THE LOS ANGELES POLICE COMMISSION WANTS LAPD OFFICERS TO RUN AWAY WHEN A SUSPECT CONFRONTS THEM WITH A WEAPON. WHAT?
RECENTLY A FEMALE SUSPECT WITH A LARGE KNIFE CHARGED AT OFFICERS. SHE REPEATEDLY REFUSED COMMANDS TO DROP THE KNIFE WHICH SHE WAS WIELDING IN A RUDE AND THREATENING MANNER BY AGGRESSIVELY SWINGING IT FROM SIDE TO SIDE. SHE RAN TOWARD AN OFFICER, WHO WAS SANDWICHED BETWEEN TWO CARS, COVERING THE INITIAL 70 FEET AND CLOSING THE DISTANCE TO ABOUT 5 FEET IN A MATTER OF SECONDS.
OFFICERS THEN ENGAGED THE LOONY-TUNE, STOPPING THE THREAT. THAT’;S WHAT WE’RE TRAINED TO DO. STOP THE THREAT.
DESPITE SUPPORT AND STATING THAT OFFICERS ACTED WITHIN DEPARTMENT POLICY BY THE CHIEF OF POLICE, CHARLIE BECK, THE APPOINTED BOARD DISAGREED. THEY FELT THE OFFICER SHOULD HAVE RUN AWAY. YEAH SURE. WHAT IF HE HAD RUN AWAY AND THE CRAZED WOMAN WOULD HAVE KILLED OR INJURED AN INNOCENT CIVILIAN?
THE LAPD’S POLICE OFFICER’S ASSOCIATION SAID…” IT’S APPALLING THAT 4 COMMISSION MEMBERS , WITH ZERO LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE CAN SO EASILY SET ASIDE THE CHIEF’S CONCLUSION THAT THE LAPD OFFICER’S ACTED WITHIN POLICY.”
THE COMMISSION JUST MADE EVERY LAPD OFFICER’S JOB A HELL OF A LOT MORE DANGEROUS. OFFICER’S CAN SAVE THEIR LIFE OR SAVE THEIR JOBS…BUT NOT BOTH. GOD HELP US, WE’RE FADING FAST.
STAY SAFE, BUCKLE UP AND WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT!
www.KenJDye.com
The only cop justified in running away from his assigned task, is a member of the Bomb Squad. When you see him run…do the same. For all others, it is derelection of duty.
By definition, a Commissioned Police Officer is a member of a quazi-military organization. They are defined by a set of rules…the rule of law. I don’t recall seeing anything in them about running away from a threat imposed on their person or the public they are sworn to protect. Based on the information available it is reasonable to assume these LAPD Officers did their job in accordance with the law…period.
In the not too distant past, there was a well intended effort by the Department of Justice to rewrite the rules of engagement. Sometimes those charged with initiating change lose their way and there are unintended consequences and once the genie is out of the bottle…
Think of our society as a large, well defined, orderly ant hill that took years to construct. When someone accidentally kicks the top off said ant hill, there is much activity. like that of a recently decapitated chicken, there will be much flapping about until cool heads prevail and order is restored to the ant hill.
As always happens, folks will vent, unintended empowerment will cause some issues, some changes, but in time we will return to the basic rules of reasonable conduct and the nation’s police departments will again take up the task of being that thin line between good and evil.
As for the Los Angeles Police Department, it took a while yet they finally lived down the Rodney King matter with the sale of a tee shirt that said: “LAPD…WE TREAT YOU LIKE A KING.” This too shall pass.