Nah, it's best to terrorize citizens first, then find out what's going on...[/QUOTE]
I have 11 years on the job, all in patrol. I'm a Tactical Operator, instructor and I train new copers. After I left active duty and earned my degree I realized I wasn't going back in the Nav and went to the academy. I'm saying all of that not to write about "me" but so all of you know I'm not some poser.
First of all I take offense to the quote I posted. Utilizing such a term like "terrorize" to describe a LE trained technique is unprofessional and very, very wrong. 1/2 the guys on AW have engaged and killed folks who "terrorize" the innocent with ordnance that I've built! Choose your words more wisley.
That being said, I think the individuals that posted their desire not to Monday a.m. QB are right on target. Unless of course someone has read the police reports or heard the exchange of intell between agencies? I haven't. That's a big problem in today's society, the media reports something and everyone jumps to some conclusion. Those of you who are on active duty or were and are in the TACAIR community understand what I'm talking about or should. We hear about Afghani civilians being killed in airstrikes which then dictates the restricted ROE you guys have to follow. I think that's FUBAR, we're at war.
In LE we follow ROE just like the TACAIR guys have to. Remember a few years ago the F-15 pilot that bagged an Mi-8 helo? The bogey (not bandit) was operating in the no fly zone so he fired and killed the helo and all aboard. Great! An air to air kill, every fighter jocks dream right? The media reported he didn't follow ROE because he failed to VID it before engaging the threat. The threat was a UH-60 full of Americans and foreign dignitaries. The pilot is heard calling the lock, shot and kill by saying, "stick a fork in him!" Oooowwww! Not good.
I use that example to show that we work in an unforgiving environment where decisions at times have to be made quickly and sometimes all the necessary information needed isn't coming as fast you may want it to. I can run stolen a/c info on my squad computer. Have I ever had to? No. My agency is adjacent to Gen. Mitchell Int'l in MKE, but the Sheriff handles the airport. Could some goof land a stolen Cessna on an adjacent HWY in my city? I suppose. Would I react the same way these copers did? I don't know because I would personally have to do my own threat assessment.
These copers performed a trained technique, a high risk vehicle contact. This technique is trained throughout LE and maybe even over seas now. This type of stop is performed when an officer(s) perceives a higher threat that would dictate approaching the vehicle or in this case the Cessna as unwise. Why? Well the cops have been told the a/c is stolen. I know that stealing an a/c is a felony, at least in WI it is. A felony is a serious crime and someone who is willing to steal an a/c in my opinion is pretty damned determined to commit a crime. Is my threat assessment hightened? Yep! Is my gun coming out? My M-16 is coming out! Like "rare21" said, we don't know who the hell is in that car, truck or in this case the Cessna. With the intell I have at the moment I don't know what's going on with the a/c or its pilot, I don't know what their goals or intentions are, all I know is the a/c is stolen. As "scoolbubba" mentioned, "Cops raised their hand and took an oath that put the public before their own safety." That's correct, however I'm potentially protecting the public from a potential felon who just stole a Cessna with unknown intentions. This is the safest way to apprehend the subject(s) involved and conduct my investigation while keeping me and my peers safe which is my ultimate goal. We have another saying, "It's better to be judged by 12 than carried by 8."
LE ROE is dictated by three things: 1. the law, 2. policy & procedure and 3. Training and Standards. Personally I've never performed, trained or been trained on how to conduct a vehicle contact involving an a/c. So, the police have to carry out the mission with the knowledge or training they have. In this case the police were told there was a stolen a/c landing at the AP and the tower would taxi them to your location. My guess is these copers are thinking, "stolen airplane? WTF?! How are we going to handle this?" Well, it's stolen so lets handle it like we would a vehicle on the road. Get the occupants out and investigate it. Was there a break down in communication here - apparently. But to dog the copers who responded? No. We follow orders just like you guys do, LE is a quasi-military organization. That's why we take an oath to defend, protect and uphold. We follow the chain of command and have discipline and ethics just like the military.
