From: "IG", [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Steve
The likeliehood of a revenge attack comes not only from
the friends or relatives of the unfortunate deceased, it
comes from those members of the criminal fraternity, or
terrorist community, who have grudges against the
officers from firearms units.
If such a person is able to obtain the details of an
AFO, then there is every chance that there will be
threats, intimidation and all sorts of aggravation. I
am quite prepared to take what is coming to me in the
line of my duty, but when it begins to impinge on my
wife and family outside of work, then that is a
different matter. I suggest that all of the
correspondents on this board would think likewise. Where
do you draw the line at disclosure of identities? If an
officer is named, he or she would then become fair game
for the press. Photographs would follow, with the
inevitable consequences. I do not broadcast to my friends
and neighbors what I do for a living. AFO's dont get paid
any more than any other officer, why should they be
subject to additional grief?
Dont forget, if the jury returns a verdict of unlawful
killing, or the officers were charged with offences,
their details would become public then. It is only for
the inquest proceedings that they remain anonymous. What
is so wrong with that?
It would be nice to see constructive comments about the
Police. All I see are references to 'Plod', Kevlar
cowboys, etc. There are many failings with the police use
of firearms, but please understand that those failings
are as the result of political interference and not the
lack of dedication of the officers who are AFO's.
I am trying to introduce the concept of civilian
instructors, as I acknowledge that there is a vast pool
of expertise and knowledge in the civilian world, far
more than there is in the police. The powers that be,
however, only ever see private shooters making comments
that are disparaging, such as the ones that are posted
here and on the sportsmans association BB. If it is
constructive, then great, but most of it is ill informed
and vitriolic. No the wonder its hard to sell the idea
of civilian staff in firearms training departments!
--
I had a friend, a PC, a firearms instructor in a rural
police force. Some of the things he used to ask me
terrified me, to be frank. Basic stuff like where
to place his finger on the trigger of a pistol.
One day he and one of his colleagues were "caught"
engaging in a "shooting competition", basically he
and the other instructor had gotten a couple of IPSC
targets and were shooting up some old reloads and
had made it a bit competitive to improve their
skills. He and the other instructor got chucked
off the firearms squad. Barmy.
Whether or not a police officer is an AFO or not
I don't think is particularly relevant to the
likelihood of a revenge attack. If you really
want to find out the names of the AFOs in
a police force it's pretty easy.
I'm sorry, but I just don't believe that this
particular AFO would be likely to face a revenge
attack. No more so than any other AFO picked
at random from that force. On the other hand
you've got a family who have no clue who shot
their son.
I can understand anonymity in cases where it
would reveal the identity of detectives who
work undercover or say, an AFO who shot
dead a member of a criminal gang, but like
Richard said, justice has to be seen to be
done.
Steve.
Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org
List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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