Thank God for heros. I've been in war on foreign soil wearing camouflage, and been in battle on domestic soil wearing blue. What these officers did... Garber... Thyne... And Burns, as well as all of the officers faced with this incident in the hours that followed (from what can be imagined) is something only someone walking the Thin Blue Line can do. Pray for each other, pray for your neighbors, and pray for your enemies, and pray for these officers! "God bless us, everyone" tiny Tim.

Ruth is no hero. She's irresponsible and reckless. Any other state would have reprimanded her. She put other lives at risk
Total Rookie

Wow Katie, you're very bitter about Officer Ruth Burns, I'm sure once you pushed yourself away from the keyboard and lifted your large butt off the poor seat thats been begging you to get up you would have handled it better. Your second mindless comment leads me to believe just what a mindless blowhard you are. Great job to all the Officers and I'm glad they'll be ok. To Mr. jones , you made your move and you lost in the biggest way.

I have yet to read any article that stated a "black male" was shot. Funny how quickly hatred and race play into this when people of ignorant backgrounds chose public forums to comment and hide behind single screen names. Katie I hope the day never arises that you will need assistance from any of these officers because unfortunately for them they will have to respond and help your hateful uneducated racist ass!!! GTPD your professionalism should be commended great job!!!

When she went to work that day I am sure she never intended for someone to get hurt. Your uneducated statements full of hate are sickening. If you think for a second this was about race you are sadly mistaken. That man attacked and attempted to murder three police officers. The fact they he was a black male had absolutely nothing to do with the outcome of this incident. How people can sit at a computer and write such hateful comments is mind boggling. This is all I am going to state on this matter. I just hope that all involved have a speedy recovery.

Pretty Girls Make Graves.

First, I would like to express my sympathies for the three police officers who were wounded. That said; let’s remember that someone was killed in this situation. Why? I can come up with no reason why anyone would think that grabbing an officer’s gun in the police station and firing it at the officers would have a good outcome. That would lead me to believe that something was up with such an individual. Was he on drugs, mentally unstable, or have a death wish?

So, there seems to be concern by a number of commenters to the various Patch articles on this incident about those offering criticism rather than obligingly wringing their hands over the fate of the officers. I, for one, would like to know how such a situation arises. Why was a female officer handling this guy alone when it seems clear that she did not have anywhere near the strength needed for such a situation? I personally have observed two to three police vehicles lined up behind a traffic stop yet we are to accept that it was safe to allow one female officer to attend to a prisoner who had just had handcuffs removed?

The judgment that allowed that situation resulted in four lives being put in grave danger with one of those lives subsequently ended. Was there any negligence here? It seems that concern for the officers is in order yet there are those who think the suspected criminal deserved what he got. Would anyone commenting on this blog liked to have been in the area at the time?

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How would you feel had your life been put at risk by possible negligence at the police station? When you walk into the police station do you think that you have to be armed to protect yourself? Given the situation that transpired I’m wondering how anyone could think that’s a radical idea. This is not a situation where someone entered the building armed and thus put all those inside in danger; this is a situation where a suspected criminal helped himself to an officer’s sidearm.

I had a GT police officer at my home politely reprimand me and suggest that maybe I should consider relocating a BB-rifle (temporarily) leaning against the wall at my front door. Consider that a GT police officer had her firearm wrestled away from her and was almost killed as were two other officers. What and who is putting what and who at risk here?

Hey, don’t get me wrong, the officers who responded acted decisively and with courage and ended a situation that could have gotten much uglier than it did and it’s a crying shame that three officers were hurt in the exercise of their duties. Where, however, does the responsibility lie for the situation to begin with?

Yes, a full investigation is needed and the good citizens of Gloucester Township deserve a complete explanation with full transparency and zero posturing. What’s it gonna be?

Hello All,
Eddie Jones III is my cousin and we (the family) are shocked & very distraught about this incident. Before anyone rushes to judgement Ed has no crimial backgraound, he is a loving father & a great friend. We do not blame the police for their action. Their lives were put at risk & they took appropriate action. He has worked in corrections for a long time, we believe he very well knew what the otucome would be by pulling that gun :( I have never witnessed him in this state of mind & I can't explain what happened. Obviously he let his girl have a bigger effect on him than anyone should. HE DID NOT INTEND TO KILL ANY OF THESE OFFICERS he's worked in some form of law enforcement most of his life, their wounds were not life threatening which leads us to believe this was a form of suicide. At this time you are praying for the officers please pray for the victims family as well.
Thank You

Sorry Tanya, but considering the wounds received by the officers, it is quite clear he was intent on killing them, if he could. Losing a loved one is hard, but put the responsibility where it belongs- lousy police procedures. NO officer should be allowed to uncuff a suspect alone. No one knows what's in their minds or what they might do, given a chance. Chief Earle MUST review procedures and improve them!

This sums it all up, watch this video of the holster. Thank God no one was killed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrobiobrT3I&feature=share

The Officers did a Great Job! they should have another officer present when booking a prisoner. I know the gloucester twp police do a great job. But you never know what kind of nut's you are dealing with. Two Officers should be Present when finger Printing a Person. People are carzy. Good Job to all of the Officers in Gloucester Twp

We know Gloucester Township Police are crooked and lie too. It's a Six Million Dollar Police Force.

where is her picture taken from.....why is the the neck not buttoned ?

Suicide by cop? Yep.... Sigh. An analogy? Reasons? Prayers to the families of all involved on both sides.

“…it remains unclear exactly how and why Jones was able to get to Burns’ duty weapon.”

From what I understand, Patrolwoman Burns stands five-feet-two and weighs in at all of one hundred and five pounds. Not really much of a mystery how the perp was able to overpower her and take her weapon.

The mystery is how someone of such diminutive physical stature could possibly qualify for any police department.

This is gt, scandals, robberies, explosions, child molestors, drug dealers...we got it all.

The comments section on this article will be shut down this evening through Wednesday morning so Patch staffers can enjoy the New Year's holiday with family and friends. If you wish to comment on this article, please do so by 5 p.m. today.

That's what we get for living close to Camden City. There aren't enough victims there, so the scum come out to the suburbs to forage. Our police need to adopt a more alert mindset when dealing with criminals. No more mr./ms. nice guy!