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Differences in modern-day policing

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Steve

Steve

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From a friend of mine who is a serving officer in the UK.....

How do you tell the difference between a British Police Officer, an Australian Police Officer, and an American Police Officer?

Pose the following question:

You're walking down a deserted street with your wife and two small children. Suddenly, a dangerous looking man with a huge knife comes around the corner, locks eyes with you, screams obscenities, raises the knife, and charges.

You are carrying a Glock .17, and you are an expert shot. You have mere seconds before he reaches you and your family.
What do you do?

BRITISH POLICE OFFICER'S Answer:
Well, that's not enough information to answer the question!

Oh my goodness, I must remember the force continuum - I MUST use minimum force although he is about to kill me !

Does the man look poor or oppressed?

Have I ever done anything to him that would inspire him to attack?

Could we run away?

Could I possibly swing the gun like a club and knock the knife out of his hand?

What does the law say about this situation?

Does the Glock have appropriate safety built into it?

Why am I carrying a loaded gun anyway, and what kind of message does this send to society and to my children?

Is it possible he'd be happy with just killing me?

Does he definitely want to kill me, or would he be content just to wound me?

If I were to grab his knees and hold on, could my family get away while he was stabbing me?

Should I call 9-9-9?

Why is this street so deserted? We need to raise taxes, have a paint and weed day and make this a happier, healthier street that would discourage such behaviour.

If I raise my gun and he turns and runs away, Do I get blamed when he falls over running away, knocks his head and kills himself?

If I shoot him, and lose the court case, does he have the opportunity to sue me, cost me my job, my credibility and will I lose my family home?



AUSTRALIAN OFFICER'S Answer:

BANG!



AMERICAN OFFICER'S Answer:

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Click....(sounds of reloading)

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Click.

Daughter: "Nice grouping, Dad! Were those the Winchester Silver Tips?"
 
You can get more than 12 shots off from a Glock 17 before reloading.

What's the cop doing carrying a gun with a partial load in the mag? He should be disciplined for incompetance /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
A very good friend was a police officer on the Philadelphia force for over 20 years. In all that time, he only unholstered his weapon one time while on duty. He said that it was the scariest moment of his life, thinking he might kill someone. He thanked God that he didn't. He never had to unholster it again while on duty. He thinks TV has given police a very bad and false image.
 
I must be a closet Aussie. I liked that best: "Gun Control." /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif

On a photo essay during a "ride along" with a local deputy we were called to assist others. I thought the day was gonna be mundane, it changed rather abruptly. About four cruisers were in a parking lot, we stop and the deputy I was with got out to have a conversation with the rest. We then drive off to a local trailer park to find and arrest some guy. I asked what the warrant was for, deputy calmly replys: "Murder."

Gah.

We go past a "mobile home" with a few fellas sitting out onna porch, one scuttles off the back of it: "There's our perp!" says my driver. The others fanned out, some guns drawn, chase the goon down and tackle him. Meanwhile I'm looking thru the viewfinder with one eye, the other is scanning for places to duck that should stop a round if things get warm... thankfully no shots fired.

I deep-sixed the story: Same reason as Basil's Rules. I was the publisher of the community paper it was to go into and decidede the whole thing was less-than upbeat. It was a surreal event after living a quiet life past my 'war years'.
 
PAUL161 said:
A very good friend was a police officer on the Philadelphia force for over 20 years. In all that time, he only unholstered his weapon one time while on duty. He said that it was the scariest moment of his life, thinking he might kill someone. He thanked God that he didn't. He never had to unholster it again while on duty. He thinks TV has given police a very bad and false image.
Click to expand...

I agree with the effect that the media, and in particular, TV, has had on the police. I too know officers over here who have never had to draw their gun, and hope that they never have to!
 
DrEntropy said:
I must be a closet Aussie. I liked that best: "Gun Control." /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif

On a photo essay during a "ride along" with a local deputy we were called to assist others. I thought the day was gonna be mundane, it changed rather abruptly. About four cruisers were in a parking lot, we stop and the deputy I was with got out to have a conversation with the rest. We then drive off to a local trailer park to find and arrest some guy. I asked what the warrant was for, deputy calmly replys: "Murder."

Gah.

We go past a "mobile home" with a few fellas sitting out onna porch, one scuttles off the back of it: "There's our perp!" says my driver. The others fanned out, some guns drawn, chase the goon down and tackle him. Meanwhile I'm looking thru the viewfinder with one eye, the other is scanning for places to duck that should stop a round if things get warm... thankfully no shots fired.

I deep-sixed the story: Same reason as Basil's Rules. I was the publisher of the community paper it was to go into and decidede the whole thing was less-than upbeat. It was a surreal event after living a quiet life past my 'war years'.
Click to expand...

Interesting story there Doc.....in the UK we would have had the place surrounded before officers went in to look for him. It makes things a whole lot easier when they run upon seeing an officer, saves you having to ask who the bad guys are.

You can see why so many ex-army tend to gravitate towards law enforcement, can't you?

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
 
A lot of these fellas are doin' "double duty" too: National Guard, Reserves. Sheriffs Department is always low on manpower these days as a result.
 
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