Kingman's Cop

[lurker]

Discussed on other threads.

Here's the Cop's POV:

Doing my job

In Monday's opinion section, someone had their opportunity to smear a cop. They felt trying to stop a fleeing felon does not warrant using force. If a full-sized SUV that almost hit three kids in the park, driving through 10 stop signs, over 100 mph in the county, through more stop signs, while intoxicated, etc., is not considered a deadly weapon, remember that the next time someone hits you or is trying to hit you with their vehicle. Legally, that is an aggravated assault and/or battery due to a vehicle being considered a deadly weapon.

Do we just let them go because we have the tag number? How do you know it is the owner driving? What did the driver just do or is going to do? Is there a kidnapped victim in there? A lot of people flee the police for a range of very minor to very major reasons. And no matter the choice the police officer makes, there are always so many people to criticize.

I had two weeks left with the department due to accepting an offer from another department. I could have just let him go. I didn't need the arrest or the paperwork. But it was my job to respond to the call. I had no direct communication with officers in Reno County. Any communication was relayed from my dispatcher to their dispatcher to their officers.

Everyone has a right to their opinion. It is just sad that most of the time the opinion comes with such limited knowledge or intelligence. It is said that police officers hold that fine line between chaos and peace. I wonder where that line will go the more that police officers won't or can't do their job because of the constant criticism. We all have family, loved ones and friends who want to feel safe and sleep well at night.

Why not use your energy to make sure the driver that was running pays for his crimes? He was already on felony parole for the last time he ran from the police while drunk. They caught him after he wrecked. He admitted to running one other time that he didn't get caught. He was facing a third DUI if caught this time and that is a felony. His driver's license was suspended. His passenger even told how he got another beer out, opened it and drank it while he was fleeing from me. I should have just let this guy go? He wasn't a danger to anyone that got in his way? I was doing my job.

JAMES WILLIAMS

Kingman

02/16/2007; 02:39:47 AM

[Tee]

This Barney Feif has no business in law enforcement. His letter wreaks of arrogance and the desire for limitless power without authoritive intervention.

His mindset is screwed up. He thinks we are all idiots for questioning him for emptying three clips into the town as he chases down a known area resident for some traffic violation. He just doesn't get it, and I doubt he ever will.

umm, Barney...the driving dangers and infractions were created when you gave chase.

We don't hunt down and kill violators of traffic laws. We just don't do it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Geeze!

[wordsmythe]

Spike TV has a lot of those "World's Wildest Police Chases" on and when there's nothing better on I watch.

MOST of the time when they have some horrible crash and people killed or almost killed I do find myself asking...Why?

Sometimes a chase is needed but most it just causes more harm.

[TexKan]

Does he still have his job? The letter says the SUV almost ran down 3 kids in a park, destroyed property, etc.

[Flying Dutchman]

Sometimes a chase is needed but most it just causes more harm.

If you are an officer, it is almost a catch 22. You are thinking to yourself "Why are they running?" Usually it is because they are scared, or stupid, and are afraid of what will happen to them (ticket, jail, ass beating from Dad) but as the officer you do not know what they are thinking. An impaired driver is usually obvious. Now, do you just let them go and hope they do not kill someone? If you let them go, and they do wreck, are you liable? It is a tough call and I can see both sides.

[Tee]

This is not the "should I chase, should I not" argument.

This is the "should I fire my weapon out my door 30+ times in an attempt to kill a fleeing motorist" argument.

Bullets go much farther than your intended target and that's a lot of stray bullets whizzing through town.

[Flying Dutchman]

Your point, Tee, I was not trying to argue, merely the one about an officer getting in a chase to begin with, and not neccisarily (sic) this officer.

[Tee]

I agree with you FD, It is a difficult call... "when to chase"

[lurker]

Originally Posted by Tee

I agree with you FD, It is a difficult call... "when to chase"

...... only when the tires are turnin' ..... !

[JohnWayne]

Originally Posted by lurker

...... only when the tires are turnin' ..... !

Now Lurker, that is certainly what I would expect coming from a car chasing dog's point of view.

Duke