Why do officers shoot to kill?
This is an open letter to all police departments:
I know that all officers are trained marksmen. I understand that this is a very important part of the training and is needed. But why not shoot to stop — knees or legs, rather than back or chest, which usually kills? Do all incidents require “shoot to kill”? I hope someone can help me — and others — understand this. Just wondering.
Ann Bergstresser, Atascadero
This story was originally published December 17, 2015 at 9:25 PM with the headline "Why do officers shoot to kill?."