Split-Second Decisions Under Fire

Ted is joined by former law enforcement officer and FIT Responder VP, Dustin Simmons, to break down a highly controversial police shooting involving a suspect armed with rocks. Through a detailed, real-world analysis, they explore whether the incident constitutes a “good shoot,” the legal standards surrounding deadly force, and the brutal reality of making split-second decisions under extreme stress. The conversation exposes how hindsight bias, social media outrage, and modern policing culture complicate use-of-force decisions, often leaving officers torn between survival and fear of prosecution. They also connect the dots between physical readiness, confidence, training deficiencies, and escalation—arguing that when officers lack fitness or proper preparation, situations are more likely to end in tragedy. This episode is a sobering look at policing as it actually happens, not how it’s debated online.

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Takeaways:

• Use-of-force decisions are judged without the benefit of hindsight—by law.
• Deadly threats don’t always look like guns or knives.
• Rocks can constitute lethal force depending on context and intent.
• Once a threat is perceived, the body doesn’t instantly de-escalate.
• Officers must decide in seconds what others analyze for months.
• Fitness and confidence directly affect escalation decisions.
• Out-of-shape officers are more likely to rely on lethal force.
• Tasers and less-lethal tools are not guaranteed solutions.
• Fear of public backlash changes officer behavior in dangerous ways.
• Social media incentivizes outrage, not understanding.
• Many situations escalate because force wasn’t applied early enough.
• Body cameras protect truth—but also fuel Monday-morning quarterbacking.
• Legal justification does not equal moral comfort.
• Modern policing creates hesitation that can cost lives.
• Training gaps leave officers unprepared for real-world chaos.
• Officer survival and public safety must remain the priority.

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