By Kim Rahn
Controversy is brewing over a plan to encourage police officers’ use of guns in emergencies.
Proponents say it will provide a measure of self-defense for policemen who sometimes have to deal with criminals wielding weapons, while opponents believe it may cause accidents and an overuse of firearms.
The debate comes after National Police Agency (NPA) Commissioner General Cho Hyun-oh ordered officers to actively use firearms in coping with violent acts by armed citizens.
In a meeting with senior police officials Monday, Cho said, “Many policemen avoid using firearms in fear of punishment or civil or criminal lawsuits which are likely to follow. I’ll kick cowards who don’t use their guns properly in emergencies out of the police organization.”
His comment followed an incident on May 1 when a drunken man with a knife attacked an officer at a police station in southern Seoul.
The officer, who tried to defend himself with a chair, in order to not use a weapon, sustained minor injuries. A surveillance camera recording showed another officer running away.
“People will not trust the police if officers fail to suppress violent drunks but run away for fear of a potential backlash from firearms use. Officers should use guns actively to suppress such people,” Cho said.
He added police will seek to exempt policemen from responsibility when they use their firearms properly, with the NPA’s legal experts handling lawsuits.
According to police guidelines, if a suspect uses a blunt weapon or a knife, a policeman is allowed to use a more threatening weapon. “What Cho meant is that officers need to use proper defense methods, including pistols, gas guns and Tasers, in violent incidents taking place in police stations or when citizens’ attack them with weapons,” an NPA official said.
To Cho’s instruction, people show mixed reactions. Those consenting point out that the number of drunken people who were booked for making a disturbance or being violent at police stations was 1,689 during the first quarter of this year.
“Overuse of guns may become a problem. But look at the situation — who is afraid of the police? Citizens use abusive language and violence against officers, they ignore the police,” a blogger named carje52 said.
But some worry about the misuse or overuse of weapons. “In 1999 when police failed to arrest fugitive Shin Chang-won, they changed the rule to fire one blank cartridge from two before firing live cartridges. But afterward the number of suspects killed by policemen jumped,” Oh Chang-ik, director at the Citizens’ Solidarity for Human Rights, said.
“It’s not right for the police chief to encourage gun use by saying those using weapons are brave,” he said.
A blogger said, “Many policemen even don’t know how to use tear gas or truncheons. Before encouraging them to use guns, give them more shooting practice.”