AFTER FERGUSON, WE HAVE ALL SEEN OFFICERS NOT USING DEADLY FORCE…EVEN WHEN THE SITUATION JUSTIFIED OR MORE IMPORTANTLY, DEMANDED THE USE OF SUCH FORCE. SOME OFFICERS ARE MORE OFTEN NOT USING THEIR WEAPON(S) FOR FEAR OF BEING LABELED “FASCIST” OR “RACIEST.” SOME ARE HESITANT AND ARE MORE FEARFUL OF BECOMING THE NEXT YOUTUBE SENSATION, OR A LAWSUIT. MANY THINGS RUN THROUGH AN OFFICERS MIND AT A TIME LIKE THIS. WHO CAN BLAME THEM? IN TODAY’S ANTI-COP ATMOSPHERE.
THE PRACTICE OF DEADLY HESITATION HAS BECOME MORE PREVALENT THAT AT ANY TIME. THIS IS GOING TO COST THE LIVES OF OFFICERS IN THE FUTURE.
AN EXAMPLE OF THIS OCCURRED LAST APRIL WHERE AN OHIO POLICE OFFICER BACKPEDALED AWAY FROM A SUBJECT. IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THE PERSON IN THE OFFICERS SIGHTS HAD JUST MURDERED HIS GIRLFRIEND. ADDITIONALLY, HE WAS WANTED FOR A HOMICIDE IN KENTUCKY. THE OFFICER STATED THAT HE WANTED TO BE ABSOLUTELY SURE BEFORE HE USED DEADLY FORCE.
BY GIVING UP HIS POSITION BEHIND HIS SQUAD CAR AND FALLING TO THE GROUND HE ENDANGERED, NOT ONLY HIMSELF, BUT THE PUBLIC. HAD THE OFFENDER KILLED HIM AND ESCAPED IN THE POLICE CAR EQUIPPED WITH A SHOTGUN, THE PUBLIC WOULD BE OUTRAGED AND QUESTION WHY THE OFFICER DIDN’T SHOOT. ANYTHING TO GENERATE A GOOD, JUICY STORY ABOUT A COP MAKING A SPLIT-SECOND DECISION. ALL IN ORDER TO SELL PAPERS OR TAKE UP TV TIME.
ANOTHER INCIDENT OCCURRED IN BIRMINGHAM. IN THIS INSTANCE THE OFFICER WAS PISTOL WHIPPED WITH HIS OWN GUN. HE LATER TOLD A REPORTER HE DIDN’T WANT TO BE IN THE MEDIA. WELL, HE WAS IN THE MEDIA ANYWAY…AND MAY VERY WELL HAVE BEEN IN BECAUSE HE WAS IN THE MORGUE. THANKFULLY, THIS WAS NOT THE CASE WITH THESE TWO INCIDENTS.
DEADLY HESITATION..IS IT A PROCEDURE TO FOLLOW IN THE FUTURE…LET’S HOPE NOT.