Don’t Second-Guess Our Police Officers

Re “An Officer’s Split-Second Decision to Use Deadly Force,” Commentary, Feb. 21: I agree with Rod Bernsen. I am a retired Los Angeles County deputy who, during my career, was involved in an incident where I shot at a moving vehicle. I found myself in the path of an oncoming vehicle and, because I shot at the vehicle, it caused the career criminal driving it to swerve, missing me. The suspect, who was not injured, eventually was convicted of his third, fourth and fifth strike and sent to prison for life.

At that split second of decision, do you think I cared about the Sheriff Department’s policy of shooting at moving vehicles? No. I had no time to think or reason, all I could do was react in a way I felt would keep me from getting killed.

Let’s be honest about being human -- cop or civilian. There may be a point in your life where you need to react to save your own behind or someone you love.

And the last thing you need are all the people who have no clue what you just went through telling you how you screwed up. Police officers are not robots; they cannot be programmed. But they are human and will react as humans do.

Steven A. Velasquez Sr.

Chino Hills

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When will we start caring more about our police officers and less about criminals? The bottom line is, when an officer tells you to stop your car or pull over, you must comply. Anything else should be considered a hostile act. I appreciate the views of someone finally defending the right of our officers to defend themselves. Unfortunately, Bernsen is a lonely voice in a city full of protected self-interest politicos.

Butch Clark

Sherman Oaks