Quote:
Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk
The call to 911 stated a man at a convenience store pointing a gun at people in the parking lot. No need to see it. It was called in as such. Police plan accordingly.
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911 calls are really not prima facei evidence. I would expect the police to do a little bit of investigating to confirm and not assume.
If the police get a call about a brandishing and they show up and there is no one brandishing, then there are at least three explanations
1. The person who make the 911 call was either mistaken or lied. 911 callers do make mistakes and 911 callers do lie.
2. The person who brandished is not there but another person is
3. The person who is there was brandishing but is no longer
In all these explanations there is no immediate threat. Clearly the police need to take reasonable precautions like talking to this person while behind some cover. I think it is even appropriate for the police to have their weapons drawn as long as the police have proper trigger control.
I have read of other cases where the police roll in and straight away start yelling and taking people down. No one, not even the police should be allowed to take pre-emptive violent actions based on the possibility that there might sometimes be a threat.
I don't even know why the police would even attempt to grapple with a person they suspect has a weapon. That puts the officer at a vulnerability.
The officers should be in a defensive position with their weapons drawn. If a suspect can start to reach for a weapon, pull that weapon, aim that weapon and pull the trigger faster than the police can fire an already aimed gun, the police need to go back to the range.
If the person is just standing there not threatening anyone, why not talk to the person (while still maintaining a defensive position). If the person cooperates and lays down with their arms spread, put the cuffs on them. There is no need to jump on a suspect and many reasons why you would not want to. The officer must remain in a position where they can control the suspect. Grappling with a suspect is not staying in control. Grappling gives up control and puts the suspect and the officer on equal terms.
If the suspect is not cooperating but still not violent, what's the hurry? Call for back up
Only if the suspect is resisting without provocation from the police, or makes an attempt to leave or makes an attempt to use a weapon, then the police can take an appropriate minimum force methods up to an including, if necessary, using their weapon.
Are the police even being taught non lethal ways of controlling a suspect any more? They are not being taught PR-24 take-down and immobilization techniques? Are they not taught how to de-escalate situations? That's all part of being a law enforcement officer, in my opinion. Not just how fast you can shoot down a citizen because you felt threatened.