Stephen Trexler: Police need disengagement training

Regarding the Dec. 27 news article “Officer kills 2: Mother of 5 and neighbor with bat”: In light of the most recent Chicago shootings by police it would appear that the training of police officers at least in that city has gone by the wayside.

I am a former Raleigh Police Department officer who received training some years ago in the justifiable use of “deadly force.” At that time an officer was required to retreat until no further retreat was possible before the use of deadly force was justifiable.

Having faced situations from bats to shotguns, it would appear that the training took. It was never necessary for me to use deadly force although many situations presented themselves where I felt my life was in danger.

Domestic situations are most assuredly the most unpredictable of all the situations an officer is called upon to face. But a youth or young adult charging an officer with a bat is not one where options are not available, especially when there are other residents in the vicinity. Disengagement would have been preferable to the death of innocent bystanders.

I may not know all the facts, and I doubt the Chicago Police Department does either, but in retrospect, retreat would have been a much better viable option.

This story was originally published December 28, 2015 at 6:02 PM with the headline "Stephen Trexler: Police need disengagement training."