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Reason First: What is a Cop Supposed to do About an Allegedly Armed Teen?

Wilmington, Delaware police officer Corporal James MacColl had a decision to make. Was he right?

By Skyler SaundersPublished 4 years ago 3 min read
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What is a police officer to do? Corporal James MacColl has been accused of shooting at an unarmed teen in Wilmington, Delaware. Prosecutors have found the police officer to be dishonest about the whole situation. The suspect, Yahim Harris, an 18-year-old at the time of the shooting who let go of his gun in the standoff between he and MacColl is free based on a tip.

So how is a police officer supposed to react to this kind of situation? He erred but that does not mean every cop is out to gun down teenagers. MacColl represents the new age policeman who must contend with the current climate of anti-police sentiment. While there are of course crooked cops, that does not mean that all cops are on the take, trigger happy, or ready to strike down unarmed suspects.

Harris and another suspect had allegedly stolen a car and led the police on a pursuit. Once the vehicle stopped, the policeman claims that Harris stuck out his arm which MacColl considered a firearm. While it turned out to be just his extremity, MacColl saw any charges cleared.

What can be made of all of this is the fact that police possess the ultimate authority as servants to the citizens of a given geographic area. They must be on guard and ready to act against any threats against their values. Whether it’s a partner or other innocent people caught in the crosshairs, cops must make split second decisions that could spell life or death. MacColl did what he had to do in the harsh situation. He chose to pull the trigger on Harris. The young male had just stolen a car and led police officers on a chase. Harris somehow held control of a gun and then allegedly threw it under the car. How was MacColl supposed to know what Harris had supposedly done? Was the cop made to believe that Harris was extending a hand in thank you? MacColl could’ve killed the kid and made him another “martyr.” Instead, Harris has his life and charges of carjacking and illegal weapons handling have been dropped.

The entire situation is a quagmire and points for the desperate need for rationality to take hold in the culture. Why did Harris and a 15-year-old decide to take the car? Why did they have a gun? The emotional involvements in cases like this is what makes the supreme necessity of America and the world reason, if there are to be such.

What MacColl did is what any trained and able policeman would do. “In the moment” there is only time to think. The moment doesn’t call for cops to go off of whim and shoot anyone at random without reason. MacColl saw the extended arm and opened fire. Consider the alternative. If he had failed to reach for his pistol, his next of kin would've been handed a neatly folded American flag. While at the same time, suspects like Harris would be caught and sentenced to life for his vicious actions.

Why do people like Harris continue to go down the wrong route? Why is it always the side of the suspected criminal who gets all of the adulation and praise? Cops provide a service to the people of Delaware and elsewhere. It is their responsibility to be professional, respectful, and at times ready to use deadly force. What happened on that winter night is just a mess of stories flying through the air like bats.

Maccoll should be promoted for his actions, not denigrated. He championed the idea of not only saving his partners but also himself. His selfishness should be lauded not condemned. He should be given greater responsibilities and have the trust of Wilmington neighborhoods restored to him.

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Skyler Saunders

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