Shootings...And Other Stuff...
Okay, we're going to take things in REVERSE order today, and save the shooting for last.
--The recent ice storm that ravaged much of Ft. Wayne, and cost individual homeowners LOTS of "foldin' money" is still costing. I&M reports about $12 MILLION to house, feed and otherwise supply the crews that came in from other states, but (imho), I feel it was money WELL SPENT.
At our house, everything is back to normal (or AS NORMAL as a decent person can feel in OUR part of town).
The sewer guys came back out and looked at why our drain in the basement was not...well, draining.
Seems there is supposed to be a grate that covers the opening that was cemented over...OK.
And we might be looking at a sump pump install if the drain cannot be emptied...OK.
But I got my handy-dandy cordless Crafts-MAN drill out, attached a foot long masonry bit and went at it. I drilled a few holes AROUND the cement blockage, and lo, and behold, I heard a trickle of water going into the waste line.
Had to call the missus to hear that.
Then, after one more hole drilled, I heard a slurping sound, and then saw that well-known, swirling "vortex-effect" created by EXITING WATER...
It drained all the lines from around the basement walls in less than 5 minutes (no more hauling buckets of water to dump out).
I was ecstatic, to say the least.
I'm thinking of NOW applying for a plumber's license (to "add" to my overly-endowed resume')...LOL.
This saved us a crapload of moolah, that we can otherwise put to another use (like a new front door, or perhaps new front steps (the old ones are crumbling faster than our economy). Who knows?
All I can say is that a reward of a Chinese dinner awaits me sometime soon in the future...Hoorah!
--The police-action shooting that occurred in the 1700 block of Kenwood yesterday morning seems to be perfectly warranted (as do most such shootings). The man racked and levelled a shotgun at the officers on scene, and I don't care who you are, that "shik-shik" sound tends to get one's "attention" REAL fast.
Chief York stated that the fact Thompson displayed a shotgun and aimed it at officers, eliminated the use of beanbag ammunition as a viable option for putting down the threat.
Now THAT concerns me, somewhat.
And the more I thought on it, the more bothered I became.
Beanbag rounds are NOT the only less-than-lethal devices at the FWPD's disposal (or they should not be).
When visiting the Regional Academy in November, and with speaking to Sergeant Berning (who heads up TASER training), I asked him about the shotgun round used AS a "stand-off" TASER. He knew exactly what I was referring to. it's called the XREP round, and fires a battery-powered projectile that contains the two prongs used to deliver a 30 second "tase" to an individual, givng officers adequate time to run up, disarm and otherwise secure any weapon or person.
Sounds simple, huh?
Then my question would be WHY didn't the FWPD employ such a device INSTEAD of doing the ".308 smack-down"?
Here's one police link to the XREP:
http://www.policemag.com/Articles/2007/07/Electric-Bullet.aspx

And here's my defense department link:
http://www.defensereview.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1170

Now given the layout of the front yard, and surrounding area, I'd say that most officers were WITHIN 50 feet of Mr. Thompson. That would fall within the range of the XREP round from an officer's shotgun.
But not having been on scene to see the tactical deployment, I can't make judgment calls on protocol.
Yet, the XREP is only ONE method of averting lethality.
You also have the CO2 propelled .68 caliber pepperballs, and a .40 MM rubber ring "dispenser", carbine, that can chip paint off of a steel door. It might break a person's arm, but they WILL drop the weapon and live to see another day, instead of getting killed.
Any of these items could have been utilized, if they were available and on scene.
As soon as Mr. Thompson came out with the shotgun, and even BEFORE he racked it, he could have been disarmed using less lethal, stand-off means, and I say that the possibility of Mr. Thompson STILL being alive (and getting the help he desperately NEEDED) was very much there. It just didn't become the option of choice (for whatever reason).
And please don't think for one moment, that I'm coming down on the man who made the "one shot-one kill" gig happen one damn bit.
He's been through this before, so he KNOWS what HAS to be done under the circumstances.
And I applaud every officer involved for not allowing the situation to escalate further.
There comes a time when whatever training you've received has to hold court, and decisions are made to preserve the greater number.
I'm just stating that options NOT realized might have been available, and that Mr. Thompson might have lived to see another Christmas, that's all.
Now, there's not much left but to have a closed casket funeral (a .308 at that range does nasty things to the human skull).
Interestingly, here's a link to the News-Sentinel that has an interview with Mr. Thompson's ex-wife.
And it's a very good read:
http://news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090108/NEWS/901080330

There will always be that ONE, unique scenario that will always demand an immediate response, and to whatever level is required to eliminate the threat.
It occurs in the military, by it's very definition, and it occurs on our very streets each and every day.
I'm glad to know that there are highly trained officers and warriors out there willing to do all that is expected of them (and in some case more) to protect and serve our community...AND our nation, no matter where they might find themselves.