http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/13/us/alabama-birmingham-police-detective-pistol-whipped/
(CNN)—Basically, the detective didn't want to be the next police officer accused of needlessly killing an unarmed man.
The Birmingham, Alabama, cop who was pistol-whipped unconscious last week didn't shoot the motorist who attacked him because of the outcry surrounding the recent spate of police shootings, the head of the local police union said Thursday.
Fallen officers: Separated by thousands of miles, united by similar dangers
"He hesitated simply because of what's going on in society right now," said Heath Boackle, a sergeant with the Birmingham Police Department and president of the city's Fraternal Order of Police. "We have officers walking on eggshells because of how they're scrutinized in the media."
"We should be thanking the good Lord because he could be dead right now."
Police Chief A.C. Roper sees the episode -- as well as the reaction, including celebratory and vitriolic comments posted online alongside images of the wounded officer -- as symptomatic of a larger problem, in which some don't respect law enforcement.
"The nobility and integrity of policing has been challenged," Roper said. "As a profession, we have allowed popular culture to draft a narrative which is contrary to the amazing work that so many officers are doing everyday across this nation."
Police: Cincinnati man calls 911 on self, kills responding officer
(CNN)—Basically, the detective didn't want to be the next police officer accused of needlessly killing an unarmed man.
The Birmingham, Alabama, cop who was pistol-whipped unconscious last week didn't shoot the motorist who attacked him because of the outcry surrounding the recent spate of police shootings, the head of the local police union said Thursday.
Fallen officers: Separated by thousands of miles, united by similar dangers
"He hesitated simply because of what's going on in society right now," said Heath Boackle, a sergeant with the Birmingham Police Department and president of the city's Fraternal Order of Police. "We have officers walking on eggshells because of how they're scrutinized in the media."
"We should be thanking the good Lord because he could be dead right now."
Police Chief A.C. Roper sees the episode -- as well as the reaction, including celebratory and vitriolic comments posted online alongside images of the wounded officer -- as symptomatic of a larger problem, in which some don't respect law enforcement.
"The nobility and integrity of policing has been challenged," Roper said. "As a profession, we have allowed popular culture to draft a narrative which is contrary to the amazing work that so many officers are doing everyday across this nation."
Police: Cincinnati man calls 911 on self, kills responding officer