"the officer who fatally shot 58-year-old Jackie Collins in the Hoyt Arboretum on March 22." ????

Is there something wrong with "who shot and killed" there? Is that too clear?

Maybe the some of the PR flacks on Sammy Trammy's staff could be dispatched to teach the boys in yellow a thing or two about public relations. Oh wait. They don't care, they don't have to, they're the PoPo

From Woodburn, a story about what happens when the Law Enforcement Officer waits too long before escalating to deadly use of force.
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/03/woodburn_officer_suspect_shot.html

I personally know three cops who died because they were ambushed or hesitated to use deadly force (all in California). I also know all their kids, and their widows. Having cops that are reluctant to fire their service weapon will lead to more dead cops.

The investigation led police to an apartment complex in the 3700 block of Sunnyview Drive NE, where they suspected one of the burglars was hiding out.

While Woodburn police waited for Salem officers to arrive, the burglary suspect fired multiple rounds at a Woodburn officer.

A few minutes later, as police from Salem and the Marion County Sheriff's Office flooded the area, a Marion County deputy spotted the suspect in the rear parking lot of a business in the 2200 block of Lancaster Drive NE. A deputy shot the suspect.

Unless you propose cops fire blindly anywhere they might possibly believe a suspect could be, you're take on this doesn't jibe with this news account, Mr. Tee.

There are three kinds of people in this world:

Those who have committed a crime
Those who are about to commit a crime
Those who are thinking about committing a crime.

Therefor, commence spraying the entire population of the world with deadly force.

Phalanx guns mounted on Hummers should do it.

Time to revise the job description and entry requirements: BA/S from accredited college in social work or psychology or BA/S in other subject, plus one year social service experience. The question keeps coming back to this, "what do you want us to be, social workers?" Let's just make the answer a clear "yes" and get on with it.

Even if it was a legitimate use of force in the case of Jackie Collins, it's still absolutely ridiculous to award that person "Officer of the Month" right now. I agree with Jack - Tone Deaf to the Extreme.

Lewis,

I'm not suggesting that "cops fire blindly anywhere" when they feel threatened. That's a ridiculous straw man argument.

I am suggesting that Police Officers routinely face danger (both seen and unseen) that most armchair critics cannot begin to fathom. Police Officers can and do die on the job with greater frequency than social workers or hipster douchebags.

Dyspeptic,

We don't pay Police Officers sufficiently (or teach them) to wrestle knives away from suicidal creeps, or take a bullet before returning fire. They are trained to use deadly force before the bad guys. That's a good thing. They aren't social workers, they are there to serve and protect law abiding citizens from the creeps (like Jackie Collins) who the Social Workers an social safety net didn't adequately serve.

So mister tee, what do you think when the problems have gotten so great/bad that its NOT just the "social workers or hipster douchebags" that are realizing that this is out of control? Thats it's not just the "armchair critics" that are beginning to see that some officers have recognizable mental health issues that are covered up by the union and naiveté people by yourself?
And the last time I check they actually do teach some self defense hand to hand against knives.
The whole idea of community policing was some social work!

Mister Tee,

You wrote:

From Woodburn, a story about what happens when the Law Enforcement Officer waits too long before escalating to deadly use of force.

The story you linked to - and all others I've since seen regarding this incident - do not support your claim that this policeman was shot because he waited too long to escalate to deadly force.

Unless you propose that cops start shooting the second they arrive at a place they believe a suspect may be, that is.

Which is, of course, ridiculous. Glad you caught that.

In reality, it appears the cop was surprised by the suspect, who began firing on him. The cop then returned fire. Nothing at all suggests he hesitated or waited in any way.

Stop spinning this horrible incident in an attempt to vindicate the bad apples in LE.

Oh, and...

Since loggers, fishermen and - I believe - even convenience store employees, can and do die on the job with greater frequency than cops, are THEY allowed to play "armchair critic" then?

What a ridiculous argument. None of us would be allowed to be critical or speak up about anyone or anything outside of our own personal experience. Have you ever served on the City Council? No? Guess your opinion isn't valuable or worth listening to.

Talk about a logical fallacy.