I guess,since cops rarely get attacked out of nowhere they should just carry without eve a mag in the gun. Chances of them getting mugged or beat up randomly are slim to none. Most often they get a call to show up. Plenty of time there to load
I wish that were true. Unfortunately, most law enforcement shootings are at close range with little or no warning. There are times when I am responding to an incident where there is a strong possibility that there may be armed resistance. Then I deploy my rifle. Eating pizza? Walking out of the barracks? Checking out an abandoned car? All low threat scenarios yet officers were murdered. Officers have to be ready for instant response to surprise attack at all times.
2014: A Terrible Year for Ambushes
On January 30th, Sergeant Cory Wride of the Utah County (Utah) Sheriff's Office was shot and killed from ambush while checking on what he believed was an abandoned vehicle. He is survived by his wife and five children.
On March 19th, Deputy Ricky Del Fiorentino of the Mendocino County (Calif.) Sheriff's Office was shot and killed from ambush while searching for a subject who had abducted two people earlier in the day.
On May 1st, Sergeant Patrick Scott Johnson and Trooper Gabriel Rich — both of the Alaska State Troopers — were shot and killed by ambush while investigating reports that a person had brandished a firearm in the village of Tanana several days earlier. Rich is survived by his two sons, fiancé, and parents. Johnson is survived by his wife, three daughters, parents, and siblings.
On May 30th, Officer Brian Jones of the Norfolk (Va.) Police Department was shot and killed from ambush while investigating the killing of a 17-year-old boy earlier that day. Officer Jones was a U.S. Navy veteran and is survived by his wife and three young children.
On June 8th, Officers Igor Soldo and Alyn Beck — both of the Las Vegas (Nev.) Metropolitan Police Department — were shot and killed from ambush execution style without warning while eating lunch at a pizzeria.
On July 6th, Patrolman Jeffrey Brady Westerfield of the Gary (Ind.) Police Department was shot and killed from ambush as he sat in his patrol car. The exact circumstances of his death are unknown, although it's notable that he had responded to the same area on a call earlier in the night. Westerfield is survived by his four daughters and fiancée.
On July 13th, Detective Melvin Santiago of the Jersey City (N.J.) Police Department was shot and killed from ambush as he and his partner responded to a robbery call. Santiago and his partner had just pulled into the parking lot as the gunman exited the building and opened fire on them without warning. Santiago is survived by his mother and stepfather.
On September 7th, Patrolman Nickolaus Schultz of the Merrillville (Ind.) Police Department succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained two days earlier when he was shot and killed from ambush. The was wearing body armor but decided to commit suicide after murdering Patrolman Schultz.
On September 12th, Corporal Bryon Keith Dickson, II — of the Pennsylvania State Police — was shot and killed from ambush as he emerged from the front door of the barracks where he worked. Dickson was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and is survived by his wife and two sons.
On November 22nd, Deputy Sheriff Christopher Smith of the Leon County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office was shot from ambush as he responded to a house fire. It is believed that the assailant intentionally set the fire with the intention to kill responders. Smith is survived by his wife and children.
On December 20th, Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos — both of the New York City Police Department — were shot and killed from ambush when a subject walked up to their patrol car and opened fire with a handgun, striking them both in the head and upper body multiple times. Ramos is survived by his wife and two sons. Liu is survived by his wife of two months.
On December 21st, Officer Charlie Kondek of the Tarpon Springs (Fla.) Police Department was shot and killed from ambush by a gunman who had recently been released from prison on parole. The assassin drove over Officer Kondek as he fled the scene. Kondek is survived by his wife and six children.
