Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Letter to the editor:

Police face difficult challenges

Another view?

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In response to John Walsh’s letter, “Baffled by process on police shootings”:

I was an officer for 30 years. As one who has experienced these situations:

• At times officers have a split second to make a life-or-death decision.

• Pepper spray doesn’t always incapacitate a person.

• Tasers are not appropriate measures in certain cases.

• All officers don’t carry rubber bullets.

• Many incidents occur in a house or building out of sight of the vehicle’s dash camera. Officers can’t just drive their cars into the living room to accommodate some people.

• Often by the time you realize the “perp” has a gun, it’s too late.

• Why should we citizens lament the shooting of someone who refuses to comply with simple orders from a police officer?

• Why should we taxpayers foot the bill for families of perps or individuals who refuse, of their own accord, to obey simple commands issued by a police officer?

If Mr. Walsh and others of the same view feel they could reason with an unreasonable person, then they should apply for a position as a police officer.

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