# Lawmen go berserk...again. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 28, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawmen-go-berserk-again/198313 "2003-08-28T23:40:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawmen-go-berserk-again/198313/21 "2003-08-29T05:41:28Z")
Unfortunately, no. If it did, maybe he wouldn’t have capped the girl and would have handled the situation without using a firearm… ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawmen-go-berserk-again/198313/22 "2003-08-29T05:43:37Z")
Three policemen fired fifteen shots at my former co-worker, [Marquise Hudspeth](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/06/11/eveningnews/main558226.shtml). He was struck eight times in the back because the policemen thought his [celphone](http://www.unknownnews.net/0730-3.html) was a weapon. That’s all I’m gonna say about that. -David ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawmen-go-berserk-again/198313/23 "2003-08-29T05:50:36Z")
My point, GaWd, is that the cop is probably just as interested in not getting his finger lopped off as anyone else is. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawmen-go-berserk-again/198313/24 "2003-08-29T06:01:01Z")
[sean connery]Leave it to a WOP to bring a knife to a gunfight.[/sean connery] ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawmen-go-berserk-again/198313/25 "2003-08-29T11:39:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blalron \* > \*\*Couldn’t they have taken out their night clubs and hit him a few times? \*\* Possibly. Of course that would require that the officer get close enough for the suspect to stab or slash with that knife. If I was coming at you with a knife how far away would you want to stop me? Marc ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawmen-go-berserk-again/198313/26 "2003-08-29T11:43:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GaWd \* > \*\*No klaatu, it’s obvious the dull piece of steel was a lethal object, at least as lethal to an officer with a vest on from at least a room away as the gun was to the woman! > > At least that’s what SJPD says… > > Sam \*\* A bullet resistant vest won’t generally stop a stab wound from a knife. They do make a stab resistant vest that some prison guards have started to use as well as police officers in England though. Of course even then someone could still be stabbed in the head, neck, arms, legs, or even through the vest itself since it isn’t stab proof just resistant. Marc ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawmen-go-berserk-again/198313/27 "2003-08-29T12:23:36Z")
GaWd, I’m just wondering how the cops were supposed to know the “large, dull knife” wielded by the belligerent woman wasn’t a “large, sharp knife”. ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawmen-go-berserk-again/198313/28 "2003-08-29T13:05:30Z")
If only we had some non-lethal means to stop a teenager with a knife once a large number of grown police officers are at the scene. If only… Oh, wait, there are already dozens of them. A big enough butterfly net would work. ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawmen-go-berserk-again/198313/29 "2003-08-29T13:09:32Z")
In Orlando a former police officer was gunned down during a drug bust when the (still) police told him to “get out of his car.” He apparently reached for his seatbelt to unlatch it and they pumped his car full of a few dozen bullets. That was a couple years ago, no charges were ever filed. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawmen-go-berserk-again/198313/30 "2003-08-29T13:15:26Z")
Beagle, the police tried a non-lethal means to down the teen, a taser. It didn’t work. How many times, how many different ways should they be expected to use non-lethal means when they are being threatened? You’re not going to get cops to use non-lethal weapons until they get stabbed, you get non-lethal until the police feel that they are in danger. At that point, they use the most effective weapon they have, the sidearm. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawmen-go-berserk-again/198313/31 "2003-08-29T13:37:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Turbo Dog \* > \*\*I wonder who they are going to try to sue after they fail with the police. The maker of Tasers for not completely incapaciting this well adjusted kid? The knife maker for not having a safety feature on the knife block? The government for not mandating “responsible drinking for kids” classes in the schools? > \*\* What’s the over/under on $50 million dollars? ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawmen-go-berserk-again/198313/32 "2003-08-29T13:53:05Z")
Monty- My point is that upon seeing a “weapon” the pig automatically shot her. No shouted warning, no warning shot(which our local PD is allowed), no nothing. Boom dead. Marc- A 90-pound vietnamese woman in her kitchen isn’t enough of a threat to kill on sight. The police were wrong. Cheesesteak- THat’s why our police are supposed to be observant, not quick to make rash decisions and supposed to keep the public in their forethoughts before acting. A little Vietnamese girl in another room had what appeared to be a knife. A big bad man charged in and shot her. No talking, just shooting. Stupid. Sam ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawmen-go-berserk-again/198313/33 "2003-08-29T14:27:10Z")
GaWd, if she was in another room with it, I’m on your side. If she’s close and waving it around, I can’t expect a guy to know for certain how sharp or dull a blade is, and risk getting hurt on that supposition. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawmen-go-berserk-again/198313/34 "2003-08-29T14:33:50Z")
Cheesesteak, the story is hazy at best at this point. THe police versions don’t match up, and the citizen’s version doesn’t match either police version. AFAIK, she was shot from her living room while in the kitchen. Unfortunately, the story has gone [sub]very[/sub] quiet. We probably never will know the true story. All I DO know is, a mother of 2 is dead, the police shot her without her advancing or threatening, and our Police Chief resigned over it. Sam ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawmen-go-berserk-again/198313/35 "2003-08-29T14:46:40Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Blalron_\*\* > Couldn’t they have taken out their night clubs and hit him a few times? \*\* Let’s see… Kid (of unknown size) who (possibly) defied a good tasering is now coming at cop with knife, and you want that cop to engage in hand-to-hand combat with said kid, knife against club…? Is that correct, was that your proposal? Dunno about you, but to me that seems like simply asking the officer to offer himelf up for a good knifing. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawmen-go-berserk-again/198313/36 "2003-08-29T14:51:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GaWd \* > \*\*Monty- My point is that upon seeing a “weapon” the pig automatically shot her. No shouted warning, no warning shot(which our local PD is allowed), no nothing. Boom dead. \*\* A pig?!?!? :rolleyes: \*\* > [@](#): > > Cheesesteak- THat’s why our police are supposed to be observant, not quick to make rash decisions and supposed to keep the public in their forethoughts before acting. A little Vietnamese girl in another room had what appeared to be a knife. A big bad man charged in and shot her. No talking, just shooting. > > Stupid. > > Sam \*\* The only thing that’s stupid is your post. Where you there? Were you aware of the circumstances? Perhaps the officer _was_ observant, perhaps his decision was well thought out, who the hell knows, these things go down in a matter of seconds. Seeing how much of your ass is on the line when you shoot someone, I would imagine an officer would be damn sure of the situation before pulling the trigger. Are mistakes made? Sure, they are inevitable, but considering the pure amount of house calls and traffic stops, I don’t see a big problem of trigger happy cops. P.S. calling them pigs makes you look like an ass. ---
**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawmen-go-berserk-again/198313/37 "2003-08-29T15:22:13Z")
DNFR ---
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawmen-go-berserk-again/198313/38 "2003-08-29T15:41:46Z")
> [@](#): > > who (possibly) defied a good tasering Again, I seriously doubt that anyone could withstand two taserings. Although I wasn’t there, and anything’s possible, that part of the police’s story made my eyebrows shoot above my forehead. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawmen-go-berserk-again/198313/39 "2003-08-29T15:45:42Z")
> [@](#): > > P.S. calling them pigs makes you look like an ass. You’re right. Shouldn’t have used the term. Anywho, here’s just one article on the shooting: [http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/6321944.htm](http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/6321944.htm) Various quotes: > [@](#): > > Cau Thi Tran was in her kitchen when officers came to investigate reports of a child wandering in the street shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday. They heard screams and entered the home. Within a minute, officer Chad Marshall shot Tran after she brandished a 10-inch Asian vegetable peeler that police have described as a cleaver. It was less than a minute, entrance to shooting. The term “brandish” has been used, not threatened, nor advanced upon, Etc. While I think it takes less than a miunute for an Officer to survey the situation, there certainly should have been much more care involved in this. > [@](#): > > `All it takes is a little compassion, a little gentleness, a little carefulness and respect and things would have been different,'' he said. `Please all speak up and speak out to prevent senseless killings from happening again.’’ The above sums up my opinion quite nicely. Sam ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawmen-go-berserk-again/198313/40 "2003-08-29T15:53:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GaWd \* > **While I think it takes less than a miunute for an Officer to survey the situation, there certainly should have been much more care involved in this.** Well that, and don’t whip out a fucking 10 inch cleaver on a cop. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawmen-go-berserk-again/198313.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawmen-go-berserk-again/198313.md?page=3)