FEB. 2025. Blues Vol 41 No.2

GUEST COMENTARYpolice

GUEST COMENTARYpolice law newsDaniel CarrOfficer Involved: Miss DaisyThere are no magic words.This one is hard to watch. I gotno joy from covering this case.But the goal here is to discussthe real things that law enforcementofficers experience.WHAT HAPPENEDThis occurred on 11/23/24 inGreenville, South Carolina andbegan with a call to 911 from awoman we will call “Miss Daisy.”Miss Daisy provided the operatorwith her location, clothingdescription, and then threatenedto “do something stupid” andrequested the presence of deputies.The operator asked Miss Daisyif she would harm the deputieswho responded and she stated,“Yes, I would.”Deputies arrived on scene andlocated Miss Daisy outside ofa business and began to speakwith her.Deputies asked Miss Daisy whyshe called 911 and asked howthey could assist her. During thiscontact they also:• Offered her a ride.• Offered to call a family memberor friend.• Offered to get her shelter forthe evening.• Offered to get a her a meal.• Offered to get her out of the“cold.”The deputies also utilized lighthumor and the conversationaltone displaying humanity - asopposed to robotic commandsand orders that we so often seein these cases. These deputiescared what happened to MissDaisy and it showed.I should also mention that thedeputies maintained their distance,stayed near their patrolvehicles, did not approach - asMiss Daisy was armed with aknife that she was gripping inher right hand.Multiple times during this interaction,Miss Daisy did a “bluffcharge” towards the deputies -while holding the knife. Whereshe took a few quick steps towardsthem and then stopped.The deputies took these threatsseriously and responded by:Backing up and using theirvehicles as cover. Issuing commandsand force warnings.Deployed a Taser that did notachieve the desired resultUSE OF FORCEEventually Miss Daisy chargedat the deputies and attacked forreal. The deputies respondedwith deadly force.ANALYSISLawSection 23-2-70F states, “a lawenforcement officer is justifiedin using deadly force if thelaw enforcement officer has anobjectively reasonable beliefthat a lesser degree of force isinadequate and the officer hasobjectively reasonable groundsto believe, and does believe, thathe or another person is in imminentdanger of being killed or ofreceiving serious bodily injury.”30 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25

Miss Daisy was armed with adeadly weapon (knife).Miss Daisy threatened to harmthe deputies.Miss Daisy was given instructionsand warnings to “drop theknife” and not attack deputies.Though not required to - thedeputies attempted deescalationtactics.Miss Daisy charged at the deputieswith the deadly weapon.This use of deadly force wasobjectively reasonable and withinSouth Carolina law.PolicyThe Greenville County Sheriff’sOffice completed an internalreview of this use of force. Thefindings were that, “the deputies’use of deadly force was justifiedaccording to sheriff’s office useof force policy.”OTHER OPTIONSCalls like this put law enforcementofficers in a terrible situation.After a case like ends with anOfficer-Involved-Shooting (OIS)- the inevitable criticism is thatthe officers should have “justleft”.If law enforcement officers, insituations like this “just leave”and the person walks into traffic,freezes to death in the elements,attacks a random citizen, orcommits su1c1de - the criticismwould be that officers knew thatshe asked for help, knew thatshe was unstable, and just leftbecause they did not care aboutwhat happened to her.The deputies in this case madethe correct decision to stay onscene and attempt deescalationtactics. Here’s why:• Miss Daisy requested policeassistance.• She was armed with a knifeand threatened to harm deputiesor “do something stupid.”• By charging at the officers- that resulted in a Taser deployment- that was a criminaloffense.The totality of the circumstanceswould meet the criteriafor an involuntary mental healthevaluation - which would havebeen the preferred resolution.* If Miss Daisy was alone in herhome and did not want contactwith law enforcement - I agreethat deputies should not forceentry and use force to make herget immediate mental healthassistance.However, being in public,armed with a knife, makingthreats, and requesting the presenceof deputies is a completelydifferent situation. They madethe objectively correct decisionto remain on scene.FINAL THOUGHTSThis one is going to sit withthese deputies long after theyleave this job.Just remember. There areno magic words. Sometimeskindness and empathy are notenough to overcome years ofanguish and mental illness.The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 31