Oakland Shooting

(Thanks to my barber for sending the information on this.)

On 3/21/09 in Oakland CA, a "routine" traffic stop resulted in the death of two motorcycle officers, two SWAT officers and the armed suspect. Another SWAT officer received gunshot wounds.

The shooter hit one motor officer in the head and the other in the neck with a 9mm pistol. He fled to a house where he used an alleged assault rifle in killing two SWAT officers and wounding another.

It does not surprise me that a street punk surprised two officers and murdered them with head shots. As I have said, practical weapons training for most police is generally inferior to that of many armed orcs.

The SWAT casualties did cause me to raise an eyebrow. Even if the orc had an assault rifle, a SWAT (special weapons and tactics) team would not be outgunned. That means that someone should review the tactics used.

I have no criticism for these brave officers. One will respond in the street as one has been trained.

Let's pray for the families of these officers. And pray that the surviving officers do not retreat further into the "us/them" mindset that too many police manifest toward the public in general today.