Chicago police to be allow to shoot at fleeing cars.

[Ichiban]

Given the accuracy displayed in shootouts, I'm not sure this is such a good idea.

New Policy Allows Police To Shoot At Fleeing Cars
Previously, Shots Could Only Be Fired At Cars Used To Attack

The Chicago Police Department has instituted a major change in policy regarding the use of deadly force.

Effective next Monday, police officers will be able to fire their guns under circumstances where they previously could not.

The new policy, from police Supt. Jody Weis and confirmed by WBBM Newsradio 780 Wednesday morning, allows police officers to shoot at fleeing vehicles if the driver or passengers are suspected of committing a felony.

The old policy allowed officers only to shoot at vehicles that pose a threat to them or others, such as if the driver were trying to run down the officer.

But now, officers need not be under attack to open fire.


http://cbs2chicago.com/local/police.deadly.force.2.1105766.html

[tombogan03884]

What fools, Those rules were set for a very good reason. It's expensive when they miss.

[Kid Shelleen]

Chicago cops, blast away.

Chicago citizens, sorry, no guns.

[WatchManUSA]

In Chicago they are so worried that a law abiding citizen who carries a legal gun will suddenly begin an open gun fight.  Then they approve the police to open fire on a moving vehicle with only probable cause. 

Quoting the article, “…allows police officers to shoot at fleeing vehicles if the driver or passengers are suspected of committing a felony.”

[ericire12]

Hey, it works in the movies every time!

[Sponsor]

[fightingquaker13]

Remember Amdou Diallo?(sic) He was the innocent guy gunned down when he offered NYPD his wallet. He was shot five times. That's bad enough. Problem was, the officers fired 41 times. Where did those bullets go? Unless the cops get magic bullets that vanish if they dont hit the bad guy, I think the Chicago PD is going to regret this sooner rather than later. It's not just the collateral damage either. It will tarnish the rep of every cop in the city when some idiot shoots a little old lady crossing the street.
FQ13

[ratcatcher55]

Remember Amdou Diallo?(sic) He was the innocent guy gunned down when he offered NYPD his wallet. He was shot five times. That's bad enough. Problem was, the officers fired 41 times. Where did those bullets go? Unless the cops get magic bullets that vanish if they dont hit the bad guy, I think the Chicago PD is going to regret this sooner rather than later. It's not just the collateral damage either. It will tarnish the rep of every cop in the city when some idiot shoots a little old lady crossing the street.
FQ13

As I recall Mr. Diallo also got shot because he failed to stop moving when the officers told him to. The officers wrongly believed he was an armed felon.
Mr. Diallo's understanding of English was not up to the test and he reached behind and "drew" his wallet.

My wife asked me why they "shot at him" 41 times . I told her if they had more bullets they would have shot more. Gun fights spin out of control pretty quickly when you think your going to be killed.

As for Chicago, the ruling from the SCOTUS is clear. This shooting policy was the target of the US Supreme Court precedent (Tennessee v. Garner, 471 US 1, 1985) that protected fleeing suspects from indiscriminate shooting. Chigago will get their butts sued off the first time they wing some doper or car thief.

[tombogan03884]

s I recall Mr. Diallo also got shot because he failed to stop moving when the officers told him to. The officers wrongly believed he was an armed felon.
Mr. Diallo's understanding of English was not up to the test and he reached behind and "drew" his wallet.

My wife asked me why they "shot at him" 41 times . I told her if they had more bullets they would have shot more. Gun fights spin out of control pretty quickly when you think your going to be killed.

I saw a video some where of a reenactment of that, apparently the Cops muzzle flashes were reflecting off the door which reinforced the idea that he had drawn a weapon and opened fire. But ya, where did the other 36 rounds go ? Also, He was a stationary target in a tenement hall way, very close range, how many citizens will get mowed down when they start blasting at MOVING targets more than 10 yards away ?

[Pathfinder]

So let me get this straight. A BG breaks into my house, assaults me and mine, and I cannot shoot them in the back as they flee when I pull a gun on them? But the Chicago cops can?

What a country!


Not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tombogan03884]

So let me get this straight. A BG breaks into my house, assaults me and mine, and I cannot shoot them in the back as they flee when I pull a gun on them? But the Chicago cops can?

What a country!


Not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You mis understand, in the scenario you describe, YOU would be the bad guy for having a usable hand gun in Chicago.
But the cops can now shoot someone in the back for driving the same model and color car as the suspects.