Criminal Law Justification Letter: Mr. Mayor: I

Criminal Law

Justification Letter:

Mr. Mayor:

I would like to inform you of my opinion regarding the shooting incident that transpired at 2 a.m. involving Police Officer Jones. While walking the beat after midnight in a high crime area, Officer Jones was approached by a civilian who claimed to have been assaulted and robbed by an assailant. The victim described her alleged assailant as wearing a red shirt and white pants. Further identification was impossible because the witness says her attacker was wearing a ski mask at the time of the crime. The victim was able to determine that her assailant was approximately 5'8" and that the perpetrator was in possession of a gun. Doing the appropriate thing, Officer Jones called for medical attention for the woman and for backup.

While awaiting assistance, Officer Jones noticed an individual approaching carrying something in his or her right hand. The officer identified herself as a police officer and ordered the approaching individual to stop. The individual in question refused to comply with the officer's command. Noting a silver and black item in the person's hand, Officer Jones believed she was being confronted with a guy by an individual less than 10 feet away who was refusing to stop in his tracks. She felt no other recourse but to shoot the individual in the shoulder to prevent any injury to herself or to the people around her. The item in question was indeed a gun, although analysis later revealed that it was a toy gun painted and modeled to look identical to a real Glock 26 handgun. Additionally, the man that Officer Jones shot did turn out to be the perpetrator of the beating and robbery. The victim's wallet was found in his possession. Given these circumstances, Officer Jones acted in the most responsible way possible.

Not Justified:

Mr. Mayor:

I would like to inform you of my opinion regarding the shooting incident that transpired at 2 a.m. involving Police Officer Jones. While walking the beat, Officer Jones was approached by a civilian who claimed to have been assaulted and robbed by an assailant described as about 5'8" and was wearing a red shirt and white pants. The alleged assailant was wearing a ski mask which made additional description impossible. According to this witness, the perpetrator was in possession of a gun. Officer Jones called for medical attention for the woman and backup, but did not wait for additional police to arrive on the scene.