Opinions on This

**Five-0** · 04-18-10, 08:41 PM

Story from al.com that is somewhat local to me (same state) and I would like our members to address any of the comments from the story. Maybe some of those that commented will stand behind their comments and argue their tactics. Here is the story:

Sheriff's deputies kill man after he takes wife hostage, kills her | al.com

Sheriff's deputies kill man after he takes wife hostage, kills her

By The Associated Press

April 18, 2010, 7:17PM

HAZEL GREEN, Ala. -- Madison County authorities say a sheriff's department employee was shot and killed by deputies shortly after he killed his wife in a hostage situation.
Sheriff's department officials said Madison County Corrections Officer Jason Lee Earls shot and killed his wife and then was shot by deputies.

CLICK THE LINK FOR THE FULL STORY AND COMMENTS, please.

**Sapper_132** · 04-18-10, 08:47 PM

I'm starting a citizens academy to keep dumb ass people like this at bay. CSI has done so much damage to LE that it's unreal the amount of BS I hear on a daily basis.

**Five-0** · 04-18-10, 09:17 PM

First of all, I don't care who is holding a gun to someone's head in a hostage situation, the friend, coworker, acquaintance dynamic is lost there. The goal is to end the situation without bloodshed period. Everyone leaving alive, the hostage, the hostage taker, and everyone responding. I think the logical and sane people can get behind that. Outside of that, the responders control what they can. Things such as the mobility of the scene. Better to keep the situation contained. People that think they or anyone else can control an irrational person with a gun are the same people that are probably wondering why the gun simply wasn't shot out of his hand or my personal favorite, "why didn't they shoot to wound him?" types.

**pac201** · 04-18-10, 09:50 PM

as unfortunate as it may be, it sounds like suicide by cop...he had made up his mind what he was going to do and no one was going to prevent it.

As far as tactics go, not much different that could have been done.

**Cidp24** · 04-18-10, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by pac201

as unfortunate as it may be, it sounds like suicide by cop...he had made up his mind what he was going to do and no one was going to prevent it.

As far as tactics go, not much different that could have been done.

+1... That was my first thought.

**MacLean** · 04-18-10, 10:58 PM

Sounds like the Deputies came from behind and had to see some unfortunate shit.

Too bad the guy didn't shoot himself before he shot his wife, if you know what I mean.

**Jks9199** · 04-18-10, 11:00 PM

I agree; there doesn't seem to have been much that could be done... Definitely sounds like suicide by cop.

**Five-0** · 04-19-10, 12:07 AM

Posted by dondowski
April 18, 2010, 11:04PM
I feel sorry for anyone who thinks 2 dead people is a good thing and the police did all they could. They made a choice and it went wrong. My question is what if the hostage was a loved one of the police chief or the mayor, would the police have done the same thing, I doubt it!

My question is what do you think they would have done differently that would have changed the outcome?

**tapout** · 04-19-10, 11:39 PM

"Brooks said Earls then dragged his wife outside and held the gun to her head. Brooks said Earls then shot his wife deputies then fired shots, killing Earls."

i think in a standoff such as the above, where a hostage taker is holding a hostage at gunpoint, if you have the shot, you take it.

i think you need to be proactive, rather than reactive in this particular situation.

in no way am i saying these deputies did anything wrong. but i was trained to take that shot if i have it in this situation.