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| Shoot Me! |
I cover use of force pretty extensively in the book, but I've got so many of
these, I could write a book on just this. What has always amazed me, and
what you will come to learn, is how stupid and irrational people can be.
Let's get started on this. You're on patrol on a clear summer day, and you
receive a call for a residential burglary in progress. The dispatcher tells
you the burglar is breaking through the back door, and there's a woman
and a small child inside. As you turn into the alley, you spot a guy
running out of one of the houses in the block. This has got to be your
man, because, when he spots you, he really takes off. No lights and siren
here. He cuts down a narrow alley, and the foot chase is on.
You're young and in good physical condition, but the suspect is also young.
You never lose sight of him as you close to about 15 to 20 feet behind
him. It quickly becomes evident to you that this chase will end when one
of you wears out. Your suspect is not stupid, for he's listening to you as
you give your dispatcher, and other police officers who are searching for
you, your location. Every time he hears you give a location and direction,
he changes direction. This marathon goes on for about six blocks; until,
you chase him into a school yard. The school yard thing is no big deal...
remember, it's Summertime, and school is not in session. It's just you
and him. You ran it out of him, and now he's leaning forward with his
palms on his knees as he gasps for air.
You're not in any better shape, but you're the cop, so you can't be as
obvious about your discomfort. His back is to you as you look him over
closely. He's wearing a polo shirt and slacks, so any bulges indicating a
concealed weapon would be evident. Additionally, while you were chasing
him, his arms were always swinging. If he had a gun, one hand would have
been close to his body to control the weapon. Back-up police officers are
on the way, so you just want to get him on the ground until help arrives.
You pull your service pistol, and you tell the guy to lie down on the
ground. With his hands still on his knees, he does a duck walk turn to face
you. You repeat the order for him to lie down. You'd think, as tired as
this guy is, he'd have no problem with lying down.
Instead, he stares at you for a few seconds, before he stands upright. He
rolls his head from side to side as he keeps looking away from you.
You've got a good look at him now, and you're certain he has no weapon.
You're also certain that the guy is becoming agitated. Suddenly, he slaps
his chest twice with the palms of his hands and shouts, "Shoot me... shoot
me! Go ahead... shoot me!" Before you can reply, he starts walking
toward you, slapping his chest and shouting the "shoot me" thing over and
over. Can you believe this guy? What kind of person would be this
irrational? You'll learn that a lot of people are this irrational.
I wasn't about to let this idiot ruin my day. As he took his second step, I
holstered my gun while simultaneously drawing my nightstick from its
ring with my other hand. I took a batters stance and said, "Come on." It
turned out he wasn't a total idiot. That stick stopped him cold in his
tracks. He had taken a calculated risk that I wouldn't shoot him while
correctly calculating that I would put him down with that stick. Now, think
about what you would have done if you'd been in my place. What if the
two of you weren't pretty evenly matched physically? What if the guy was
a lot bigger than you?
This story gets even better. This guy didn't actually commit any crime.
Yes, he did kick in a door, but it was his door attached to his house. His
wife called the police, but she neglected to tell the operator that the
burglar was her husband. You say, "Oh, domestic violence!" Not exactly,
there was no assault. There was an argument, because she'd locked him
out. When she told him she'd called the police, he ran from the house... a
real dangerous husband, this one. I told you he took a calculated risk that
I wouldn't shoot him, but, on the other hand, he could have been saying to
himself, "I'll show her... I'll get this cop to shoot me."
these, I could write a book on just this. What has always amazed me, and
what you will come to learn, is how stupid and irrational people can be.
Let's get started on this. You're on patrol on a clear summer day, and you
receive a call for a residential burglary in progress. The dispatcher tells
you the burglar is breaking through the back door, and there's a woman
and a small child inside. As you turn into the alley, you spot a guy
running out of one of the houses in the block. This has got to be your
man, because, when he spots you, he really takes off. No lights and siren
here. He cuts down a narrow alley, and the foot chase is on.
You're young and in good physical condition, but the suspect is also young.
You never lose sight of him as you close to about 15 to 20 feet behind
him. It quickly becomes evident to you that this chase will end when one
of you wears out. Your suspect is not stupid, for he's listening to you as
you give your dispatcher, and other police officers who are searching for
you, your location. Every time he hears you give a location and direction,
he changes direction. This marathon goes on for about six blocks; until,
you chase him into a school yard. The school yard thing is no big deal...
remember, it's Summertime, and school is not in session. It's just you
and him. You ran it out of him, and now he's leaning forward with his
palms on his knees as he gasps for air.
You're not in any better shape, but you're the cop, so you can't be as
obvious about your discomfort. His back is to you as you look him over
closely. He's wearing a polo shirt and slacks, so any bulges indicating a
concealed weapon would be evident. Additionally, while you were chasing
him, his arms were always swinging. If he had a gun, one hand would have
been close to his body to control the weapon. Back-up police officers are
on the way, so you just want to get him on the ground until help arrives.
You pull your service pistol, and you tell the guy to lie down on the
ground. With his hands still on his knees, he does a duck walk turn to face
you. You repeat the order for him to lie down. You'd think, as tired as
this guy is, he'd have no problem with lying down.
Instead, he stares at you for a few seconds, before he stands upright. He
rolls his head from side to side as he keeps looking away from you.
You've got a good look at him now, and you're certain he has no weapon.
You're also certain that the guy is becoming agitated. Suddenly, he slaps
his chest twice with the palms of his hands and shouts, "Shoot me... shoot
me! Go ahead... shoot me!" Before you can reply, he starts walking
toward you, slapping his chest and shouting the "shoot me" thing over and
over. Can you believe this guy? What kind of person would be this
irrational? You'll learn that a lot of people are this irrational.
I wasn't about to let this idiot ruin my day. As he took his second step, I
holstered my gun while simultaneously drawing my nightstick from its
ring with my other hand. I took a batters stance and said, "Come on." It
turned out he wasn't a total idiot. That stick stopped him cold in his
tracks. He had taken a calculated risk that I wouldn't shoot him while
correctly calculating that I would put him down with that stick. Now, think
about what you would have done if you'd been in my place. What if the
two of you weren't pretty evenly matched physically? What if the guy was
a lot bigger than you?
This story gets even better. This guy didn't actually commit any crime.
Yes, he did kick in a door, but it was his door attached to his house. His
wife called the police, but she neglected to tell the operator that the
burglar was her husband. You say, "Oh, domestic violence!" Not exactly,
there was no assault. There was an argument, because she'd locked him
out. When she told him she'd called the police, he ran from the house... a
real dangerous husband, this one. I told you he took a calculated risk that
I wouldn't shoot him, but, on the other hand, he could have been saying to
himself, "I'll show her... I'll get this cop to shoot me."
The way people think...or don't think
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| Copyright © 2006 - 2008 - Barry M. Baker - CareerPoliceOfficer.com |
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The man I confronted in the story above had no
weapon. But...what if he'd been armed with a
gun or a knife? Should I have shot the man? At
what point should I have applied deadly force?
Police Author Lieutenant Frank Borelli
answers these questions for you as well as
anyone can. However, your decision to apply
deadly force will always be your decision...and
your decision alone. Go to Frank's article linked
below, for you can never get too much help on
this subject.
weapon. But...what if he'd been armed with a
gun or a knife? Should I have shot the man? At
what point should I have applied deadly force?
Police Author Lieutenant Frank Borelli
answers these questions for you as well as
anyone can. However, your decision to apply
deadly force will always be your decision...and
your decision alone. Go to Frank's article linked
below, for you can never get too much help on
this subject.
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