sure hope i don't have to face you in a jury trial. As far as respect it goes both ways.
You're right. I've worked at my agency for 4.5 years.....This is the first time I've dealt with him. I gave him the benefit of the doubt. He won't get any breaks as far as I'm concerned from now on.
I take it that a written report detailing what happened and the boy's name is on file somewhere? Where I worked in the past, we were constantly being told that if it isn't written down.... then in the eyes of the courts it never happened. It would just be hearsay. If this kid does get in trouble with a weapon in the future or hurts someone and there is no written report on this incident.. the new trouble will be treated as a first offense.
I rarely carry a taser anymore to be honest with you. There are no special rules for anyone. It boils down to officer discretion. And to reply to the comment on police too eager to use deadly force. Police officers are trained by a use of force continuum. Every situation is different. We are allowed to stay one above the suspect. Someone has a knife, I go to gun. If they drop the knife and want to fight, I drop to baton, pepper spray, or taser (all 3 are on the same level). You get the picture. The lowest level of force on the graph is actually officer presence.
A child is just as capable as an adult to stab someone or pull a trigger. A 12 year old knows that pulling a knife is wrong. It takes the average person 1.5 seconds to traverse 21 feet. That doesn't give that much reaction time. That is why I pulled my gun. To protect the other child and myself. I don't regret for a second my decision to draw my firearm.
Don't justify yourself to some internet yahoo who has know clue what it's like to risk your life for the community on a daily basis.
People don't really think about police response, soft hands, hard hands etc. Some you can shut up by framing the conversation to the force policy. If they're not willing to talk in those terms then they're just better to ignore.
Really there's nothing productive that could happen in this thread. SM did the right thing, end of thread.
I thought it would be a good idea to put the use of force continuum for all non law enforcement who have never seen it before. That way the comments about being too eager to use deadly force can teach these people there IS a method to the madness. Not because I just like to stick my gun in someones face........
Well now thats a whole 'nother story.
Internet armchair beat cop?
