[Bhrian]

So if we lose the brakes in a vehicle and an officer is nearby, we may be killed. Nice.

Of course, if he shoots the engine or better yet, the tires, he might stop the car.

[spartan_abn_inf]

Thats brilliant. A car is coming straight at you and your supposed to shoot the tires? Yeah and shooting into the engine with a 9mm isn't going to do a whole lot of damage. Maybe if he was packing a .50 cal.

[Right Angler]

"Of course, if he shoots the engine or better yet, the tires, he might stop the car."

I agree. He should have shot the engine, although the resulting blast may have done lots of collateral damage. I once saw an episode of Kojak in which the hero shot a speeding '74 Lincoln at 650 yards with a a snubnosed .38 Special. The car exploded in a huge fireball with the first shot. That's what the deputy in this case should have done. I know it would have worked because I've seen it happen on television.

[jboot]

Police are not trained to shoot the tires, and they never have been, except in the movies. Shooting the engine block with a service pistol is likewise a potentially very expensive gamble.

To stop a vehicle, police are trained to shoot the driver.

[Smokin' Joe]

So if we lose the brakes in a vehicle and an officer is nearby, we may be killed. Nice.

Take your foot off of the gas, put the vehicle in a lower gear, shut off the engine, and duck.