Charles L. Cotton wrote:DaveT
A “man with a knife� call really really sucks! People simply aren’t as quick to understand having to shoot him, as they are with a man armed with a gun. It's a terrible situation for the officers.
Regards,
Chas.
It is indeed "a terrible situation for the officers". I know quite a few LEO's, and I don't know of ANY that want to shoot anyone.
As you say, the "public" is not quick to understand the serious threat a person with a knife poses. LE, definitely knows. The "Tueller drill" has been around for at least 25 years, and taught to most agencies for about the last 20.
I think the officers did everything they could to avoid having to shoot him. Evidently, they felt as if they had him somewhat contained, and were trying to give him an opportunity to change his mind. The officer that struck him with the ASP apparently missed the radial nerve, or the BG might have had on a heavy coat. Anyway, after that...it was pretty much "all bets off" trying to effect another strike.
I'm sure the officers would have liked to have had some bean-bag loads and a canine unit to take him down, but... you simply have to work with what you have sometimes.
The guy is fortunate that they didn't take him out in a hail of gunfire. The U.S. does not really have a "knife culture" in the same sense as say...the Philippines, so most people don't appreciate how truly lethal... edged weapons can be.
So, you hit it on the head IMO. "Man with a knife"= this really sucks!
