Use of lethal force needs rethinking

Re “Police Kill Woman Carrying Knife,” Aug. 26

So we are to believe that “department training” calls for a lethal upper-torso gunshot on a distraught woman (who may have been raped) carrying a knife? Who’s the bozo who came up with that idea? Would a woman carrying a knife still advance on officers had they shot her in the knee, leg, arm or shoulder? I think not. It sure seems like they had ample time to pick a place to shoot the woman without killing her.

It’s obvious that the trainers themselves need to be retrained on how not to kill anyone posing a threat, if possible. It’s a tough world for our police officers, but this shoot-to-kill mentality is a disaster.

GREGG FREEMAN

Thousand Oaks