Police Put Lives
On the Line

This letter is to reply to both the editorial and Beth Champagne letter. As an ex Randolph Police Officer I would like to bring up the following.

First, neither you nor I were at any of these events. I cannot answer if the police involved did everything they possibly could. I sympathise with all the people involved.

I can say that when someone has a gun or a knife and you all run away, we run towards the problem. The police were asked to respond to each of these situations.

We are trained that if a person has a knife, if you are within a 21-foot range they can stab you before you can shoot them with a gun. We practice this and it has been proven.

As far as Tasers go, many departments are not allowed budgets to get them. Sound familiar, Randolph? Nobody wants to pay for cops to have more toys. But by gosh we sure complain that the cops did not use the toys they did not have.

I have used a Taser in a brutal fight and it did not work on the man who was on drugs, drunk, and disturbed. If it was not for more manpower I would have had to shoot him as I had used all of my tools on my person. The Taser had no effect and does not always on every single person. No tool works 100%

Let me ask, would you take a knife to a gun battle. No. Why should I get killed and my little kids grow up without a dad because someone is upset and I let them kill me rather than defend my own life? Would you be willing to stand there and get cut up by a knife and keep trying to talk? If so there are numerous agencies looking to hire. I would much rather talk my way out of any situation but that is not always an option.  

Many of the times these people involved are suffering from psychiatric problems. Again I can sympathize with them, but am not going to die, just so they can hurt someone else after I am out of the way. We usually get called because this person has said they were going to hurt or kill someone. If I get killed who will stop them then?

I urge you to do a ride-along if it is allowed at your area agency. I have had numerous people ride with me and they are all surprised with what we have to deal with.

It is very easy to suggest what should have happened. However, when you are the one the gun or knife is pointed at, you find you want to survive and do what is neccessary to live. There are numerous times were we talk people out of suicide or hurting others, but that is never mentioned as it part of our job. But when we have to defend ourselves, family members, or the general public it is why did we do it that way.

Vermont cops do not get much support from their own laws compared to some of the states in the Midwest. They have to take a lot more abuse both physical and verbal than many of their counterparts. It is not easy for them to go home after they have done their job and it ended in a death. To think it does not weigh on their minds is just foolish.

The easiest answer I have is if you follow the instructions given by the police it will be fine. You may not like them at the time but you will have a say at some point (court).

But for not following the rules there are always consequences and some are fateful. If you don't want the cops to come then don't call, but don't complain when we do our job. Try walking a mile in their shoes before deciding what should have happened. 

Lyle Murray

Mt Pleasant IA

(Mr. Murray is a former local policeman in Randolph.)