JD I don't think anyone thinks being a law officer is easy in any circumstance. It is thankless and dangerous. We are truly lucky to have the vast vast majority of them doing the right things and protecting all of us. That doesn't excuse the few bad apples in law enforcement. That is in all circles of public service.

 

Deescalation is a skill that everyone needs IMO. It is not always possible, I know. Most often it gets worse when things are escalated.

Man started shooting pretty quickly upon being stopped...any deescalation skills probably would have failed.

Man started shooting pretty quickly upon being stopped...any deescalation skills probably would have failed.

 

I realize that in this case and I am sure a few more. However, most (vast majority) misdemeanors don't end this awful way. I also realize you never know in any situation and should have your guard up. I was talking in general terms, as I thought you were with your statement I replied to initially.

To unfairly attempt to put this in perspective, I can tell you that living in San Antonio I can tell you that the South and East sides are the two "worst" areas of the city and not places that I tend to venture around. Even stereotyping a bit to put things in perspective, and I don't know the kid's story, but serving this "graffiti" warrant in those areas of town makes me think that I wouldn't be shocked at all if "graffiti" were "tagging". Again, that's not to say that he did or didn't do it, just that if you are in South San or East San, much less Southeast San, then you'd know that it's a hotbed of crime. I know this is listed as Elmendorf, but it's still in Bexar County, which the entire city of San Antonio (the 7th most populous city in the US) is in (and the city limits are in no other counties to the best of my knowledge).

Elmendorf residents shine blue light bulbs for slain police chief

I'm not a native Texan yet, but I know enough about the area to tell you that prosecutors will seek the death penalty and that this kid, if found guilty, will not like his new surroundings where he ends up. I've represented people who've been housed in Texas Correctional Facilities that house death row inmates, and I've yet to hear any of them even give the slightest hint that it's anything like a "camp".

 

Sounds like an awful incident in a really bad part of town based on this blurb from the story (linked below):

 

"Pamerleau said Pimentel had called another officer to "come provide cover" before he approached Lopez. But, she said, the shooting had occurred by the time the officer arrived."

 

Based on that, sounds like the officer knew that there could be trouble given the fact that he'd already called another officer to "come provide cover" before even approaching.

 

 

Joshua Lopez charged in slaying of Texas police chief, report says - CBS News

I'm glad you can be so cavalier with some ones life...must be nice.

 

You're too close to the situation to be rational about this, which is understandable. You know as well as anybody else that your son knows the risk involved with doing the job. Not saying that makes it any easier. It's just the reality of it all.

Was the officer wearing a vest?

Was the officer wearing a vest?

 

A vest doesn't protect from a head shot.

A vest doesn't protect from a head shot.

 

He wasn't shot in the head...

A vest doesn't protect from a head shot.

 

I'm sorry, I thought he was shot in the abdomen.

You're too close to the situation to be rational about this, which is understandable. You know as well as anybody else that your son knows the risk involved with doing the job. Not saying that makes it any easier. It's just the reality of it all.

 

I understand what your saying, but where was I irrational?

I'm not sure what you are saying. Of course there would be an outcry if an officer kicked in a door for a misdemeanor.

 

Shouldn't there be?

 

So an arrest warrant (issued by a judge) should be ignored if a guy runs in the house and shuts the door behind him or because he may have a gun with him?

 

I guess in a perfect world criminals would all just come turn themselves in to Jail each morning.

You are 100% right. We need to have our standard officers equipped similarly to your average soldier was in Baghdad.

Average Soldier had a Bullet Proof Vest (not really bullet proof) a hand gun and a rifle.

 

So you don't think police officers should wear a vest, carry a gun and have a backup shotgun and rifle available in their car.

So an arrest warrant (issued by a judge) should be ignored if a guy runs in the house and shuts the door behind him or because he may have a gun with him?

 

I guess in a perfect world criminals would all just come turn themselves in to Jail each morning.

 

A warrant for a misdemeanor? I'm not sure that response is appropriate because the officer doesn't know what's behind the door nor does society want a shootout over unpaid parking tickets.

A warrant for a misdemeanor? I'm not sure that response is appropriate because the officer doesn't know what's behind the door nor does society want a shootout over unpaid parking tickets.

 

So you just ignore the arrest warrant? I guess the judge would be cool with that.

 

First response IMO wouldn't be to kick the door in either...but if you knock on the door and they refuse to come out should the police just give up and go home?