Police officer fatally shot man thinking his gun was his Taser

[Jazzy]

Video has emerged showing the moment a police officer mixed up his stun gun with his hand gun, killing a man.

Eric Harris, 44, died when reserve deputy Robert Bates, 73, pulled the trigger on April 2.

Harris was accused of trying to sell an illegal gun to an undercover officer from the Tulsa County Police Department.

Harris was treated by medics at the scene and eventually died in a Tulsa hospital.

The video was released over the weekend after Harris’ family requested that it be made public.

Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office officials said Bates believed he was holding a Taser and intended to incapacitate Harris when the fatal shot was fired.

Source

Comments?

 

[mrldii]

I am most ambivalent about this case. It's obvious it WAS an accident. Accidents happen. The likelihood of something bad happening goes up each and every time someone decides to engage in illegal activities, which it's obvious Mr. Harris was.

However, this volunteer reservist is older than the age most cops have already retired. Cops are supposed to be trained well enough that there can BE no mistaking a gun for a taser; volunteers are not trained nearly as extensively as employed police officers.

This article touches on ALL the other things that are bothering me about this case:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...-reserve-cop-who-mistook-his-gun-for-a-taser/



The reservist needs to be let go. He needs to be charged with manslaughter. He needs a lengthy probation, but no jail time. Mr. Harris could have just as easily been shot dead by the criminal whom he thought he was meeting to illegally sell a gun to, just to get the gun for free. 'You play, you pay.' And, the Tulsa Police Department - as well as others across the nation - need to rethink their reservists-with-guns-and-badges policies...or at least which type of task forces they're allowed to serve on.

 

[Wonko]

I thought it was typo when I read he was 73

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

The people who allowed a 73 year old man stay on the job should also hold some responsibility in this and lose there jobs.

 

[DirtRider]

Now another question to ask yourself if this 72 year old man was standing between you and a criminal that was about to kill you would you still feel he should not be around?

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Now another question to ask yourself if this 72 year old man was standing between you and a criminal that was about to kill you would you still feel he should not be around?

I'm armed to protect myself so no!

 

[Jazzy]

~Update~
Reserve deputy in fatal shooting in Oklahoma turns himself in:
"A reserve deputy charged in a fatal shooting in Oklahoma has turned himself in to authorities, CNN reported on Tuesday.

Oklahoma prosecutors on Monday charged sheriff's reserve deputy Robert Bates with second-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a black man this month in Tulsa.

CNN reported that Corbin Brewster, an attorney representing Bates, told reporters that his client has been misrepresented in news articles that have questioned the use of reserve officers who work part-time as police and hold other jobs as well.

"They've taken the fact that this man has been good to the community and has been benevolent to the community and has been a great citizen for our town and made it something bad or sinister. That's the unfortunate thing," Brewster said.

It was unclear whether Bates was in custody after turning himself in, or whether he was booked and released.

Bates works as an insurance executive and also worked on the Tulsa Sheriff's Violent Crimes Task Force. The Tulsa County Sheriff's Department uses volunteer reserve deputies who have full powers and authorities.

Legal experts said second-degree manslaughter in Oklahoma can bring between two and four years in prison."
______________________________________
My thoughts:

Bottom line: a volunteer should not be allowed to carry a gun in an official capacity.
There is a major difference in weight and construction of a gun and a taser. Most tasers are modular and designed to be fired or held against a person and bear little resemblance to a gun. The man placed himself in this situation and is responsible.

What do you think?

 

[mrldii]

I agree with the [2nd degree] manslaughter charges; a murder DID occur, no matter how much of an accident and nor matter how much the absence of maliciousness with it.

Because of the reservist's years of community service and his good standing in the community, he should serve little or no jail time, but he SHOULD be found guilty and should be put on probation. He should also lose his capacity to serve as a reservist, unless it's pushing papers in an office.

 

[Sinon]

I'm gonna join the people asking why a senior citizen was allowed the official capacity to act as a member of law enforcement, reserve or otherwise, and also why he was granted the ability to use deadly force. And let's be honest, if you're dumb enough to mistake a handgun for a taser, you're in no way fit to carry either.