. I ask about her cell phone and she (D) inform me that R threw her phone in the toilet and that it did not work anymore. I asked if her sister M had a cell and she said no. I then asked her if she wanted to talk with the boys and she agreed but then changes her mind and would just call the boys after she went back home. I then asked again and the arrangements to make sure she knew were she was going. In our conversation, I believe she made a mistake and told me that there would be two cars. I ask why she thought she needed two cars and she stated that M would drive one with the children and she would drive her van for her property. This statement raises a few red flags and I didn’t believe her. My sister (J) helped me unpack her van and that she had to return to her home to give her daughter the car. J stated that she would pick me up later with her husband’s car. She asked me if I would be all right knowing how D can be and her past history and about what I told her about my conversation with D’s mother that day. I reply that I would be fine.
Time: Unknown: Received cell call from unknown number (xxx-xxx-0491-M?). D screams that she was unable to locate property and/or me. Tried to explain again, but D would not listen. She asks me why I was doing this and that she was in front of Officemate. Look in that direction and saw my green Plymouth Van. Scream in D direction to get her attention. D saw me and then pointed at me. Got a bad feeling and started to walk away. Soon I Heard a loud engine sound, like a truck/car moving at a very fast speed. Turn around and saw a large gray truck heading straight at me. Started to Run. Then heard two-truck door’s opening and saw two men getting out of the truck. Two unknown white males running after me. Ran faster and headed for the 1st store I find (Kinko’s), ran inside of store and started screaming for someone to call police. Both White males followed (running) me inside store. I turned around at look at one of the unknown male. He had long gray hair. Walked up to male with my hands up holding my cell phone. Unknown male turns away and called me a pussy then both man departed the store.
Both the store manager and I called the West Dundee police Department. The store manager asked me to talk with operator on store phone. Explained to the 911 operator what happen and that she would dispatch a car to location. A few minutes later. A West Dundee police officer walked into the store and I walked over to him. He asked for my name and other information. Asked me what happen. And then ask me to walk outside with him. I stay by police car. He walked over to the other officers talking with D and the other two while male. Officer asked me how I would get home. Explained that my sister would pick me up. Officer offered to take me back to my sister’s house. I agreed. Later I called the West Dundee. Police department to ask for the police report number: xx-2105. *update xx-2105 is just a dispatch number. Ask officer what would happen. Officer stated nothing because he didn’t see the truck trying to hit me and nothing could be done. I asked the officer why the two unknown male was chasing me He stated “they saw you running and wanted to know why?”.
5/28/06: No call from children’s mother
5/29/06: No call from children’s mother
*This information is from my personal journal and is true.
We all need to be extra careful when dealing with a sociopath. These people are emotionally and morally dangerous. Please always be careful and use comment sense with dealing with them.
**D mother threaten me many times and that she can be psychotic at times. D mother has been on prescription drugs most of her life per D. This information was given to me by D. I have no way of knowing if this is true but I have see her mother’s rage many times before.
James
I THINK A BIG PROBLEM IS THAT THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM IS FULL OF SOCIPATHS. MY EX BAD MAN WAS A RETIRED PAROLE OFFICER WHO THOUGHT NOTHING OF SELLING DRUGS FROM MY HOME. HE SPENT EVERY DAY OF HIS RETIREMENT HIGH. I JUST WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE HE PUT BACK ON THE STREET TO COMMIT MORE CRIMES. IT MAKES ME SICK.
Showbirdz,
There are Ps in all kinds of “responsible” positions. They seem to like the police and other departments like tht because of the “power” it gives them over others.
James, I had read that story before from your journal and it makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I am just so glad that this woman is out of your life and especially the lives of your children! God has blessed you with her being GONE. I think someitmes it takes a dangerous situation like that for us to REALLY get it through our heads that in order to SURVIVE we have to go NC with these people. Iknow it sure did for me to totally, truly and completely GET IT how much my P-son hates me and the lengths he would go to “get even” with me. I will NEVER DOUBT IT AGAIN!
James you have really been through it. I was in that war and struggling for my life for quite a while after my first husband left for the last time. It was truly insane and nobody wanted to believe me. I had to deal with authorities many times as he attempted to make me look bad by calling police and child protective on me, and on anyone I dated until I moved away.
After this day ended and I stay at my sister home. The only question I kept asking my self and her is “what did I do to make her hate me sooooo much?”…
All I was doing is what she wanted which was dropping off her property to her. That was my crime????
Please understand this happen way before I even knew what a sociopath was. I knew nothing about Personality Disorders. Talk about being in the dark! It was after this and yes much more that I started to google Personality Disorder and traits of Narcissistic Personality Disorders. I found blogs and messages boards. Read every book I could get my hands on and research until my eyes were red both from crying and reading! I like most people always believe that they is good in everyone. But after reading and studying this subject did I learn about antisocial personality disorder. Learned about the lack of total empathy from them. Learned how they only have a “fake” self. Learned what a pathology liar is. I still don’t believe I went 17 years and never once figure this out about her. I see now that I lived in denial all those many years..
I always thought I was a educated person. A person with good moral judgment and common sense. Just to finally realize how stupid I really am… Or was I should say!
James,
Fighting these “creatures” “in the dark” (not knowing what they really are) I think is some of the worst part of it for many or most of us. Even when you DO know what they are, and what they are capable of there is always one that willsuprise you when you read about them or hear about them. Like the guy who locked his daughter and the kids he had with her in a dungen for 19 years. UN believeable.
I have no doubt that your X wanted you dead, just as my son’s P-wife wanted him dead. WHY? I don’t know why she hated him so much, and hated me for “making him that way”–WHAT WAY? To work every day while she stayed home, and to come home and clean the house cause she was too lazy, and take care of her disabled son while she was out with her BF screwing in the handicapped van he bought for her andher son? Maybe that was my son’s “crime” against her that made her hate him so bad.
I know it sounds sick, but I kept a copy of the photographs the boy friend took of her—in “bondage” all bound up with a gag in her mouth, naked except for the bonds, and not even enough shame to hide her face. Maybe she would have liked it better if my son had beaten the snot out of her. After she was in jail he finally told me how she had tried to provoke him to hit her over and over and how he would just leave the house and she would get so angry and in a rage that he wouldn’t stay and fight with her.
I think that sometimes being kind to them, trying to please them (and failing, of course, because they can’t be pleased) enrages them so much that they want to get revenge on you. The nicer you try to be to them the more that they hate you.
There is so much about your posts that remind me of my son, James. He is a caring and loving man, willing to sacrifice for those he loves. Your children are fortunate to have you for a model. You are for tunate tht none of your children are apparently like her. God has blessed you and your children.
OxDrover
God has indeed bless my children an I very much. Sometimes when I think about all that he was done for us.. Well, it is unbelieveable… And some say there isn’t a God? Shame shame on them!
ox: “the nicer you try to be to them the more that they hate you.” what the hell? why is that???
i thought that when you stopped being nice to them … reflecting their perfection … is when they move on.
i thought they WANTED you to be nice to them.
whassup?