Again, that’s just my opinion though. Hope that answers your question, and sorry for the delayed response.

I read in the self-defense and police training blogs how most cops will never fire their weapon. I watch the police reports for my hometown and rarely see even a death in a traffic accident.

Are these things that accumulate slowly over a career, but just stick with you that hard? (it only takes seeing those little girls once, I’m sure) Or is it part of being on specific assignments?

Is it more along the lines of “it’s common enough that we all know someone it happened to,” even if your personal chance of it happening isn’t that high?

If Michael Brown wasn’t a 300 lb thug, he would have been using a knife or gun to get away with his behavior. He was using his SIZE as a weapon, as many big thugs do. Just like facing a gun, facing a giant violent person is almost as threatening to the victim.

Also marijuana when used excessively can and often does lead to violent behavior by the user. It can induce psychotic behavior. It is usually classed as a peaceful drug, but add into the mix that MB may have been into all the other drugs like meth for instance and along with ghetto thug mentality – you can draw some other conclusions as well.

It is a myth that all marijuana users are peaceful. Drug use can produce a lot of unpredictable results. Read this fact sheet:

http://adai.washington.edu/marijuana/factsheets/aggression.htm

Let’s not forget that if MB had put his hands in the air and surrendered to the arrest, we wouldn’t be discussing this right now. Let’s also look also at MB’s contribution to this shooting. He came from a bad area. Anyone from these places knows that if a cop pulls his gun and points it at you, you better pay attention, because he really isn’t playing with you anymore. He wants to go home in one piece too. Remember, you are also legally obliged to obey a police officer’s lawful directions. Any other stuff you want to argue needs to be argued in the courtroom.

A cop really never pulls his gun and shoots someone because he is getting annoyed with them, They know the level of fallout involved and it is never worth it for them on that basis. They have to demonstrate a legal reason for both pulling and using that firearm.

On the other subject, I don’t think law enforcement is for anybody. Unless you are a sociopath with zero feelings or empathy for others, you’re definitely going to be affected by some the things you get to see.

Sociopaths would not make acceptable police officers either.

No, you don’t have to be terrified to put six bullets into another human being. In fact, being terrified is exactly what you don’t want to happen when you’re in a lethal force encounter. All the tactical training for police and military is geared toward removing that “terror”. Terrified people make bad tactical decisions. People with a sober assessment and understanding of the danger they’re facing tend to make better tactical decisions. I’ve been in plenty of situations where I was in immediate, lethal danger. I’ve never been terrified by it. I doubt Wilson was terrified either; he had been assaulted by a very large, aggressive suspect who ran away and then came back at him. He fired until there was no further threat. That doesn’t require “terror”, it just requires an understanding of the danger he faced.

Do you honestly think you have any credibility when you claim it’s reasonable and acceptable for a man to put six bullets in another human being without being terrified?

I applaud Maya for coming on here and calling out your sad BS. I bet you just couldn’t wait for this day, when you could finally feel better about yourself again. Sorry.

@Alex Get off your high horse and go back to your cell, Col. Jessup. We all know who you are.

You do not carry my weight. Not now, not ever.

You should also consider a different line of work. I don’t think law enforcement is for you.

Sincerely,

Paul

My daughter spent her next 2 months in critical care, the first 2-3 weeks the doctors met with us daily and told us be prepared for bad news. She thankfully is still with us and quite the happy little girl and everyone loves her although there have been complications from her arrest.

I know in my heart if that Officer was not there, she would not still be with us now. We actually have some friends in common and reached out to him to let him know how thankful we were. He was happy to hear how she was doing but to my dismay, we also found out he had left the force not long after he saved my daughter’s life. He said that it just hit him too close to home as he had a daughter of his own and he could not get the thought that we almost lost ours out of his head.

My heart sunk hearing this news. I feel selfish knowing that because of what he did for our family that day, that he probably will never be the same and that others would not receive the same blessing/gift he gave to us.

Our family is forever grateful for those of you who so readily put yourselves in harms way to protect and serve, not just physically but emotionally as well. Thank you for all you do. Our lives and world would never be the same without you!