[Alberta's Child]

I'd consider the Diallo case a special circumstance for the reason you mentioned (the fact that he was an illegal alien makes his demise pretty much inconsequential for the most part). The other two cases involved undercover police officers dealing with "civilians" who may or may not have known that they were undercover police officers.

The Dorismond case was particularly instructive in the way it highlighted the potential idiocy of an undercover operation . . .

There is no way to justify a police shooting of a person who assaulted an undercover officer who tried to sell drugs to him. Remember -- the follow-up investigation of that incident revealed that Dorismond probably had no idea the guy was an undercover cop.

[wideawake]

There is no way to justify a police shooting of a person who assaulted an undercover officer who tried to sell drugs to him.

Anj undercover officer tried to purchase drugs from Dorismond, mistakenly believing that Dorismond was the bouncer who was selling drugs at that club.

Dorismond's response was to shove him against a wall.

A second undercover, trying to defuse the situation, told Dorismond to lighten up and forget about it, and Dorismond then punched the second officer in the mouth.

Dorismond's fellow bouncer then began beating the first officer and Dorismond joined in.

The second officer, recovering from the blow, unsheathed his weapon, identified himself and told Dorismond and friend to put their hands up.

Dorismond tried to grab the weapon and it discharged in the struggle, killing Dorismond.

The grand jury was satisfied with this testimony and declined to indict the officer.

If Dorismond had not assaulted two people, he'd be alive.