A few thoughts on last Saturday's Michigan Avenue shooting

When a cop arrests someone, the cop must make a series of observations and decisions before moving in to physically control and handcuff the suspect.  Once the process starts that cop is expected to reevaluate the situation as it unfolds, and adjust his tactics as needed.  US Air Force Colonel John Boyd coined the term "OODA Loop" to describe the process: Observe, Orient, Decide, Act.  In combat (including the violent encounters that police deal with) the person who processes through the OODA Loop fastest has the advantage and will likely win the fight.

Here's what an officer has to consider:

The suspect: male or female, physical description, apparent size/strength/physical ability relative to the officer, apparent emotional/mental state of the suspect, drug/alcohol intoxication, presence of weapons or clothing capable of concealing weapons, verbal statements and body language of suspect indicating the likelihood of compliance/resistance/assault by suspect.
 
The environment: other suspects/accomplices in immediate area, presence of friends or family of suspect who might intervene, location of bystanders/witnesses, areas of cover/concealment if shooting starts, physical hazards in area such as construction/debris/traffic, safest approach by officer, possible routes of escape for suspect.

This is not a checklist that the officer has the luxury of working through over a cup of coffee.  Officers planning raids or warrant service are usually able to assess these factors as part of their planning, but for an officer on an in-progress call or traffic stop these assessments have to be made simultaneously, in an almost intuitive manner.

Once the officer has made these observations and oriented himself in relation to the suspect and environment, he acts.  Now the officer has to decide (again, simultaneously) on his approach, verbalization and what type and level of force to be used.  There is a critical moment in which the officer, once committed, cannot safely disengage from the arrest but instead has to close the distance between himself and the offender as quickly as possible and control that suspect.

Doing this while a suspect attempts to get into, or has just gotten into, a vehicle is a nerve-wracking and sometimes terrifying experience.  The suspect may simply be trying to flee, or she might be trying to access a weapon inside the car.  Once the officer enters the vehicle (usually by leaning in through an open door or window) that officer is subject to being attacked or being dragged as the car speeds away.  A quick Google search using the phrase "officer dragged" quickly yielded recent stories of officers being dragged by vehicles in Dallas, Newark, St. Louis,  and St. Petersburg.

It is common for officers approaching vehicles on unknown risk felony arrests to have guns drawn.  The thinking is if you don't need it you can always put it away, but if you need the gun and it's not out, you're dead.  The vast majority of normal citizens do more or less what a police officer tells them to do.  Of the remaining percentage who don't, they often will when confronted with a drawn weapon.

Every once in a while you run into someone like Sheila Ferguson, who was shot and arrested after attempting to disarm a Chicago Police Officer.  Ms. Ferguson wanted to get away more than anything else, even if it meant throwing a car in gear and driving over anyone who got in her way, or grabbing a gun away from a police officer. It's important to note that Ms. Ferguson was not shot for committing a theft, or a forgery, or even for attempting to escape.  She was shot because she tried to disarm a police officer, which every police officer in the nation recognizes as a lethal threat.   According to the above linked article

"Sheila Ferguson, 30, of the 3700 block of West 13th Street, currently has two cases pending before a judge in the Cook County Criminal Courthouse. In those two cases, she has been charged with theft, using another person's credit card, aggravated battery, unlawful vehicular invasion and armed robbery."

So, when you read things like "cops shoot unarmed woman" don't picture your own mom, sister, aunt or cousin.  Instead, visualize a career criminal who, if our court system functioned properly, would have been in custody awaiting trial and not on the street victimizing more people.