By Lindsay Gebhart
Police1.com
The Chicago Tribune reported that on Monday a Chicago officer shot a teenage suspect after the youth pointed what turned out to be a BB gun at him. Immediately hundreds of protesters went to the streets, crying police brutality.
P1 Lead Street Survival Instructor Dave Smith said that all cadets are taught to assume all guns are loaded and have to be pointed in a safe direction. He said that this situation illustrates a crucial safety tip to keep in mind: Gang bangers paint the muzzles of their firearms red or orange so officers hesitate.
“You have to assume every gun is real,” Smith said. “Why would someone point a toy gun at us?”
Treat all guns - paintball, pellet and real - like they are real all the time. It is nearly impossible to differentiate between the three. That second that you take to analyze the weapon can prove fatal.
It is also important to always take cover if it is available. You can take the time to read the suspect’s body language and analyze the situation. The brain often fills in missing information, which is why officers shoot suspects who pull a cell phone. Taking cover can give your mind the second it needs to differentiate a fatal threat from a non-fatal threat.
Smith said this incident shows how important it is for officers to freeze the witnesses: keep them apart and get their statements right away. You don’t want people to step up a couple days later claiming they were present and you have no way to argue that they weren’t. Also, letting witnesses conjugate after an incident allows them to discuss the story and get their stories straight.
The real positive of the story, Smith said, is that the agency immediately got out in front of the story. Once an agency sets it out in front of the media and goes toe-to-toe with the protesters it can take some of the bite away from negative press.
Related:
Cops: Shooting Justified: But ‘they didn’t have to shoot him,’ boy’s mom says
Chicago cops shoot teen holding BB gun
