Eddie Erdelatz: Don’t want to get shot, then do what the officers tell you
If Colin Kaepernick and the “Black Lives Matter” disciples are really concerned about being shot by police, I would like to offer a couple of suggestions that will virtually eliminate that ever happening. All the heated anti-police hysteria aside, it is really not complicated.
No. 1. Don’t attempt to shoot, stab or otherwise inflict bodily harm on an officer. That includes pointing toy guns at the police or acting as if you have a deadly weapon.
No. 2. Comply with the officer’s instructions, even if you do not understand why at the time. As an example, a law-abiding citizen might not realize they are being detained because they and/or their vehicle match the description of an armed suspect in a nearby crime. The Monday morning quarterbacks always focus on the actions of law enforcement, but rarely bring up the fact that it is the citizen’s conduct that plays a major role whenever force is employed.
Do officers sometimes make mistakes? Yes, they do. Are they intentionally shooting people because of their color? Absolutely not. Simplistic solutions for not being shot by the police? Not really. In 40 years of policing, I can vouch that it works.
Eddie Erdelatz, Ripon
This story was originally published October 25, 2016 at 11:19 AM with the headline "Eddie Erdelatz: Don’t want to get shot, then do what the officers tell you."