Perhaps you haven’t heard all the situation:
“In a statement, Phoenix Police said the incident began when an officer was advised by store employees of shoplifting, and he was directed to people getting into a car. As the officer walked toward the vehicle, the car quickly backed up and started to leave the parking lot, police said.
The car stopped at another road, one of the women got out and the car then drove away. That woman was detained by the officer, who learned she had three misdemeanor warrants for her arrest, police said. The woman was later booked for the warrants, according to police.
The vehicle was later found in an apartment complex parking lot, and the man and woman inside were taken into custody and detained, police said. The woman told police that her aunt and child had gone into the store, and when the child came out with a doll, she believed they had stolen it because they didn’t have any money, according to police.”
The woman heard the officer in the parking lot tell the driver to stop several times, but he didn’t, police said.
The man said he knew they had shoplifted from the store and that he threw a stolen pair of underwear out the window, according to police.”
The parents were aware of the theft, they stole some things also, and left the store despite being called after by an officer and ignoring the call.
When does a simple misdemeanor theft turn ugly when the police try to detain the thieves? If you can answer that, then you would be the best police officer of military member that ever lived.
“So because officers, in the line of duty, run into insane criminals, now all American citizens should be ok with guns drawn on them when stopped by the police?”
This wasn’t any citizen. this was group of thieves that were running from the cops. If you don’t want to be treated like a criminal that could not be trusted not to open fired on someone, hen don’t be one.
“.....due to the sacrifice of those before us.”
So you find it admirable to think police officers should follow in the shoes of those that were murdered in the line of duty? A police officer’s job is not to die, it is to protect citizens, even from themselves. It’s like when the British Bobbies didn’t carry guns in England for many years. What are they going to do, say “stop, or I’ll say stop again?” Weapons are a tool, just like a tractor. And you’ll notice they got out of the car rapidly and when there was no possible threat, the guns were lowered. The tool did it’s job working with criminals.
“...people are losing sight of what it means to be an American citizen”
Making a decision on what to do is their right. If they chose to break the law, then they are at fault and will be treated accordingly. Additionally, making a decision to try to go around the law is one of those decision which is what they chose. And being a citizen is not trying to figure ways to get around the laws, but to follow them.
“That gun should only be drawn when coming up to level and firing.”
This isn’t the old west. The gun was used as a deterrent. Otherwise he would have just shot them. And by using it to protect himself and others, he might have saved some lives.
“...not curtail those rights for some perceived threat or safety for themselves.”
Again, these were not citizens, they were fleeing criminals. They’ve already proven they can’t be trusted. Don’t try to compare them to law abiding citizens that don’t receive this treatment.
I’ve been in their shoes a few times as a military cop. I am not going to die so someone who has proven themselves a criminal and can’t be trusted can take away my rights as a citizen, being able to live rather than be shot by some piece of dung person. And too many cops have been killed for that reason. I already showed you a small list of people that did it your way and they’re dead. Their families miss them. All the proud of them in the world won’t bring them back.
No one got harmed, everyone who was guilty of a crime was jailed, a good scenario. Hope for the next one to be as good. That way no one dies.
rwood
With all due respect, your original comment, as well as my reply, were not directed at this story in particular. It was in reference to why police are acting the way they are across the country. You surmised that they do these things because of the danger they face. I merely replied that was a danger they needed to face to ensure American citizens their rights.
You seem to note that these people are not citizens due to the fact that they have allegedly committed a crime. That seems very odd to me, unless I missed that these people were illegal aliens. If this is the case, I agree and they have no rights as American citizens.
Next you seem to insinuate I find it admirable to be killed in the line of duty. I do not. I do find it admirable to be able to do your job without the quick use of a gun as an intimidation multiplier. In the days of old, it was not taught to use your weapon as a intimidation multiplier. As a matter of fact it was frowned upon.
You see, what they realized, and what we seem to forget, is that if you use the weapon as intimidation multiplier, and the perp still does not do what you ask, what is your next step? You have painted yourself into a corner. The next and only step, after this ramping of intimidation level, is to shoot the person. This is why this was not taught. The only time your gun was drawn was to fire. You say old west, I say historical training.
I know many who lived this life and worked these beats in the old days, and being a kid, the best part to talk about was the service revolver and situations when they used it. I was very surprised at how little they had used them. Whether it be a joy rider, a drunk driver, or a gang of ruffians, nothing seemed to be worthy of drawing their weapon. As a matter of fact, it seemed to be a source of pride in the things they accomplished without the sidearm use. Of course being young and curious I would always ask why? Tell them, that if it were me, I’d have that gun out 24-7. They very quickly taught me something, something that has stuck with me ever since.
They told me, not only would you be scaring the crap out of every grandma you came in contact with, but more importantly you would be trampling the rights of every American. If you allow the criminals to dictate how you treat the rights of Americans, then we have all lost.
As I got older, and times changed, many times conversations would turn to recent police events. Many (at least while they still were alive) were surprised and dismayed by how quickly weapons were being drawn in altercations, and how it was to the detrement to all those involved. Not only did the citizen have a gun pointed at them, but the officers had essentially wasted all of their intimidation multipliers along the way. Straight from verbal to end of the line, gun drawn. And it is important to remember there is only one step after that, and that is firing the weapon.
Those guys were a different breed, one to be looked up to and respected. Respect that was earned in the fire and crucible of the real world. And they did it without many of the tactics we see in use today. And yes, many were injured and some of them died. But they did so upholding the code (not this thin blue line stuff, which seems to serve as a division between us and them, something the old timers worked very hard to make sure did NOT happen). I would love to see more of those type men in service today.
Hope this helps with my position, and I know it is not a popular one in this day and age. I understand where you are coming from, and I thank you for your service to our country. Have a good day.