Police tactical experts disagree over whether two Dallas officers acted properly last year when they fatally shot a mentally ill man who was holding a screwdriver, reports the Dallas Morning News. “They did an absolutely perfect job,” said Keith Wenzel, a retired Dallas Police Department trainer, adding he would show students the video of the shooting as an example of good tactics. Another police instructor plans to use the video to teach students what not to do.
“It's the worst thing I've ever seen in my life,” said Cecile Tebo, the former commander of the New Orleans Police Department's Crisis Intervention Team. “That was handled very poorly.” The experts weighed in a day after the family of Jason Harrison released an 18-minute video showing the 10-second confrontation and shooting. The family wants the video to prompt changes in the way Dallas police handle such situations. Sean Harrison argued that his younger brother would still be alive if the officer had calmly negotiated with him to drop the screwdriver, instead of shouting at him with their guns drawn. The family obtained the video as part of a wrongful-death lawsuit it filed against the city.