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Deadly Force Debate Divides CommunityPolice remain tight lipped about Saturday shootingRelated Content
ANCHORAGE – While police call it a split-second decision, the fatal Saturday night altercation between an officer and a Mountain View man continues to divide the community. Police remain tight-lipped about the event, but said 26-year-old Boaz Gionson was the first officer to respond to a call on the 700 block of North Bunn Street the night of May 9. He was approached by 26-year-old Shane Tasi, who police said was armed with a long stick. When Tasi refused orders to put it down and stop his approach, Gionson fired. “It’s a traumatic event in the life of an officer; no officer wakes up in the morning and wants to go use deadly force on another person,” said Lieutenant Dave Parker, a spokesman for the Anchorage Police Department. “We’re dedicated to saving life, that’s what we try to do.” Some community members question why other methods weren’t used to halt Tasi’s advance. “We can’t hide behind a closet and try to explain to a mom with an unborn child and young kids what really happened with a broomstick to their dad and their husband,” said Al Vanilau, an elder with the Anchorage Samoan Assembly of God. Gionson’s friends and acquaintances describe him as a dedicated police officer of nearly five years, a former Bartlett High School honors student and star football player. John Jessen, the officer’s former high school coach, described him as an all-around outstanding person. “I would imagine as a police officer, he would do exactly the same as a student, same as a football player: follow the rules and do what he thought was right, and do the best he could in any situation,” Jessen said. According to the Anchorage Police Department Employee Association, Gionson was placed in a situation in which he had to protect others and himself. “If there is an immediate threat to the public, the officer is likely to start trying to deal with the situation without back-up,” said APDEA President Derek Hsieh. The decision to use deadly force often hinges on a number of factors, Hsieh said: How far away the suspect is, whether they are armed and whether others are at risk all play a part. Hsieh said it’s a decision dubbed “response to resistance.” “From the time the officer perceives the threat to the time that the officer uses the force is usually measured in seconds,” he said. “The officer has to make an immediate assessment on which tool is going to be the most likely to resolve the threat to themselves and the public.” Hsieh said officers often had less than four seconds to make a decision about deadly force, and while other tools were sometimes used, firearms were the primary weapons. Because Tasi had a weapon that could have been used lethally against Gionson Saturday night, Hsieh said the officer was forced to make a quick judgment. Many residents are curious as to why a Taser wasn't used, but Hsieh said that when an officer has a Taser the procedure is to have backup in case it dosen't work. He said that you can't hold a Taser and a gun. Now, it’s up to the Office of Special Prosecutions to determine whether Gionson’s decision was the right one. |
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Yahwehlover said on Monday, Jun 25 at 7:07 PM
Running bear speaks the truth. Let's get real...
94609976guest said on Monday, Jun 18 at 10:34 PM
Suppose he was approaching a small child with that stick. Suppose he began beating that child with the stick, and that child died. Would that child have had a right to defend themselves? With deadly force? This cop has to live with his split second decision the rest of his life. Was he right or wrong? Even if he was right, the possibility of being wrong will haunt him. A portion of the community will harbor ill will toward him. Were you there? Was the threat coming at you? Have you ever dealt with a menacing drunk person? I see many people taking the side of the out of control drunk man, but none offering any specific options. If your only weapon was a gun, what exactly would YOU do in that situation? I'm not taking sides, merely trying to get the discussion to be more logical.
94037496Toefur said on Saturday, Jun 16 at 8:02 PM
These are all ridiculous excuses for not even attempting the use of non-lethal weapons.
93873216running bear said on Friday, Jun 15 at 6:03 PM
If it was not a officer who shot, that person would be in jail.
93793646BobD said on Thursday, Jun 14 at 5:36 PM
Sticks and stones will break your bones.
93708696justice said on Thursday, Jun 14 at 12:41 PM
As usual APD is trying to justify another senseless murderer by preying on the communities emotions...disgusting!. This hopefully will finally expose their history of senseless killings.
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