The officer is not a rookie, has more than five years as an officer, and his previous shooting looks completely justified.
Half of Hearne’s City Council voted out on same day police officer fired
http://www.khou.com/news/texas-news/Half-of-Hearnes-City-Council-voted-out-on-same-day-police-officer-fired-258820081.html
The same day the Hearne City Council voted unanimously to terminate the police officer who shot and killed a 93-year-old woman, half of them are voted out themselves.
According to a report from KBTX, Lashunda White heavily defeated Place 2 Councilman Larry Welch with 58 percent of the vote. The 589 votes for White to 425 votes for Welch is by far the biggest margin of victory in the council races.
Matthew Gomez, the son of Hearne’s mayor, was beat by challenger Hazel Embra. Embra received just 39 more votes (540-501) than Gomez. But it was enough to give her 52 percent of the votes and the Place 4 seat.
In a loss that is sure to sting, Councilman Steven Catalina lost to challenger Joyce Rattler by just one vote (509-508). It is unclear whether Catalina will ask for a recount.
Welch, Gomez and Catalina joined the rest of the city council Saturday afternoon for a special meeting to discuss whether to keep Officer Stephen Stem on the police force. They voted 6-0 to fire him, just five hours before the polls closed.
She shot twice.
I think there is a lot of sympathy that she was 93 and “she” was a “she”.
Had the deceased been say a 33 year old male, and fired two shots in the ground in front of the officer, most of us would likely be thinking the officer was justified.
tough call on his part. damned if you do damned if you don’t.
When you call the police to help you deal with an elderly person who is likely experiencing mental health issues, they should not respond in the same manner as they do to a criminal assault.
I'm not finding a 93 year-old woman firing 2 shots into the ground to be tremendously dangerous. Yes, yes, potentially dangerous, but not likely. If I was there and the police weren't, I think I would have retreated and given her some room to diffuse. Most likely outcome would have been her going back in and taking a nap.
I suspect that the cop in this case had no idea what the situation was when he pulled up, which speaks to problems with 911. IMHO cops on physical disability should be put on 911 duty, where their experience would be very helpful.
Bottom line: If you have friend or family member who has a mental break and isn't responding rationally, don't call the police. They aren't apparently trained to diffuse such situations, move straight to confrontation, and use lethal force when your obviously non-compliant loved one continues to be non-compliant.
It is amazing what cops can get away with and what they can’t. They can raid the wrong house, shoot dogs, arrest people for “resisting arrest,” and violate citizens rights in general without punishment. However if a protected minority (twofer, elderly and black) is firing off a revolver Yosemite Sam style and they shoot back that is a bridge too far for the politicians.
A 93 year old woman or a 10 year old boy firing a gun is exactly the same threat as a 20 year old, 300 pound guy firing a gun.
I have no idea whether this particular shooting was righteous, but the age and sex of the shooter is irrelevant.
This is, BTW, one of the drawbacks of widely available firearms. With no gun involved, the age and sex of the person becomes very relevant and the situation could almost certainly have been defused without anybody being injured or killed.
I always thought the Officer was justified in this case. I was stunned that the Nephew called the cops. With senile or demented elderly you give her the car keys and wait for her to cycle into a different state of mind, or takes a nap. Then you take her pistol and keys then get her medical attention. Why on earth call the cops when crazy granny pulls a gun. Leave and come back later with food. She is like a 2 year old with a toy.
Why can’t people take care of their own without getting the State involved? The State and Law Enforcement should be the last option not the first option.