White guy goes on kidnapping/murder-spree. Police: "We know this is not who you are."

[Mike 03]

4. I take your point, but to be fair, that's a common, legitimate law enforcement technique

probably suggested by the FBI to open a channel of communication with a dangerous person in some kind of negotiation or to try to get a confession by suggesting to the perpetrator that investigators want to hear 'their side of the story" and telling them what they did was "out of character", etc.. You shut off any possibility of surrender or communication if you really tell them what you're thinking ("turn yourself in you psychopath!&quot . It's been used a lot including on Christopher Dorner (African American) when the LAPD tried to stop his killing spree by telling him he was right to be angry and had legitimate grievances and to surrender so they could be addressed. It's really quite common.