re: Cops kill suicidal man threatening to light himself on fire

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At least now he has a chance at getting into heaven. Cops doing the Lords work.

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Csb: My dad had a guy that used to work at his office that tried to commit suicide via lighting himself on fire. He went up to the office one Sunday when nobody was there and poured fricking diesel all over himself. As soon as he was one big ball of flailing flame he regretted his decision, somehow got on a phone and called the ambulance. He lived.

He came back up to the office a few weeks later looking like Freddie Kruger. All the ladies were telling him how good he looked. And my dad’s buddy and another coworker were in one of the offices and the guy that was with my dad’s friend said “Oh my God man, you look horrible!”

Dad’s friend couldn’t stand it and had to turn around so the guy wouldn’t see him laughing.

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I hate situations like in the OP because it just makes all cops look like they are itching to put a bullet in a person. That's why I cringe at the tacti-cool new hires that think they are operators showing up to every call wearing shooting glasses and gloves. Its a disgrace and embarrassment to anyone that has chosen a career in LE because they actually wanted to help people.

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The sentiments you echo (I have no law enforcement experience, if you don't count KFOR, but I have many, many friends and relatives who are/were cops) illustrate an ongoing problem - the profile of crime has so expanded in the 21st Century, particularly with terroristic components, you almost need 3 different police forces -

Force 1 - Community police and, heck, I don't know if they should even be in uniforms. Put them in polo shirts, bright colors, give them a radio and pocket pistol (maybe long guns in the vehicle). Have them out there, every day, communicating with the people, hearing their concerns, writing reports. Send these cats to domestic violence calls and suicide stuff (at least first, maybe have backup on the way). Send them to take reports of a crime that is already over. Have them as your school resource officers. Send them (first) to protests to make contact with the protest leaders - these are your friendly face cops. Unmarked cars - crossover SUVs, maybe even the little adorable hybrids that are non-threatening.

Force 2 - "regular" cops - maybe lightweight body armor, otherwise, full kit, cruiser, cuffs. These are guys who initially respond to burglary, robbery, attempted murder, plus your high visibility cops in high crime areas. A sign of "progress" for a community will be fewer of these and more Force 1 guys.

Force 3 - Tactical, civil unrest response and felony/high risk warrant service. These cats hit your drug labs, violent fugitives, and otherwise serve as your heavy duty. Keep them in cages until it's time to release them. Some of the more even tempered (or older/more experienced) can slide into Force 2 slots as needed, but training to adjust to their kit. "If you're wearing a badge and patrol uniform? Calm the frick down."

And we would have fewer problems with this kind of stuff, IMHO.

How about use subdue instead of kill

Cops have such a thankless job.

My experience(s) in my 42 years of being on this earth is this.....if you do things that make other people call the cops on you, expect things to not go nicely. In other words, don't be a shite bag unproductive citizen.