Can the police really be dumb enough to confuse a gun for a wallet?

Question

I just sen Michael Moore's show and he has this thing about these dumb cops who mistake wallets for guns. Surely cops are Not that stupid! Or are they? I say -NO WAY! What do you think?

Answer 1

Wow! People sure think they know how things go. If it were just that simple to say the cops saw a wallet and shot him. Not so.

Have any of you every found a gun concealed in a wallet holster? No? Did you even know they existed? No? That's because you lack the experience and knowledge that the police have about concealed weapons. You also lack the target on your chest called a badge that a lot of people would like to shoot at.

Have you ever seen a shotgun made from a maglite? How about a shotgun made from "The Club" steering wheel lock? Or a shotgun that was part of a motorcyle's handlebars? A single shot .22 caliber cellphone? A single shot .22 caliber gun made to look like a folding buck knife? How about a single shot .22 concealed in a hollowed out hexhead bolt? Do you get the picture?

Want to see a wallet holster? Go here:

http://www.action-direct.com/84.htm

Answer 2

I think in the heat of the moment, with adrenaline surging, and not having been theremyself, I could see where it would be very easy to see a known criminal (known because your chasing him, or you've gotten a tip, or been dispatched) that could turn suddenly and not listening to the police tell him/her to show their hands, grab something from behind themselves (a popular place to hide a gun) and pull it out toward the officers (a threatening gesture) and give the officers no choice but to defend themselves.

But it's EVEN EASIER for Michael Moore to sit in his comfy reinforced chair and read the paper and make a movie from the safety of his own editing room without having any idea what was going on at the time of the incident. Common sense would tell you that Yes, it is possible. Is it a shame? Yes. Do I feel sorry for the officers? Yes.

Does anyone know what the circumstances were? I sure don't. So i'm not going to say the officers were wrong. In the same situation I might have reacted the same way.

Answer 3

Try being in a dark alley or street. You're already on edge because you are sent ti investigate a person that may be armed or has been reported to be armed You see a guy and tell him to stop and turn around and he turns and quickly reaches behind himself without any warning.
They're human too. Some people could never understand how a cop, fireman, soldier or anyone else that finds themselves placed in life and death situations feels. No cop likes to kill anyone. Despite what some people may think. Any person who says otherwise doesn't even know what they're talking about. All of us like to come home alive to family. Even though you're more than aware you can be killed in this job, you work to act on restraint and not jumping to conclusions. There are times when that hesitation has cost the life of a cop too.
Think of it this way. If you were in Africa, China, someplace where you don't speak the language and three cops in plain clothes with badges around their necks and submachine guns shout at you and point their guns at you are you going to quickly grab your wallet or are you clever enough to ready body language? Seems to me when a cop points a gun at you it's prudent to stand still. Remember, they're nerves are on edge too.

Answer 4

Sometimes, I can see it happening... In this instance, I didn't believe it for one second. It is easy to sit here and blame police officers for being "trigger happy," but what if your job involved the potential to die in every situation? I hear too often about the officer that pull someone over to give them a ticket and gets shot and/or killed by the driver... Or the ones that get the domestic disturbance call (the most dangerous one) and gets beaten or killed... If I had to deal with that everyday, I would probably be a little quick on the draw too. Does it make what these guys did right? No way! They should be punished properly, but I at least understand why it could happen.

Remember, how many times have you had to be in a situation involving a police officer? Me, three times in 33 years. Officers usually do it more than that EVERY day. I think it would be hard not to get jaded and angry if you had to deal with people's worst day all day long.

Answer 5

As a police officer for 15yrs, it is so easy to judge someone when you are sitting in your nice cozy home with your family watching tv while a police officer puts his life on the line everyday he goes to work. I know that there are aggressive police officers out there and some just looking for excitement etc. but 95% of us are doing it for the right reasons and when you only have a second or two to make a decision, it could be life or death and I plan on going home to my family everyday.

One of our sayings goes like this:

"I'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6". Meaning I'd rather a jury of 12 people hear my case in court than have 6 friends or family members carry my coffin.

The problem with todays society is most people disrespect the law. I drive to work everyday and get passed by 20-30 cars speeding. No one cares about anyone but themselves anymore. Just read all of these comments about how people hate police. We are just doing our job, and when something happens, who's the first person you call and want help from. It's pretty hypotrical to me. You hate us a unless you need us, then we are your friends until we leave again.

Answer 6

Have you ever been shot?
Have you ever searched a building at 2:00 A.M. in the morning where a silent alarm has been activated, and you found an open door?
Have you ever gone into the middle of a bar fight?
You would not do that for a million dollars. These dumb cops do it for a lot less.

I would love to see what you and some of these critics would do if you were in that position. Personally, I believe you would pee yourselves.

Answer 7

No, cops are not that dumb. Michael Moore is a Hollywood entertainer. I see you were entertained. Remember Hollywood's job is to make money for itself by selling stuff it thinks will entertain you. Often, the "stuff" is embellished and sometimes, one-sided. Get all the facts from all sides before making a judgment...especially a judgment based on a Hollywood icon.

Answer 8

You shouldn't have ANYTHING in your hands when police are aiming their guns at you. It's common sense!
Do you think a cop wants to get shot?...no they don't.
And anything in your hand could look like a gun given the circumstance.
Michael Moore (in my opinion) is an a$$.
Yeah he's all for gun control. But in his dumb documentary Bowling for Columbine.
He stated that when gun sales were up crime went down.
See guns are good.
I don't even think this ****** knows what he said throughout the film.

Answer 9

Stupid is NOT shooting someone who reaches into his pants pocket, and pulls out a black object, in a dark place, after being told by the cops not to move. Police have a right to go home at night.

Answer 10

The police have too much power. Untouchable. If they don't like someone they can shoot them. The other pigs will turn a blind eye and stick up for them. They love power. People think ofcops as heroes. hehe As soon as they put on a uniform they achieve hero status. Btw I've never been arrested this is just my own social commentary.