Editor’s Note: Police1 “First Person” essays are the place where P1 members (and on occasion, our regular columnists) candidly share their own unique cop’s-eye-view of the world. This is a platform from which officers can share their own personal insights on issues confronting cops today, as well as opinions, observations, and advice on living life behind the thin blue line. This week’s feature, from P1 Contributor Andy Casavant, is a response to news that NYPD had considered acquiring so-called “smart guns” that would emit a sound (other than “Bang!).” Do you want to share your own perspective with other P1 Members? Send us an e-mail with your story.
By Andy Casavant
SRT Commander, Walton County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office
Here we go again, “much ado about nothing.” When are we going to learn that there are things that can’t be solved or fixed with technology? A beeping gun? What nonsense to solve a training problem.
Yes the incident was tragic and no one can fault an officer who confronts another person with a gun pointed in his direction. What exactly are NYPD officers taught when they are off duty? What are they taught about identification? What credentials do they carry and display if needed? Proper identification and its display for the off duty officer have been written about since I came into law enforcement over 30 years ago. The funny part is that the information has not changed a bit! What is the real issue here? Is it training and proper wearing of department equipment while off duty or is it that the guns do not yet talk to the officers?
Will we ever be able to stop these kinds of incidents from happening? Probably not as long as common sense rules and the risks of associated off duty behavior are violated. It is not the uniformed officer’s responsibility to identify him or herself. It is the responsibility of the plain clothes or off duty officer to identify themselves in theses cases. We all know abut the physiological changes that affect us under stress. Does that change because you’re off duty? Every officer has to think ahead about their actions both on and off duty.
I believe that sometimes we forget we may not be known to each other and that the uniforms responding will give us a chance to display our hidden badge or other identification. Question I have is ...Why would they? We teach our officers to shoot if a weapon is pointed at them and to give a warning only if it is feasible. A weapon or gun is a weapon or gun and you don’t have time to contemplate those distinctions under the stress of a guy turning on you with a firearm in his hand. I believe it is the responsibility of the off duty or plain clothes officer to properly display their credentials ahead of time before the pursuit. If you’re not carrying your credentials, then what are you doing pulling your gun?
There is risk associated with all aspects of this job but most of the time that risk is avoidable or can be mitigated by proper training, policies, and maybe even some common sense. The issue here isn’t smarter guns, they are inanimate objects for God’s sake. No, the real issue here is training, policy or maybe the lack of. Statistics probably bear out this fact when you look at the number of accidental shootings.
The question is when will we learn? Maybe never as long as we have human beings as police officers. Prevention through training, policy and good tactical thinking is a far better solution than “smart guns”
That officer did not have to die, that’s the bottom line.
