Is There a Difference? Does it matter?
Tim Thomas
Professional Roll Player, Instructor, Presenter, Investigator, Surveillance (Foot & Vehicle) with TS Clearances.
IF A PERSON CAUSES A DEATH IN A CAR ACCIDENT OR ACCIDENTALLY BACKS OVER SOMEONE WITH A CAR, how is that different from when a police officer shoots or kills someone? Most times those are not deliberate acts yet carelessness or reckless behavior in the operation of the vehicle do reflect responsibility on the vehicle operator. So,
1. In most cases society has tasked and required a police officer to have authority and expects the officer to exercise that authority. It is not optional. The person being arrested has the option to voluntarily cooperate with the commands or THAT SAME PERSON makes the choice, THEIR CHOICE, to escalate the situation. THAT PERSON again creates a more dangerous situation.
2. Regardless of the lies of the media, the unknowing, and those with malicious motives against law enforcement, police do not want to kill anyone.
3. The police officer did not create the DANGEROUS situation. The person who started the event is responsible. That same person can take actions to de-escalate the danger by compliance.
4. Unlike a citizen, a police officer is FORCED through a sworn oath to act. Failure to act places the officer, the officer’s employment, and public in danger. That generates adrenaline within the officer which creates a natural, normal impairment in mental, psychological, and physical responses within EVERY HUMAN as they attempt to respond, and problem solve.
5. Regardless of training, the officer, under these conditions, ANYONE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, will and does make mistakes.
6. For a society to take away and fail to protect law enforcement officers shows that that society has decayed into a septic tank of unknowing liberal ideology more concerned with feelings than FACTS, JUSTICE, PERSONAL ACCEPTABILITY, and CIVILITY.