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Bordercop · 05-04-2009, 09:22

Having been in law enforcement for over 30 years and faced with this situation a time or two, I'd like to add to the thread. When faced with a deadly force situation, you should use deadly force as a last resort and after all other options have been either tried or at the very least weighed based on the totality of the circumstances. LEO's get Monday morning quaterbacked every time they use deadly force and we're held to the standard of was the response to the threat reasonable and would another LEO faced with similar circumstances have reacted in a similar fashion.

Two very important things to keep in your head when faced with questioning regarding the action you take are these...1) Were you in fear for your life or grievous bodily harm or did you fear that another innocent person was in danger of losing their life or in danger of suffering grievous bodily harm and 2) Did the person who threatened you possess the Means, Opportunity, and Intent to inflict harm upon you or an innocent third party who you intended to defend.

For example, a subject who has a gun and is running away from your residence possesses the means to do you bodily harm, but their intent is to flee from you. This would be considered a don't shoot situation in almost every jurisdiction I can think of.

If this same person, rather than fleeing charged at you with a gun or other weapon in their hand and you reasonably feared death then you could and should utilize whatever force is necessary to stop the threat. If your only option is deadly force, you had better be ready, willing and able to explain your actions.

Remember, when you practice shooting you practice shooting center mass and you don't shoot to kill, you shoot to stop the threat. Nobody expects you to "wing" the bad guy like in the TV westerns. Aim center mass and don't stop shooting until the threat is longer a threat.

If you aren't ready to articulate why you used deadly force and cannot face the second guessing that's bound to happen, then you should remain a sheep and not get involved.

Perge Sed Caute

05-04-2009, 09:22	#27
Bordercop Guerrilla Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 144	My .02 cents Having been in law enforcement for over 30 years and faced with this situation a time or two, I'd like to add to the thread. When faced with a deadly force situation, you should use deadly force as a last resort and after all other options have been either tried or at the very least weighed based on the totality of the circumstances. LEO's get Monday morning quaterbacked every time they use deadly force and we're held to the standard of was the response to the threat reasonable and would another LEO faced with similar circumstances have reacted in a similar fashion. Two very important things to keep in your head when faced with questioning regarding the action you take are these...1) Were you in fear for your life or grievous bodily harm or did you fear that another innocent person was in danger of losing their life or in danger of suffering grievous bodily harm and 2) Did the person who threatened you possess the Means, Opportunity, and Intent to inflict harm upon you or an innocent third party who you intended to defend. For example, a subject who has a gun and is running away from your residence possesses the means to do you bodily harm, but their intent is to flee from you. This would be considered a don't shoot situation in almost every jurisdiction I can think of. If this same person, rather than fleeing charged at you with a gun or other weapon in their hand and you reasonably feared death then you could and should utilize whatever force is necessary to stop the threat. If your only option is deadly force, you had better be ready, willing and able to explain your actions. Remember, when you practice shooting you practice shooting center mass and you don't shoot to kill, you shoot to stop the threat. Nobody expects you to "wing" the bad guy like in the TV westerns. Aim center mass and don't stop shooting until the threat is longer a threat. If you aren't ready to articulate why you used deadly force and cannot face the second guessing that's bound to happen, then you should remain a sheep and not get involved. Perge Sed Caute
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