bust Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Seems a bit excessive to me. Victorian police are defending the actions of officers who shot dead a 15-year-old boy in Melbourne's inner-east last night. Police used capsicum spray unsuccessfully and fired a warning shot into the ground before three officers shot the boy in the chest. The 15-year-old was armed with knives believed to have been stolen from a local shop. Police say his family had earlier stopped him from taking knives from the family home. Assistant Commissioner Tim Cartwright says officers acted correctly and rejected claims that they were trigger happy. It is not known how many shots hit the boy. Julian Burnside QC, the immediate past president of Liberty Victoria, says the incident is a sad reminder of the old days of Victoria Police being too heavy-handed with guns. "I must say, it's a very upsetting story, you've got a 15-year-old kid acting badly, he's got some knives, and you've got three policemen with pistols," he said. "It doesn't sound like a fair match, to bring him down in a hail of bullets seems like an over-reaction. "There may be more to it, we don't know yet, but I really do wonder why ... just one policeman might not have shot at his arm or shot at his leg. "But for three police men to open fire and kill a boy who's just got a couple of knives, looks like an over-reaction." Father Peter Norden from the Victorian Criminal Justice Coalition wants an independent investigation into the fatal shooting. The Coalition represents more than 50 legal, academic and community service organisations involved with the criminal justice system. Father Norden is warning against a "closed shop" investigation by police, to justify the use of deadly force. "The use of capsicum spray and a violent confrontation is often the worst possible response to a young person displaying emotional or psychiatric symptoms," he said. "The Victorian community calls for a more sophisticated response in dealing with disturbed individuals, particularly very young people. "Community agencies working with disturbed young people deal with serious incidents of this kind every evening, without resorting to a violent response." Homicide detectives and Ethical Standards police are investigating the shooting. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/12/2444585.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 Police rule of thumb: if someone comes at you using their fists, you use the billy club! if they use a knife, you use your gun! Always keep the upper hand and over power the opponent. Some yaba, meth head would try to tear your head off is you were not to over power them! However, YMMV, some common sense must be applied...so, no black/white, easy answer, IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torneyboy Posted December 12, 2008 Report Share Posted December 12, 2008 I have been following this on talk back this morning ..many views of what should have been the response ..by the public and EX officers.... Most are saying let's leave it to the Coroner to get the real story.. Either way sad loss of a young life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bust Posted December 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2008 I don't think a 15 year old would be making much progress with a pair of shattered knee caps from a 38 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torneyboy Posted December 12, 2008 Report Share Posted December 12, 2008 One ex cop said to make a shot like that you would need to be an Olympic shooter.... And to use a baton would get the cop to close to the knife... Some suggested a large net to throw over the boy .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bust Posted December 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2008 You mean between 3 of them they couldn't put one bullet in his leg or arm......but they have no problem delivering a series of shots to the chest? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torneyboy Posted December 12, 2008 Report Share Posted December 12, 2008 He said that was the training ...shoot at the body mass...but why all three had to shoot is a mystery to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bust Posted December 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2008 So in other words the police a trained to kill not to disarm or immobilise ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torneyboy Posted December 12, 2008 Report Share Posted December 12, 2008 It sounds that way ...remember the same thing happened on Bondi beach i think... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hippie Posted December 12, 2008 Report Share Posted December 12, 2008 You mean between 3 of them they couldn't put one bullet in his leg or arm......but they have no problem delivering a series of shots to the chest? O.k. lets look at the big picture...some numb nut cops with guns, a fucked up brat/punk/nut job kid with knives, not complying...are there other people around? want to try and hit a moving arm or leg? especially when you yourself might be a bit nervous? What if you miss the small target, and hit an innocent bystander? then you'd bitch about that. Cops (who I generally have little respect for) are trained to aim for the largest possible target/center of mass. The reason is 2 fold 1) it stops the attacker cold, and 2) it reduces the chances of missing and hitting an innocent bystander directly or by ricochet. A larger target is easier to hit when moving, a small knee or arm is not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.