Cops are not psyhcologists,doctors, mental health specialists, or the suicide hotline. They are trained to protect citizens. If someone has a gun and they are threatining themselves or anyone else, they become a clear and present danger to the community. At that point, the suspect has an opportunity to obey officer commands. If they don't they risk bodily harm including death.
There is no law requireing cops to wait for someone to shoot at them first. Threaten a cop and they are allowed to use force one level higher than you are. Alonzo had an opportunity to comply but made a bad choice. If you want to blame someone, blame the state for cutting mental health funding and facilities for the past 15 years. This could have been prevented, but not by the police.
Excessive Force? Are you kidding me? I was a cop for 6 years. These officers followed the law and city protocol in this situation. You are taught to shoot until the person is no longer a threat. This man did not respond to officer demands, he brandished a weapon in a threating manner at all 6 officers and was told to drop the weapon repeatedly. None of which he did. He was justifiably shot.
Most of the responses on here are from people who have never been a police officer, have never had their life threatened by another person and have never had a gun pointed at them. You are making blind accusations based off of emotion rather than intelect or research. If you want to find out what it is like to be in any police officers shoes, contact the city PD about the ride along program. Experience it yourself and stop judging these officers unless you are willing to go out and experience what they do every day.
Alonzo Heyward
Cops are not psyhcologists,doctors, mental health specialists, or the suicide hotline. They are trained to protect citizens. If someone has a gun and they are threatining themselves or anyone else, they become a clear and present danger to the community. At that point, the suspect has an opportunity to obey officer commands. If they don't they risk bodily harm including death. There is no law requireing cops to wait for someone to shoot at them first. Threaten a cop and they are allowed to use force one level higher than you are. Alonzo had an opportunity to comply but made a bad choice. If you want to blame someone, blame the state for cutting mental health funding and facilities for the past 15 years. This could have been prevented, but not by the police.
Alonzo Heyward
Excessive Force? Are you kidding me? I was a cop for 6 years. These officers followed the law and city protocol in this situation. You are taught to shoot until the person is no longer a threat. This man did not respond to officer demands, he brandished a weapon in a threating manner at all 6 officers and was told to drop the weapon repeatedly. None of which he did. He was justifiably shot. Most of the responses on here are from people who have never been a police officer, have never had their life threatened by another person and have never had a gun pointed at them. You are making blind accusations based off of emotion rather than intelect or research. If you want to find out what it is like to be in any police officers shoes, contact the city PD about the ride along program. Experience it yourself and stop judging these officers unless you are willing to go out and experience what they do every day.