The reaction to the shooting is depressingly predictable. Community outrage as the city and police officers and their union stand by the officers arguing the officers were threatened so the shooting was justified under their protocols.
Apparently the protocols and police training in many jurisdictions are oblivious to the notion of proportional response. They seem to be following the tactical military view that any response must be with overwhelming force. In effect it often means anyone who challenges their authority either submits or is, effectively, executed.
When confronted by a suspect that is unarmed or is armed with a knife, all officers draw their weapons. Why? One bullet could probably disable a suspect in almost any circumstance yet it seems like if one officer fires nearly every other officer is going to fire reflexively. Why can't one officer or two officers be designated as the lead officer with a weapon drawn and the others be prepared with non-lethal defense mechanisms? Why aren't police departments developing and using nets or other non lethal physical restraint options?
In our effort to protect officers we have become much too tolerant of the use of lethal force. I believe the protesters in San Francisco and Chicago are correct - the problem is at the top. Until Mayors and Police Chiefs start getting sacked for the actions of their trigger happy cops no change is going to happen.
