Love the thin blue line. Don't love this.
Police cr@ppy training basically says, if there is any question, shoot, so you go home safely. A gun? Shoot. A knife? If within 21 feet - shoot. A nail clipper? Could be used to take your eye out - shoot. A club or pipe? Might break your bone - shoot. A cell phone? Who knows what he has in his hands? - shoot.
Then, all the cop has to say is: “I was in fear for my lie/my partner’s life/public safety” and no matter how outrageous the situation, the cop would get a free pass.
And, of course - The report: “The suspect pointed a gun at me”, “The suspect made a furtive gesture,” “the suspect didn’t follow my police instructions” - all based only on the claims of the officer - and those after a 48 hour “cooling down period”.
Videos are breaking down a lot of those stories, and “in fear for my life” is subject to review of the facts of the case.
Even with that, it is a very rare thing that an officer is charged, let alone convicted under these circumstances, and most of those are reversed at some point in the appeals process.
“Love the thin blue line.”
Not me. I love the Constitution and I expect law enforcement to do the same or find another job.