For you current and former Police Officers...

[GScholz]

Norway ,,sounds nice

Don't get me wrong... If the police expect trouble, or are going into a known dangerous situation they're all ninjaed up and may also have been granted the right to shoot first. However, just policing traffic or patrolling the streets they are unarmed, but with guns available in their cars. The guns are sealed, and if that seal is broken there's a ton of paperwork and needed justification and hearing boards etc... However, we never have old folks getting gunned down for wielding a cane...








But also...

[colmbo]

See Rule #4

[danny76]

See Rule #4

[Widewing]

I'll say this again so that no one misunderstands... I place the blame on a lack of training, not on the police officer himself. He reacted like many people would have to a perceived threat. Therein is the problem. As a supposedly trained police officer, he should not absolutely panic. That level of fear distorts reasoning ability. He saw a shotgun where none existed. I believe that he believed what he saw. That doesn't provide absolution. Adequate training may have resulted in a different outcome.

Had a civilian mistakenly thought someone was pulling a shotgun, and shot that person, do you think that the police would not arrest him? What are the odds that the DA will not file charges? There is, like it or not, a double standard. If anything, the "trained, professional law enforcement officer" should be held to a much higher standard than a civilian.

That old man should never have been fired upon, period. The fact that he was points to training and the mindset of the officer.

[MiloMorai]

BS statement.  You only hear about the times when an officer shoots….you almost never hear of the times when the officer is able to solve the issue without shooting.  The latter happens far more often than the former.

In 20 years as a police officer I pointed my gun at people several times, I only pulled the trigger one time. A couple of those times when I didn't shoot were as you describe with an armed individual…I didn't shoot because he didn't bring the weapon to bear on anyone.

Well the rifle was pointed at me.
Little Italy is not one of the nicer areas in town.

[Rich46yo]

Give Volron credit. This Bash the Police thread was hidden very slyly. He even got me pondering and reminiscing until some bonehead brought me back to reality.

For you current and former Police Officers...

I hope you all learned something of note from all "current and former". Or.....brothers of same.

[Volron]

Give Volron credit. This Bash the Police thread was hidden very slyly. He even got me pondering and reminiscing until some bonehead brought me back to reality.

I hope you all learned something of note from all "current and former". Or.....brothers of same.

What is your take on this situation?

I figure this was solid enough.

This turned into a "Bash the Police" and a "my country's police is better than US Police" thread of it's own accord.  There are folks here that are current officers, as well as those who were officers for a good while and now retired, that could better explain this.  I wanted their take on the situation is all.  The common input of the situation from them seem to be as follows:  Poor Training.

When I looked at the video, I quickly thought, "Stupid old man.  What the hell were you thinking!?".  In the end, I honestly cannot fault the officer himself for how it unfolded.  Better training would have resulted in a different outcome however, based off the comments made by our current and former officers.  I feel bad for the officer as well, as it will haunt him for the rest of his life.  I honestly would be surprised, however, if the old man admits that he could avoided it as well if he had simply stayed in his truck.  Instead, you will VERY LIKELY see a follow up with some kind of law suit.  It's sad.



Skuzzy, I request that you lock this thread.  It's obvious that some folks here are taking the opportunity to bash police officers over this incident.  This isn't something I wanted and I rather you locked it now vs letting it go on to allow the police bashers and the country thumpers a chance to continue with their <left out to avoid a rule 4>.