Fair enough Sonya, I agree no one should laugh at the misfortune of another. I just think that your comparison didn't work too well in this scenario.
The problem here is that you need to use your imagination and play the what-if game to find the imminent threat. They set a trap and played it smart. They did it at a time when there were no civilians around for him to threaten, no chance for him to escape, and no imminent threat to them or himself since he had his back turned. The fact that they played it this way is smart, but it also makes it easy to argue that the use of force itself was objectively unreasonable under the circumstances, because they intentionally set up the circumstances so that he couldn't threaten anyone. The only part you can second guess is the decision to take the guy out, and there's not enough in the video for me to chew on regarding that topic.
My my point in all this is that no one was there yet everyone wants to second guess and assume that they could do better. The officer made a split second decision with extremely limited information and a very dangerous situation and no one was killed. Sounds like success to me. I don't know about a "Trap," it was more of an oh shit get away from this guy he has a loaded assault rifle. Then his partner makes a split second decision to risk his own life to run the subject over.
The Michael Brown case is great example of this and that particular case is sad because even though the justice system determined that officer was innocent of wrongdoing, his career in law enforcement is over thanks to the media.
The Officer did his job. The reason we know this? Because of the witnesses that testified in front of the grand jury. The reason that he lost his job? The media picked the most outspoken members that were willing to talk to them at the time they arrived on scene and went with whatever lies they were given. The people that were talking to the media did not witness the fight and did not testify. Thus, the people watching the media hear that he was surrendering and was executed for doing nothing. Yet, the witnesses that testified in the jury trial stated something completely different. Weird how the media didn't do any source checking, or try to find actual witnesses, or think like a reasonable human being. Yet many people, including the media, are calling for cops to wear body cameras:
Yea pretty much this. That's why I hope all this craziness leads to body cameras for all cops nationwide.
He did his job and was crucified. Now people think cops should be held accountable when really, the news cameras on scene broadcast bogus information, inciting riots, more cops getting shot, and turmoil across the country. IMO people are calling for the wrong people to be held accountable.
He of course ends up shooting the guy. I thought the scenario was pretty pointedly designed to ultimately lead the trainee to support the police narrative simply because the guy in the scenario was given only one option, lethal force. He did not have a taser or pepper spray.
This is something that really bugs me. The lack of education of the public when calling for these "Movements." "Why didn't you OC or TASER him?" is a frequent question. TASER works maybe 40% of the time. OC works 0% of the time. You know why? OC is nothing but pain and after approximately 15 minutes you lose your vision, however the fight isn't on pause for those 15 minutes. I can tell you from person experience, there is nothing scarier than being in a back alley talking with a dude equal size and weight who displays signs of being on PCP while wearing a thick jacket. While advancing on you he says "Fuck you, you aint gonna detain me today." TASER is not an option because of that jacket. OC spray will inevitably awaken the dragon and put me in a living hell for 15 minutes if I survive. Yet, it's quite obvious I cannot shoot him. It's not the same situation that guy ran into but I don't accept that excuse of "He had no other options." If my partner's hadn't arrived I was in a 1 on 1 fist fight with a man on PCP, just like that activist should have done fought him straight up. After 3 of us safely got him cuffed and finished talking to him I asked him about when I first stopped him. He said he was probably gonna fuck me up if my partner hadn't shown up before he made up his mind. I asked him why, and his response: "You know how it is."
If I wear a body camera you will NEVER see that video footage. Why? Because I was able to de-escalate the situation by talking to him until my partners arrived and then I let him off with 3 misdemeanor violation warnings. What you will see is what the media wants you to see. They will pick something to make a priority story and shorten that video clip to show some heinous law enforcement act.
