Violence, Fear and Frightening Police work.

[JimHawkins]

Anyone care to analyze?

This video may not be suitable for minors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMd_NCMETp4

[Bill Glasheen]

I need more time to look at this, Jim.

I see many potential problems. The shooting may have been justified, but the officer's testimony didn't fit the facts as shown on film. Is that a problem? Yes. Did the officer lie? Maybe, and maybe not. There's quite a bit of work on the whole subject of recall after a killing episode. The most honest can tell a story that doesn't fit the facts.

- Bill

[mhosea]

It was a very quick shot and took me by surprise. I wasn't reading the officer's body language as regarding either one of the guys as directly threatening him. I rather suspect he was just jumpy and accidentally shot the victim in the head as a result of his reflexive response to the victim's unexpected arm movement. He was physically too close--his own fault, I think.

[Bill Glasheen]

I rather suspect he was just jumpy and accidentally shot the victim in the head as a result of his reflexive response to the victim's unexpected arm movement. He was physically too close--his own fault, I think.

To be honest... The perp who got shot was being stupid. If I had an officer waving a gun at me, the last thing I would want to do is make him jumpy.

I have been stopped on more than one occasion for "driving briskly." Every time an officer approaches my car, I do what I can by voice and action to make HIM calm. In my case, I know too much. I know how hard his job is, and how every stop is viewed as a potential end to his life.

A little empathy goes a long way on both sides here.

The perp to the side most definitely was way too close. He was being an idiot. A simple reference to the Tueller drill in court could confirm the need to keep distance.

Again... The biggest problem I see here is the difference between the officer's testimony and what actually happened. It doesn't make him look good.

Another thing to consider is the positioning of the finger on the firearm. There's just too much going on here. If you've got that finger on the trigger - with all that is going on - then schit can happen. It isn't much different than trying to drive while talking on a cell phone.

For what it's worth, this is how it's done if you don't intend to shoot. And this is no drill.



That raid had a happy ending.



- Bill

[MikeK]

WTF was with that cop waving his gun around? Off the force with him.

[mhosea]

To be honest... The perp who got shot was being stupid. If I had an officer waving a gun at me, the last thing I would want to do is make him jumpy.

Oh, yes, I quite agree. No shortage of stupidity there, but I guess I expect the professional to re-establish separation for his own safety if he feels threatened, not stay in at close range with his gun drawn (incidentally, he was cited for not carrying his off-duty weapon in an approved holster--might have made a difference here). I just don't perceive that the officer felt significantly threatened by these two in the few moments prior to the shooting. Yes, the participants were agitated, and even the victim seems a little agitated right before getting shot and may well have said something threatening. His body language is not as innocuous as it at first appears here. On the other hand, the gun remained pointed down, and the officer was looking towards the turnstiles. It appears that the victim precipitated the shooting by responding to his friend's arm pointing towards the turnstiles as if it were put in his face to annoy him. Possibly this minor commotion was only picked up in the cop's peripheral vision, interpreted as most likely an attack, and with no separation, no time, he either fired accidentally as his arm jerked up in a reflex reaction, or, perhaps more likely now that I have taken a closer look, he simply fired in a "shoot first and then figure out what is going on" reaction.