While most police would not engage in a shoot first, ask questions later policy, there have been an alarming number of incidents where police have shot suspects. Many of these shootings are completely unnecessary.
A collection of shootings from 2015 can be viewed here (WARNING: these are graphic videos).
Many police forces began equipping their officers with non-lethal options such as tasers. However, no one seems to know if implementing these tools have reduced shootings. Training and emphasis still seems to be on the use of firearms. How many officers are spending their weekends at the taser range versus the gun range?
Keeping the number of shootings down is important not just from a life saving standpoint, but sometimes these shootings lead to riots. And it should be pretty obvious that riots are not good for the economy.
It is a questionable premise to think the society can police away crime. Generally, most people do not commit crimes because they want to. Many are addicts who are stealing to fuel their habits. Some were raised in households that engaged in domestic violence and are not mimicking what they see as adults. Some crimes occur in the heat of the moment (sometimes with alcohol involved). Some are homeless and some of their actions are criminalized. Many that get involved in the criminal justice system are mentally ill. The crimes that are actually carefully planned out are pretty few and far between.
These problems are better dealt with education, treatment, and a limited amount of assistance to get a roof over their head and food. Obviously, it is expensive and difficult to supple these resources to the many who need them. But providing these resources makes more sense financially and from a societal standpoint than killing someone, as they might if the Kern County Sheriff has any say in the matter.
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