Officer kills armed civilian

[Sigblitz]

ISP, like us, is suffering from a manpower shortage and few are applying. No one wants to be the police. I understand what you are saying but it will not likely happen.

They had a new graduating class of brand new recruits.

 

[JCSR]

There were 6. Discussion before positions taken. Cars free to pass the armed suspect. I counted 6. And traffic was flowing.

I see. Monkey + football

 

[VUPDblue]

They had a new graduating class of brand new recruits.

That doesnt necessarily mean they added numbers. We just graduated a class too and have fewer officers now than the day they were sworn in.

 

[Sigblitz]

That doesnt necessarily mean they added numbers. We just graduated a class too and have fewer officers now than the day they were sworn in.

True.

 

[KG1]

If they say they can't afford body/dash cams then would they pony up the funds to staff 2 per squad even if they could/would hire enough to do so?

 

[miguel]

I'll throw out a sure to be unconventional, even radical and likely unpopular, idea...

If manpower for departments is short, along with funding for proper gear (body cams, dash cams, whatever other means...) to make sure everything is on the up and up, maybe law enforcement should be used more like our fire departments.

By that I mean, stop patrolling and wait for calls to come in asking for help. You don't see the fire department or EMTs driving up and down streets looking for fires, "suspected" fires, injured people or those participating in behaviors that may put them at risk for injury. Why spend the money and risk the PR disasters that seem to be reported every single day across our country by "looking for trouble", so to speak. Our current paradigm is obviously not putting an end to crime and most people probably don't want an officer on every street corner, if only because of cost or the perceived threat to civil liberties over the long run.

Note, I am on record on this site being damn near 100% pro-LEO, even when they are using what some people might consider questionable techniques to manage piece of **** criminals' idiotic behaviors (see the spitting thread...) so I'm not anti-cop here.

 

[Sigblitz]

"I'm just stopping by to see if you and the missus are fightin'."
"Are you callin' me a wife beater. Why I otta... "

 

[Sigblitz]

"Are you in a stolen car stealin' a battery."

 

[Sigblitz]

Point is, personal space, no crime reported, no crime being committed, identity yourself in a positive manner.

 

[cbhausen]

...so the downed “perp” was such a danger to LEO on-scene they took cover but allowed traffic to pass freely while the man bled out???

I’m trying to keep an open mind about this...

 

[churchmouse]

...so the downed “perp” was such a danger to LEO on-scene they took cover but allowed traffic to pass freely while the man bled out???

I’m trying to keep an open mind about this...

I am seeing a serious amount of fail here as these things add up. It is hard not to see it. I understand what Denny was explaining but again...........

 

[dudley0]

BBI covers some of that in Cocah's Defensive handgun 1 & 2.

Yep, took both of them.

Just looking for more.

 

[tbhausen]

Even if we never know what happened that led up to the shooting, what happened afterwards appears to be very disturbing.

 

[Denny347]

I am seeing a serious amount of fail here as these things add up. It is hard not to see it. I understand what Denny was explaining but again...........

Even if we never know what happened that led up to the shooting, what happened afterwards appears to be very disturbing.

But? C'mon. There's always a "but". Having been in similar police action shootings, scenes DON'T get ran perfectly...LIFE HAPPENS. Traffic didn't get shut down immediately, OK. I'm sure it eventually did. I've explained they WHY on medical treatment several times. Again, how do I know? Been there time after time. I am not passing judgement one way or another on the validity of the shoot. However, MOST (not all of course) of the concerns I've heard are easily explainable. Yet, I see that the explanations are not enough. I'm not sure what else I can say that I haven't said numerous times already.

 

[churchmouse]

But? C'mon. There's always a "but". Having been in similar police action shootings, scenes DON'T get ran perfectly...LIFE HAPPENS. Traffic didn't get **** down immediately, OK. I'm sure it eventually did. I've explained they WHY on medical treatment several times. Again, how do I know? Been there time after time. I am not passing judgement one way or another on the validity of the shoot. However, MOST (not all of course) of the concerns I've heard are easily explainable. Yet, I see that the explanations are not enough. I'm not sure what else I can say that I haven't said numerous times already.

Your time is well spent. It sheds light on a questionable situation. It really does and I for one appreciate it. It is just a very odd situation. Very odd. A lot of things just stack up.

 

[Sigblitz]

...so the downed “perp” was such a danger to LEO on-scene they took cover but allowed traffic to pass freely while the man bled out???

I’m trying to keep an open mind about this...

It could have, there's that ugly word, could have became apparent he was no longer a threat after he was shot and procedure still dictates actions. Maybe he went from a 7 to a 1 afterwards.

 

[edporch]

Going by the initial OP link, it was 6:35pm and dark outside.

The story says ISP reports "Rightsell reached for a gun after being approached by the trooper".

IF these two things are true, it makes no sense that Rightsell would reach towards his sidearm IF he knew it was a State Trooper approaching him in the dark.

And if assuming the State Trooper's vehicle had it's flashing lights on, HOW would Rightsell not know it was the police?

This story doesn't make sense.
And when something doesn't make sense, it's more likely than not that it didn't really happen the way the story says.

 

[Tactically Fat]

A) I'm from Crawfordsville. B) Did not know this guy. C) Past behavior is often a good indicator of present/future action/s. D) The hospital in Crawfordsville is less than ideal. He'd probably receive a diagnosis of a UTI and sent home anyhow. E) There is no ISP post in Crawfordsville (There is, apparently, a State Excise Police District office near the INDOT facilities, however)

This whole situation seems to suck. And I'm quite glad that I'm not any part of it.

Also) Just how is one officer, who is using his commission as cover/concealment supposed to somehow also stop traffic? Seriously. Think about it for a bit. How can that be achieved?

 

[Kutnupe14]

Going by the initial OP link, it was 6:35pm and dark outside.

The story says ISP reports "Rightsell reached for a gun after being approached by the trooper".

IF these two things are true, it makes no sense that Rightsell would reach towards his sidearm IF he knew it was a State Trooper approaching him in the dark.

And if assuming the State Trooper's vehicle had it's flashing lights on, HOW would Rightsell not know it was the police?

This story doesn't make sense.
And when something doesn't make sense, it's more likely than not that it didn't really happen the way the story says.

Trooper only activated his rear deck lights?

 

[bwframe]

Staying away from why the guy was shot, I still have difficulty with what seems to be SOP.

I have difficulty understanding why two officers could not approach and disarm a man on the ground, with his gun still in the holster.