I have my 296D right here, and my Pro 2006 listening to a WMD exercise in LA Harbor right now. That is why I am not so quick to jump to conclusions on this incident.
I want to hear the 9-1-1 calls, the transmissions of the deputy, the wants and warrants on the Corvette and if they were communicated to the deputy prior to the shooting.
(the driver is reported to be on probation for DUI and has other priors....he didnt want to go to jail, so he ran IMHO)
I will wait til the FBI chimes in, after their analysis of the 1st generation video tape...not the 3rd generation airing on TV.
The City of LA just hung out an officer to dry yesterday, regarding the shooting of a 13 year old after a pursuit last year. The "media" described the boy as an honor student gunned down by jackbooted police, and left out that the car was stolen, he was out at 3am, was on drugs, etc. The LAPD cleared the officer in the shooting, but Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's STAR CHAMBER met in secret, and said it is "out of policy." No reason given of course....apparently they dont have to give a reason. And they wonder why they can't recruit new officers.
Just because it is on the air don't make it true all the time. Did you hear this call on your scanner? If so I have a few questions for you
I've got a pro-2045, pro-2040, pro-2034, pro-76, and a pro-95. The 2045 is the most useful though if I wasn't to count hits on a single frequency etc. I've got a few old crystal units and a BC-210 shelved in the storage shed.
I do understand what you are saying. A long time ago in here I defended my local sheriffs department over an incident involving a call answering a domestic violence. The officers had good records and those are the most dangerous calls to go on. I've heard them use a lot of restraint on many calls and patience with people like trying to get usually a drunk to go to bed and sleep it off. By the third call to the residence their patience wears thin and an arrest is made. I've also heard a cop on duty hear about person falling off a bridge into a river request to go out of service {off duty} and put his scuba gear in the trunk on. A few minutes later an ambulance call went out for the man and the officer. While in the water the bridge got hit by lightning and he got part of the hit. He was OK.
They've never gave me any hassle even with two scanners in plain sight. But I don't go to calls I hear either. That is a real quick way to get on their bad side with a scanner. On the other hand if I hear a rookie wandering around lost looking for a back road I call in to dispatch and guide them in.
I think if the average person listened to their local agencies for a week or so they would understand more about their police department. A cocky one is easy to spot and they generally don't last long especially in rural areas.
I've heard them use extreme restraint on halloween nights when locals were blocking them in with cut down tree's and tire fires in a very remote area with no way out.