Police Chiefs Group Bolsters Policy on Suicide Bombers -WP

[Rose Siding]

By Sari Horwitz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, August 4, 2005; Page A02

The International Association of Chiefs of Police, which represents the heads of police departments in the United States and across the world, has issued new guidelines saying that officers who confront a suicide bomber should shoot the suspect in the head.

The recommendations, the first from a major police organization to deal with the realities of a post-Sept. 11 world, take a more aggressive posture than typical lethal-force guidelines. The guidelines were published July 8 -- about two weeks before the London police, acting on a similar policy, fatally shot an innocent Brazilian seven times in the head because they mistook him for a suicide bomber.

The National Bomb Squad Commanders Advisory Board is developing the first national protocol for response to suicide bombers and is also recommending to police bomb squads nationwide that if a suspect is wearing a suicide bomb, an officer who needs to use deadly force should not shoot near the bomb.

American police officers and federal agents typically have been authorized to use deadly force if lives are in imminent danger. But since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, the definition of imminent danger has changed, prompting law enforcement officials to rethink the rules of engagement........

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/03/AR2005080301867.html

[wellst0nev0ter]

1. Great, We Can Now Create More Menenzezes

I'm sure it's not too difficult to identify a suicide bomber, but as the events in London shows, mistakes happen.

[Karmakaze]

10. If its not too difficult to identify a suicide bomber...

How come the Israelis werent able to stop more, or the US military in Iraq?

These new rules are a license to murder - Police officers have just become the judge, jury and executioner based on a heavy coat or backpack.

[TahitiNut]

2. "a post-Sept. 11 world"???

Yeah, like it would've really helped to shoot the hijackers in the head. Uh-huh. :eyes:

I'm getting sick and tired of the "a post-Sept. 11 world" meme. I wonder if I went and tortured and shot someone I could get off by saying it's "a post-Sept. 11 world" -- like the bastard Bushoilinis do? :puke:

[Xithras]

3. If the bomb is visible and the person clearly intends to detonate it, sure

The problems come about when a cop gets pissed and guns someone down, and then tries to justify it by saying he thought the guy had a bomb under his coat.

It WILL happen.

[Jersey Ginny]

4. "Excuse me sir, are you a suicide bomber?"

Exactly how do you know for sure? :think:

[SillyGoose]

5. Police group oks shooting suicide bombers in head

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An international organization representing police chiefs has broadened its policy for the use of deadly force by telling officers to shoot suspected suicide bombers in the head, The Washington Post reported on Thursday.

The International Association of Chiefs of Police issued new guidelines to its 20,000 members about two weeks before British police shot dead a Brazilian electrician because they mistook him for a suicide bomber, the newspaper said.

**snip***

Among signs to look for listed in the police organization's behavioral profile are wearing a heavy coat in warm weather, carrying a backpack with protrusions or visible wires, nervousness, excessive sweating or an unwillingness to make eye contact, the Post said.

According to the newspaper, the new guidelines also say the threat does not have to be "imminent" -- as in traditional police training -- an officer just needs to have a "reasonable basis" for believing a suspect can detonate a bomb.

http://reuters.myway.com/article/20050804/2005-08-04T114215Z_01_N0415555_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-SECURITY-FORCE-DC.html
(more at link)

[atreides1]

6. Solution for the Homeless Problem?

Well it seems the police Chiefs have found a way to deal with the homeless situation, at least here in the U.S.

That description can be applied to a lot of homeless men that I know I've seen here in Tucson.

They wear heavy coats in warm weather, they carry backpacks, most act nervous around people, and they seldom make eye contact with
anyone.

[livvy]

7. Or it could apply...

to middle-aged bag ladies having hot flashes.

[Mairead]

8. These people are really rather stupid!

Dozens of people here have pointed out that a dead-hand switch guarantees that the balloon goes up the moment a real bomber is shot dead.

Which means the only time shooting someone dead will save bystanders is when they're not in any danger to begin with!

[Romulus]

9. FYI: irony is that IACP is a reliable gun control supporter

Must be because they are the ONLY ones imbued with the super-special ability to accurately recognize, and therefore properly execute, potential criminals in self-defense. . . no need for anyone else to be bothered . . .

As an aside, I understand police training teaches officers to interpret eye-contact as a "challenge" and pre-cursor to physical confrontation. So now, if you make eye-contact you get "pre-emptively" shot, and if you DON'T make eye contact, you get "pre-emptively" shot.

[uppityperson]

22. Sounds like a typical teenager

Wearing a coat in warm weather, check.
Carrying a backpack with wires protruding, check.
Unwillingness to make eye contact with police or adult, check.
Excess sweating due to coat, fast metabolism, thinking of sex, check.

BAM!

I know that some of the music they listen to is annoying, but this is a bit much.

[MindLikeAParachute]

11. Police group OKs shooting suicide bombers in head

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An international organization representing police chiefs has broadened its policy for the use of deadly force by telling officers to shoot suspected suicide bombers in the head, The Washington Post reported on Thursday.
...
U.S. law enforcement officers typically had been authorized previously to use deadly force if lives were in imminent danger, the newspaper said.
...
Among signs to look for listed in the police organization's behavioral profile are wearing a heavy coat in warm weather, carrying a backpack with protrusions or visible wires, nervousness, excessive sweating or an unwillingness to make eye contact, the Post said.

According to the newspaper, the new guidelines also say the threat does not have to be "imminent" -- as in traditional police training -- an officer just needs to have a "reasonable basis" for believing a suspect can detonate a bomb.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050804/ts_nm/security_force_dc

[bahrbearian]

12. What about "supected " suicide bombers?

[wli]

13. the death squads are here

oh crap

[acmejack]

14. open season on the reasonably suspected

don't sweat, casually stare at all cops and never wear a coat or carry a backpack-got it.

[Warren Stupidity]

15. Nah lets not use the Fascist word here

people might get upset or something. Wait tell me again how the de Menezes shooting was an 'accident'.

Looks, walks, quacks => duck.

[VegasWolf]

16. Hopefully the target really is a bomber and not just some Brazillian

on his way to work.

[BootinUp]

17. "You in the winter coat!" FREEZE!

scared commuter raises hands from pockets...bullet pierces his skull.

[bemildred]

18. Heck, I want to OK firing all these incompetent morons with guns. nt

[NNN0LHI]

19. Everyone has been complimenting me on my nice tan sonuvabitch n/t

[ovidsen]

20. Related thread

Government downsizing again. Cops as judge, jury and executioner.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1675015

:evilgrin:

[VegasWolf]

21. Don't carry your lunch box inside your coat! nt