Bradenton, Fla., police officer hailed for pistol whipping burglar rather than using deadly force

[True Dough]

8. It's fortunate it turned out the way it did

For you and for that young man.

Your suggested headlines could be altered. Even by using the necessary physical force to subdue your armed assailant, if captured on video by a bystander (had it occurred outside), it could get a lot of views and considerable criticism from some corners. especially if edited to remove the portion where you faced him brandishing a knife. Regardless of the anti-po po types and their complaints, there are obviously situations where force is necessary, like the one you found yourself in.

Mental illness -- and drunkenness and being strung out on drugs -- can lead to dangerous situations for emergency responders, for sure. We can all lament when a person under the influence of a mind-altering condition (particularly mental illness because, unlike booze and drugs, it isn't a choice) is "manhandled" by the authorities, but if we're fair about it, there is sometimes no choice.

Again, I draw the line at the point where, while you had that young man under control, you reflect on how he could have taken your life and deprived your wife/husband and kids (if any of those apply) of having you come home that night, or ever again, and so you haul off and give him a punch or two to the head.

Of course, there are also the Laquan McDonalds and Walter Scotts of the world who get shot by police officers while posing no imminent danger. Each case should be judged on its own merits.

Anyway, glad you survived the encounter and the young man did as well.