# Were the cops justified in using a robot to blow up the police killing sniper? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 10, 2016, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-cops-justified-in-using-a-robot-to-blow-up-the-police-killing-sniper/759531 "2016-07-10T05:12:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-cops-justified-in-using-a-robot-to-blow-up-the-police-killing-sniper/759531/121 "2016-07-15T00:16:57Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > You think the police have absolutely NO obligation to attempt to arrest people who refuse to surrender? I don’t think you meant to come across that way, but it sounds kind of like you’re saying “refusing to surrender to police should be a capital offense for which you don’t deserve a trial.” I think police have no obligation to attempt to arrest _murderers_ who refuse to surrender. If the opportunity presents itself, great, but I’m not going to blame anyone - police officer or otherwise - who kills him in self defense or in the defense of others. ---
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-cops-justified-in-using-a-robot-to-blow-up-the-police-killing-sniper/759531/122 "2016-07-15T01:08:34Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > I think police have no obligation to attempt to arrest _murderers_ who refuse to surrender. If the opportunity presents itself, great, but I’m not going to blame anyone - police officer or otherwise - who kills him in self defense or in the defense of others. But you are moving the goalposts. Police and even civilians have always had a right to self-defense. Your original post seemed to state that failure to surrender means cops can use lethal force with no other justification. Are you backtracking from that? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-cops-justified-in-using-a-robot-to-blow-up-the-police-killing-sniper/759531/123 "2016-07-15T03:43:46Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > I think police have no obligation to attempt to arrest _murderers_ who refuse to surrender. If the opportunity presents itself, great, but I’m not going to blame anyone - police officer or otherwise - who kills him in self defense or in the defense of others. So, you’ve finally found a form of drone warfare you support? Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-cops-justified-in-using-a-robot-to-blow-up-the-police-killing-sniper/759531/124 "2016-07-15T04:54:03Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > So, you’ve finally found a form of drone warfare you support? > > Interesting. No, what’s interesting is that you can’t tell the difference between the two. Killing one specific person who can be traced directly to the murder spree he was responsible for a few hours earlier is not equivalent to blowing up a restaurant because the son of someone you don’t like is eating there. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-cops-justified-in-using-a-robot-to-blow-up-the-police-killing-sniper/759531/125 "2016-07-15T09:25:17Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by \*\*Goofus \*\* > What are police dogs for if not situations like this? > [@Grumman](#): > > They are _not_ for throwing away on suicidal charges against men with rifles. I guess that’s true. Seems police now think that whatever they have to do to ensure they make it home at the end of the day is justified. Likewise, whatever they have to do to make sure the K9 makes it back to his kennel at the end of the day is justified too. What we need is a brave new force for public order; for good and righteousness. I suggest police raccoons. Or maybe police possums… perhaps police pigeons? Or maybe police rats. Something that you wouldn’t mind so much sending into a stable, but potentially hazardous situation. Police coalmine canaries? Police fruit flies? ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-cops-justified-in-using-a-robot-to-blow-up-the-police-killing-sniper/759531/126 "2016-07-15T09:37:11Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > You have no idea what you’re talking about. Sacrificing a $100,000 robot instead of a $400,000 police officer _saves_ money. I don’t think you did all the math, there. Fiscally speaking, it’s even better than that! Luckily the officers on the scene had their calculators out. They saved even _more_ money bypassing an expensive trial, appeal, appeal, appeal, appeal, appeal, and incarceration for 23 years on Death Row (errrr… scratch that… it’s Texas. Make that 2 years incarceration. Still save a bunch o’ money, though!) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-cops-justified-in-using-a-robot-to-blow-up-the-police-killing-sniper/759531.md?page=6)