Today’s entry: I hate unaccountable law enforcement. BUT I fully support a county having a couple of scary ex-SEAL types who can be unleashed when (stuff) hits the fan and an evil bastard has to be squashed. A tight leash, but it comes off and they do what they were trained to.
Bottom Line: In the wake of Thursday’s surreal high jacking of a UPS truck and driver, subsequent chase and eventual shootout, I think I've heard about every type of opinion, concern, and blame that could be applied. Even days later, I’m not sure the answers are any better or the best path forward all that clear. I choose this note in particular because of all the questions that have been raised in hindsight about the police response resulting in a shootout killing the two suspects along with the hijacked driver. This angle might pose one of the more objective questions. Rather than Monday morning quarterbacking the horrible events and the police response, is it possible that perhaps the right team of law enforcement professionals weren’t the ones responding to the situation?
What you’re suggesting is essentially what we have with SWAT teams within local law enforcement. Miami-Dade has a Special Response Team (SRT) that’s essentially the county’s version of SWAT. Many have been quick to suggest that the response by police involved in the chase and final shootout was inappropriate. As Mayor Carlos Gimenez indicated, the FBI is investigating, and they’ll provide insight. We have no reason to believe that anyone responding to law enforcement wanted the conclusion that occurred. Additionally, it’s easy for any of us not involved to rush to judgment but I don’t think any of us can begin to appreciate the pressure or the stress of the situation by the end of this chase. Quoting Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez: They didn’t want a situation where they bailed out and ran into a CVS, or a local shopping center, or even worse, started shooting at people at that intersection. It was a very difficult situation they were facing. They tried the best they could and showed incredible courage. Can anyone really question that line of thinking? It’s logical. The question, in hindsight, might be whether the right law enforcement team was responding by the time the shootout erupted.
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