An officer and a gentleman
Readers may recall an article in The Herald, back on December 30, 2016 entitled, “Mountie praised for not shooting”, written by Erin Christie. Referring to an “...axe-wielding Keremeos man (who) threatened a police officer... called in to help,” the Judge, before sentencing the man, “...told the court he admired Const. Sheldon Herman for his decision not to fire his weapon at (the accused)”, even though it was a situation where there was “...the potential need to use lethal force.”
Instead, Herman sprayed the accused in the face, enough to restrain him. While in custody, he told officers he “wanted to die.”
The incident reminded me of an article I had read a week earlier by Gordon Sinclair Jr., a long-time columnist with the Winnipeg Free Press newspaper. In an article entitled, “An officer and a gentleman,” Sinclair wrote: “It seemed like the right time to share this story of clear-headed police action and bravery that has gone uncelebrated.
“I say that because... the Winnipeg Police Service offered the media an opportunity to observe the kind of mental health awareness training and de-escalation techniques its officers learn that help defuse and prevent violent encounters.
“And because of what happened that day on the streets of Winnipeg nearly 50 years ago, long before there was any training on how to defuse an emotionally charged and potentially deadly encounter between cops and the public.”
Sinclair goes on to say that he received the story from retired police inspector, Bob Taylor, who had written: “The shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., reminded me of a similar incident that occurred in Winnipeg in 1969, but with a much different ending.”
Sinclair said, “There was at least one major difference in the Winnipeg case, though. The person the police encountered was armed. Back then, Taylor was the street supervisor on the night two of his constables were called to a domestic incident involving an individual he referred to as John Doe.”
Taylor said, “Doe was a young man in his early 20s. (He) had no criminal record but made a bad choice one hot summer evening. Doe returned home after an evening of heavy drinking and went on a rampage. He drove knives into the walls of the kitchen.”
Frightened family members phoned 911. When 2 constables arrived at Doe’s home, Doe was out on the street with a knife in each hand. They pursued Doe, but one officer “...decided to shoot to wound, not to kill”, and he was able to “take Doe down.”
As Sinclair wrote, “(His action) prompted the question every law enforcement officer reading this — every cop who is trained to shoot body mass and shoot repeatedly in such circumstances - is asking right now. ...Why didn’t he shoot to kill?”
The officer explained, “There’s no reason to .... You’d have to be in pretty bad straits to take a life.”
As Sinclair concludes, “John Doe, for one, lived to appreciate (the officer’s action).”
Harvie Barker is a Penticton resident and writer of inspirational messages. He’s the author of the book, A Good Word in Season Volume 8, now available at the front desk of The Herald for $10 with all proceeds to local charity.