COP DEATHS TRIGGER A REVIEW

Some Eye Raids As Too Risky A Tactic

The recent surge in fatal police shootings is
weighing heavily on law enforcement trainers,
some of whom are calling for a reassessment of
high-risk fugitive and drug raids that have
resulted in a number of deadly ambushes.

"It's time to change our thinking," says Pat
McCarthy, who advises police agencies across the
country. "Cops are exposing themselves to
increasing danger many times over, and it's just not necessary."

Harvey Hedden, executive director of the
International Law Enforcement Trainers and
Educators Association, said the group is urging
its 4,000 members to "look at everything" in an
effort to avoid potentially dangerous complacency on the streets.

"Police work can be 99% boredom and 1% panic,"
Hedden said. "Routine can be the most dangerous
of all. We need to go back to the basics."

Federal and local officials have been troubled
for the past two years by the number of
firearms-related fatalities. Gun-related
fatalities last year were up 15% from 2010. So
far in 2012, four officers have been killed by
gunfire =AD one more than at the same time in 2011.

Last week, in the most violent episode of the new
year, one Utah officer was killed and five others
were wounded when they attempted to serve a
drug-related search warrant in Ogden.

The officers, members of a narcotics strike
force, were met at the door by a former soldier,
who allegedly opened fire on the squad, killing
30-year-old Ogden officer Jared Francom. The
suspect, Matthew Stewart, 37, was wounded in the
confrontation. His injuries are not considered life-threatening.

Weber County Sheriff Terry Thompson said that the
incident and the officers' actions remained under
investigation and that the activities of the
strike force are "on hold" because about half of
the unit was involved in the shooting.

McCarthy said the deadly confrontation
underscores a need for police to rethink their tactics.

"The days of knocking down doors in drug cases
should be over. Given what's going on now, you
have to consider other options," McCarthy said.

He said law enforcement officials should focus
more on attempting to lure suspects out into the
open or simply "wait them out."

Of the 68 firearm-related fatalities last year, a
Justice Department review found that at least 10
officers died while serving search warrants or
participating in multiagency raids.

Later this month, the Justice Department is
hosting a meeting of researchers and law
enforcement officials to discuss tactics and
training in the wake of the officer deaths.

"You can have all of the equipment in the world,
but if somebody wants to kill you, they will if
you give them the opportunity," he said.