Philadelphia Police Officer Shot In The Face

After being shot in the face with a shotgun, rookie Officer Richard Decoatsworth (21) pursued his attackers for several blocks before passing out from blood loss.

The offender in this case needs to be hunted down and executed, in my humble opinion.

A shooting suspect was taken into custody just before 10 a.m. Monday, about 50 minutes after a Philadelphia police officer was shot in the head at 51st and Arch streets.

Police said 52nd Street between Haverford Avenue and Market Street has been shut down in West Philadelphia as dozens of officers hunted for the shooter. Police took one person who was apparently hiding in a nearby home into custody but his name was not immediately released.

An empty shotgun shell was recovered at the shooting scene.

The officer's name was not immediately released, but police said he is a 16th District officer. He was rushed to a local hospital in a police car and was in stable condition with a gunshot wound to the left side of the face. (H/T - NBC10)

Shot in the face for doing your job. Isn't that just swell?

This is the problem I have with this - save for the obvious, I mean. Philadelphia's homicide count is currently at 305. Every one of those lives lost is precious. However, it frosts my weenie when people say that the all shootings and homicides are the same. They are not! For better or worse, it is much more dreadful when a police officer is shot while in the line of duty.

"But Wyatt," you say, "Are you trying to tell us that a police officer's life is worth more than anyone else's?"

Frakkin' right.

And this opinion has nothing to do with the fact that I am a police officer. This is an opinion based upon life experience. Any toad who has no problem shooting a uniformed police officer poses an even greater threat to the civilian population. It's as simple as that. Because the punishments are more severe - yet not severe enough - for shooting a police officer while in the performance of his/her duties, it takes a special type of scumbag to pull the trigger.

A scumbag that needs to be put down like a rabid dog.

Please pray for this officer and his family.