He “reached for something”. I’m not sure how long ago you were on the force, but I’ve heard cops using that excuse for shootings for at least 20 years now. It’s so common that, as a citizen, most of us who don’t want to get shot know that you had better keep your hands on the wheel during a traffic stop, and even if the officer asks for your ID and registration, you had better ask them for permission before you try to get it out of the glove compartment.
Amen, goes something like:
Officer: Can I see your insurance, inspection cert and drivers license?
Me: ......with both hands on the wheel at 10 & 2... “Insurance and inspection are in the glove compartment....
Officer: ok
Me: can I reach for them in the glove compartment?
Officer: yes
Me: .....very slowly I move my right hand toward the glove compartment, retrieve Doc’s and hand them to the officer.
Why so many black men cannot “get” this SIMPLE procedure I will never understand!