I may be a little "old school" here, but I do not agree totally with your assumption that a warning shot is "never" an acceptable option. I am a retired thirty-four year officer to police lieutenant from a major department. Approximately 80% of my on duty time was as a watch commander over the night watch with 35-50 officers , plus serge…
I may be a little "old school" here, but I do not agree totally with your assumption that a warning shot is "never" an acceptable option. I am a retired thirty-four year officer to police lieutenant from a major department. Approximately 80% of my on duty time was as a watch commander over the night watch with 35-50 officers , plus sergeants and civilians. I am not one who says never say never when it comes to waring shots. Back in the early day, warning shots were not that uncommon for street officers in some situations. I'll give you one example in particular. At the time was a patrol field training officer with a fairly new recruit working the 1st watch when we found a burglar breaking into a grocery store.
He escaped temporarily and when my trainee and I separated in search of him, I observed that my trainee had found him approximately 30-40yards from me. The suspect made movements toward the officer and reached toward his back pocket as if to possibly remove a weapon. I was ready with my pistol but because the two were so close together, I was reluctant to fire in fear of hitting my rookie who was steadily back stepping trying to keep some distance between them. I fired a warning shot and the suspect immediately turned and ran away with the two of us in pursuit. Never say never to me when a life is at stake. Gut instincts about the "whole" situation, training and experience the better. As a general rule however, I agree with your advice. But then again, you were not there and he was and probable not well trained.
I may be a little "old school" here, but I do not agree totally with your assumption that a warning shot is "never" an acceptable option. I am a retired thirty-four year officer to police lieutenant from a major department. Approximately 80% of my on duty time was as a watch commander over the night watch with 35-50 officers , plus sergeants and civilians. I am not one who says never say never when it comes to waring shots. Back in the early day, warning shots were not that uncommon for street officers in some situations. I'll give you one example in particular. At the time was a patrol field training officer with a fairly new recruit working the 1st watch when we found a burglar breaking into a grocery store.
He escaped temporarily and when my trainee and I separated in search of him, I observed that my trainee had found him approximately 30-40yards from me. The suspect made movements toward the officer and reached toward his back pocket as if to possibly remove a weapon. I was ready with my pistol but because the two were so close together, I was reluctant to fire in fear of hitting my rookie who was steadily back stepping trying to keep some distance between them. I fired a warning shot and the suspect immediately turned and ran away with the two of us in pursuit. Never say never to me when a life is at stake. Gut instincts about the "whole" situation, training and experience the better. As a general rule however, I agree with your advice. But then again, you were not there and he was and probable not well trained.