That escalated quickly...

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

So what is Deputy Potters shooting at around 6:55-7:05?

I wondered the same and concluded he was trying to fool the perp into thinking they were returning fire on him by shooting "safely" into the air? Not 100% sure that is accurate but the only explanation I can conjure up.

He is shooting at the guy running away. The shooter and the runner both had on dark hoodies, one had white the other red shorts. I think the deputy got confused and thought it was the shooter running away- which allowed the shooter to actually come around and flank the two deputies.

If that gun hadn’t jammed, the big cop would have been toast, maybe both of them.

And that is a great example of why the number of shots per OIS went from 6 to 15….

That story about the K-9 cop and the SWAT team expending all their ammo must have looked like that scene in Predator, where they tear up the jungle with everything.

[WillieThom]

Don't coppers carry like 4 mags on the belt? Drop one, go to the belt?

I have a buddy for shooting matches, he's a lot better than me, who has this bad habit of when he drops a mag on a reload he bends down to retrieve it instead of going for the backup on the belt. He knows he shouldn't do it, but it's almost compulsive for some people.

The deputies in my county carry the Glock 21 with what I have seen is as many as 4 or 5 mags on their belts plus what’s in the weapon. They are positioned on their weak-side front—I imagine so they can manage reloads from a sitting position—but it just looks cumbersome as all get out and makes me wonder why they don’t just opt for 9mm and the higher capacity that comes with it.

[Disciple]

He is shooting at the guy running away. The shooter and the runner both had on dark hoodies, one had white the other red shorts. I think the deputy got confused and thought it was the shooter running away-

Lucky misses!

[Esq.]

The deputies in my county carry the Glock 21 with what I have seen is as many as 4 or 5 mags on their belts plus what’s in the weapon. They are positioned on their weak-side front—I imagine so they can manage reloads from a sitting position—but it just looks cumbersome as all get out and makes me wonder why they don’t just opt for 9mm and the higher capacity that comes with it.

Sheriffs' deputies and Highway Patrol always carry more mags and bigger guns than "beat cops" in my experience. Backup is often much farther away.

As an example, on any given shift there are 4 deputies on patrol in my county. The county is just over 900 square miles in area. In the event that a deputy would have to go from the North East side of the county to the North West it would take him 45 minutes driving at nearly 100 miles per hour. There are plenty of North/South roads but VERY FEW East West- Big Ranch Country, so, they have to "drive all the way back to town" from the furthest North parts of the county, before they can turn and go either east or west.
Meaning- you DAMN SURE are on your own- NOBODY IS COMING TO SAVE YOU. It's not physically/geographically possible.

[Vandal]

This will make a great training video. Those officers were lucky. This could have easily been another "FBI Miami" moment. Just think if that dirtbag had a little practice and knew how to run an AR... The overhead spray and pray always makes me laugh. Good riddance.

You officers out there... BE CAREFUL. This could have ended much differently.

Those guys got incredibly lucky. If we start to pull in the classic "10 Deadly Errors" of law enforcement they violated several of them to include Relaxing Too Soon, Missing Danger Signs, Bad Positioning, and one not on the list, complacency. Officers are also running scared when dealing with certain groups as we don't want to kick off the next riot season. Us cops are almost universally terrible at conducting non-biased AARs from incidents like this. As soon as we do, others will start screaming about MMQBing and stating how we weren't there and should shut up. I have seen some officers actually saying that since they are alive, what ever they did worked and we need not go deeper than that.

I am still curious as to the original reason for the stop and why they were getting both males out of the car. Was it a traffic stop leading to a warrant, drug related investigation, other criminal investigation? I believe Potters was trying so hard to be friendly, he let his guard down, got complacent and almost got dead.

What's worse is these guys pulled off that "we're getting along, it's all good" vibe that lulls most people into participating.

That should have been a clue to those deputies. If things appear to good to be true, they are.

[glocktogo]

4 mags, hell there is barely room for all the shit I am supposed to carry and don't. Radio, double mag case, batton, flashlight, tourniquet, holster, keeper, glove case, taser, handcuff case and maybe an extra handcuff off a belt keeper, carabiner for keys. Now fit all that on a 34" waist and tell me where there is room for 2 more mags. If 46 rounds of ammo doesn't get it done then I am running it over with my cruiser.

They were saved by the fact that he had no brace on the back and shooting an AR pistol out in front of you like that is pretty hard to do fast and accurately. The jam helped.

I pulled over a car of similar individuals who were smoking weed while driving and as they were making their way to the shoulder, back seat passenger tried to hide something in the storage of the suv. Tint wasn't dark enough and I approached him fist. I peeked in the back window and saw an AR mag sticking up. Mood changed and all three were told to grab dash. Yanked out back guy and cuffed him up fast. Put him on back bumper between us so if they decided to leave or ram me he would be first. Called for back up to get the other 2 out.

Gun was no stolen, no sights, delton AR pistol, no brace, and empty mag. Got it from his cousin, who is now dead. 19 year old with no felonies. Could not seize gun because he can be in possession just can't buy it. So many jacked up laws.

Had to have a come to Jesus talk about why people get shot for doing stupid shit like that and color has no bearing on the matter.

I figured that's why so many of the older cops bulk up. Not enough room on your belt for gear? Just gain weight and carry as much as you want!

On a serious note, most of the cops in my town (G17 issued) use the Safariland triple open top pouch where the mags are stowed bullets out. They take up about the same belt space as the old flap style double pouches with bullets to the side.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

Lucky misses!

I wonder if that factored into the comment by the Sheriff that the other occupants were not involved at all and were actually helpful..

[SteyrAUG]

That should have been a clue to those deputies. If things appear to good to be true, they are.

Correct. But as you noted with your other reply everybody is trying to do the cultural / racial "feelz" and get along so I can understand how they might have fallen in with it. During times of tension there is a "these guys are trying to be nice, I have to do the same" mentality that isn't simply easy to fall into, sometimes it's the last thing you hear from your superiors before you start your shift.

Not excusing it, but it's a dangerous trap that is often hard to guard against. And of course the most dangerous, violent offenders will usually be the most skilled at it.