Subj : Re: Off-duty cop shoots 3 unarmed shoppers at my neighborhood Costco
To   : poindexter FORTRAN
From : Vk3jed
Date : Thu Jun 20 2019 09:11 am

-=> On 06-17-19 06:47, poindexter FORTRAN wrote to Digital Man <=-

 pF> I'd love to hear about a law enforcement agency teaching de-escalation
 pF> techniques. Seems like a lost art. If anything, the outliers people
 pF> see on the 'net appear needlessly escalated, by the police.

Cops here use guns as their very last resort, and any police using firearms on
members of the public tends to generate big news stories, especially if it's a
fatality.  Around 20 years ago, there was a period with a high number of
incidents involving police firearm use, and that sparked an inquiry and led to
the adoption of capsicum spray and tasers as non lethal alternatives.

 pF> It's scary to think that my son is going to be driving soon and if
 pF> pulled over, need to make decisions that could change his life, for a
 pF> traffic stop.

I've always been one to engage with the police and treat them as people in the
conversation.  As it turns out, most of my traffic stops in my younger days
were because of my ham radio hobby (and the resulting antennas on the car). 
Cops were curious, and wanted to know what I had in the car, so I'd indulge
their curiosity and have a chat.  And as I was legally licensed, I knew I had
nothing to worry about.

These days, it seems a similarly equipped car without probationary plates
attracts less curiosity.  Traffic stops nowadays are routine random breath
tests - again, nothing to worry about, I hardly drink at the best of times and
make it a point not to drink then drive.  I usually thank them for getting the
drunks off the road. :)


.... BACHELOR: A man who never makes the same mistake once.
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