Quote:Just to clarify, you are saying if someone is being combative with an officer it is within his power and within his right to shoot that person in the head and claim he felt threatened? Do I have that right?

 

I think that is what people have a problem with. 

 

That's exactly what I am saying.  Look at the hypotheticals in this situation.

 

Say the officer in question is a female that is 5'5 and weighs around 130 and the person assaulting her is a male that is 6'2 and weighs around 240.  Who is going to win that fight?

 

If the officer feels that her life is threatened and in jeopardy, she can escalate to the next level in order to stop the action.  The "next level" in this case might be the use of deadly force.

 

The same goes for a male officer that is say 5'9 and weighs 170 and the person assaulting is again a male that is 6'2" and weighs around 240.  In this case, escalating to to the next level might be using mace or a taser to stop the action.  If that doesn't work, then the officer is justified in escalating again to deadly force.

 

Those that are "commending" the officer in the OP for not using deadly force are wrong.  A police officer should NEVER have to endure an assault like that and should use ANY means necessary up to and including deadly force to stop the action.  Unfortunately, people seem to forget that our police officers serve us and should NEVER be attacked the way that this guy was.

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