11/11/04 Takeover Bandits shooting in Richardson

Out manned, out gunned: Dallas Police on the verge of catastrophe.

In March of 1997, two heavily armed robbers held Hollywood captive for 94 minutes. One hour and thirty-four minutes of pure terror. These two men were armed with AK-47 assault rifles. They were covered with bulletproof armor from their necks to their feet.  Officers on the scene did not possess the firepower to penetrate the suspects' body armor and had to successfully make a head shot in order to stop the robbers.  An accurate headshot from 50 yards is challenging, if not impossible, for even the most proficient marksman. The officers on the scene had little to no hope of stopping the robbers with their weapons.

Retired SWAT Officer, Ron McCarthy, recommended patrol officers in Los Angeles be issued small caliber assault rifles and tactical ballistic vests capable of stopping assault weapons. Sadly, he went on to say "The political environment in the City of Los Angeles borders on a third world mentality and it may never be possible to provide this easy to use and accurate weapon."

Patrol officers were severely outgunned. SWAT officers responded to the scene and quickly assisted the patrol officers. Mr. McCarthy attributed the successful response of the SWAT officers to several factors: communication, equipment, training and availability of weapons. 

 
In the early 1990's, five men, armed with assault weapons and explosives, robbed a bank in Norco, California. During the hour-long pursuit of these robbers, eleven officers were wounded, one was killed, and a police helicopter was shot down. Eventually, all five suspects were killed or captured, but not before a heavy price was paid by the entire community.

Dallas has finally joined the level of violence that has plagued California for the last ten years. Since February of 2004, the so-called Take Over Bandits have been robbing Dallas area businesses. They are responsible for over 60 armed robberies, the recent shoot-out with Plano and Richardson Police Departments and the aggravated assault of a Dallas Police officer.

Dallas still does not adequately arm its officers. Slug shotguns are available to a select few officers on the street. Often, they are not available when needed and can only be deployed under strict guidelines. These shotguns are useful, but not the best weapons for patrol officers. The ammunition used for these weapons contains packing that can be fatal when used in close quarters combat. The slug will find its intended target, but the wadding may maim or kill an innocent bystander. There is no risk of unintentionally injuring bystanders with a small caliber rifle. 

Dallas must arm its officers with small caliber rifles. Dallas has moved to purchase 65 AR-15 rifles that will be used to replace the SWERT (slug shotgun) weapons. These weapons will be given to specific officers and not readily available to all patrol officers when needed. I have yet to see a single SWERT gun on late nights. When I need backup, officers come running. But they bring the same underpowered weapons that I carry. We are successful through superior numbers, not superior firepower.

An assault rifle in the hands of a patrol officer will save lives. It will allow an officer to make a highly accurate shot up to 200 yards away. It will level the playing field in a situation where the suspects follow no rules. An armed suspect confronted with a heavily armed police officer will think twice about using his weapon against the officer or bystanders.

The City of Dallas need not pay for the rifles. Given the opportunity to purchase their own rifles, many Dallas Police Officers will spend their own money to provide themselves with the very best of equipment. This policy will put the best weapons in the hands of the officers most likely to need them. It will safeguard the investment that each officer represents in training and experience. Officers were given the option of carrying a SIG .357 handgun beginning in 1998. Many officers welcomed the option and have purchased their own weapons in this caliber.

Officers did not fire a single shot during the shooting earlier this week, not a single round from any of the officers involved. Innocent civilians were caught in the crossfire and police could do nothing to protect them. Officers were worried about the accuracy of their weapons at the distances involved and the possibility of their weapons being ineffective against body armor. I watched the dashboard cameras from those shootings with horror as innocent citizens drove between the officers and the gunmen. Fortunately, the gunmen stopped firing as the innocent drivers passed between the gunmen and the police.  Every citizen of Dallas is in danger from these criminals. More than 60 robberies have been committed in every part of Dallas.  No part of town has been neglected. They have robbed grocery stores, banks, restaurants and retail stores. Which of those types of businesses have you been to in the last year?