Quote Originally Posted by TFOGGER View Post
If I showed so much as a gun in a holster because somebody nailed my car with a snowball, I'd be in jail facing felony menacing charges. Why should a plainclothes, apparently off duty cop be any different?

I get that he was pissed, but a gun is never the right response to a snowball....
LE personnel are obligated to protect citizens and themselves. You as a private citizen have no obligation to protect either. The key is the cops are obligated weather they want to or not or they can face action that would not apply to you. Hence, escalating to a show of force (pulling a handgun from it's holster) for LE is within acceptable levels. LE personnel are allowed to escalate force to one level above the oppositions. A private citizen can essentially escalate force to the level of opposition. A group of dozens against one cop standing in the middle of what could obviously turn precarious, drawing may seem extreme but I wouldn't start comparing his obligations to non LE's over it.

DC is probably the toughest cop gig in the USA. Had a buddy that was a DC cop when I was stationed at Andrews back in the mid 90's. He quit after shooting and killing two kids that rushed him out of nowhere with guns; trying to get their tear tattoos... He was in uniform and on foot patrol. DC isn't even as nice as the worst part of CO on a bad day. Cut the guy some slack. After watching the vid, I could see that situation going real bad long before he ever got to the intersection. He diffused it. It's hard to prove his actions may have saved someones life, but it's too easy to criticize.