Nov 2023. Blues Vol 39 No. 11

GUEST COMENTARY
police law news
Daniel Carr
Officer Involved: Leonard Cure.
No cure for a deadly threat!
Leonard Cure was shot and
killed by a Camden County Georgia
deputy during a traffic stop
on October 16, 2023.
To save the suspense - this is
an example of a justified officer-involved-shooting
(OIS).
In fact, this one is not close.
Anyone who is remotely honest
can watch the unbiased body
and dash camera footage and
come to the quick conclusion
that the deputy faced an immediate
deadly threat at the exact
moment that deadly force was
utilized.
The point of highlighting this
case is to examine and document
the dishonest narrative being
pushed by lying attorneys and
the mainstream media as well
as the vicious effort to demonize
the deputy who acted within the
law and responded with measured
self-defense as a violent
manic tried to kill him.
LEONARD CURE
Up until this traffic stop Leonard
Cure was a person that we
should all feel sympathy for.
Mr. Cure was someone who we
should all want to succeed. This
is because Mr. Cure was released
from prison in 2020 after serving
16 years for a crime that he did
not commit. He was exonerated
and had been spending a lot of
time speaking to community and
16 The BLUES
student groups about his experience.
WHAT HAPPENED
On October 16, 2023 Deputy
Buck Aldridge was traveling in
the right lane on Interstate 95. A
pickup truck driven by Mr. Cure
passed the deputy in the left lane
traveling in excess of 100 mph. In
many jurisdictions traveling that
much above the speed limit is
considered “reckless driving” and
is accompanied by an arrest.
Deputy Aldridge initiated a
traffic stop with the intent to
arrest the driver.
INITIAL CONTACT
It would be dishonest to ignore
how Deputy Aldridge initiated
the contact with Mr. Cure. Deputy
Aldridge started by yelling at
Mr. Cure as he approached. He
yelled, “Step out! Get out! Step
out!”
The deputy did not introduce
himself or announce the agency
that he worked for. He did not
explain the reason for the traffic
stop or explain why Mr. Cure
was being arrested (at least
initially, he did later).
So, this is not my style. In my
opinion an officer should start
with a “normal” traffic stop
introduction or conduct a felony
stop. Perhaps, the manner in
which the deputy made initial
contact was abrasive, rude, and
possibly even a minor policy
violation. However, the actions by
the deputy were not illegal and
I should also acknowledge the
possibility the deputy had a valid
reason for this approach/introduction
that we are unaware of.
Mr. Cure did exit the vehicle
and Deputy Aldridge continued
with, “Put your hands back here!”
and Mr. Cure then said, “I ain’t
doing shit!”.
As you can predict - the interaction
went to shit from there.
USE OF FORCE
The actual use of force by Deputy
Aldridge was reasonable and
measured.
Deputy Aldridge gave verbal
commands and then verbal
warnings that force would be
utilized to Mr. Cure.
Deputy Aldridge initially started
with empty hand tactics as he
tried to move Mr. Cure’s hands
behind his back. He then warned
that Mr. Cure would be tased.
These efforts were successful
in gaining the compliance of Mr.
Cure.
Eventually Deputy Aldridge did
deploy the Taser - which did not
have the desired effect of neuromuscular
incapacitation.
Mr. Cure swung and swatted
his arms to combat the Taser
probes and quickly advanced
towards Deputy Aldridge. Even-