This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Brett Rawson, attorney for Kevin Salmon, says that "hesitation is going to get cops killed" when officers "hesitate when making force determinations." No matter whether a heroin addict, a homeless man, or a naked, berserk man on the highway, there is no excuse for killing somebody when cops can back off.
The cop/citizen contract is this: Cops will protect and serve citizens.
I expect officers to die in the line of duty. They deal with the worst situations. If he is not prepared for this possibility, he should immediately quit. I want officers nimble; if he gets hit by a car starting from rest, he's stupid. Fire him.
I submit that front-line officers should have no firearms. In a threatening situation, they should retreat, find safety, and call it in. Bring weapons when warranted. We need accountability of these situations. Neutral, quality video and audio recordings are an excellent tool.
If we do nothing, we keep a violent society that glorifies guns. Killing other human beings with them is inevitable. I am afraid for my life and the life of my fellow citizens on this planet.
Pete Reimers
Salt Lake City