Cop Kills Handcuffed Man In Patrol Car

This press release from the Prince George's County Police Department describes an incident in that jurisdiction that resulted in the death of a handcuffed arrestee in the front seat of a patrol car. While the circumstances of this event are rather unusual in some respects, its most notable aspect is one that's common to the majority of police-produced fatalities, the application of life-saving efforts after the shooting. 

The victim was shot seven times. In many cases, perhaps most cases, officers fire their weapons at their targets until their ammunition is exhausted. In any event, seven bullet holes produced by a trained officer from close range should be enough to produce death almost immediately. In fact, one shot would probably be sufficient to immobilize, if not kill, almost anyone. 

Be that as it may, if the objective is to kill someone by multiple gun shots, which must indeed be the objective, why are life-saving measures quickly applied thereafter? 

There are a few possible explanations for this odd state of affairs. Police departments might feel that it would seem callous of them to incapacitate a suspect by a serious wound and then refuse to treat them in the few short moments remaining of their life. In other words, it's an effort to retain the "protect and serve" image law enforcement attempts to project to the public.

Maybe it's meant to provide practice for ambulance crews and hospital trauma units. Unlikely.

While the officer responsible for the death will be taken off of his normal patrol duties and made to perform surveillance at a desk until some ceremonial investigation is completed, other, uninvolved officers will rejoice in the fact that the public has once again been informed that refusing to comply with the directions of a public employee can result in immediate death.

Actually, the most logical rationale for this procedure is probably department policy, which would require medical attention being called for the victim of any mishap. Once the cartridge cases are empty and the target immobilized, what is the next step? The body can't be left where it is, the officers can't get in their car and drive away. There are steps that must be followed. Hearses aren't dispatched to accident scenes, ambulances are.