Many police officers across the nation have found themselves on the skids recently for actions they’ve taken. This time, the NYPD has suspended four officers for “failing to take action.” The NYPD suspended four officers without pay before any significant investigation has taken place.
The Daily News reported, four NYPD officers deployed to work “a ‘crime reduction’ assignment did nothing after a man shot himself in the leg….” They also provided a surveillance video of the incident.
According to The Washington Times, investigators later identified the injured man as Xavier Shaw. Police had located Shaw, who was being treated at a hospital. Shaw was charged with criminal possession of a firearm. The court set his bond at $300,000.
Several men can be seen gathered in the video, reportedly “gambling and drinking,” on the sidewalk. The nearby locations of the officers are circled. Two are leaning up against a wall, and two are in a patrol car stopped in the street.
As the men are acting casually, they react to a sudden loud bang. The men scatter. This included one man who appears to be limping. Investigators later determined Shaw had allegedly accidentally discharged his gun and apparently shot himself in the leg. The NYPD has released little information regarding precisely what the officers perceived when they heard the loud bang, as there appeared to be little reaction from them.
In the video, viewers can only see a portion of the officers leaning against the wall, and viewers cannot see the officers in the SUV. According to Daily News’ sources, “Body camera footage from the four officers reveals they heard a bang but didn’t realize it was a gunshot.” A police source of high rank reportedly said, “They [the officers] thought it could have been a firecracker,” which would explain why the officers did not appear to react as if they believed they heard a gunshot.
It’s difficult to determine if the men surrounding the man who accidentally shot himself knew what had happened. As most fled, they appear to be running while still in a crouch, as if they believe someone might shoot at them again. Two men who remained at the scene had initially ducked and then appeared to seek cover behind a mailbox and a parked vehicle.
There have been many reports and studies showing cops are increasingly reluctant to become involved in proactive policing. Some police defensive tactics trainers have found this reluctance breeds hesitation. And, seeing other cops across the country punished for acting “too quickly,” can also cause police officers to hesitate.
Hesitation, when cops are deciding whether to act, especially in self-defense, commonly leads to suspects injuring and sometimes killing officers. Less discussed is the type of hesitation that may have occurred in this incident. It may also cause officers not to act immediately when it seems they should. Officers now want to be extra certain of the criminal activity before they take action. Whether that played a factor in this incident, investigators may be able to clarify.
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Originally from New England, he’s a Boston sports fan. He now lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife, Jody, a retired firefighter. He enjoys spending time with his adult kids and three grandchildren.
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