Editorial Bear

De Menezes officers in new shooting death Thursday November 2, 05:52 AM

LONDON (Reuters) - Officers who took part in the fatal shooting of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes were involved in another police operation this week in which a man was shot dead, police said on Thursday.

The Daily Mail reported that one of the marksmen who opened fire on de Menezes also shot an armed robber in the operation at a building society in Kent on Tuesday night.

"The specialist firearms team (CO19) involved in the Flying Squad operation in Kent did include officers from the same team who were involved in the Stockwell shooting in July last year," London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

De Menezes, a 27-year-old electrician, was shot dead in July 2005 after being mistaken for a suicide bomber at Stockwell subway station in south London.

A police spokesman declined to comment on whether one of the officers who fired at the Brazilian also shot the unnamed man.

The Daily Mail, citing police sources, said one of the marksmen had been taking part in the Kent operation to prevent a building society robbery when he shot and wounded the man, who later died in hospital.

Police said an investigation was being conducted into what happened during the operation in which three other men were arrested. The Independent Police Complaints Commission has also launched an inquiry.

The de Menezes shooting triggered a barrage of criticism against the police, in particular London police chief Ian Blair.

Next October, the Metropolitan Police is due to stand trial on health and safety charges over the killing.

This is ridiculous.

Personally, I found the entire De Menezes debarcle disgusting. Our police officers are entrusted with protecting the public from harm. In order to perform their duties, we equip them with guns and expect them to make life-and-death decisions at a moment's notice. And when they do? The public go up in arms and attack them.

If these police officers risk criminal charges every time they squeeze the trigger, it's not going to be long before they all refuse to carry guns in the first place. Then we, the general public, will be totally defenceless against terrorists and armed criminals.

During the De Menezes incident, the police made a mistake. The officers involved shot an innocent man and will have to live with that knowledge for the rest of their lives. But it happened after terrorists had killed more than 50 people on the Tube and as those officers fired their weapons, they must have been thinking that they were potentially saving more lives then they were taking.

Personally, I salute the officers who choose to carry guns and are prepared to shoulder the responsibility of protecting us. I know for a fact that it's not a job I could do. If I had to make a snap decision like they're asked to, I would bottle.

I just wish the tabloids and the public would stop being traitors to the police. I sympathise with the mother of De Menezes - she lost a son - but flying her over to England, parading her in front of the public and crucifying the police officers involved was a real kick in the nuts for the man and women who risk their lives to keep us safe.

We should look after the police. They look after us.