LEAA on The Factor: Police Use of Force
July 11, 2003

A dangerous pursuit puts officers and innocent bystanders at risk. Just as the chase appears to end in a convenience store parking lot, the fleeing criminal bursts from his car and drops into a firing position. With only seconds to react, officers in dangerous situations fall back on training and reflex.

A frequent guest on The Factor and a survivor of shootouts with violent felons, LEAA's Executive Director Jim Fotis sets the record straight on a recent incident involving police use

of deadly force when the metallic object in the criminal's hand proved to be a cellphone. Fotis described the syndrome of "suicide by cop" and explained how a criminal's threatening and hostile actions will place officers in reasonable fear of imminent harm or death.

LEAA continues to remain a vocal supporter of law enforcement and a source of expert commentary on events and situations developing across the nation.

What would YOU Do?
A frame from in-car video at the scene of the shooting shows the suspect emerging from his car, adopting a classic shooting stance with something metallic in his hands. If your life, or the life of your partner was on the line, what would you do?