Did the office have to shoot? No, there was no real threat in my opinion. Yes, a flying hatchet is a danger, but it is also a slow-moving projectile which could have been easily side-stepped at that distance. Is the officer at fault? Legally I don’t think so and probably he did not break department policy or training so he will walk away from this one. His department however should let him walk all the way to the unemployment office or assign him to parking enforcement or gator-crossing duties till he sees the need to relinquish the badge and gun.
The question that should be pertinent is: If we as a civilians take that shot, what would happen to us?
You can bet your ass you’d be trying to raise bail and lawyer money.
That’s a point I’ve been trying to make from the beginning. If this was my back yard and I did this with my CCW gun, I’d be in prison.
In a case like this, where there’s no third party danger, I think cops should have to “take fire” before being able to use lethal force. They need to be held to a higher standard because they get special privileges.