Posted on 07/11/2016 2:59:32 PM PDT by Kaslin
Don’t try telling Dallas police chief David Brown about ethical dilemmas involving remote-control applications of lethal force. Critics began questioning the decision to use a robot to kill Micah Johnson after several hours of negotiation went nowhere, wondering if this would begin a slippery slope on remote-control lethal force. Brown, however, said he didn’t think twice — and would do it all over again if needed:
#Dallas PD Chief on use of robot: "This wasn't an ethical dilemma for me; I'd do it again to save our officers." https://t.co/o1hvlWKFb2
— ABC News (@ABC) July 11, 2016
As Brown notes, what’s the ethical dilemma at hand anyway? Brown knew that at least two police officers had already been killed, and Johnson was bragging about it — and asking for body counts from his efforts. He tried negotiating with Johnson, but he refused to surrender, and Brown refused to put any more of his men and women at risk in taking Johnson out.
“This wasn’t an ethical dilemma,” Brown told the press. “I’d do it again to save our officers’ lives.” When pressed again on the use of the robot, Brown emphasized the point. “I would use any tool necessary to save our officers’ lives,” he replied, “and I’m not ashamed to say it.”
Besides, Johnson had a “large stockpile” of bombs at his disposal, and police are sure he knew how to use them. Under those circumstances, it was a fair bet that any police officer sent in to kill Johnson would likely have been killed himself before getting the chance. “This wasn’t some novice,” Brown said.
LIVE: Dallas police chief says the sniper 'wasn't some novice'. https://t.co/ZsBkn9rISd pic.twitter.com/UNufXpRjj7
— Reuters Live (@ReutersLive) July 11, 2016
On Saturday, I pointed out that the real issue isn’t the method of delivering lethal force, but whether it’s justified. In this case, it clearly was, for all the reasons Brown points out here. Enough police officers got killed at Johnson’s hands, and he had been given hours of opportunities to surrender. Whether a sniper or a bomb-carrying robot took him out only matters tactically, not ethically.
Reporters wanted to pin Brown down on gun issues, but he proved a bit too adept for that. Declaring that policy wasn’t his job and he’s not interested in hypotheticals, the police chief told reporters that when legislators propose laws, he’ll comment on the specifics. Otherwise, Brown would rather remain agnostic on that, especially given the entrenched positions on all sides:
On the subject of guns, @DallasPD says the policy makers need to do their jobs https://t.co/Aa2LZ0VlCn pic.twitter.com/kjXACzLJC8
— CBS News (@CBSNews) July 11, 2016
Finally, Brown did offer some advice on another social issue — protests against police. Why not just become involved in serving communities rather than block traffic and shout? “We’re hiring,” Brown added:
#Dallas Police Chief’s advice to young black men: "Become a part of the solution, serve your communities." pic.twitter.com/zAqLNdWwDe
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 11, 2016
Why bother to negotiate?
The other containment was not successful, and it wasn’t “containment”.
He said he had placed bombs all over downtown. There was no time for a childish standoff where at any point he could start dialing cell numbers and setting off detonations.
Monday morning quarterback you forget that you have no right to gamble with the lives of all the people on the streets. Especially just to try to take this idiot alive.
Now that's gonna leave a mark.
Tactically it was a good idea. Strategically it may not have been such a good idea. Up until the Dallas police decided to add explosives to the mix the violence was pretty much limited to gunfire, rock throwing, some fires, and destruction of property.
Hopefully the violence won't expand to both sides using explosives. We certainly don't need anti-police and anti-government forces in this country deciding to add bombings to their tactics. That has happened before, and we have all seen the tragic results.
Historically insurgents, whether large scale or small groups that feel they are oppressed for some reason tend to respond in kind to what they think the other side is doing - whether or not their perception is true.
The last thing we need are unhinged radicals deciding to use even more dangerous weapons.
Would they feel better if a police sniper had blown his head off with a bullet to the temple?
Yes, yes, YES!!!
Awesome
Wow, haven’t heard about that movie in years. I remember it being pretty funny.
You beg the question by calling it childish.
The Chief’s own 30 year old son was a cop killer in 2010. The son killed a cop on father’s day 2010 and other cops were force to kill him.
I imagine that led to some lasting bitterness.
And your observation is exactly why we’re at this point in the country.
Whites can’t do anything right anymore in anybody’s eyes.
They should stop worrying about that and look for God to pick up their burdens and pardon their sins and guide them with undeserved love to do what He will show the world is right in His eyes.
Is that an old wringer washing machine? There’s got to be a lot of extraneous weight there!
Like suicide vests?
Correct.
Robot Bomb
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