I WAS INSPIRED TO WRITE THIS ARTICLE AFTER reading Michael Shermer’s July 2015 column in Scientific American titled “Outrageous: Why Cops Kill.” I thought readers might gain some insight hearing an answer to the question of why cops kill from a cop himself. I begin with some background and then consider the many circumstances in which we cops find ourselves that can lead an incident to escalate into violence.
I am a 34 year-old white male and grew up in the suburbs of Los Angeles. I served in the U.S. Army with the 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment. I did a tour in Afghanistan, finished my time in the Army and went on to obtain my college degree. Finally, at the age of 26, I became a police officer with what I consider the greatest department in the world—the Los Angeles Police Department.
One of my earliest memories was of my grandfather’s answer to my question about what I should be when I grow up. His response: “Son, do what makes you happy. So long as it keeps a roof over your head and food on the table, do it.” My immediate response was, “I want to be a police officer.”