The Man posted a story today that made me rush for the duct tape. Seems that idiotic State Senator David Petersen (D - Harlem) wants to criminally charge police officers who use deadly force that was later deemed "unnecessary." Of course, since this toad is on the New York gubernatorial ticket, he quickly flip-flopped after a meeting with the Association of the State Chiefs of Police. (Deep breath.)
Look, I am all for locking up bad cops. Anyone who reads SYLG knows this. Here is my problem with policies such as the one Petersen is advocating: who is going to deem that the force was "unnecessary?" My guess would be a "citizen panel," which is usually comprised of ultra-liberal cop haters; like the one we had in Philadelphia.
Lemme bore you with a quick story. The incident happened a few years ago, so if I am a little rusty on the details, I apologize.
Officer Chris DiPasquale worked in the 25th District; arguably the busiest and most dangerous district in the city. One night, he received a radio call to investigate an auto on a darkened street with a male passed out behind the wheel. The location was in the middle of a high drug area, and Chris went to the location with backup. When he arrived on the scene, the driver, Donta Dawson, was behind the wheel. In the course of the investigation, Dawson refused to respond to any of DiPasquale's commands.
More officers arrived on the scene, and after attempting to get Dawson to respond to police commands again, DiPasquale moved to the driver's side door. His backup was on the other side of the vehicle, and immediately stated that Dawson had a gun. DiPasquale ordered Dawson to show him his hands, but Dawson still refused.
Suddenly, Dawson quickly raised a hand.
DiPasquale quickly fired, killing Dawson.
After a search of the scene, no gun was found. DiPasquale is white. Dawson was black. Naturally, the media ran with the story of a racist cop killing a model citizen - who had a prior arrest record and narcotics in his system at the time of the incident. District Attorney Lynne Abraham - in my opinion, a scumbag - brought DiPasquale up on manslaughter charges. These charges were dismissed at a preliminary hearing. Not satisfied, Abraham brought the charges again, and again they were dismissed. The city's "Police Advisory Commission" demanded swift justice, and the second-guessing had become the biggest sport in town.
The ultimate bottom line is that, yes, Dawson was shot and killed. Yes, there was no gun. But, DiPasquale had every reason to believe Dawson was armed, since his backup claimed he saw a gun. In my opinion, DiPasquale did what any other officer would have done when Dawson raised his hand. There was no malice involved; despite what you will hear from the other side.
DiPasquale, though cleared criminally, has not gotten his job back. He now ekes out a living as best he can. Then-Police Commissioner John Timoney - another scumbag - is now the Chief of Police in Miami (and we all know what a terrific job he is doing here - sarcasm alert!) Dawson is dead, and that is a shame, but had he followed police commands, he would still be alive.
Policies like the one Petersen suggests only makes officers hesitate when quick decisions are necessary. If cops worry about what will happen to them if they use deadly force, they may not use it when they need to do so. And you'll see more police funerals on television.
Right you are. I agree absolutely! We cannot put our police in a position where they hesitate before taking action. If we do, then we will be the losers in the end.
ReplyDeleteGayle - I've hit one person in 11 years. He was going after my partner's gun. It was justified, and the guy suffered no injuries. I've been lucky. That being said, it is always in the back of my mind when I am on the street. Most of the cops in my department say, "I'd rather be judged by 12 then carried by 6."
ReplyDeleteClick Here for a good NY Post Editorial on the issue.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the guy's name is Paterson not Peterson.
1. The Man - I'm no gunslinger, except in the arcade, but isn't the philosophy that a) if you draw your weapon it should only be because you plan on killing whoever you're shooting at and b) if you shoot for the arms and legs you are more likely to miss and kill that 4 year old down the street. (That will go over well)
ReplyDelete2. Like raising Children, if I say clean up your toys or go to your room, if my kids don't clean up their toys it is my obligation to send them to their room. Otherwise, I lose creditabilty. The same should apply to the Police. If a cop. . .pig. . .doughnut monkey. . .whatever (heh heh) . .yells HALT OR I'LL SHOOT! If the person running doesn't HALT, the Police are obliged to SHOOT or they lose credibilty. If people realized this and took it to heart, I think that there would be a lot more HALTing and "Yes, Sir Officer!" going on!
Somehow, wrists on the steering wheel and "yes Officer" and Police Support stickers in the window, don't get me out of a speeding ticket. Why is that? Could the "High Maintenance" moniker be getting around???
Whew! I need a nap after that!!
ReplyDeleteLibs don't care about dead cops. That's one of the most important reasons that they (libs) suck so bad!
ReplyDeleteActually if an unarmed person is fleeing you can't shoot them. I forgot which case that was but anywho. I want to see lethal force used more often. If someone leads police in a high speed pursuit that person should be shot. If they are carrying someone else in the car, they should be shot once the police catch them.
ReplyDeleteThis would not be an issue if life was more like GTA: San Andreas
ReplyDeleteThe Las Vegas community just mourned the death of a Metro officer.
ReplyDeleteThe last time a Metro officer was killed in the line of duty was in 1988. Officer Marc Kahre was on patrol when he spotted a shooting suspect in a car. As Kahre waited for backup on his motorcycle, the suspect jumped out of his car and shot Kahre.
The suspect was involved in a traffice stop later, and that's where he shot himself in the head.
Kahre joined the Metro Police Department as a cadet in 1973 and became an officer in 1975. He was 34 years old and was married with two children.
The shooting that killed Sergeant Prendis stemmed from a domestic disturbance call.
I'm afraid you're right, we're going to be more and more used to this if reckless legislation like this spreads across the ranks of the beaurocrats.
Great post wyatt.
Peakah,
ReplyDeleteThat story would have had a happier ending if he would have shot himself before shooting Officer Kahre.
Would like to see people's opinion on my new post "No More Accidents" click over. . ..
A recent study showed that the reason some of the suicide bombers in Israel have gotten through is that security and police are afraid to shoot for fear that they will be sued.
ReplyDeleteFor stopping a suicide bombing.
In fact, in one of the recent bombings the security officer died because they chose to try to wrestle the bomb wearing maniac rather than take them down.
Right on Wyatt!! These libs are pathetic!!!
ReplyDeletePathetic indeed.
ReplyDeleteI miss Indiana ... (completely off topic, btw).
ReplyDeleteThis jerk would never get away with that in Indiana ... see here (no, it's a different link). The state Dems would slap him down so hard he'd never be able to get back up.
ReplyDelete