The risk of the warning shot

[flagman1776]

One of our officers was a little too fearless. He chased 3 burglary suspects on foot into a swamp. Two of them jumped him *** deep in the swamp. He fired a round of 357 into the air. One perp kicked in the afterburners and ran off, the other surrendered. It could have gone very wrong for him.

 

[sigp220.45]

If this current madness continues I think we’ll see a return to the ocassional unsanctioned warning shot, at least by non-LEO carriers. If you’re trying to stop a bunch of thugs who are stomping someone to death, standing to the side and saying “Hey fellas! Fellas! C’mon guys!” isn’t going to cut it.

Not recommending it, but I think we’ll see more of it.

 

[Doug M.]

If one is in and losing a hand to hand fight, it is likely a lethal force incident. If the one on the losing side is a cop, it clearly is. Just because most dullards don't grasp that doesn't make it not true.

You send a round downrange addressed "to whom it may concern", you have a real good chance of regretting it. I won't say NEVER, but I have never in 60 years on the planet and 40+ years of studying LE and use of force seen a situation in which a warning shot is a good idea.