Police are not trained to kill. They are trained to stop the threat. If that entails death to the risk, then so be it.
When confronted with such a situation, the stress levels incurred create auditory exclusion, reduce dexterity and general coordination. This is the primary reason why police are not trained marksmen. The situations that present themselves require split second decision making in the heat of the moment. Unlike many other professions police cannot sit down, sift through the available options and make a completely informed decision.
Having a person well affected by drugs, armed with knives making verbal threats presents a real danger to the officers involved. As long as the threat to their lives is immediate, and no other course of action is available to cease the threat, then any firearm use is completely justified.
The guidelines for the discharge of a firearm are derived from common law, and in NSW, are stipulated in the NSW Police Force Handbook (readily available from
www.police.nsw.gov.au).
The decision to use your firearm rests with you. You are accountable for your actions. If you kill
or injure a person when such action is not reasonable you could face serious criminal charges
and civil action.
You are only justified in discharging your firearm when there is an immediate risk to your life or
the life of someone else, or there is an immediate risk of serious injury to you or someone else,
and there is no other way of preventing the risk.
Do not
draw your firearm, point or aim it, unless you consider you are likely to be justified in
using it. The discharge of your firearm is to be regarded only as a last resort.
Do not
fire warning shots.
Whenever possible, announce your office and call on the offender to surrender.
Only discharge your firearm when there is no other reasonable course of action available.
In discharging your firearm always consider that innocent people might be injured.
Do not fire at moving or stationary motor vehicles unless your life or someone else’s life is in
real and immediate danger, and there is not other means available to avoid the danger.
Remember, firing at a motor vehicle is not an effective means of stopping or disabling that
vehicle. Always consider that an out of control motor vehicle presents extreme danger to
innocent bystanders and property.
Zimmerman is taking the predictable approach of those tied to the legal profession where a shawl of mistrust is all enveloping.
Police are no less trustworthy than solicitors, no less trustworthy then Supreme Court Justices and no less trustworthy than eminent QC's.
An investigation will take place, the officer's involved will go through an extremely difficult process and ultimately will have to provide evidence that the above justification was satisfied (although it occurred in Victoria).