Did Laddie’s Shooting Go Against Policy Manual?

Kareem Martinez

There have been questions about the standard procedures that are to be exercised by officers when responding to reports, as well as the policy for officers to discharge their weapons. Today, during the testimony of Sergeant Holly Vasquez, the matter came up and he disclosed that there is a police manual that guides officers on the rules of engagement for the use of firearms. He says that according to the foot-pursuit policy in the manual, a police officer should pursue a suspect by giving verbal commands to stop. Firearms should not be used for warning shots given public safety concerns, but warning shots are allowed exclusively in the air to de-escalate a rising situation and to prevent a detained prisoner from escaping. Following today’s court proceedings, attorney Dickie Bradley shares brief comments on this.

Dickie Bradley

Dickie Bradley, Attorney-at-law

“His additional evidence shattered the confusion from police officers who were saying you can haul out and use yo gun once the situation is intense or you can haul out and shoot your gun once so and so. He actually brought the police manual, which the one I looked at was autographed for 2019 and he used that to buttress his answers that in this manual, which I as a senior officer with rank, I am required to teach other police officers under our command and that I have been doing that and that that manual lays down very clearly that you don’t pull out a gun when a person is fleeing unless of course, who is fleeing is an escaped convict or somebody in police custody who is a danger or a risk. You don’t pull your trigger you don’t do several. He was very detailed so that in fact when the judge asked him one question, he said, I am glad that you asked that question – he came prepared obviously. So the situation has turned now, what defense will be produced in relation to the mountain of evidence that has been tendered by the prosecutor Javier Chan.”

Emil Bradley

Emil Bradley, Father of Laddie Gillett

“How often do they go through and familiarize themselves and refresh their memory with this guide? That is the question. So you could have everything there is writing, but if you don’t practice, if you don’t read to know what’s there, it’s of no use. So I must say that it was good that the sergeant brought that out so that the court and the public could see that there is a manual, there is a guide to discharging a firearm.”