..the cop's assailant, after the cop screamed out for help and had already shot the guy at least once, do you think that would be worthy of national media coverage. I would think that yes it would not only be worthy of such coverage but that it should be Headline News. Instead, it seems to only be local news.
Of course, I would also think that the police department would want to commend the actions of the civilian (as in non-law enforcement officer) who came to the assistance of the police officer, maybe even acknowledge that the man saved the officer's life or at least saved him from serious bodily injury. I would be wrong again. It seems I would be wrong again as the chief of police reportedly "stopped short" of saying that Perry Stevens had saved officer Brian Harrison's life. Instead, the police chief is reported to have commented that he thought the incident unfortunate and was quoted as saying: "I think this is a tragic situation all around". On that last point, I would beg to differ with the police chief.
It was not at all tragic or unfortunate for Officer Harrison that, reportedly or apparently: Mr. Stevens was in the area, responded to the officer's calls for help, did not make the response of calling 911 and then standing-by as a good witness, played an active role in defending Officer Harrison, had in his possession his legally licensed pistol, approached the officer and his alleged assailant as he gave verbal command(s) to the alleged assailant to stop, only after giving those commands did he fire 4 times striking the alleged attacker in his abdomen with all 4 shots, (better than the accuracy of the NYPD officers at the Empire State Building a few days ago and better than the accuracy of the officer who shot the man chewing off another man's face in Florida - in both of those incidents, police not only hit the attackers but some of their bullets or bullet fragments hit others who were not the intended targets), upon seeing the attacker continue assaulting the officer he moved in closer and again gave commands for the attacker to stop, he only then finally fired the shot that stopped the attack by firing a single round into the alleged assailant's head. The alleged assailant died.
While it may be unfortunate that the alleged assailant reportedly drove into a funeral procession that Officer Harrison was escorting and while it may be unfortunate that while the officer was giving him a traffic citation, the man allegedly attacked the officer apparently overpowering him resulting in the officer shooting his alleged attacker, and while it may be unfortunate that the officer cried out for help because he required assistance and did not have other officers to help him, and while it may be unfortunate that at least 10 other civilians did not immediately rush to assist the officer as it seems did Mr. Stevens, there is nothing unfortunate about anything that Mr. Stevens did, as far as I can see.
I consider Police officer Brian Harrison to be extremely fortunate in that a person, the caliber of Mr. Stevens (no pun intended, there is nothing funny about this), was there to assist him. If indeed Mr. Stevens did not save officer Harrison from death's door, he certainly saved him from potential serious injury at the hands of his alleged attacker.That that man did not stop, until a fatal shot was fired into his head, I do not see as unfortunate, at least not for the officer and thus this was not "an tragic situation all around".
Sure, the incident is probably quite tragic for the family of the deceased or for his loved ones. The thing is though, as far as the officer was in need of help - Mr. Stevens did what no one else in the area, armed or unarmed did, he went to the aid of the fallen officer and saved him from harm. That is not tragic, that is heroic. The chief of police ought to be ashamed of himself for calling that a tragic situation all around and for not coming right out and acknowledging that Mr. Stevens saved the officer from either serious bodily injury or death! I guess he is just to darned armedciviliaphobic to do so!
Hat tip to HellInAHandbasket.
All the best,
Glenn B
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