Report: Officer Didn't Shoot Attacker Over Fear Of National Scrutiny
CHICAGO (KDKA) -- Officials in Chicago say a wounded officer held her fire for fear of potential national scrutiny.
CBS Chicago reports Police Supt. Eddie Johnson related the story Thursday of three officers who were injured when a "simple traffic accident" turned violent.
Johnson used the incident to demonstrate the pressure officers are under amid increased scrutiny over police shootings. He said a female officer and her partner were on patrol when they witnessed a crash, and tried to help one of the victims, who became combative, apparently under the influence of drugs.
"A subject who was under the influence of PCP attacked the female officer, viciously pounded her head into the street as her partner was trying to get him off of her. This attack went on for several minutes," Johnson said.
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The female officer and two others were hurt while taking the man into custody. Johnson visited the 43-year-old female officer in the hospital.
"She looked at me and said she thought she was going to die, and she knew that she should shoot this guy, but she chose not to because she didn't want her family or the department to have to go through the scrutiny the next day on national news," he said.
Johnson said the nation needs to change the narrative that has police officers second-guessing themselves.
"This officer could have lost her life last night. She's hospitalized right now, but she still has the spirit and the bravery that these officers and firefighters display every day; every day," he said. "These individuals come to work day in and day out and they give their lives for the city of Chicago every day without hesitation, and I have to tell you I am proud and still humbled to be a leader of a great department like the Chicago Police Department. So thank you all in advance for what you do."
