Deputy who shot boy with BB gun IDd as gun expert

[The Straight Story]

The Sonoma County sheriff's deputy who killed a 13-year-old boy after mistaking his toy AK-47 for a real rifle was identified Monday as a firearms instructor, hunter and war veteran who in the past has warned other officers that they may need to use lethal force to survive an encounter.

Deputy Erick Gelhaus, 48, had broad experience with guns - even relative to others in his profession - before he fatally shot Andy Lopez Cruz last Tuesday just outside Santa Rosa, an incident that has prompted community outrage.

Gelhaus is a frequent contributor to law enforcement magazines and online forums in which he promotes officer safety. He served as an infantry squad leader in Iraq, according to his online profiles, and he describes himself as an avid hunter in North America as well as Africa.

...

"Today is the day you may need to kill someone in order to go home," he wrote. "If you cannot turn on the 'mean gene' for yourself, who will? If you find yourself in an ambush, in the kill zone, you need to turn on that mean gene."

He added, "Taking some kind of action - any kind of action - is critical. If you shut down (physically, psychologically, or both) and stay in the kill zone, bad things will happen to you. You must take some kind of action."

http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Deputy-who-shot-boy-with-toy-gun-ID-d-as-gun-4933421.php

[lunasun]

1. "Taking some kind of action - any kind of action

[Link Speed]

2. Programmed survival mentality/training

He who hesitates is dead.

This thing is causing some serious stress out here in Wine Country.

It appears as tho the Deputy went into pure survival/training mode.

[Dawson Leery]

3. Mr. Gelhaus is unfit for his job. He should not be allowed to work in the field again.

[Hoyt]

4. Why shouldn't he avail himself of Stand Your Ground- he felt threatened -like private gun cultists.

Does I be needin the sarcasm thingie?

[xfundy]

5. Did the kid even point the toy gun at him?

Also, I would think a cop's primary mission would be to disarm while leaving the kid alive to testify as to why he was carrying the gun, toy or not.

But, as I understand it, the kid got seven bullets.

Did this cop never play with toy guns as a kid? Should all toy guns be painted bright orange? -- no, that wouldn't work, since many guns for "ladies" are bright pink.

Did he even tell the kid to drop the weapon/toy?

[pitbullgirl1965]

6. Doxed

This is public information. It has links to his articles. I haven't clicked on them yet.


http://pastebin.com/TZy35zrS