Excessive Police Force Not Justifiable

Last week, 10 officers surrounded a man suspected of killing a sheriff's deputy and wounding another deputy and police dog in Florida and collectively shot 110 bullets, striking the man with 68 shots.

We understand that in dangerous situations police must shoot to kill, but when has it ever taken 68 shots to kill someone?

The police's dozens of shots were excessive force and were an abuse use of their power.

We make no excuses for the crimes of the suspect. The murdered deputy had a wife and three children. But the police are charged with the responsibility to protect and serve – not use their guns for personal revenge.

It is no easy job to put your life on the line for society. The harm of a law enforcement officer is exceptionally upsetting to police, but officers must be able to separate their personal feelings from their job.

In this case, that was not done.

"The only reason 110 rounds was all that was fired was that's all the ammunition they had," said Polk County's Sheriff Grady Judd, according to the Associated Press.

Yes, the suspect should have been shot since he was armed when he was approached, but the excessive use of power was inhumane.

Shooting him 68 times would not bring back the life he took, and only frightens those they seek to protect.

The suspect was pulled over Thursday for speeding when he shot the deputies and the dog and fled into the woods. In his autopsy, it was confirmed that he was indeed the killer and that he had the wounded officer's gun in his hand when he was shot.

We understand cops are human, and losing one of their own is the hardest blow. But once that badge is in place and that uniform is on, they are no longer civilians and one's personal hurt must take a back seat.

SWAT teams from all over Florida had been searching for the suspect, who was also suspected to be involved in drug activity. Instead of having the suspect in custody where he could have possibly given information to find more drug trafficking culprits, he is blown to pieces and not recognizable.

If the police wanted to send a message, they did, but not one that is comforting. Now we as citizens should be even more vigilant and cooperative because we see what happens when cops abuse their power, which is never justifiable.

Rodney King should be the exception – not the rule.