Why so quick on the trigger?

Re “Man f lags down police, is shot,” June 21

The vast majority of Americans will never experience a moment of crisis requiring split- second decision- making, so we are not in a position to know what we would do or to judge the actions of police officers who have to pull their guns.

That said, there are clearly too many of the instances like the one last week in Los Feliz, where Los Angeles Police Department officers shot a man who had f lagged them down. Police are putting their safety first.

Even at these moments — especially at these moments — their first priority must still be the safety of others, of “us.” If they are not willing to make that commitment, they shouldn’t become police officers.

Joe Whitaker Arroyo Grande