Policing under the influence
by Lori Barrett | April 24, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Posted in baltimore crime
A 44-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department was fatally shot by a fellow officer last night.
Norman Stamp was at the Haven Place strip club when a fight broke out in the parking lot. After police responded, Stamp came outside wearing brass knuckles. One of the responding officers told him to stop and tasered Stamp when he didn’t comply with the order.
Without identifying himself as police, Stamp then reached for his service weapon, at which point he was shot by the responding officer.
Off-duty officers are required to carry their weapons but are advised to use good judgment — particularly when drinking. (At this time, it’s not known whether Stamp was drinking at the strip club.) Is this a policy that should be revisited?
In Chicago, for example — a city with a history of questionable police-involved shootings — officers are prohibited from carrying their gun if they will be drinking, be it one beer or ten. Sometimes though, particularly in Baltimore, it’s beneficial to have all officers armed and ready to respond to an incident. In April of last year, two off-duty officers were drinking at a different strip club in Baltimore when some men attempted an armed robbery of the place. The officers put a stop to that by shooting the robbers with their service weapons.
Is it ok to have police carrying their service weapons (or any other weapons) when they’re drunk? I’m inclined to say no, but considering Baltimore’s police shortage, having someone who can respond to crime — even if impaired — may be better than having no one.
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April 24th, 2008 at 5:45 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
This is a really tough call. If the officer(s) are inebriated problems could be created where there might not be any (ie the situation mentioned above). But when there are police shortages that one off duty officer might just make a difference. Overall I think it weighs out to have them armed, and the situation above is just a case of drunken stupidity.
April 24th, 2008 at 6:33 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
No I am not for police having a firearm if you are drinking.
Something about this story just doesn't seem right to me. A 44 year veteran pulling a gun on uniformed police officers?? I dunno maybe because I just watch Street Kings this weekend but it seems kinda sketchy to me.
April 24th, 2008 at 6:36 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
This was bad judgement with a tragic ending but I don't believe laws should be changed to prevent this from happening again.
April 24th, 2008 at 7:03 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Daily Breather. We have only heard the official story from the PD, I would also be interested in hearing what the off duty police and witnesses who were friends of Norman Stamp have to say about what went down last night.
When you are tasered your body locks up, i'm just curious how someone who's muscles are locked up is able to pull out a gun and point it at someone.
April 24th, 2008 at 7:38 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
The police are a bit slap happy with those tasers. Just because they are not typically lethal, does not mean that less discretion should be used.