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Cops as targets
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sometimes I get on the soapbox. This is one of those times, so up front, know this is my personal opinion and doesn’t represent anyone other than myself and perhaps my Rottweiler, Roxy, born of Satan, who stalks innocent victims for my barbaric rituals, now held on Tuesday nights since Monday Night Football started back.
There has been a lot of attention given to a number of police-related shootings in DeKalb County over the past year or two. The new DeKalb Police Chief, Terrell Bolton, has increased in-service training from 20 hours to 30 hours per year. “We are putting officers through live-fire situations that are forcing them to re-holster, that are forcing them to constantly re-evaluate situations to see if de-escalation is appropriate,” DeKalb’s Jim Helms said.
That response is what people want to hear because we don’t want to be known as gun-happy police. It’s an appropriate statement as well because police officers already train in those situations. Shoot-Don’t Shoot scenarios have been used in training for years. F.A.T.S. training, using video simulators with lasers to track shooting trajectory, have been in use for many years. Part of the scenario involves no-shoot situations. On the firing range there are situations where you must decide if or not to shoot.
Look at this trend. Last month, three police officers of the Odessa, Texas, Police Department were killed during a domestic-violence call. The man who shot the officers was said to have done it in a matter-of-fact manner. In an article in the Oct. 15th USA Today, as of a week ago, 60 police officers have been fatally shot this year. This is a 54% rise from the same period last year.
Already this year there have been more fatal shootings of police officers than in all of 2006. Almost a third of those killed were shot in the head, neck, or shoulder region suggesting that the shooters took into account the officers were or most likely were wearing body armor, suggesting among other things, that criminals are more violent and aggressive than ever before. Several weeks ago, a sweep by the Atlanta Police yielded a number of machine guns.
Machine guns!
We live in a country that at times seems consumed in violence. Take the number of police-related shootings, not just fatalities but shootings, and multiply it by 50, and you’ll get a good number of close calls that could have resulted in a fatal shooting if not for the officer’s discretion based on training and experience. Those near misses don’t make the news.
I hear more and more about of taking more power from the street officers by way of placing an even longer checklist, as to when they can and cannot pull their weapon. It all makes sense in theory but at a certain point when the officer is more afraid of the consequences of defending his or someone else’s life than the actual deadly threat, he or she has put themselves into a deadly risk situation, even greater than it is now.
What I don’t like is listening to the wave of sentiment, from the proverbial activist, whose answer is more restrictions, more taking away the discretion, from the officer as to when he or she can use the weapon to defend his or her life.
These shooting incident examinations will show that deadly-force situations present themselves at a moment’s notice. It’s quick and it’s never like you see on the tube. It happens so fast. By the way, don’t confuse activist with expert. Some are pitifully uninformed.
Every shooting situation should be examined to see why it happened and what could have been done differently. What does prove successful is training, training, and more training. Regardless of how well versed an officer becomes in deescalating a situation, chances are good that he or she, at some point in their career, will come across someone who, fueled by drugs or booze, or just snaps, comes out with a weapon and intends to use it. I don’t want that officer to lose the edge in a deadly-force situation, because they’re worried about the repercussions. Taking away more and more discretion from police officers is not the answer to deadly-force shootings involving police.
We made this culture and we are products of it. That includes the violence we see every single day. That violence targets police officers too. Those statistics suggest that they’re targeted more than ever before. You cannot solve this problem by taking more and more away from the police officer on the street. It won’t work.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Van
October 19, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this
Steve, Good article. I also have a question about non-lethal methods such as tasers and sprays. It seems lately that there are more videos of police using these non-lethal methods in questionable circumstances, i.e. on suspects who are already handcuffed or who don’t seem to pose a serious physical threat to the officer. Do you think some officers are becoming too reliant on these non-lethal methods when the situation could be de-escalated another way?
By Police Officer
October 19, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this
Van,
As police officers, we are trying to get away from the term “Non-lethal” force. We are now referring to it as “less-lethal.” Every single use of force that we have available to us, including our hands, has the potential to be fatal. There is no use of force that is without risk of death or serious injury.
As far as your questions about becoming too reliant on uses of force such as tasers:
The point of the TASER and other less-lethal force options are to prevent police officers from having to physically fight with people. We accept as a risk that we might get hurt or lose or lives in this job but why should we be required to put ourselves in a physically assaultive situation if there is a tool that can prevent us from doing that?
As I said above, any use of force including hands can and has resulted in someone dying during or shortly after a police encounter. The research on the TASER has shown it to dramatically reduce injuries to officers AND suspects saving a ton of taxpayer dollars on workmans comp.
The Taser and other less lethal tools absolutely have the potential for abuse. Those that abuse them should be held accountable. However, just because there is some abuse or even poor judgment in their use, it doesn’t mean they should be taken away.
Also, you refer to people who pose a “serious physical threat” to police… I’m going to use lethal force against anyone who poses a serious physical threat to me. At the end of the day, if it is me or them that gets to go home and I have to make the choice, I know what I’m choosing. I don’t think anyone can or should expect it to be any other way.
By dawg_gone_truth
October 19, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this
How many people have been killed by police that didn’t have to be? And in Tennessee how many family pets? With seeing grandma’s tasered, I can see the anti cop view, and in your case I can see your point. I believe police in general should not be allowed to wear para military fatigues, unless they are swat, they have the ideal that they are some super cop on TV or in a Movie. and are trigger happy, put them in the proper old standard police uniform and train them, train them, train them.
By Becky
October 19, 2007 12:06 PM | Link to this
Shoot first, ask questions later..If we had this motto, maybe we wouldn’t have so many crooks..Yes, I have had 2 brothers serve time in prison & 3 nephews that have been in prison or jail, they all know that this is the way I feel..
By Putthemallonanisland
October 19, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
I know there are bad apples everywhere.
But it all comes back to one thing: perception. Like I’ve said before, if you don’t want to be called one, don’t act like one.
Officers 99.999999999999% don’t just pop-off rounds for giggles. Officers react to a situation. If you are required to stop and think and second guess, then you’re dead.
If you need an example of how thugs and other losers work, just watch the first 10 minutes of WSB or Fox5 every night. It’s the same thing over and over. Willie Bones Smith was shot last night while walking through a Crack infested neighborhood at 2am while wearing a black hoodie and gang symbols while refusing to stop for police. He refused to take his hands out of his pockets when asked to do so. He was shot when he produced a glock and started running and firing. NOT BECAUSE the officer just felt like shooting but because this guy being a thug.
People with poor judement and poor up-bringings place themselves in bad positions. If people are shown how to act and are raised properly, then it shows. The police are only reacting to a situation.
You want shootings to go down? Tell your friends to get home early. Attitudes need to change as well.
There’s no sense in going to a club and walking around trying to start something. Everyone at these clubs try to act like “their records are dropping” or like “they’re ballers” or record industry people. The fake LV bags, fake shoes, fake sunglasses, watching pirated dvds in their $1500 a month leased Escalades while living in their $200 a month housing. It’s this attitude that causes the violence. Some guy will “disrespect” another by accidently brushing shoulders. Why did he brush shoulders? Because the ignorant greedy club owners allow 500 people in over the fire marshals limit and there’s no room to walk.
No one thinks anymore. Whatever happened to excuse me? Now its #%&*@@$#!!!!!! Then shots fired. The cops must pull over the blacked out H2. They pull the driver out and find a bit of weed. The passenger won’t keep his hands on the dash for some reason. He decides to get out and act up. He reaches for something and gets shot. All they had to do was follow directions and go home that night. Nope. Ignorance.
Want proof? Watch COPS on Saturday night at 8pm. No one can keep their hands out of their pockets, hands-up, lay flat, put out their smokes, or know the address of their friend’s house or last name.
Ignorance.
All officers need to keep being officers. Second guessing is for fools.
By Jen
October 19, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this
Anyboy (Steve?) know what all the hoopla in Little 5 and Candler Park was yesterday late afternoon? Sirens and lights and helicopters…all over the place.
By El Bubba
October 19, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this
I wish we could get down to the sociological reasons for our problems. By the time a police officer is dealing with a problem it’s 20 years too late. It’s not just gangs, it’s not just meth, it’s a little bit of everything. I have neighbors that can’t read, there are no books in the house. Guess what? Their kids, ages 18 and 14 can’t read either. I worry about their futures. We need more teachers.
On another note. I am rethinking my position on TASERS, Officer Steve makes a good case. On the other hand, cops need to be held to a higher standard. Quite often it seems that cops get ‘suspended w/pay’ or fired for somthing that would put the rest of us in jail for a long time. I am waiting to see how the courts deal with civilian use of TASERS, it’s only a matter of time, anyone can buy one.
By jabster
October 19, 2007 1:05 PM | Link to this
What bothers me is when I see a cop use pepper spray or a stun gun (the contact/non-projectile type, not a true Taser that shoots darts) as a tool to induce pain to obtain compliance (not unlike a cattle prod), instead of strictly using it as a less-lethal weapon to avoid using deadly force or risking personal injury or injury to others in a confrontation.
I remember seeing some situation where the police sprayed pepper into a cup and painted the (handcuffed) arrestees’ eyes with it because of some noncompliance. Why not just throw them in a paddy wagon and run them in at that point?
What are the “generally accepted” guidelines for the use of Tasers, other types of stun guns, and chemical irritants? While understanding that every situation is different and hindsight is 20/20, is it considered a best practice to use a stun gun or pepper in the “Don’t Tase me bro” situations where the arrestee is clearly subdued or subduable and is just being noncompliant while cuffing?
By SharonH
October 19, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this
Steve, do you know what you and putthemallonanisland’s problem is? You guys are never, ever, ever willing to make concessions and admit that sometimes the police are their own worst enemy. Speaking of “perception”, if you would admit that you have a “perception” problem, you might have more people on your side. The truth is that policemen shoot innocent people. What about the family man in Columbus shot in the head while he was on the ground, hands spread out? The guy in Delaware shot in the chest in his own front yard? The guy who was just shot in Chamblee pulling out his driver’s license? There have been several shootings of people shot in the back by policemen. And let’s not forget the thugs who killed the poor 92-year old woman in her own living room. Stories like that do not help your “perception” in the community and they give the activists traction, but you really don’t concede that. If my Grandma or my son is murdered in cold blood by the people who are supposed to be protecting them, then I really don’t give a frig about your statistics and you better believe that improved training scenarios are just very, very cold comfort. If you could acknowledge that, it would go a long way for you.
By dawg_gone_truth
October 19, 2007 1:23 PM | Link to this
perception Put them in proper uniforms and kill the rule that requires them to carry weapons off duty. How bout the cops that got in shoot out at the bar the other night? Those guys popped off rounds like nothing. Perception call a spade a spade, if your paid to uphold the law by all means uphold it by setting a good example. I would guess 99.99% of all cops are just everyday joes who go to work and go home and do what it takes to make a living, but when you are driving a cop car go the speed limit, make legal turns and wait your turn at the traffic signal. Its your image, you fix it, its your reputation.
By Rgart
October 19, 2007 1:49 PM | Link to this
Every culture and country has some violence. The difference is that in other countries criminals don’t have easy access to powerful weapons. The real issue is that there is a large terrorist organization, whose actions have resulted in far more American deaths than Al-Qaida - NRA. A large reason for an increase of deadly assaults on police is a failure to reauthorize assault weapon ban. Criminals will always find somebody to straw purchase a weapon as long as there is an availability.
By Confucius
October 19, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this
Confucius say, “Man at either end of gun will give different answer to NRA polls”
By El Bubba
October 19, 2007 2:22 PM | Link to this
To Dawg gone truth. Those cops in the shoot out at the bar need to be held to a higher standard than you or me. Sadly, that is not the case. One of them ‘resigned’, end of story. If I blow off a round at the bar and then quit my job is all forgiven? I think not.
By dawg_gone_truth
October 19, 2007 2:30 PM | Link to this
I agree El Bubba, and that guy will be working in Doraville or East Point by next week. The cops all want us to respect them but have no respect for anyone, they just expect you to treat them as authority because they have a shiny badge and fatigues.
By The People
October 19, 2007 2:48 PM | Link to this
Part of the problem for cops is that they never know when a perp is pointing a prop gun that shoots a flag that says, “Boom”, you know, the kind of gun clowns in ciruses use.
I mean, if I were a police officer, and a clown pointed a gag gun at me, I’d have to fiddyCent a cap in his sorry azz. I’d just have to. That’s just me, though.
By NRA4Life
October 19, 2007 3:45 PM | Link to this
Steve, Great Article.
Rgart, What does the old Braddy Bill from 1996 and the NRA have to do with the price of eggs in Atlanta? It doesn’t matter what laws you have on the books, criminals will still have illegal guns and weapons. Criminals will still break the law. Don’t blame the gun, because it has no emotions or ability to act of free will. It is a mechanical device that someone must make a decision to use by pulling a trigger.
By NRA4Life
October 19, 2007 3:47 PM | Link to this
Steve, Great Article.
Rgart, What does the old Braddy Bill from 1996 and the NRA have to do with the price of eggs in Atlanta? It doesn’t matter what laws you have on the books, criminals will still have illegal guns and weapons. Criminals will still break the law. Don’t blame the gun, because it has no emotions or ability to act of free will. It is a mechanical device that someone must make a decision to use by pulling a trigger.
By ajcajc
October 19, 2007 4:27 PM | Link to this
First and foremost, Police need to use force when force is required. The attitude towards police officers today may be in relation to the attitude of a few police officers towards citizens they are required to protect.
The “BLUE SHIELD” of protecting and covering for your “Brothers” has become a spotlight event. We have officers that are nothing more than a Bully with a Badge. There was a time when officers were beyond reproach and held the highest moral ground. The thought of an officer lying, stealing or any other moral transgression was unimaginable. With today’s recording and distribution vehicles, we see that it is not true (and maybe not even back in the day).
To address the view of officers, we should take a very close introspective look at the people who make up the force you current serve. “You are judged by the friends that you keep” can be applied here also. If you are in a position that sees your colleague act improperly or do acts that require disciple or removal then it is incumbent upon you to police yourselves.
I believe all police vehicles should be equipped with video cameras and tapes should be reviewed actively by the officer’s superiors. If a tape is missing or there are deleted segments from a tape, this is an inexcusable transgression.
By El Bubba
October 19, 2007 4:34 PM | Link to this
Well, given the fact that US citizens can’t seem to handle guns responsably, maybe we ought to reconsider our policy.
By RUChinaDoll
October 19, 2007 4:47 PM | Link to this
SharonH That 92 yr old grandmother pointed her gun at cops. And you don’t expect them to shoot? My 92 yr old great-grandmother knows that’s a dumb@$$ idea and a sure way to die. Don’t blame the cops for reacting under fire. Maybe they shouldn’t have been there, but for heaven’s sake, you don’t expect them to defend themselves?
By Mary
October 19, 2007 6:51 PM | Link to this
The courts and citizens need to stand up to these bleeding hearts. People need to be held responsible for their actions! If you are going to commit a crime, run from the police, use threatening motions, not comply with orders….you should get what you deserve. I am sick and tired of hearing the so called grieving relative saying what a good boy Johnny was. He didn’t deserve to be killed by the police just because he was high on drugs and alcohol and had a weapon pointed at the police. WHAT PART OF STUPID DO THEY NOT UNDERSTAND?
By El Bubba
October 19, 2007 7:04 PM | Link to this
Mary,
When you say “You should get what you deserve” who exactly determines what you deserve? A judge? A court? Or a cop?
I am not a criminal but any time I hear somone say I should “Do as I am told” it sort of raises my hackles.
They are already using TASERS on non-violent protesters…
By a reader
October 19, 2007 7:41 PM | Link to this
Too many of the wrong type of people have seem to have guns. El bubba has a point, perhaps our policy needs to be reconsidered?
My dad and two brothers were policemen. One of my brothers worked in a lousy ghetto n’hood. After he retired, all he ever said about it was that there was nothing good to say about it. It was a mean and dangerous place. Stay far away from it. The other brother was in harbor patrol for several years. That sounded like a pretty cushy job, but he told us (many years later) that they had to board boats of suspected drug dealers. He said the drug dealers would rather blow the boat to bits, and everyone on it, than go to prison. He was a cop for over 20 years and said that on most calls, his gun was drawn, but he never had to fire it. He is such an easy-going guy, so it surprised my sister and I when he spoke, but only when asked, about how often he drew his gun.
It really does appear that our society is becoming more and more violent, especially when viewing the 11pm news. Sometimes, not every time, it seems that we are focused on the wrong statistics. Unfortunately, bad news sells and the media sensationalizes the bad stuff. And, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, we just need to understand the whole picture. Excessive force, deadly force when unnecessary and poor judgment are definitely issues that should never be ignored, sidestepped or left unpunished, but perhaps everything should be put into perspective. What is the ratio of “bad” responses to the overall responses? By reading the posts, the readers make it seem that every other cop is bad and that entire police depts. are more dangerous than the criminals. Do the police depts. keep statistics of responses without incidence of guns or other weapons drawn? What are the statistics where guns or other weapons are drawn, but not fired? The ratios won’t make the bad judgment calls any less bad, but perhaps the perception will change…or not.
By Political Foreskin
October 19, 2007 9:36 PM | Link to this
Dont forget. A policeman’s life is constantly at risk. He’s an underpaid public servant and he or she is out there 24/7 365 for you and me. If that police officer has to fiddycent a cap in a criminal’s sorry azz, then we should stand behind the officer and give that officer the benefit of a fair investigation, as all shootings by police should be investigated. With rare exceptions proving the rule, the cops have no reason to want to fiddycent a cap in anyone’s sorry azz.
So how about giving out public servants a break? (in other words, stfu)
By El Bubba
October 19, 2007 10:07 PM | Link to this
“Public servants” shouldn’t get a break, you should be held to a higher standard.
By Diana
October 20, 2007 1:58 AM | Link to this
Okay, first of all, no police officer is working 24/7, 365 days a year. When would they sleep, eat, hang out with family, etc.? They probably work about 40 hrs./week like everyone else, not including second jobs if they have them. Second, I know they are underpaid and that should be fixed, but they did choose the profession and they can always leave at any time for higher-paying work. Third, public servants are still citizens that are bound by the same laws that govern us all. If they do something irresponsible and foolish, they should be punished the same way that you or I would be punished. Certainly those off-duty cops at the Atlanta bar should be punished for firing their weapons at other people/not reporting it to their superiors. It would be dangerous to the department’s image if they let that one slide without any heads rolling. Public servants must be held to the same standards as everyone else. I would never fire a gun over something as silly as another person flirting with my date, but if I did, I would be in big trouble. Those cops should be fired, if only for embarrassing their department and the image of a police officer.
That said, I absolutely support any officer legitimately firing their weapon at a gun-wielding suspect. Anyone can defend himself or herself if they feel their or someone else’s safety is threatened. This includes police officers. I am appalled at how violent our culture is, although it has been this way for quite some time(Prohibition-era gang violence, anyone?). So, great article, and great comments so far.
By Political Foreskin
October 20, 2007 9:03 AM | Link to this
I guess Diana never heard of Robocop.
By Cinnamon
October 22, 2007 2:30 PM | Link to this
Much respect to the law enforcement community, I couldn’t do the job or you couldn’t pay me to do the either. Everyday law enforcement officers place their lives on the line. Did I mention I would not marry a law enforcement officer either. It is a thankless job and I pray for their safety everyday, even if they p** me off.
By Lt. Steve
October 23, 2007 5:56 PM | Link to this
Van i am sure that in some cases that would be warranted but i don’t think that it is wide spread.
By Blueboy
October 25, 2007 8:11 AM | Link to this
I am a supervisor and a police instructor. As far as the pay issue, officers accept the job knowing that it will never make us rich. The only reason a person does that is a commitment to the job. As for hours, most officers work an average of ten hours a week in overtime for court appearances. We work second jobs to supplement our income to provide for our families.
As for shootings and investigations: Every shooting is investigated by the GBI to eliminate improprieties and favoritism. As for the officers at the bar, investigations are now continued even if you resign. Until the investigation is complete, that officer can not be hired by another agency and if he is found guilty then POST can and will revoke his certification.
As for the comment of the “good ole’ days”, cops in the 50’s and on were not without problems. We are in a society that is more in the light than at any other time and now if we do something wrong it is known. Most officers now are not the big strong bouncer types that used to police our streets. We are guys with degrees and are thinking cops. We have to deal with a more complexed law and with a society that is much more violent than those before us. I think truth be known more innocents were killed in the “ole days” than today.
Finally, I acknowledge that the bad apples are our worst enemy. Ethics training has been needed in police more and more as time goes by. Just as it is needed in most fields. Those of you working for large corporations know this as much as anyone. But by and large, there is a lot of integrity behind that badge that stands between the public and the trash.
Also for the comment about carrying off duty, it is not a law or rule. It is a choice that each of us make. I have had situations where I have come in contact off duty with previous “customers” of my on duty services. It pays to carry off duty. Many officers have saved lives off duty because they were carrying. Law dictates as well as policies that you are not to carry in establishments where alcohol is consumed cop or not. Those guys were knuckleheads and will not police again. Not in my department!
By Betsy
October 26, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this
Amen, Steve. I want to be able to continue to rely on the police officers to help protect my family and me without fear if a dangerous potentially violent situation should arise. God bless all police officers!
By procopper2943
October 29, 2007 6:57 AM | Link to this
I love all the comments from the sheep civilians on this site who get ALL their info from youtube videos taken out of context and the news media who only ever have half of the story. Most people have no idea what its like to be a cop in Atlanta or what the deadly force laws even are. Perfect example is the guy at Univ of FL who was tased. Everyone screamed bloody murder when in fact he did break the law, he has NO right to do what he did. Read the final report on the Univ. of FL tasering here: http://archive.scangeorgia.com/gwinnett_southeast/200710290352.asx
People are idiots and will believe whatever makes them feel better and whatever the news media feeds them. In the area I work I have to pull my gun EVERY night and point it at someone and make a split second decision all for about 45,000 a year. Walk a mile in my shoes and see if your views don’t become a tad more realistic.