Joseph J. Moyer: Shooting should be last resort

Regarding the Dec. 1 news article “District attorney exonerates officer, denounces rumors in killing of Keith Scott”: I agree with the conclusion reached by Charlotte law enforcement community on the Keith Scott killing. However, I think it missed an opportunity to make a necessary point.

All the officers involved should have been fired for not using all resources available to them before firing. Scott’s wife was right there, and even though she was screaming he had no gun, they could have said “go to him, if he has a gun take it from him and put it on the ground.” Scott might be alive today, and a precedent would have been set.

Use all resources that might be available before firing. I feel that all of Charlotte would see this as a good step toward better relationship with the legal community, and in particular the black community.

This story was originally published December 8, 2016 at 10:57 AM with the headline "Joseph J. Moyer: Shooting should be last resort."