zero_gravitasBystanders, cop shot as NYPD opens fire on alleged fare-beater in Brooklyn subway
Maddrey said the officers followed the man, each firing a Taser which proved ineffective in subduing the man. He then exited the train while it was still at the station and charged the officers with the knife, the chief said.
What, it’s not a good idea to do that now?
Nah, it’s definitely the police in the wrong here.
Yes, firing a gun in a crowded subway station is absolutely in the wrong, as we can see by the three innocent people shot, one in the head. There are police forces across the world trained to deal with assailants with deadly weapons including knives without shooting them. It’s reasonable to expect the NYPD to have the same level of training and judgement.
They tried to Taser the guy twice.
Just out of interest, what would you have done differently?
BertramDitoreHonestly? The guy had a knife, which might have injured one of the cops, maybe. US police are far too afraid for their own safety, and automatically reach for their gun when they think there might be the slightest minor chance that they could be in a little bit of danger.
If being in dangerous situations makes you open fire in a crowd of random innocent people, then you should not be a cop. Cops need to learn to accept the risks they signed up for, de-escalate, and protect the public before they obsess over protecting themselves. I know protecting the public is not technically their job, but opening fire in a crowded subway is laughably irresponsible, and should be an immediate fireable offense.
The guy had a knife, which might have injured one of the cops, maybe.
Where do people like you even come from?
Also, they tasered the guy twice before finally shooting him, so they didn’t “automatically reach for their guns”.
I come from an over-policed city, where I am genuinely afraid of every cop I see, because of stories just like this.
So you don’t think cops should be required to gauge the risk to the public before they gauge the risk to themselves? They chose a dangerous career, and seem unwilling to accept the risks that come along with it. A knife is less dangerous than a loaded gun, I don’t think that’s a controversial thing to say.
I’m not saying the police were perfect here, but someone attacking you with a knife isn’t something that “might” kill you, it’s an incredibly dangerous situation that presents an immediate danger to your life.
Honestly, some of the comments here are so detached from reality it’s incredible.
Cops are too quick to use violence. That’s just a sad reality. Violence is not necessarily the correct response to a violent situation. There are ton of techniques to deescalate even the most violent and dangerous situations. Granted, the NYPD isn’t trained in those techniques, so that’s a big problem, but the cops put the public in more danger than the danger the cops faced by this one violent individual. Personally, I would rather the police put public safety above all else, including themselves. I know asking anyone to put themselves at risk to protect another person is a lot to ask, but if cops aren’t willing to do that, then it comes down to us. And in that case, what are the cops for?
but the cops put the public in more danger than the danger the cops faced by this one violent individual.
I’m not sure that’s the case here actually, it sounds to me like it was only a matter of time before this person went off on someone if they were so quick to pull a knife on the police.