The police aren’t likely to implement saggy-pants sensitivity in use-of-force training
By Jeff ‘Paco’ Doyle
PACOVILLA Corrections blog
January 21, 2013
According to San Diego’s California News Station KFMB Channel 8, the widow of a Parolee-At-Large slain by San Diego police, “didn’t deserve this” because “he was trying to turn his life around.” Apparently, he decided he stood a better chance of becoming a proper member of society by avoiding supervision along with another at-large parolee — Surely, there must be an easier way to turn around one’s life?
In any event, the police report indicates Parolee Angel Lopez was given commands to show his hands to arresting officers when he “turned toward the officers while reaching into a pocket, as if retrieving a weapon.” It was at this point a 12 year veteran of San Diego’s finest fired at least one round, killing Angel.
Lydia Lopez, the deceased’s widow, feels the officer overreacted stating, “for all they know, he could have been pulling up his pants.” On the other hand, for all they knew, he was about to pull out a gun which is why Angel is now dead…and he’s no longer an angel.
It is understandable Lydia doesn’t see the nuances inherent to the situation. After all, if Angel didn’t see it was a bad idea to hitch up his drawers while at gunpoint, how could his future widow?
Assuming Lydia Lopez’ conjecture is accurate, it must be noted this would not be the first time a sagging thug got shot for giving his pants a tug at an inopportune moment. Call it a hazard of the trade, if you will. Regardless, the police aren’t likely to implement saggy-pants sensitivity in use-of-force training–Gang-bangers everywhere would be well advised to let ‘em drop or invest in suspenders. Barring that, more sagging-related deaths are inevitable. What a shame.
As for Angel Lopez, Paco wants the record to show his shooting is an outrage and a tragedy: A veteran police officer must now deal with the trauma of having killed a human being. That sucks.
No comments:
Post a Comment