Police officers train to prevent serious harm

Re: “Nuu-chah-nulth ‘devastated’ after officers cleared in fatal shooting near Tofino,” Nov. 18.

Two members of the Nuu-chah-nulth family have been shot and killed in the past year.

I was a police officer for 32 years. Police officers do not go to work wanting to kill someone. They use lethal force to prevent serious harm or death to a person or themselves.

They train for that because taking another person’s life is not normal or natural. We, as Canadians, hope they can follow their training and come home to their loved ones after each shift.

In both cases, the police officer was confronted by a person with a weapon, who displayed intent to harm or kill them. If they had stopped their action and responded to police commands, they would not have died.

When a police officer decides to use lethal force, they have decided to kill the aggressor. Think about the stress they feel when making that decision.

Who could shoot to wound someone trying to kill you, usually within a close distance? Many people attacking can be shot multiple times and still continue to attack and kill.

Judith Sayers, president of the Nuuchah-nulth Tribal Council, continues to suggest police be trained to wound before they decide to kill.

A vast majority of citizens have enough common sense to see how unreasonable this comment is. Thankfully the police are here and I always hope they can save lives, including their own, when duty calls.

Douglas Oakley Victoria