Opinions.

[FireHawk918]

I was recently attacked on a public forum for stating a personal opinion on a officer involved shooting where the guy was shot for going after the police with a machete. The individual criticized me for not having compassion for the victim ( a teacher in the community ) who was an "outstanding guy" because I'm employed by an EMS provider. Do you think being a public servant revokes your right to speak an opinion that you have?

 

[DrParasite]

There is a reason my name isn't on here, nor is my employer. In fact, I try to keep myself anonymous, because BS like that happens.

Does it? no. should it? no. do some people think that it should? absolutely. they are still wrong, but entitled to their opinion just like you should.

btw, I would be totally in favor of the cops shooting the outstanding guy who is coming at them with a machete. My compassion is offset by the possibility of the cop being injured or killed if he doesn't stop the attacker.

 

[FireHawk918]

I don't even know how the individual found out. There are only certain sites that I put firehawk918 indicating an EMS provider also my FB does not have my employer.

 

[FireHawk918]

I agree with you also Doc!

 

[bahnrokt]

No. Being a public servant and EMS provider I think you almost have a duty to stand up for the police officer if you think he was in the right. EMS and Police are two of the only professions that share many similar workplace stresses and challenges when dealing with "interesting" members of the public. We are both forced into close physical contact with potentially violet or unstable people.

You haven't walked a mile in the cops shoes, but you have tried them on. That gives you a lot more perspective than the person that spent their life riding a desk. If I ever have to make a quick judgement call with a pt (I don't know what the ems equal to a police shooting is) I'd expect cops of all people to be supportive. Unlike most of the public, they have some idea of the environment I had to make a quick decision in.

That said, you got to be aware of what you say and how it can come back to you. I'm not saying never say anything, but choose your words wisely.

 

[FireHawk918]

Well said. I also relate to firefighters, not just from being a volunteer firefighter but from my clinicals I learned that my service responded to the structural fires to provide EMS.

 

[JakeEMTP]

Not knowing what you stated on the other public opinion forum leaves us at a disadvantage to form an informed opinion. You made your opinion public so expect comments on it. It is no different on this forum.

Having compassion and justification for a shooting are actually two separate issues. You may have confused them and forgot how many people one event like this and a use of deadly force can affect.

When a person who is normally an outstanding citizen attacks a Police Officer with a machete, you have to wonder alittle about what precipitated the event. Your word attack on this person may also have been directed at his family, or felt like it was, who might actually have had no idea about his mental state. And no matter how many kudos you give to the Police Officer for a job well done, it won't change the fact he had to use deadly force and shoot another human being. You may have expressed amusement by this which does not make it easier anyone involved which includes friends, neighbors, families and students feel like things are all okay. It also shows that they may not be able to count on you on a day when they are not at their best even if it is not a violent attack but one when they are most vulnerable and you will show the same lack of compassion.

I suggest you look up some articles about the recent murder-suicide of two Paramedics which left a 4 year old child without parents. The comments associated with those articles do show compassion and concern even though to most it seemed like a senseless brutal act of selfishness. But, no one knows exactly what another human being is thinking or is capable of even if they are riding in an ambulance with you 24 hours a day.

 

[FireHawk918]

Very wise Jake. I'll go back and look at how it could have been take. Thank you.

 

[mycrofft]

Freedom to speak does not mean immunity from repercussions. If the repercussions are of a certain nature then they are actionable (see a lawyer) as a civil rights issue. But the responder has the right to respond as well. I think it has to do with proportionality and the balance between employees' rights (to express) versus employers' rights (to maintain a certain workplace and image).
Had a case near here not long ago when police were required to shoot, and killed, a disturbed man damaging houses and entering one wielding a piece of broken glass, if my memory serves. The local campus was in arms for about a week because some folks knew the decedent when he wasn't rampaging and discounted the fact the was endangering others and the officers.

 

[JakeEMTP]

Had a case near here not long ago when police were required to shoot, and killed, a disturbed man damaging houses and entering one wielding a piece of broken glass, if my memory serves. The local campus was in arms for about a week because some folks knew the decedent when he wasn't rampaging and discounted the fact the was endangering others and the officers.

The dead is dead. But, sometimes you have to be mindful of the living. This person may have been somebody's son, husband, brother and father. In the original post he was a teacher so there may be children who want an explanation. We never know why someone does this. If at the scene of something like this do you just go up to the distraught family or his students and say "the SOB got what he deserved". Or, do you try to keep the justification for the shooting a separate issue and try to put your prejudices away to offer some support to the living. What if a student was really having a difficult time processing this event and you might have been the one person they had been taught they could trust? But, you are too wrapped up giving high 5s to the police for killing a decedent to care. Even the officer will need some support later. In this thread the OP also mentioned "volunteer" which might lead one to assume it is a small community. The Police may even have known this man which does not make it any easier..

While some might say there should have been signs, usually there are not. If there were maybe more suicides could have gotten help and maybe some mass tragedies could have been prevented.

 

[mycrofft]

I'm a little lost in the broken syntax above, but let me respond.

The dead is dead. But, sometimes you have to be mindful of the living. This person may have been somebody's son, husband, brother and father. In the original post he was a teacher so there may be children who want an explanation.
Agreed. No fatality is a cause for celebration. Relief of a bad situation (such as stopping someone on a rampage) is, but ought to be done in an adult manner.
We never know why someone does this.
Beg to differ, sometimes we have an excellent idea why someone goes off. Sometimes folks leave extensive records, diaries, medical records, or impressions absorbed by others around them. SOmetimes it can be as starkly obvious as a skull X-ray or a blood chemistry result.
If at the scene of something like this do you just go up to the distraught family or his students and say "the SOB got what he deserved". Or, do you try to keep the justification for the shooting a separate issue and try to put your prejudices away to offer some support to the living.
Right, no high fives, no getting in people's faces. But they may not want to hear anything from you. Best to let someone with experience and training in handling theses sorts of experiences handle it if possible, or at least a neutral person in authority, say a pastor/priest/rabbi or such.
What if a student was really having a difficult time processing this event and you might have been the one person they had been taught they could trust? Unlikely as a paramedic or EMT.

But, you are too wrapped up giving high 5s to the police for killing a decedent to care.Again, have to rein it in and maybe at least pretend to be an adult.
Even the officer will need some support later. Maybe.
In this thread the OP also mentioned "volunteer" which might lead one to assume it is a small community. The Police may even have known this man which does not make it any easier.True that.

While some might say there should have been signs, usually there are not.No. Actually, there are usually signs, but the people involved either don't recognize them, or they try to protect the person going off the deep end. Enablers and deniers are often involved with this sort of thing, as they are with alcoholism etc. If the UniBomber's brother decided not to continue doing that (as his mother wanted to continue doing) he might still be free and others hurt.

If there were maybe more suicides could have gotten help and maybe some mass tragedies could have been prevented. See above. Mental first aid and "buddy care" is not taught except as a reaction to disasters.

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