Police shootings

[Salty]

On TV police shows, we are constantly watching cops firing their weapons. But is this true to life.

Check out this web page

In reality many cops may retire after 20 some years without ever having firing their weapon (other than for training)

Here are some stats from the link
NY City 2007
111 police involved shootings (16 fewer than 2006)

45 targets were criminals
39 targets were animals (mostly dogs)
15 accidental
12 unlawful - including suicide

With some 35,000 on the force, this works out to one out of 315 officers (0.318 %) who actually fired his weapon in 2007

Less than 600 rounds were fired in these 111 shootings.

 

[poncho]

They got new toys to play with now.

 

[Salty]

any comments?

 

[Oldtimer]

Just another example of the way media (of all types) is shaping reality in the minds of many.

It's getting harder and harder to separate fact from fiction, as we (self-included) narrow our view of the world to what's portrayed in an electronic window.

 

[Jim1999]

My son-in-law served in the miltary police. When he left the army, he joined the police force in Wisconsin. He was instructed: when stopping a vehicle at night on a highway, always draw pistol and have it by your side until the occupants of the car are fully visible. Too many officers were killed by occupants of vehicles at night on Wisconsin highways. It was just a safety precaution. Seeing he was my daughters husband,,,family...I had to agree with it.

In England, the police did not carry weapons, except the billy club. The criminals didn't carry weapons because they didn't want the police with weapons. In fact, criminals would report on men who did carry weapons.

It is far different to-day and quite a few police have been shot. Still, the police do not carry weapons. Far too many handguns in the public community these days.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Bro. Curtis]

An armed society is a polite society.

On a return trip from hunting, I drove into a sobriety checkpoint. The patrolman that talked to me was quite impressed with my S&W model 29 .44 magnum that was on the seat next to me. I let him check it out, and he sent me on my way. I sure do love Montana.

 

[annsni]

My father was a police officer for over 40 years and never fired his gun.