San Diego County Sheriff's Department used deadly force 0 times in 2007

[slackmaster]

After a spate of fatal shootings in 2005, the Sheriff's Department faced an onslaught of public scrutiny and criticism over its use of deadly force.

Last year was different: There were zero deputy-involved shootings in 2007.

Sheriff's officials say the change is likely the result of a combination of factors, including arming nearly every deputy with a Taser and developing more training on all types of force.

A lot of luck also helps, Undersheriff Bill Gore said....

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080211/news_1m11shoot.html

slackmaster comments:

A reduction in the number of suspects who are killed is certainly very good. The danger I see is that more widespread use of "less lethal" options like Tasers can lead to a temptation to apply looser standards of when use of such devices is appropriate.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department must be doing something right - Of all the chilling news articles and videos we've seen on YouTube of clear cases of abuse by police officers wielding Tasers, none occured here.

I also wish to point out that the Sheriff's jurisdiction, while it covers a large area and population, does not include the city of San Diego which has its own police department.

[Trillo]

1. An encounter with the Police should not be fatal

except in the most extreme of circumstances.

It's refreshing to see an effort made by professionals to see that end achieved, whether with "luck" or otherwise. Perhaps other police departments will take notice and learn.

[krispos42]

2. Then obviously they are doing a shit job, slack!

Just ask the anti-gun people... armed citizens justifiably kill less than 200 people a year, so obviously people owning guns for self-defense use them so rarely as to be negligable!

And if the San Diego Sheriff's Department hasn't shot ANYBODY, then obviously they haven't stopped a single crime all year! Just ask Billbuckhead about that!

:crazy:

:-)