Drunk, Doped........and Deadly Force.

From the title you may think this post is an attack on TPD officers who have been involved in recent deadly force shootings such as the incident with Linda Hicks, the 64 year old, African American, armed, schizophrenic who was shot and killed last week. It is not.

Ms. Hicks was was a mentally unstable, armed threat to herself, her housemates, and the officers who responded. Had TPD officers not done anything, and she had hurt someone else or herself, they would have been derelict in their duty. From what I have read the officers used the force continuum appropriately when verbal commands, and the taser were ineffective. Any person who calls for non-deadly response to a citizen armed with a knife or other sharp weapon (in this case scissors), does not understand the dynamics of armed conflict; such weapons are deadly weapons. Officers are not - and should not- be trained to meet deadly force resistance with non-deadly force.

HOWEVER, this post is not a TPD cheering session either. Recently we learned that TPD officers who were intoxicated on duty and tested positive for marijuana use, will be suspended, not fired. This is a travesty. Police must be held to a higher standard when their profession is enforcing the law. Had I reported for duty drunk, EVER, I would have been summarily fired on the spot -- and rightfully so.

This is the result and example of the damage unions can do to a modern work force, community, and economy. The union in fact decried the 90 day suspensions as overbearing and overreaction. WHAT??!!! With a straight face the men and women who represent the TPD officer's union claim that drunk cops on duty who get suspended are being treated too harshly. Their hypocrisy is self explanatory.

The TPD has to fight a constant PR battle, doing the right thing under immeasurably difficult situations, while being constantly examined and second guessed by the citizenry. Their effectiveness is only undermined further when misconduct of this type is allowed to continue. For the hundreds of well trained, professional, dedicated officers on the TPD who don't deserve the attacks they receive, these four have made their jobs and safety much more tenuous.

Be safe.

TAHL