Police officer, 46, killed in domestic dispute

[CO Liberal]

Police Officer Darlene Harper's tour of duty ended violently last Saturday morning when her husband, Samuel Harper, a city sanitation worker, shot her in the chest during an argument, police said.

Responding to a report of an off-duty officer that had been shot, police arrived on the scene at 4:51 a.m. Police found Darlene Parker, 46, lying on the floor, bleeding from a gunshot wound to her chest. The officer, a 12-year veteran assigned to the 19th District, identified her husband as her killer before she died, police said.

Neighbors said the couple lived in the Lawncrest house on the 5900 block of Bingham Street for less than a year. On Saturday, Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson confirmed that police had been called to the house several times before, but declined requests for the specific reasons.

Samuel Harper, 36, was arrested and charged with murder, possession of an instrument of crime and violation of the Uniform Firearms Act. His hearing is set for today.

[jody]

1. The article says "police had been called to the house several times"

suggesting that the husband should have been guilty of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. As a minimum, Police Officer Darlene Harper had certain knowledge that her spouse was unqualified to possess a firearm. Therefore, Officer Harper violated federal law by allowing her husband to possess or have access to firearms.

The incident is sad, but if Officer had survived, she should have faced charges for violating federal firearms laws.

See. "TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 44 > Sec. 922. - Unlawful acts"