In shootout, cops did not protect
Re “‘It’s every officer’s worst nightmare,’ ” July 25
Talking about the Silver Lake Trader Joe’s manager who was killed by a bullet from an officer’s gun, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore said, “I ask that you place yourself in these two officers’ positions and ask yourself, what would you have done?”
That question is exactly wrong. He sounds more like the defense attorney than someone whose duties include proper training of police officers. Civilians, who have not been trained by the LAPD to carry deadly weapons to protect public safety, have no idea what they would do, and that doesn’t matter.
Is the Los Angeles Police Academy encouraging officers to just do what anyone “would have done”? Or is it training officers to be less likely than the average untrained person, who may react precipitously, foolishly and hastily?
The question is not, “What would you have done?” The question is, “What should a trained officer have done?” The answer: not this. Diane Klein
North Hollywood
This is an unfortunate incident. The officers had two seconds to decide whether to shoot while the suspect was outside the Trader Joe’s. They knew he already shot one person and he might choose to kill hostages in a standoff.
I am not sure why the manager was at the door. She may have wanted to investigate what happened after hearing the suspect’s car crash in front of the store. In any case, she was in a bad position.
There are lessons for all of us. To investigate, do it from a safe position rather than from a door. With shootings, the rules are to run, hide or fight, with fighting being the last resort. In most shooting situations you only must survive the first 15 minutes until the police arrive.
Finally, always be observant of your surroundings. Alan L. Strzemieczny
Riverside
We have a winner. Moore, the new LAPD chief, is an effective leader, and his handling of the Trader Joe’s tragedy shows his empathy and desire for transparency.
Parenthetically, he needs work on the inadequacy of police pursuits. Arnold L. Gilberg
Beverly Hills