La Voz

Issue date: 11/16/09 Section: Editorial

Perhaps a day will come when the police will learn techniques similar to those of a Jedi, allowing them the ability to disarm and subdue suspects with mental Kung Fu.

Until that day arrives, maybe it's a good idea for the police to use some degree of physical force to deal with suspects who pose a physical threat to themselves or others.

Phuong Ho, 20, a San Jose State student, threatened his roommate, Jeremy Suftin, with a large kitchen knife, causing Suftin to call 9-1-1.

Suftin contacted the police because he felt that he was in danger when a knife was swung at him. Who can blame him? The police report indicates that Suftin put soap on Ho's steak dinner, to which Ho said that, in Vietnam, "I would kill you for this."

In a situation where a person is being threatened with a weapon to the extent that he feels the need to notify police, who in their right mind would want the attacker handled with kid gloves?

Maybe people who are opposed to the police use of force should call a therapist to intervene the next time they are being threatened by a dangerous person. Nature would take its course and, voila, less whining.

It would appear that there is no shortage of violence in the Bay Area. Four police officers were killed in Oakland in March, there was an attempted assault at a high school in Hillsdale in August and last month a 15-year-old girl was gang raped after a school dance in Richmond. Clearly, our safety shouldn't be taken for granted.

And yet, those who have taken on the job to protect society are seldom thanked and frequently scrutinized. The police need to secure all persons involved in incidents that include the brandishing of weapons. That's their job and resisting arrest (even if that means playing stupid) will only aggravate the situation.

Did the suspect in the San Jose knife incident really think that there was not going to be any repercussions for his actions?

If the knife-wielding Ho in San Jose was really unaware that the police do not smile upon such behavior, then maybe he can chalk it up to a lesson learned.

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