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I've seen a lot of shared posts like "there was no reason to shoot 7 times" and "they shot him in the back. He wasn't a threat."
So, I thought I'd do a thread on police use of force and how it relates to this shooting in Wisconsin. #KenoshaShooting
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So, I thought I'd do a thread on police use of force and how it relates to this shooting in Wisconsin. #KenoshaShooting
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The use of force policy for most police departments not only allows the use of deadly force for armed subjects, but people who are attempting to *gain access* to weapons.
The most common example of this is people reaching for "high risk" areas like a waistband.
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The most common example of this is people reaching for "high risk" areas like a waistband.
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It can include other areas too, like nightstand drawers, couch cushions, and glove boxes.
I once had a suicidal man pull a gun from his couch while I was talking with him. It was by luck alone he didn't shoot me or himself that night. I learned a hard lesson.
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I once had a suicidal man pull a gun from his couch while I was talking with him. It was by luck alone he didn't shoot me or himself that night. I learned a hard lesson.
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This means that people may be technically "unarmed" when they are shot, but were trying to get access to a weapon.
Now, this matters because action always beats reaction.
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Now, this matters because action always beats reaction.
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We did a drill at my academy where they had us point our sim pistol at a subject who was pointing a gun at his own head. We were supposed to try and talk them down.
Every time, they'd swing their gun to us and shoot us before we could react. Every time.
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Every time, they'd swing their gun to us and shoot us before we could react. Every time.
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Action beats reaction. If a subject gets their hands on a gun, you've already lost. Bullets will be exchanged. You're likely gonna get hit.
Another scenario we studied was the "naked man."
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Another scenario we studied was the "naked man."
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We were told about an arrest where the subject was found naked in bed. He lunged for a nightstand where he kept his pistol. Officers shot him in the back.
A technically true account of that shooting is "officers shoot naked, unarmed man in back" but its clearly misleading.
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A technically true account of that shooting is "officers shoot naked, unarmed man in back" but its clearly misleading.
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Here is another common example of how "shot in the back, running away" can not give you the full picture.
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If a subject is armed and moving to cover, or is actively firing at officers, they may get hit in the back. That they got hit in the back isn't the relevant part, though.
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Now, let's talk about the number of times people may get shot.
The thing to know about pistols is...they really suck at killing people. They aren't powerful and even with hollowpoint rounds you need to hit something important to stop a person.
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The thing to know about pistols is...they really suck at killing people. They aren't powerful and even with hollowpoint rounds you need to hit something important to stop a person.
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We have dozens of shootings in my city, almost all of them non life-threatening because pistols suck.
What this means is, to stop a threat, you often need to fire what may seem like an "excessive" amount of rounds.
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What this means is, to stop a threat, you often need to fire what may seem like an "excessive" amount of rounds.
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Unless you hit something critical, that person is gonna keep on moving, and when you need to stop a threat *immediately*, you keep firing until the threat is terminated.
This means if a person is reaching for a gun, you shoot until they stop. That can easily be 7+ rounds.
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This means if a person is reaching for a gun, you shoot until they stop. That can easily be 7+ rounds.
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So, let's put this in the context of the Kenosha shooting.
Video and evidence is limited right now, so I will try and do any speculation in the best faith that I can.
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Video and evidence is limited right now, so I will try and do any speculation in the best faith that I can.
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What we do know is this; the subject had a violent history involving firearms, and had a warrant for his arrest.
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It's unclear exactly why police were called to the area, but if they encountered Mr. Blake there, they could have been aware of his warrant on sight, or run his info and learned about it.
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Its also possible these officers were already familiar with Mr. Blake.
Either way, a check of his info, or knowing his history, likely would have informed their posture while dealing with him. This is a likely reason their guns were drawn in the viral video.
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Either way, a check of his info, or knowing his history, likely would have informed their posture while dealing with him. This is a likely reason their guns were drawn in the viral video.
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New video shows Blake in an all-out brawl with the cops immediately before he walks around the vehicle.
From my perspective, this suggests they were trying to arrest him on the warrant. (Again, my own speculation).
17/ https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/1298138566787125248?s=19
From my perspective, this suggests they were trying to arrest him on the warrant. (Again, my own speculation).
17/ https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/1298138566787125248?s=19
We can't see what happens after he tries to enter the driver's seat.
If he tried to reach into the center console, under the seat, or into the glove box, I can see why the officers would have opened fire. Those are common areas to keep firearms in vehicles.
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If he tried to reach into the center console, under the seat, or into the glove box, I can see why the officers would have opened fire. Those are common areas to keep firearms in vehicles.
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I can understand 7 rounds, as that's often what it takes to stop someone from getting a gun a shooting you with it.
Now, information is clearly still very limited, and I'm gonna fault the PD for that.
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Now, information is clearly still very limited, and I'm gonna fault the PD for that.
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When something like this occurs, an agency needs to put out accurate information quickly, or risk the narrative spinning out of control. The PAO is your friend.
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I've already seen reports that;
1) Blake broke up a fight and was just trying to leave
2) The police were called for *him* waving a knife around at people
Which is true? We don't have a clear picture of what happened there. The PD needs to fix that ASAP.
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1) Blake broke up a fight and was just trying to leave
2) The police were called for *him* waving a knife around at people
Which is true? We don't have a clear picture of what happened there. The PD needs to fix that ASAP.
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My last takeaway is be very wary of people who claim they *know* what happened and "the evidence is clear."
They're lying. They don't have any special insights or info, but they likely have an agenda to push.
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They're lying. They don't have any special insights or info, but they likely have an agenda to push.
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What happened was a tragedy, but maybe we should wait for a clearer picture before we burn the whole city down and ruin a lot of lives. 
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