Two Federal Bureau of Investigation agents were killed and three others wounded in Sunrise, FL where they were serving a search warrant for Child Pornography. The suspect was also killed. The specific role of the five agents is unknown as to whether they were part of the tactical response or there as investigators. That is important because, as investigators they should have allowed the tactical team (likely local) to make the scene safe before making entry.
The question that needs to be asked is whether this tragedy was the result of tactical errors or whether they were the victim of fear of coming in “heavy” and pissing off a small, but vocal segment of the public. The demands on law enforcement to use extreme restraint because of the media response to police use of force.
The cries to “de-militarize” the police have placed local, state and federal officers in undue and unnecessary danger because a segment of the population wants a utopian world where they are no predators and dangerous people. They have gotten a media buy-in who display what they perceive to be excessive actions by law enforcement.
In a recent incident, Rochester, NY officers used pepper spray to subdue a nine year old child who refused to be placed in the back of the police cruiser. The use of chemical irritant was wrong on many levels and was the lazy way to get the girl in the cruiser. It provided more fodder for the activists attempting to show the abuse of police authority and challenge the training methodology which has been successful for decades.
The fact is that an overwhelming show of force reduces the risk of injury to both law enforcement and suspects because they see the futility of resistance. When it is believed that resistance can be successful, suspects will resort to any act in their effort to escape custody. Some will make the decision that death is their only option and want to take as many as possible with them. In both cases, law enforcement needs to be tactically prepared to respond. Any confrontation with a suspect has the potential of being violent and the safety of law enforcement should be paramount.
The American people need to make a decision as to what they want for their safety and security and to support the efforts of law enforcement in providing that service. Accountability is necessary that officers are following the law and policy, but humans make mistakes and officers are placed in high risk situations on a regular basis.
Officers need the tools to safely perform their function and not fear “Monday morning quarterbacks!”