Gun Control & RKBA
Related: About this forumOfficer's instinct kept him from using deadly force
Finally! A cop with a brain who isn't afraid to use it. Some will say the police officer was careless and stupid and should have just shot the guy, I say he kept his head and did his job.
Hatfield Township police Officer Keith Blank didnt kill a man last week.
He could have. He likely would have been legally entitled to do so.
But on the evening of May 24 when an emotionally distressed Nicholas Joseph Eustace, 22, of Lansdale, pointed a gun at Blank, the Hatfield Township patrolman kept his cool, according to police.
Eustace had earlier called 911 to say he was going to shoot himself, police and his family, according to court records. He allegedly physically assaulted his sister at their home in Lansdale and was last seen walking toward Hatfield Township. Blank drove to the corner of Logan Drive and Moyer Road believing Eustace might be walking in his direction. And when he spotted Eustace approaching, Blank got out and ordered Eustace to drop the gun, police said.
***MORE AT LINK***
http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/crime/officer-s-instinct-kept-him-from-using-deadly-force/article_b4ad9924-a205-5196-9926-bc1a3b5817e1.html
Lurks Often
(5,455 posts)this has nothing to with brains. Essentially the officer was betting his life that the gun was not real and that if the gun was real, Eustace wouldn't shoot him.
I will grant that the officer may have had additional information not reported in the story that gave him a better understanding of the situation then indicated in the story.
gejohnston
(17,502 posts)The officer likely knew that Eustace wanted him to fire, but had no intention of harming Blank. It is also possible that Blank could tell it was a toy. Careless? Maybe, but certainly thinking out of the box. Stupid? No. Stupid would be taking the same approach at a meth lab bust.
ileus
(15,396 posts)lead him to make the decision not to plug him full of holes...cops by and large are pretty good judges of character, even when the character is acting questionable.
Starboard Tack
(11,181 posts)We need more cops like Blank.
SGMRTDARMY
(599 posts)Fredjust
(52 posts)We would have more cops like Blak if we just took away their guns. They wouldn't all feel so big and bad without their death spewers and TAZERs backing them up.
SGMRTDARMY
(599 posts)You can't be serious, it would be suicide for an LEO to be unarmed.
Death spewers? Frickin serious?
I guess you wouldn't like me very much as I carry a "death spewer" concealed although my firearm has never spewed death.
Fredjust
(52 posts)I'm sorry you feel the need to own implements of death and destruction. Yes, I feel all firearms should be banned. Period. No exceptions. End of discussion.
oneshooter
(8,614 posts)All of which are, or have been used as,"implements of death and destruction".
Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas
BiggJawn
(23,051 posts)His mommy chews his food for him.
gejohnston
(17,502 posts)If anyone has done a study about suicide by cop. Things like, were the weapons actually loaded or real, what to look for etc. Perhaps it would help cops tell the difference between someone who needs help vs a real bad guy.
Hopefully, Blank's supervision and SO sees things the same way we do.
jeepnstein
(2,631 posts)We could just as easily be reading a story about how a Hatfield Township officer lost his life on a call. You'll never catch me second guessing him on it because I've done the same thing and it worked out for me. I don't know that I'd roll those dice again.
Jenoch
(7,720 posts)but the police officer involved is more likely the recipient of good luck rather than the possessor of good instincts. It is also more likely that he receives a verbal reprimand from his superior than a commendation.