Pubdate: Mon, 04 Aug 2003 Source: Pensacola News Journal (FL) Copyright: 2003 The Pensacola News Journal Contact: http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1675 Author: Michael A. DeLay Note: Michael A. DeLay is an Escambia County deputy with 23 years of law enforcement experience. He is a resident of Pensacola. Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1093/a03.html LAW ENFORCEMENT CRITICS SHOOT FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS LATER It is truly amazing to see all the negative opinions from so many individuals before all the facts are in about a subject they know little or nothing about unless they themselves are in that position. I refer to the position of a law enforcement officer who is fighting for his life when combating a violent individual. To make the assumption that a nude person that was obviously having either some serious mental health issue or a drug or alcohol reaction, posed no real threat and was merely seeking help, is beyond naive. The likes of Susan Watson, an associate of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and other members of the community calling for some kind of community-funded board, paid for by taxpayers' money, before the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's (FDLE) investigation is complete is unconscionable. I have the luxury of knowing the deputy involved. Knowing his physical condition and his mental attitude and character, his being forced to fire his weapon was most certainly his last option for survival. A dozen years ago I, too, experienced a similar situation with an unarmed individual who was almost successful in arming himself courtesy of my service revolver. I had just arrested the individual's friend for DUI when he decided that he didn't want his friend going to jail. I was sucker-punched between the eyes, shattering my glasses without warning or provocation. I was knocked to the ground with the individual violently attacking me. A back-up officer was miles away, and I hadn't even the chance to call for help because my radio was knocked out of my hand. Four teenaged boys who were driving by the traffic stop jumped out of their car and assisted me. While on the ground and on my back, one of the teenagers screamed, "He's got your gun!" I was able to glance down and see the individual with his hand on the grips trying to remove it from its holster. I'm sure he would have used it not only to murder me, but my teenage helpers as well. Luckily, with the help of the teenagers, I was able to retain my gun, and we were able to handcuff the individual. This was a mere traffic arrest that didn't even involve the individual; he was just a passenger in the car. It was his friend that was going to jail! This just goes to show you how something so simple can turn so deadly in a millisecond. It appalls me when people form such strong opinions when the majority of them, I'm sure, including many in the news media, don't have a clue on what they are talking about. A naked "unarmed" man can kill you, period! There is a very good Web site, www.odmp.org. It is the Officers Down Memorial Page. This site tells of all the officers killed in the line of duty. It is broken down in various categories to the extent that it explains the circumstances of their deaths. You can see the number of officers killed in any given year and the number killed by gunfire. The criticizers and second-guessers need to review this site and see the number of officers who are killed by those so-called "unarmed" suspects that take the officer's own gun. It also shows those who are beaten and strangled with no weapons at all. They may see things just a little differently if they took the time to review the site. If the old phrase, "shoot first, ask questions later," ever applied to anyone, it would be with the critics of the police, not the police themselves. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake