Yet another big win for New York’s largest street gang in the double standards department.

No doubt that in NYC, this is a double standard, as is carrying a gun at all. But from the reports, it sounds like he was fully justified in shooting.

It doesn’t matter if you’re one hundredth of one percentage point over an arbitrary limit (as this cop was), or if you’re dead drunk: a justified shooting is still as justified as it would be if you were a tee-totaller.

Good point. And you’re right, I should have pointed out in the first post this was unlikely to be a regular occurrence.

I will point out though that “purse snatching” (which is really “strong-arm robbery”) is hardly a victimless, non-violent crime. These guys typically target old women, or young mothers with children.

Try telling a young mother, who has just lost her rent and grocery money, that it would be a miracle if you managed to get her purse back. I’ve had to do just that, many times.

While I’m at it here, I’ll point out that many times when SWAT is reported to have been involved, they weren’t. It’s very possible–perhaps even likely–that a lot of officers were required to cover multiple exits, and witnesses just assumed they were SWAT.

And, yes, I’ve personally had some bad experiences resulting from poor reporting by the news media.

“I have to assume SWAT is not normally called out for things such as this, or it wouldn’t have been newsworthy.”

Here you imply that it’s okay that SWAT was called because this was likely an isolated incident.
Yet in your first post, you imply that the ends justify the means, anything to “put these two away.”

The problem is that if you give them an inch, they will take a mile. If you say that it’s okay for SWAT to be sent out when someone gets their purse stolen, the police force will use that as justification to use SWAT in many other largely benign situations. The police will love it because it will give them a reason to bloat their budget. Local politicians will love it because they can point to it and say “See how tough I am on crime? Vote for me!”

Gee, I’m in the minority again. Who woulda thunk it?:)

The news article didn’t state why SWAT was called out. Perhaps there was a good reason, perhaps not. I have to assume SWAT is not normally called out for things such as this, or it wouldn’t have been newsworthy. And it’s been my first-hand experience that news reports of police operations are likely to be inaccurate or incomplete. (I’m pretty sure Mr. Balko would agree with me on that.)

Was she supposed to be armed? Was she homicidal or suicidal? Were bystanders put at risk? And how did the police get this information? There just isn’t enough information in the news article for me to say, one way or the other, if this was the right thing to do.

And without more information, I can onky say again that I’m happy those two are off the streets.

It’s important that you know that you’re giving the “thumbs up” to poor policing.

When they operate in pairs like these two did, they’re notoriously tough to catch. I really don’t care if they called out SWAT; putting those two away is a good thing.

http://www.whiotv.com/news/16910498/detail.html

Let me take a wild guess that they didn’t have a warrant, and kicked in the door and took her for “a ride on the Taser” when she failed to get on her knees and suck on command. There may as well not be an investigation, we all know the officer will be cleared.

Then there’s this sickening sequence of events:

http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Jul15/0,4670,PoliceShootingBreathalyzer,00.html
http://www.nypost.com/seven/07162008/news/regionalnews/new_cop_rule_is_just_call_911_120140.htm
http://www.nypost.com/seven/07162008/postopinion/editorials/he_deserves_heros_medal__not_a_lashing_120174.htm
https://secure.nypost.com/seven/07172008/news/regionalnews/tipsy_detective_back_on_the_job_120278.htm

Sorry, a pilot can’t fly for eight hours after he imbibes. A paramedic or EMT in NY can’t treat patients for eight hours. If you’re carrying a gun, I don’t believe it unreasonable to expect you to STAY SOBER. If you want to tie one on, put the gun away until you sober up.

Yet another big win for New York’s largest street gang in the double standards department. Anyone else unable to hide behind a badge would still be at Riker’s Island while all the usual suspects would be wringing their hands about how the Supreme Court was wrong in Heller and here’s why.

And I love that righteous chest-thumping about how off duty cops should just call 911 and not get involved. Hell, most of the time NYPD won’t get involved ON DUTY AND IN UNIFORM. So why do we pay all this tax money for another street gang with immunity?

http://www.local6.com/news/16904043/detail.html

Kudos to the department there for taking out the trash.

It’s the only way to be sure.