Policemen could not shoot a thief
It began with the notification of the owner of the stolen Lexus, who tracked the vehicle by GPS and informed the services. Policemen blocked the parking lot and the escape route, but the driver – instead of giving up – moved with impetus. He pushed, hitting the wall of the store and ramming police cars. The uniforms tried to stop him at all costs. They used gas, struck the windows. Finally arrows were fired. One of the ricockets hit the officer in the calf. Despite the shot tires, the car continued to escape, until he finally fell into the river. There was also a 26-year-old woman in the vehicle, who was detained for interrogation.
The prosecutor’s office is investigating … both sides
A 34-year-old resident of Wałbrzych, wanted by the court and previously punished, sat behind the wheel. The prosecutor’s office initiated two investigations: One regarding the active assault on officers, the other: the possible exceeding the rights by the policemen themselves.
« In Poland, you must not shoot thieves, » says the expert
Did the officers act properly? We asked the former police negotiator for an opinion, Dariusz Loranty. His comment leaves no illusions.
– People are not aware. They think that a policeman can shoot at the escaping whenever he wants – says Dariusz Loranty. – And the truth is that he is allowed to do this only if the escape threatens someone’s life directly. In Poland, you must not shoot thieves. Even if he rams the police car. This is not a scene from an American film, where the officer pounds from a pistol in a car and becomes a hero. With us, every shot is a potential accusation. We have the right.
Gas, ricochet and dangerous decisions
According to the expert, officers were generally in accordance with the procedure. Road blockade, verbal calls, gas use – All this was a stage of escalation, as provided for in the Act on direct coercion measures. However, some details are a problem.
– Two policemen put gas into the car’s cabin. Mistake. Do not use gas in closed spaces. And do not put your hand with a weapon inside – warns lorants. – If the driver moved, he could precipitate the gun and use it against officers.
The expert also warns against the threat of ricochet – not only for policemen, but also bystanders. – The recording shows how a random man approaches the officers. If he was hit by a ricochet, there would be no discussion. The officers, especially the manager of the action, would suffer serious consequences. In this situation, there is no apologize, there is no option that they do not fly their heads – says Lorants.
Experience versus adrenaline
Policemen, as the former negotiator notes, were young, they acted dynamically, maybe too boldly, but they did not break the rules in a gross way.
– Experienced officers could allow the suspect to escape. Farm a shot that hurts is a bigger problem in Poland than the escape of the suspect – says Lorants. – Society expects superpower from the police, but an officer cannot act like a hero from the action cinema. It must act in accordance with the letter of the law. And it is often the law that keeps his finger on the trigger.
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@jciesz / x / fact.pl
Policemen try to stop the driver of the stolen Lexus. The action takes place just before entering Biedronka in Bolków.
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– / Fakt.pl
Dariusz Loranty, a former policeman and negotiator, comments on the intervention: « It’s not Hollywood – here every shot can end in an indictment. »
