First of all, the only connection I can make between this article being on Flyertalk and actual travel safety/security is the assumption that our rights are being trampled at every turn in the "name" of security. The biggest example currently available is the travel industry, specifically the Airports and TSA. Therefore I don't know that this article and conversation should be on this board.

As a former Police Officer that left in good standing, mostly with the feeling that several take advantage of their Authority and give everyone a bad name. I generally do not advocate the killing of Police Officers. I also know that many Line of Duty deaths could be eliminated if the officers would follow the SOP's and not do well "stupid" things. Many officer deaths are attributed to the officer acting before thinking OR before adequate backup and support arrives.

I do think in the article mentioned the Police acted in order to CYA. They were basically in a slammed if you do and slammed if you don't scenario. It appears they followed SOP and did not approach someone they thought could blow up and kill himself and them. Which one of you would walk up to a guy you thought ( even if later it was shown that you thought wrongly) he had a bomb attached to himself and could use it? Come on, if you could have done so much better, lets here your answer.

I will be the first to say, that our Constitutional Rights have degraded quickly in this country over the last few years in the name of security. However, they have not degraded enough that the Police just shot him dead in the name of Security. We still have better rights than the rest of the world. I also feel that LEO's are under a lot of undue stress feeling that EVERY abnormal event they come in contact with is a "terrorist". To live on the edge all the time is not healthy. Yes, there will be more attacks, and yes we have to be dilligent for them, but I think the public would be better served if everyone in a Security position went back to the base tennant of Innocent Until Proven Guilty. I think most LEO's assume guilty until I can question you and see if you are innocent, because really NO ONE is totally innocent.

However. the training is true in that it only takes one little mistake and your children are father/mother less for the rest of their lives. There is the dilema. A "good" LEO is looking out for him/herself as well as for you and your family, and sometimes makes mistakes. Hopefully, not ones that adversely affect you or them, but that might not be quite right in the heat of the moment.

I think sometimes the Public thinks that the LEO's main purpose in life is to GET you, and some LEO's do think that way. Others just want everybody to get home safe that night.

Lets give everyone the benefit of the doubt that they are Protecting and Serving according to the best of their ability and according to the Department SOP's and when it is suspected or proven that they are not, lets take appropriate action to correct it.