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I have no problem second-guessing him since I’ve found myself in similar circumstances. I know what this kind of thing is like. Instead of exuding calm professionalism while assessing the situation, he bellowed and screamed, escalating it every step of the way. I frequently held short conversations with people I detained while I was detaining them. What harm can it do? We’re all alert, looking for threats. Maybe he’s trying to clarify something that will help later on? Not this one. He’s way too badass for that kind of thing.

As for the jury, I imagine most of them held the same opinion that you do—I wasn’t there, I have no idea how I’d react if I was in his place, etc. I’d be very interested to see what a panel of Iraq/Afghanistan Infantry veterans would have to say about it.

Daddy was a big-wig in Mesa PD Internal Affairs (very recently retired), so that casts doubt on the other officers’ reports and testimony, too. Cops should be held to a very high standard. That they immediately close ranks to protect trigger-happy buffoons like this guy does them no favors.

Well I did say he has no business in law enforcement, because he doesn't seem well equipped for the job. The etching in his gun was extremely inappropriate as well, which convinced me he had no business being in law enforcement. Apparently he was fired because of that etching. I haven't read anything about his fellow officers circling the wagons for him though. Most good cops do not support bad cops at all. They would only do so if they do not know the truth about him. At least the good cops I do know from my wife's work in law enforcement as a dispatcher. They want them out of there just as much as the public does, because they only reflect badly on them.

I'll agree you are uniquely more qualified than I am with regards to being in these types of situations. If there really were 5 other officers there as someone told me, then I see no reason why he couldn't have taken him into custody without him moving an inch.