Deputy killed on dutySuspect fatally struck by car as he fled scene Edward C. Fennell
The Post and Courier
Sunday, May 4, 2008
The Post and Courier Buras 
The Post and Courier Howell Jr. William Howell Jr. loved helping people, but he was concerned about the dangers he faced as a deputy in rural Orangeburg County, a fellow law enforcement officer and friend said Saturday. Howell, 46, of Cross, a former deputy for Berkeley and Dorchester counties, was shot and killed at 1:30 a.m. Saturday on a front porch while responding to a domestic violence call in the Holly Hill area. The man suspected of shooting Howell, 20-year-old Derrick Buras, was hit and killed by a car allegedly driven by his wife as he tried to leave the scene, Orangeburg County Sheriff Larry Williams said. Buras, who was out of jail on bond on a charge of assault and battery with intent to kill, was found dead in a ditch about a mile from the scene. The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating his death, Williams said. Howell served as a jailer at the Berkeley County detention center from 1993 to 2000. He served with the Moncks Corner Police Dept.; with the S.C. Department of Corrections; with the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office, where he worked in the courts; and as an officer with the Jamestown Police Department before moving on to the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office. Berkeley County Coroner Glenn Rhoad recalled that Howell was good-natured and dedicated to his job. 'He wanted to be a police officer real bad,' Rhoad said. Dorchester County Sheriff Ray Nash called for a moment of silence for Howell while speaking at a Republican Party prayer breakfast Saturday morning. Berkeley County Sheriff's Capt. Barry Currie, who heads the county's detention center, said Howell was a close friend as well as a cautious and courageous officer. 'It's just a shock. I still can't get over it,' he said. Currie and Howell roomed together while attending the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy in Columbia in the early 1990s. Howell has a wife and three children in Cross. He played organ in church and had played for several slain officers' funerals. 'He was just always a good guy and wanted to help everybody,' Currie said. He said he thinks the reason Howell held so many jobs was that he was looking for the best way he could serve. 'Law enforcement was what he wanted to do,' said Currie, who added that working as a jailer toughened Howell, who then decided to work a beat. Howell found 'the road' to be dangerous, and he had expressed some surprise at how much anger he saw in people. 'While working the streets, he was seeing the other side. But he really loved that job. He said it was all he ever wanted to do,' Currie said. Currie said he last saw Howell about a month ago, when the Orangeburg deputy stopped by the Berkeley jail. 'He had his uniform on and was ready to go to work,' Currie recalled. He said he and Howell had many conversations about safety on the job. 'He always talked about safety and the area he worked in being dangerous,' Currie said. 'He wasn't scared. He wouldn't start a fight, but if there was one to go to, he didn't back down.' He said Howell was well-trained and aware that many officers are hurt and killed on domestic calls. 'That guy had to catch him off guard,' Currie surmised. 'He was a hard-working and dedicated man. He was all about helping people,' Currie said. The Associated Press contributed to this story Reach Edward C. Fennell at efennell@postandcourier.com or 745-5865. |
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Comments
This article has 40 comment(s)
Posted by SCPDBLUE on May 4, 2008 at 1:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is our liberal justice system people.Again another brother in blue cut down by a scumbag. Buras who like Walter Fayall the killer of Constable Bailey was arrested for a crime but was released by a liberal court system.Again how many LEO's are going to get killed before the justice system wakes up,How many citizens are going to die before truth in sentencing is imposed.
Our liberal justice system let Deputy Howell as well as Constable Bailey down... Take line from the movie MAGNUM FORCE;David Sole to Clint Eastwood, youtube.com Dirty Harry Fav. Scenes (part3). " We are simple ridding society of killers that would be caught and sentenced if our courts worked properly"..RIP Deputy Howell, Though I did not know you,You were a member of the thin blue line,which makes you my brother for life, Rest in peace now my brother for you have answered your last radio call.. RIP 605 S.C. State Constable Robert "Bob" Bailey your death will live with me forever..Your brother in blue.
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Posted by JohnS on May 4, 2008 at 1:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This situation could have happened anywhere. You can't be denied your rights just based on the type of crime you are accused of. I am sorry for the officers family. He seemed like a nice man.
Posted by 1053kabbie on May 4, 2008 at 1:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I understand about the judges in this area..I had someone come into my yard on Wensday and steal a pile of scrap metal. I came home a little later seen it was missing and went straight to the metal salvage yard and there it was. The yard had me call the police, Berkeley county sheriff.. they came, got the info on who sold the metal and got name and discription. Friday I go pick up incident report and take to magistrates office to get a warrant on the woman. BUT JUDGE SESSIONS, refused to issue a warrant. he said she did not steal enough to make it worth a warrant. That I should go to CIVIL court instead and see if that judge would issue a summons to court. It cost $80 to do this. IT AINT A CIVIL MATTER.. She came into my yard and STOLE the stuff..
Posted by MACOA on May 4, 2008 at 2:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
JohnS would be singing a different tune if his father was killed by a man that should have been in jail.
Posted by Creeker01 on May 4, 2008 at 5:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Howell, I never knew you on the job, but as a Peacekeeper, I know you are a Child of God.
Someone should give the Girlfriend a medal for saving the taxpayers a lot of time and money while another Judge would have let him out on yet another bond to terrorise the population.
Cops truly are our Society's Expendables.
Posted by mac0cm4 on May 4, 2008 at 6:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think it has little to do with whether the judges are liberal or not.. last time I checked SC is so conservative you can't get a toothpick up its posterior with a sledgehammer.
In any event, rest in peace, Deputy Howell.
A Part of America Died
Somebody killed a police officer today…
and a part of America died.
A piece of our country he swore to protect
will be buried with him at his side.
The suspect who shot him will stand up in court demanding his rights
while a widow and mother must work for the kids
and spend many long, lonely nights.
The streets where he worked were a battlefield too…
just as if he’d gone off to war…
though the flag of our nation won’t fly at half mast.
Somebody killed a police officer today…
it happened in your town and mine
while we slept in our comfort behind locked doors
a cop put his life on the line
now his ghost has the beat on a dark city street
and he stands at each rookie’s side
a cop answered the call
of himself gave his all
and a part of America died.
(unknown)
Posted by UrGatorbait on May 4, 2008 at 6:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Peace to him and his family.
When we get to pick and choose what crimes we are going to apply the law to, then we are well on the way to a police state. If you people don't like the law the trite saying do something about it applies IMO.
We are one of the few if any country with bail. Now take away that bail and you spend time for whatever reason you are locked up for. The one about the woman locked up for an overdue video is my favorite. what about a misunderstanding or wrongful identification? What if you were detained for that and couldn't bail out? Then I really find amusing non-payment of child support or some other court ordered payment that didn't get logged right and you have no bail?
It's a protection we all have. To pick and choose who gets what because well he's more of a scumbag than that other person on this day is heading down the slippery slope toward a police state. If people can live with that than it's no wonder things are bad.
Posted by ChrisPia on May 4, 2008 at 7:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
May You RIP.My Prayers are for You and Your family. Thank You for Your Heroic and Dedicated service.
The protection of the Public against Violent criminals should be a big factor in the amount of bail given.If at All.
Posted by jammer on May 4, 2008 at 7:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Buras, who was out of jail on bond on a charge of assault and battery with intent to kill"
WTF???? something really needs to be done with these judges continually letting these thugs out to roam and kill/rape over and over and over
my sincere condolences to the family of that deputy, it's a real shame that the system he worked for did NOT protect him and us by keeping this scum off of the street when they should have
this is ridiculous and should have been totally avoided
to the judge that let this scum get a chance to roam again I hope you sleep well at night knowing you allowed him to this chance to kill someone's dad/uncle/brother/son and someone who was out there trying to protect the rest of us
"Buras, who was out of jail on bond on a charge of assault and battery with intent to kill"
unfreaking believable....
Posted by Thomas1776 on May 4, 2008 at 8:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So sad this deputy lost his life in the line of duty. So very sad. It sounds like he responded to the call all alone. What happened to the days with two cops per car? Why didn't he have backup?
Posted by SuzieQJones on May 4, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Such a sad thing. My thoughts are with the Howell family.
Posted by ColdBeer on May 4, 2008 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My condolences to the family and friends of Officer Howell.
P&C, did this murderer have a criminal record beyong the pending charge mentioned in the article?
Posted by pirate42 on May 4, 2008 at 8:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
again we cant change the complete incompetence of our judges but we can pray for the family of the officer. God BLESS ( WHY they: judges do this maybe it should be there family lying there insteadof our fine officers maybe that make them open there eyes, state of the economy put theses idots on a working farm to feed them selves and our needy people in the community grow small farms back in usa we need them now.
Posted by outrage on May 4, 2008 at 8:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My condolences to the family and friends of Officer Howell.
Posted by outrage on May 4, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Police Officers Prayer
Lord I ask for courage
Courage to face and conquer my own fears...
Courage to take me Where others will not go...
I ask for strength
Strength of body to protect others and strength of spirit to
lead others...
I ask for dedication
Dedication to my job, to do it well. Dedication to my
community,
To keep it safe...
Give me lord, concern for others who trust me
and compassion for those who need me...
And please Lord
Through it all - Be at my side........
Posted by moonpie on May 4, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, may God bring peace to his family and friends. Sounds like we lost a good man and that's a tragedy.
Posted by Mayor on May 4, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What is going to happen to Buras's wife? Will she be charged with anything? She should get a commendation.
Can you imagine what was going through her mind as she chased this guy down, and smacked him into a ditch? Wow.
Posted by blk_avenger on May 4, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Please stop the garbage about liberal judges,all of this so called crime and punishment is a business. Some violent offenders are released for bad things to happen so crime legislation can be passed a lot easier.
I'm sorry for the loss of a good police officer,but a quote I once heard said "Even fake wars gotta have casualties".
Posted by kateanderikinnova on May 4, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Buras kills Officer Howell and Buras' wife "accidently" kills him...wow, talk about karma.
Why was the wife not mentioned?
Posted by martin on May 4, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
we have to keep in mind that most magistrates have no legal background, are not lawyers, but are usually the worst kind of political hacks that a corrupt legislator can reward for blind support and insure he wins HIS cases in court. They get some training, probably don't even have to pass a test, after they get the job.
I remember not too many years ago Sen. John Land appointed an illiterate. His wife read the laws and any other material he had to know about to him.
Across this state, we have magistrates who have no grasp of the seriousness of what they are doing. That violent people need to have heavy bails to keep them from killing, raping, molesting children while they wait endlessly for the solicitors to get them to court.
If there is a disciplinary system for magistrates, a complaint needs to be filed on this one. I bet he didn't even set bail of $10,000 for this guy's ABWIK. I hope the officer's family finds some way to sue him.
You lawyers, what can be done about these idiots?
Posted by outrage on May 4, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
blk_avenger - Say hello to Jeremiah Wright for me.
Posted by outrage on May 4, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
raregar67 - You beat me to it! We do agree on somethings! :-)
Posted by diggerman on May 4, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This man had no buisness out of jail,giving him the opportunity to do what he did. He took the life of a good man who was trying to take care of his family and his community. Our juducial system is awfull.Our streets are full of murderers,rapist,child molesters,thieves and drug dealers.Our police officers do not stand a chance,they arrest and rearrest the same criminals over, There are more criminals with guns in our streets than there are police officers. when will our goverment,judicial system build more prisons and KEEP these people in there,and protect its citizens? GOD BLESS OFFICER HOWELLS FAMILY,FRIENDS,AND COWORKERS.
Posted by RTC on May 4, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So many past stories about "bad" cops.
Now, a very fine officer has been taken from the community.
My sincerest condolences and prayers go out to Officer Howell's family, coworkers, and friends.
Posted by theLASTword on May 4, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
UrGatorbait ... We apply the law to different circumstances all the time. Look at the "Felon in Possession of a firearm" law. In order to be charged and convicted you have to be convicted of a VIOLENT FELONY and there is a list we go by. We should have some legislation that mandates judges to set really high bonds (or deny bonds) for violent felonies and those felonies could be spelled out just like the felon in possession law. We, as LEOs, go out there everyday and work hard to make cases and then the judges let them off easy every time. I don't think it had anything to do with them being conservative or liberal ... they just don't know what it is really like in the streets. I hate it for the family and will be praying for them. God bless.
Posted by hardog240 on May 4, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is once again proof that our criminal justice system and these liberal judges are all a joke.This piece of garbage should have been in jail waiting for trial,instead a police officer loses his life over this scum.Wake up people and start putting public pressure on the solicitors office and judges who all agree to be easy on these losers!!We should all send a thank you letter to this scums wife who saved the taxpayers alot of money...
Posted by chucktonian on May 4, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
once again, the leftist bedwetters pollute the judiciary. how about impeaching this judge?
that white trash scumbag should've been busting up rocks doing life in prison instead of killing our police officers. the only good part? the wife ran over the perp...give her a medal.
because he would've gone to prison, where criminal-friendly liberal judges would have given him a "second chance" or maybe a pyschological evaluation and doped him up on psycho meds like parents do these days
Posted by geekguy2008 on May 4, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I knew Howell when he worked at the Berkeley County Jail. He was a damn good guy and always made me laugh! Great personality.
So sorry to hear about this tragic event. My sincere condolences to the Howell family. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.
Posted by scienceguy on May 4, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder if the deputy was issued a "bullet-proof vest"?
When we place these men in harm's way, we should provide them with proper protective gear.
I do not want to beat on Sheriff Nash (and I know this is not Dorchester County) but it seems to me that $380,000 could have gone a long way towards properly protecting his deputies and that maybe he could have "shared" with Orangeburg.
I hope that this fallen hero's family will be treated as well as the families of the Charleston Nine. Rest in Peace.
Posted by ballachulish on May 4, 2008 at 11:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Harddog, Chucktonian,
Name one liberal judge in the area. Thought so.
My thoughts go to the family of Officer Howell.
Posted by Roger1978 on May 4, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A sad reminder of how dangerous our law enforcement officers jobs are.
'Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.' - Matthew 5:9
Posted by DontSpamMeBro on May 4, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The law says you are entitled to bail when charged with a criminal offense. HOWEVER - it doesn't say you are entitled to bail that you can afford. Judges/magistrates should keep that in mind during bond hearings and bond reduction hearings.
Posted by preachlove on May 4, 2008 at 12:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So sorry to hear of the death of this wonderful officer. My condelences to the family of this great officer and my prayers go out to his loved ones in this truly trying time. He served our state well and was one of the many courageous men and women who do battle with evil, dangerous, crazy, drugged-out and senseless human beings all the time.
Posted by lillycollette on May 4, 2008 at 5:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My condolences to the family and friends of Officer Howell.
Posted by DonnaH on May 4, 2008 at 6:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is a tragedy that Officer Howell died this way. To his family, you have our deepest sympathies. Words cannot express what our hearts feel for you today. To his friends, we offer our sincere regrets that his life was ended way too soon; and, if we could, to Officer Howell, thank you from the depths of our hearts for trying to help our granddaughter.
Posted by blk_avenger on May 4, 2008 at 7:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
raregar, outrage, I'm happy to help you 2 agree on something. I'll tell Jeremiah hello at the next family reunion.
Posted by hardog240 on May 4, 2008 at 7:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey ballachulish you asswipe the liberal judges are the ones who originally set low bond or reduce bond on these scumbags so they can get out! In this case i do not know the name of the judge, but some judge either originally set bond too low or reduced it at a bond hearing.If bond was set high as it should have been in this assault with the intent to kill case,this scum would still be in jail.But no it was to low or was reduced and this white trash piece of garbage put up a measly ten percent and went to a bail bonds for the rest.I dont care how crowded the jails are we must keep them in there.Just because of overcrowding its no excuse to be leniant
Posted by LI58 on May 4, 2008 at 9:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Deputy Howell was a good man. I am sure that he was a very good deputy for Orangeburg County. I used to work for Berkeley County S.O. and would always see him at the jail when I brought a perp in. He always wore a sharp uniform and was very professional at his job. Deputy Howell will be missed.
Posted by wpc3iop on May 5, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope they give the woman who was driving the car a medal...More likely the idiot court system will try to lock her up! Wonder if she will make bond?
Posted by Hutch on May 5, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was so sorry to hear about Deputy Howell,
my condolence to the Howell Family and
the family of Derrick Buras. Such a tragic loss
for both families.
Satan is rageing across our country seeking to
devour all he can for he knows his days are short.