Another expert, former Madison chief of police, has
his own blog which is very worthwhile. Here's a few quotes:
Quote:
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there’s now an additional and highly emotional issue: we need to stop the killing. There is no way I can play-down this important need today within our nation’s police.
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Quote:
a model policy used by one police departments reads as follows:
“Recognizing our legal and moral obligation to use force wisely and judiciously, it is the policy of this department that deadly force will never be resorted to unless an officer reasonably believes that a lesser degree of force would be insufficient…”
While the police may legally use force in a number of situations (e.g. to apprehend any person who is running away from a serious crime), they, instead, choose to limit and regulate themselves by setting a clear distinction between what they can do versus what they will do — or at least attempt to do. They are making a moral decision that they will only use deadly force if a life is being threatened.
And, of course, to put a policy like this into effect, especially when it means to change past behavior, means the police will have to teach the new standard to their officers, adequately train them to be competent in using “force wisely and judiciously,” and to take disciplinary action when they do not.
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