I’m not saying the police couldn’t have done a better job in this situation, just that they did a much better job than the title of this post implies.
Then, when they finally decided to move in, they encouraged students to draw attention to themselves. Another child died because of this.
And finally, they lied to the public about all of it. Repeatedly.
Hard to imagine a more despicable show of incompetence, cowardice, selfishness and malice. I couldn’t make a better argument for abolition if I tried.
Being outgunned is not an excuse. They signed up for a dangerous job (isn't that the justification we hear all the time when discussing wrongful police shootings?), and they ought to do it when called upon, even at grave personal risk. Charge the gunman with bare hands if you need to. It's easy for me to say because I don't think I'd ever do it. But that's also why I would never try to become a cop.
Then, imagine watching as mass media hide the atrocity of normal police service being turned inside-out with the police essentially serving as accomplices to the murderer, and instead use the tragedy to advocate the restrictions of rights. That is, the press hides the abuses of the state while trying to restrict the ability of normal people to defend themselves against the state.