Shoot to Kill
Shoot to Kill
In
the film The Bourne Ultimatum, one of the main characters Noah Vosen
defensively says to Pam Landy, “Don’t question an [botched] operation
from an arm chair.” Yes, but if the armchair individual does not
question the operation during and afterwards, no objective observations
can be made, no lessons are learned, and no improvements can be made.
Though I began my morning quite comfortably in my computer chair, I
became increasingly uncomfortable as I read yet another story of the
death of an unarmed youth.
Here is yet another story of the
shooting of a young, unarmed black male who is may have been dressed in a
way that society now immediately characterizes as “dangerous.” Meet
Kendrec McDade, a young man in college in California. He was shot by
police officers who believed not only that he was an thief but also that
he was armed and dangerous when he in fact had not stolen the goods and
he was in fact not armed in any way.
The facts as they are
presented: Man calls 911 to report a theft. Man states that there were
two individuals, both armed. Police respond. Police locate a suspicious
individual. The individual flees and the police give chase in a police
car as well as on foot. When the individual is confronted, he makes a
motion or gesture to his waistband. The police officers in the car as
well as the police officers on foot open fire. The individual is shot
multiple times. He is taken to a hospital where he is pronounced dead.
Here are some take-aways:
The fact that Kendrec fled is troubling on several levels. He clearly
does not trust police officers to do a number of things that police
officers are supposed to do: the right thing, question him as “innocent
until proven guilty,” not mistreat him in any way, respond
appropriately, let him go free if there is no evidence to prove that he
is guilty. This distrust is not the exclusive property of black youths;
it is also shared by the homeless, victims of sex trafficking, victims
of sexual abuse and domestic violence, immigrants both legal and
illegal, Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, young adult men and women, and those in
poverty. No, he should not have fled. But given the history of people of
the groups listed above and law enforcement and the recent Trayvon
Martin incident, I can only imagine the fear and panic that must have
coursed through his mind. I’m sure that avoiding (versus running from)
those pursuing him was his top priority.
Though I acknowledge
that thinking behind “shoot to kill” policy of law enforcement. I,
however, disagree with it. I support a “shoot to disable” policy or a
“shoot to disarm” policy. Yes, there are many instances when an
individual will continue firing or attacking even when injured, but
there must be ways to disable or disarm an individual without killing
them. Officers are taught “shoot to kill,” but what if they were taught
“shoot to disarm?” How many fewer deaths (of officers, of suspects, of
bystanders), fewer wrongful death lawsuits, and fewer errors there would
be?
Here are some questions: Why did the officer on foot open
fire when the officer in the car opened fire? Did he think that the
gunfire was coming from the individual standing outside the vehicle,
versus the individual inside the vehicle? Did the officers ask if the
individual was armed, and in response the individual said “No” and
proceeded to try to raise his shirt to demonstrate so, prompting the
officers to open fire? Did any of the officers radio “shots fired” as
they themselves were shooting? Did they get out to check the status and
vitals of the individual after he had fallen to the ground? Did they
immediately call the EMS? Did they handcuff Kendrec to the gurney?
The 911 caller, Mr. Oscar Carillo, felt that in order for his report to
be taken seriously and taken care of in a timely manner, he had to
report that the thieves were armed and dangerous. Homicides, rape, gang
activity, and other violent crimes certainly should get priority over
thefts – I am not going to dispute that in any way. I am pleased that
the department has arrested Mr. Carillo for his false report that led to
the shooting death of Kendrec. I am wondering in what ways/with what
language they will charge Mr. Carillo, and I wonder if Mr. Carillo
understands the true implications of what he did.
I believe
that Kendrec would have been stopped and questioned, even if he had not
been black. I believe the officers would have pursued Kendrec as he
fled, even if he had not been black. And I believe that Kendrec would
have been shot by the officers as he gestured towards his waistband,
even if he had not been black. I do however believe that they would have
taken a different approach. But we'll never know. I do not agree that
Kendrec is the next Trayvon Martin. I believe that Kendrec McDade is his
own person, and the events of his death are troubling, distressing,
maddening, etc. in different (though certainly not new) ways.
Prayers for Kendrec McDade, his family, his friends, and his community.
Prayers for the officers who killed him. Prayers for Oscar Carillo.
Prayers for our society. I hope that the department, the officers, other
departments, and other officers, and our society are able to finally
learn from these incidences.
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