Criminal Justice Prof. On Force: Microsecond Decisions Create Lasting Evaluation

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Montgomery is added to the list of cities receiving national attention for officer involved shootings. What reforms or influence this will have on the future of policing, remains to be seen. But some fear this will cause officers to be reluctant to protect and serve.

Michael Wigginton Jr is a retired law enforcement special agent and an assistant criminal justice professor at Troy University. He says the conversation should shift to training and providing departments with adequate funding for non lethal resources and training. With the current climate surrounding officer involved shootings, Wigginton says that may be causing officers to second guess their instincts. He said, “We are talking about microseconds where an officer has to make a decision on the use of force and unfortunately that officer whoever makes that decision will be evaluated or analyzed for days, weeks and years to come. Just for that split second decision they made. And you would think that as a result of that that city’s and states would allocate more funding to give police officers additional training, like shoot don’t shoot for example because of the responsibility they have.”

We do not know the details that lead up to Officer Smith allegedly shooting and killing Gregory Gunn last week. Since the arrest, many in the law enforcement community are standing by Officer Smith. A GoFundMe account was set up to contribute to Smith’s legal expenses. It was taken down because it violated website policy. Since then a new website (Fundrazr) has been used and in five hours nearly $5,000 was raised.