Sunday, July 17, 2016

How were there three officers in one location and was this a place where police usually meet?

If one recalls and I want to say it was Oregon, a few years ago four officers were ambushed while they were having breakfast together. Their patrol cars were in the parking lot. Those cars advertised the police presence. The shooter came into the coffee shop fully armed with an assault rifle and the police were sitting ducks.

There have to be common denominators in why the three police were together. Was there real reasons?  They were completely caught off guard and the gunmen were ready to take advantage of it.

Police need and deserve to have any safety margin on the job, including bulletproof windows in patrol cars as noted in New York City. They need body armor THAT WORKS to cover at least the chest. They need to carry tourniquets with them as part of their equipment. It is helpful in more than police work.

I realize police are a support to each other and are frequently friends. Wear street clothes to work. Change into the police uniform in the locker room. Carry uniforms in gym bags to launder clothing. Make it a sports gym bag that cannot be mistaken for anything else. Keep it light, keep it happy.

Chiefs of police and captains need to know their people and the work they do and protect them wherever and whenever possible. Unless the police are patrolling together there is no reason for them to take coffee breaks where they are unprotected with cars in the parking lot. 

I can't think of everything. Sometimes officers' wives know the circumstances better than others. I like suggestion boxes.