Here's a Novel Idea: Hold Both Caller and Police Officer Responsible for Deadly 'Swatting'

[EasyAce]

Let's avoid false dilemmas when exploring blame.
By Scott Shackford
http://reason.com/blog/2018/01/02/heres-a-novel-idea-both-caller-and-polic/print

A Los Angeles man http://www.kansas.com/news/local/crime/article192404474.html]has been arrested[/url] for telling police a hostage situation was underway at a home in Wichita, Kansas. His claim was a lie, and the police fatally shot a man in the ensuing raid.

Tyler Barriss, 25, is accused of calling city hall in Wichita claiming that a shooting and hostage situation were unfolding at a local home. Barriss apparently was attempting a "swatting" prank on somebody he was having an argument with online over the video game Call of Duty.

"Swatting" pranks are nasty stunts where a caller draws a SWAT team out to an innocent party's home by calling the authorities and pretending a dangerous crimeis taking place there. They've grown increasingly popular over the past few years as a way of frightening or getting revenge on somebody.

Barriss was not having a dispute with Andrew Finch, 28, a father of two in Wichita, nor anybody else at the address he sent police to. The person Barriss was arguing with had given him a fake address. A SWAT team showed up at Finch's door, and when he went outside to see what was going on, a police officer shot and killed him . . .

. . . The case has unfortunately quickly and predictably turned into a "Who's to blame?" question. It's literally in the headline of the New York Times' coverage of Finch's death: "Fatal 'Swatting' Episode in Kansas Raises Quandary: Who Is to Blame?" Is it Barriss, who fabricated a crime? Or is it the officer, who shot an unarmed, innocent man?

This is a false dilemma. Both are to blame . . .

[Oceander]

Generally agree.

[truth_seeker]

When police training changes, it is fine by me to charge them for undue haste.

But they are currently trained to react when a suspect moves toward a possible weapon, in violation of spoken orders.

It is NOT the fault of the officer. It IS an area of training that needs attention.

[To-Whose-Benefit?]

When police training changes, it is fine by me to charge them for undue haste.

But they are currently trained to react when a suspect moves toward a possible weapon, in violation of spoken orders.

It is NOT the fault of the officer. It IS an area of training that needs attention.

Yeah, well,

Fortunately, they are the exception rather than the norm, but don't get carried away worshipping the Uniform over the guy in it.

Had a friend who was accosted by 2 uniforms outside a club at 10PM. He was walking his new puppy on a leash.

One of these idiots unholstered and drew down on the Puppy, threatening to shoot it in the head if he didn't get it the EFF outta there on the instant, 'cause it might attack one of the drunks stumbling out of the bar.

The Puppy just squatted there, looking up, not having any idea what was going on, being a Puppy.

No amount of Training is going to fix that level of Azzhole.