The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1904-11-26
When Should Thew Shoot?

When shall policeman the weapons the law &C
cords him the right to and use7
1t is grave question: which has not been decided in
this community to the satisfaction of the public
The occupation of policeman is hazardous. Almost
daily some officer is taking chances, many times
scious of his danger The prisoner he may be
crazed by liquor, by trouble be desperate criminal
The weapon the captive may carry within reach,
looked by the captor The delicate mental balance between
caution and fear may be the only barrier murder
Yet in majority of cases. the officer through
safely Vigilance luck whatever may be called saves
him. The knowledge that the officer is armed, ready to
kill or wound, is a great deterrent.
In the hands of policemen revolver makes for
the safety and of the public In the hands of other
policemen 1t is serious to citizens general
Broadly speaking the safety danger depends upon the
individuality of the policeman carrying the revolver.
In the hands of cool, nervy policeman who is not
afraid OF being injured killed. revolver is
tor of the peace In the hands of policeman who
is continually looking forward to being killed wounded
is seeking the opportunity Of using his gum weapon is
deadly threat to do murder
In the first instance rules of conduct not wholly
necessary In the second instance collection Of rules
will to safeguard the public from wanton criminal
shooting.
1t is the one stern, unwrtten law among duty bound
brave policemen that their quarry must commit the first
overt act 1t is recognized by every courageous officer
that before he mains kills. the other fellow must be
given the opportunity of manning killing. Those are
the chances he is paid to take.
Some years ago. when he special officer on the
force Detective Bob Briey crawled through window
into the black hole of basement beneath after
burglar he had enter there The officer did not begin
shooting through the window before he entered. He
placed himself between the light and the burglar and took
chances of getting shot He got his without shooting
desperate criminal began shooting at Detective Nc
Dermott in crowded thoroughfare. The detective
unable to shoot readily because there innocent people
who might be killed and the criminal got away.
Later Officer Cecil Thompson captured the criminal and
his gun without shooting him. preferrng to take the risks
OF being shot rather than wound kill bysanders.
Detective Dan McPhee shot nearly through the eye
while arresng desperate crook because he refraned
from shooting first Sergeant Sullivan shot in the leg
while trying to overpower prisoner instead Of shooting
him.
A month ago Officer William Dial killed Otis Claud
after Caud had shot another and had tried twice to
kill the officer.
Officer James Logan jumped into the Station saloon in
the dead of night to arrest two burglars Of whom he
killed after they began shooting at him. He had the first
chance to kill both men.
All of these officers are brave They did what they
paid to do. They adhered to conduct which cIarac
terzes the highest degree of bravery They sked their
lives to obey the law and allow the other to commit
the overt actO shoot first These men would shoot
sneak thief in the back.
The rules of the Spokane police department declare
that ga police officer is armed for his self protection be-
his duties hazardous. His right to his pistol
is only the which ght be lawfully exercised by
any citizen under like circumstances
The rule referred to declares there is to
pistol except self defense, to stay the of
criminal, escaping prisoner.
OF utmost Importance is the Interpretation of this latter
clause The best Interpretation is that given by the best
officers They do not shoot to kill criminal who is
ming away unless that criminal be murderer, or a burg
lar who has menaced life.
is not prisoner until he is arrested. fleeing
escaping arrest is not to be shot down wfuly
sneak thief fleeing to escape arrest not real danger to
life. Ordinarily to stop him capable officer might shoot
into the air, into the ground The fe of a sneak
thief, is of more value than pair of shoes.
Policeman j. w. Willis shot Fred Brown while Brown
running away. complete investigation of this shoot
ing should be had The whewash of biased police board
should not suffice coroners jury should determine the
responsibility of the officer, in the man dies
Officer Willis may not be guilty of wanon reckless
of his revolver. There may be extenuating crcum
stance. He may have proved poor marksman while in
bending to shoot into the ground
The general belief is that he tried to shoot Brown in
The legs Yet would such aiming of revolver by police