Quote Originally Posted by LGray23 View Post
I understand what you guys are saying that "just because the 'telephone operator' told him not to approach him doesn't mean he shouldn't have", not only are we required to say things such as that, but there is a method to the madness believe it or not. Had he listened to the dispatcher, he would not be on national news right now and being charged with murder. Could the kid have actually had a gun? Sure, happens all the time, but guess what? The dudes in blue I work with are highly trained, armed, and prepared to deal with such circumstances, not a fat community watch handcranker. I know adrenaline is a funny thing, I deal with it all the time, and half the time people don't listen anyways, but after the countless legal classes I've taken for my job, we say these things for a reason. If half the people I talked to on a regular basis just breathed, and listened, it would make their lives much easier.
I think the point some are trying to make is that it wasn't a lawful order. He absolutely should have listened to the Dispatcher (who is NOT "Just a phone operator" )...like you said above...all this could have been avoided for all the reasons you stated. He wasn't trained, experienced, nor mentally prepared for the consequences. But, following him wasn't against the law. Stupid, but not against the law.

Thank you for doing a job that not many are willing or able to do.