COMBINED LANGUAGE
ASSESSMENT (CLA)
(English) TEST # 29
FIGHT
ON AN INCOMING TRAIN
FIRST PART of CLA
(Reading)
SITUATION
REPORT
At approximately
02:00 hrs on 01 January 2009, Police Station # 2 responded to reports from an
unidentified person that up to 12 people were involved in a fight on an
incoming train from the Paynesville - ELWA Low Station. The participants were
drunk and stoned. Special Police Unit (SPU) officers Joseph Alba and Tony
Pirone of the Liberian National Police (LNP) officers rushed immediately to the
scene. They removed Grant from the train along with several other men suspected
of fighting and detained them on the platform of Low Station. Pirone handcuffed
Grant's friend which angered other passengers. Pirone then lined Grant and two
other men up against the wall. Pirone confirmed with the train operator that
the men detained were involved in the fight. Officer Pirone directed Officer Joseph
Alba to arrest two of the individuals who had not been handcuffed, one of whom
was Oscar Grant. On hearing Officer Pirone’s direction to Joseph Alba, Grant
attempted to stand up, but was forced to the ground face first. Both Officer
Alba and Officer Pirone attempted to restrain Mr. Grant and to seek his
compliance by ordering him to put his hands behind his back, but Mr. Grant
resisted and refused to submit to being handcuffed. Officer Alba was pulling on
Mr. Grant’s right arm, which remained under his torso near his waist. Mr. Grant
had not been searched by any officer for weapons, either prior to his initial
detention or after being seated near the wall. During the restraint with Grant,
Officer Alba stood and, according to witnesses, said: "Get back, I'm gonna
tase him." Officer Alba then un-holstered his gun, a SIG Sauer P226 and
fired a shot into Grant's back. At 02:15 hrs on 01 January 2009, Oscar Grant,
31, was fatally shot by Joseph Alba in Low Street, Manrovia Liberia.
Immediately after the incident, Alba appeared stunned, put his hands to his
head and exclaimed, "Oh, my God!"
Spectators at the scene believed it to be a nightmare, but soon became
aware that they were, in fact witnesses to the catastrophe. The UNPOL Team
rushed to the scene to assess the situation and to prevent further escalation.
FOLLOW-UP REPORT # 1
Grant was then
immediately rushed to the John F.Kennedy Hospital in Manrovia for treatment.
The doctor instructed Mr. Alba to take Grant to the operating theatre because
of his serious bodily injuries. The point-40-caliber-bullet from Alba's
semi-automatic handgun had entered Grant's back, exited through his front side
and ricocheted off the concrete platform, puncturing Grant's lung. During his
treatment at the hospital Grant requested his friends to take care of his
four-year-old daughter, Mary Grant. He was pronounced dead, about two hours
later, at 04:05 hrs due to over-bleeding and subsequent cardiac arrest. Grant's
family claimed that Joseph Alba threw Grant against a wall and kneed him in the
face but the subsequent autopsy showed that Grant's body had no injuries other
than that from the bullet wound.
FOLLOW-UP REPORT # 2
The Police action
was captured on multiple digital video and cell phone cameras. The footage was
disseminated to media outlets and to various websites, where it was watched
millions of times. Peaceful protests began the next day. On 03 January 2009,
protests over the shooting and administration of justice began peacefully about
09:30 hrs with about 500 people gathering at the Police Station # 2. Police set
up road-blocks and diverted vehicle and foot traffic. Protesters became violent
and caused over $200,000 in damage while breaking shop and car windows, burning
cars, setting trash bins on fire, and throwing bottles at police officers.
Public buildings such as the Monrovia Police Internal Affairs office and the
Paramount Theatre were heavily vandalized. Damage to the Theatre was
preliminarily estimated at $10,000 to $15,000. The rioting wound down later in
the evening and resulted in at least 80 arrests for riot, vandalism, assault on
a police officer and arson. Two of the
arrested people were charged. Police recovered two handguns from the rioters.
Grant's family pleaded for calm and spoke out against the violence at a press
conference the next day.
FOLLOW-UP REPORT # 3
The shooting has
been variously labeled as involuntary manslaughter and summary execution. The
UNPOL Police Commissioner commented that it was an unprofessional, excessive
and disproportionate use of force and his office would investigate the case and
take appropriate disciplinary and/or criminal proceeding against the
misconduct. There was broad public perception that LNP and UNPOL were not
conducting an effective investigation. The UNPOL Commissioner held multiple
public meetings to ease tensions.
FOLLOW-UP REPORT # 4
The shooting and
subsequent riots were covered in regional, national and international news.
Video images of the shooting were widely broadcast and streamed online in the
days following Grant's death. Several hundred thousand viewed the videos in the
first few days after the incident. Widespread dissemination of the direct evidence
of the shooting led to public outrage, protests and fueled riots.
FIRST PART of CLA
(READING)
QUESTION PAPER -A
Family Name:…………First
Name………Test Serial #:………….
Country:…….…………Date:…………………………………………
Q
1.
What injuries did Grant sustain?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q
2.
Which unit did Tony Pirone belong to?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q
3.
What was Grant's cause of death?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q
4.
Where did the brawl take place?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q
5.
Which public buildings were vandalized during the protest?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q
6.
What did Grant's family allege Officer Joseph had done?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q
7.
What act was vowed by the UNPOL commissioner?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q
8.
How did the news of the shooting incident spread?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q
9. How did Joseph Alba react after he had
accidently discharged his service gun?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q
10.
Who did Pirone ask to confirm that the men detained were involved in the
fight?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUESTION & ANSWERS
MATRIX – A
Q 1. What
injuries did Grant sustain?
A bullet entered from Grant's back, exited through his
front side and ricocheted off the concrete platform puncturing Grant's ling.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 2. Which unit did Tony Pirone belong to?
Special
Police Unit (SPU) of LNP
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 3. What was Grant's cause of death?
Due
to over-bleeding and subsistent cardiac arrest
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 4. Where did the brawl take place?
On
an incoming train to ELWA- Low Station from the Paynesville
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 5. Which public buildings were vandalized
during the protest?
Monrovia
Police Internal Affairs Office and Paramount Theatre
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 6. What did Grant's family allege Officer
Joseph had done?
That
Joseph Alba threw Grant against a wall and kneed him in the face.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 7. What act was vowed by the UNPOL
commissioner?
Take
appropriate disciplinary/ criminal proceeding against the misconduct.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 8. How did the news of the shooting incident
spread?
(Captured through digital video and cell-phones and),
spread through media outlets and various websites
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 9. How did Joseph Alba react after he had
accidently discharged his service gun?
Got
stunned, put his hands to his head and exclaimed "oh my God"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q
10. Who did Pirone ask to confirm that
the men detained were involved in the fight?
Train
Operator
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIRST PART of CLA
(READING)
QUESTION PAPER -B
Family Name:…………First
Name………Test Serial #:………….
Country:…….…………Date:…………………………………………
Q 1.
What was Grant's cause of death?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 2.
Where did the brawl take place?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 3.
What injuries did Grant sustain?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 4.
Which unit did Tony Pirone belong to?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 5.
Who did Pirone ask to confirm
that the men detained were involved in the fight?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 6.
How did the news of the shooting incident spread?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 7.
How did Joseph Alba react after he had accidently discharged his service
gun?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 8.
What did Grant's family allege Officer Joseph had done?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 9. What act was vowed by the UNPOL
commissioner?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 10.
Which public buildings were vandalized during the protest?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUESTION & ANSWERS
MATRIX – B
Q 1.
What was Grant's cause of death?
Due to
over-bleeding and subsistent cardiac arrest
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 2.
Where did the brawl take place?
On an
incoming train to ELWA- Low Station from the Paynesville
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 3.
What injuries did Grant sustain?
A
bullet entered from Grant's back, exited through his front side and ricocheted
off the concrete platform puncturing Grant's ling.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 4.
Which unit did Tony Pirone belong to?
Special
Police Unit (SPU) of LNP
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 5.
Who did Pirone ask to confirm that the men detained were involved in the
fight?
Train
Operator
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 6.
How did the news of the shooting incident spread?
(Captured
through digital video and cell-phones and), spread through media outlets and
various websites
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 7.
How did Joseph Alba react after he had accidently discharged his service
gun?
Got stunned,
put his hands to his head and exclaimed "oh my God
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 8.
What did Grant's family allege Officer Joseph had done?
That Joseph
Alba threw Grant against a wall and kneed him in the face.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 9. What
act was vowed by the UNPOL commissioner?
Take
appropriate disciplinary/ criminal proceeding against the misconduct.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 10.
Which public buildings were vandalized during the protest?
Monrovia
Police Internal Affairs Office and Paramount Theatre
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIRST PART of CLA
(READING)
QUESTION PAPER -C
Family Name:…………First
Name………Test Serial #:………….
Country:…….…………Date:…………………………………………
Q 1.
Who did Pirone ask to confirm that the men detained were involved in the
fight?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 2.
How did the news of the shooting incident spread?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 3.
How did Joseph Alba react after he had accidentally discharged his
service gun?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 4.
What did Grant's family allege Officer Joseph had done?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 5.
What was Grant's cause of death?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 6.
Where did the brawl take place?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 7.
What injuries did Grant sustain?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 8.
Which unit did Tony Pirone belong to?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 9. Which public buildings were
vandalized during the protest?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 10.
What act was vowed by the UNPOL commissioner?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUESTION & ANSWERS
MATRIX – C
Q 1.
Who did Pirone ask to confirm that
the men detained were involved in the fight?
Train
Operator
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 2.
How did the news of the shooting
incident spread?
(Captured
through digital video and cell-phones and), spread through media outlets and
various websites
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 3.
How did Joseph Alba react after he
had accidently discharged his service gun?
Got stunned,
put his hands to his head and exclaimed "oh my God"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 4.
What did Grant's family allege
Officer Joseph had done?
That Joseph
Alba threw Grant against a wall and kneed him in the face.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 5.
What was Grant's cause of death?
Due to
over-bleeding and subsistent cardiac arrest.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 6.
Where did the brawl take place?
On an
incoming train to ELWA- Low Station from the Paynesville
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 7.
What injuries did Grant sustain?
A
bullet entered from Grant's back, exited through his front side and ricocheted
off the concrete platform puncturing Grant's ling.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 8.
Which unit did Tony Pirone belong to?
Special
Police Unit (SPU) of LNP
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 9. Which
public buildings were vandalized during the protest?
Monrovia
Police Internal Affairs Office and Paramount Theatre
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q 10.
What act was vowed by the UNPOL
commissioner?
Take
appropriate disciplinary/ criminal proceeding against the misconduct.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECOND PART OF CLA
(Report Writing)
INTRODUCTION
This is the Audio component of the
UNPOL Combined Language Assessment. The Audio is divided into two parts. In the
first part you will hear a script concerning the mission-related topic you have
just read about – it will be introduced as the Narrative. In the second part of
the Audio, you will hear a conversation between two people who will talk about
the same mission-related topic – it will be introduced as the Dialogue.
Take careful notes of
both the Narrative and the Dialogue. Pay attention to the important facts and
key information and record them on the sheets of paper you were given. You will
hear the recording only one time.
Once the Narrative and
Dialogue are finished, you will be asked to use your notes from both the
Reading and the Audio components to write your own complete police report. You
will have 30 minutes to produce a report. The instructor will indicate when
these 40 minutes starts. You will be informed when it is 5 minutes left and
when it is 1 minute left.
Good Luck!
NARRATIVE
Following the death
of Oscar Grant, community members and activists decried the shooting incident
as yet another case of police brutality. There was broad public perception that
LNP and the Attorney's office were not conducting an effective investigation.
Protests against SPU-LNP continued everyday with scattered events of stoning,
vandalism and arson; and at times blocking motor vehicle traffic at the
intersection of 14th and Broadway. Some of the protesters lay face down at the
intersection, in a symbolic act of solidarity with Grant, who was killed in the
same position. Others shouted at the Police and chanted in unison. Some carried
signs that read, "Your idea of justice?" and "Jail Killer
Cops" and lit candles in memory of Grant. In an interview with UNPOL,
Joseph Alba said that Grant had a criminal background and had served two state
prison terms for various felonies including a conviction for drug dealing. In
2007, Bushroad Island police stunned him with a Taser to subdue him after a
traffic stop, during which Grant threw his loaded pistol into the air and ran.
He was sentenced to 16 months in state prison and at the time of the shooting
he was still on parole. UNPOL Officer Josephine Dziko saw video evidence that
showed Grant did not raise his hands above his head when instructed to
surrender. It was also clear from the video that Grant appeared to be trying to
snatch Alba's weapon from his hip where he often kept it.
While there have
been previous cases where police officers have confused guns with Tasers,
modern Tasers weigh half as much as handguns. It was arguable that the position
of Alba's Taser, in relation to his duty weapon, combined with the different
'feel' and color of the two weapons makes it highly unlikely that he would have
mistaken one for the other.
UNPOL Officer
Josephine Dziko also interviewed several people to investigate the incident.
Grant's family alleged in their civil claim against Joseph, that he threw Grant
against a wall and kneed him in the face. However, the subsequent autopsy
showed that Grant's body had no injuries other than that from the bullet wound.
Alba said that Grant resisted the arrest and provoked him by trying to knee him
in the groin and by hitting Officer Pirone's arm when he attempted to handcuff
one of Grant's friends.
The UNPOL
investigation concluded confirming that Joseph, 31, committed a crime
inherently by shooting Grant; the actions indicated recklessness on Alba's
part. On 10 January 2009, Monrovia County prosecutors charged Joseph Alba with
murder for the shooting. Alba resigned and pleaded not guilty. The trial began
on 10 February 2010. Michael Rains, Joseph Alba's criminal defense attorney,
argued that Alba mistakenly shot Grant with his pistol, intending to use his
Taser when he saw Grant reaching for his waist seemingly to take out his
sidearm. Pre-trial filings argued that his client did not commit first-degree
murder and asked the judge to instruct the jury to limit its deliberations to
either second-degree murder or acquittal.
DIALOGUE
UNPOL Officer
Josephine Dziko
|
State your name
and date of birth for our reference.
|
Joseph Alba
|
My name is
Joseph Alba. I was born in 1982 and I am 31 years old now.
|
UNPOL Officer
Josephine Dziko
|
How long have
you been with the SPU-LNP service?
|
Joseph Alba
|
I joined LNP in
2006. I was inducted from the Special Police Unit with the LNP and it's been
more than three years now since I joined
|
UNPOL Officer
Josephine Dziko
|
Do you know the
reason why you are here?
|
Joseph Alba:
|
Yes, I know. I
have been detained for the reckless killing of Mr. Oscar Grant whom I had
confrontation with on a fateful morning of 01 January 2009.
|
UNPOL Officer
Josephine Dziko
|
Could you
explain what happened?
|
Joseph Alba
|
Well, on 01
January 2009, my Station was informed of fighting on an incoming train from
the Paynesville - ELWA Low Station. The people were drunk and stoned.
Apparently, they were coming to the train station from Paynesville after
celebrating New Year's Eve. Myself and my supervisor, Tony Pirone rushed
to the scene where up to 12 people were involved in the fight. Pirone lined
up Oscar Grant and two other men against the wall and confirmed with the
train operator that the men detained were involved in the fight. When I was
about to arrest Oscar Grant, he resisted and refused to be handcuffed.
|
UNPOL Officer
Josephine Dziko
|
Then, what
happened?
|
Joseph Alba
|
I warned him to
get back, un-holstered my Taser and used it. But to my dismay, Oh, my God! I
shot from a Point 40 caliber SIG Sauer P226 into Grant's back at 02:15 hrs on
01 January 2009. Oscar Grant, 31, was fatally shot. He was immediately rushed
to JFK Hospital in Monrovia where he was pronounced dead at 04:05 hrs in the
morning.
|
UNPOL Officer
Josephine Dziko
|
Did he say
anything to you or to anybody else?
|
Joseph Alba
|
He asked his
friend to take care of his four-year-old daughter. With that wound, he knew
that he was dying.
|
UNPOL Officer
Josephine Dziko
|
What was the
wound?
|
Joseph Alba
|
The bullet had
entered Grant's back, exited through his front side and ricocheted off the
concrete platform, puncturing Grant's lung.
|
UNPOL Officer
Josephine Dziko
|
What happened
then? How did the people react to the incident?
|
Joseph Alba
|
The events were
captured on multiple digital video and cell phone cameras. The footage was disseminated to
media outlets and to various websites, where it was watched millions of times
and the subsequent days saw both peaceful and violent protests. The media
highlighted the incident and the community members and activists decried the
incident. People came in the streets with placards and posters reading
"Jail killer cop", and lit candles in Grant's memory. Some of the
protesters lay face down at the intersection, in a symbolic act of solidarity
with Grant, who was killed in the same position.
|
UNPOL Officer
Josephine Dziko
|
Were the public
protests peaceful?
|
Joseph Alba
|
No, the
protesters became violent and caused over $200,000 in damage while breaking
shop and car windows, burning cars, setting trash bins on fire, and throwing
bottles at police officers. Public buildings such as the Monrovia Police
Internal Affairs office and the Paramount Theatre were heavily
vandalized. Damage to the Theatre was preliminarily estimated at $10,000
to $15,000.
|
UNPOL Officer
Josephine Dziko
|
Did the Police
take action against the violent protesters vandalizing public and private
property?
|
Joseph Alba
|
Police arrested
about 80 people for rioting, vandalism, assault on a police officer and arson
and two of them were charged. Police recovered two handguns from the rioters.
|
UNPOL Officer
Josephine Dziko
|
What prompted
you to use your gun? Were you confused?
|
Joseph Alba
|
Well, I
intended to arrest Oscar Grant for public safety as he has a criminal
background. He resisted by fighting and punching me. I used the taser to calm
him down as he was not complying. During the quickly evolving situation, I
was confused between my handgun and the Taser that I was carrying.
|
UNPOL Officer
Josephine Dziko
|
Do you have
anything else to say?
|
Joseph Alba
|
I have been
accused of committing a crime of shooting by recklessness. I have resigned
and due to the increasing threat, seek refuse in my friend's house. I shot
Grant mistakenly, without intention and I plead not guilty to what happened.
|
SECOND PART OF CLA (Report
Writing)
LIST OF 20 KEY FACTS
Type of Incident
|
1. Fight
on an incoming train from Paynesvilla-ELWA Low Station
|
Info/Date of Incident
|
2. 02
hrs on 01 January 2009.
|
Responding Officer
|
3. Officers:
Joseph Elba & Tony Pirone from SPU-LNP
|
Origin of incident
|
4. Grant's
restraint to handcuffing/arrest - fight back
|
Alba's action in the incident
|
5. Verbal
order to get back before tasing. un-holstered gun, used his SIG Sauer P226
and fired into Grant's back
|
Alba's reaction after the incident
|
6. Appeared
stunned, put his hands to his head and exclaimed "oh my God!"
|
Hospital for Treatment
|
7. John
F. Kennedy Hospital in Monrovia
|
Victims
injuries
|
8. Bullet
entered Grant's back, exited through the front side and ricocheted off the
concrete platform, puncturing Grant's lung
|
Weapon &
Bullet
|
9. SIG
Sauer P226, a point 40 caliber bullet.
|
Victim's cause
of death
|
10. Over-bleeding and
subsequent cardiac arrest (at 04:05 hrs., same day)
|
Victim's
allegation to Joseph
|
11. That
Joseph Alba threw Grant against a wall and kneed him
|
Dissemination
of information
|
12. Through
media outlets and to various websites
|
Public
demand/Demonstration
|
13. For
the the shooting and administration of justice.
|
Damage from
public protests
|
14. Cars
broken, arson to buildings; Police Internal Affairs office and the Paramount
Theatre vandalized with estimated damage amounting to 200,000 $.
|
Arrests and
cases
|
15. 80
arrests for riot, vandalism, assault on a police officer and arson.
Charges to two people.
|
UNPOL
Commissioner's Commitment
|
16. disciplinary
and/or criminal proceeding to Joseph Alba for excessive use of force
|
Protester's
slogan
|
17. "Your
idea of justice?" and "Jail Killer Cops"
|
Grant's history
description
|
18. Had
a criminal background with two prison terms service for various felonies
including a conviction for drug dealing. tasered in 2007.
|
Protester's
action for solidarity
|
19. Laid
face down at the intersection
|
Allegation
against Joseph
|
20. That
he committed a crime inherently by shooting Grant; the actions indicated
recklessness.
|
thank u
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