Actually AF police are now referred to as ‘security forces’, and most of the gates are now manned by Rent-a-Cops while the SF patrol inside the base. This is due to manning issues as so many SF are deployed overseas.
The incident on Luke involved a vehicle that got through the gate. An SF person in a patrol confronted and shot the perps.
As for treatment of civilians, well if you are on the base illegally or in a restricted area, SF will have no problems jacking you up big time — and this case is a good example. Once the SF determined his life and the lives of others on base was in danger he reacted and controlled the situation.
If they take a realllllly long time to release the surnames of the two perps, we will know immediately the specific game they are into; they did this in Ft. Hood and elsewhere, too. Just in case, I would easily imagine C.A.I.R. would have activated their Quick Response Team (QRT) PR spin operation in D.C. there at 8:00 a.m. and called them all in early today.
In addition, all AFB gate guards perform 100% ID checks since 9/11. That requires more guards because it slows traffic. Many AF bases now have hard-to-approach gates (sharp S turns, concrete barriers and/or boulders, etc.) with two entry lanes instead of one, to handle the traffic flow during rush hour.
Yep, that's one way of putting it. :)
- Traveler (USAF Ret. 28 Years)