I was trained to shoot a Suicide bomber in the head. In 2002 or early 2003, I was a Secret Service agent working in D.C. protecting a “high value” protectee from the Middle East. That was the day the “bomber” approached.” I didn’t shoot. (Thread)
Keep in mind this is happening months after the 9/11 attacks. We are at war and everyone is waiting for that next domestic hit. My protectee was visiting his U.S. ambassador on Mass Ave. (Embassy Row) & the motorcade was in front of the residence.
I was working Protective Intelligence, so I didn’t need to go inside the residence, but rather I remained standing with the motorcade while the protectee was inside. It wasn’t long until I saw the problem coming down the sidewalk.
Months earlier, I’d been through specialized Suicide Bomber training. There were certain indicators to look for, not one of which was proof, but a combination of could mean disaster. If I recall correctly, these were some:
Glassy eyes (signs of sedation to calm the nerves), disheveled appearance or layering of clothes (suicide vest), backpack, wires visible, evades law enforcement if possible.
The trainers (a private entity including lawyers) told us to shoot for the head (you don’t want to hit the vest) and that if we saw all, or most of, those indicators, took action, and got criminally charged we would be fine and they would defend us.
Several of us in the class gave sideways glances to each other during these last remarks, understanding that if one killed a person and was wrong based on “indicators” you were screwed. Aside from that... YOU JUST KILLED A PERSON. Several of us spoke up but were dismissed.
Back to Embassy Row: The man came down the sidewalk and was stumbling a bit. He had layers of clothes, including a flannel shirt that was only on one arm. The rest of the shirt hung behind him. I didn’t shoot. He had a backpack. I didn’t shoot.
I approached him as he came closer to the motorcade and asked if I could help him. He froze and looked up with glassy eyes. I didn’t shoot. I was on high alert at this point. I took a step forward, said, “Police”, and told him to stop. He didn’t.
Instead, he turned and started running TOWARD the ambassador’s residence. I didn’t shoot. Around that time I saw wires sticking out of his backpack and I had my weapon out. I ran and cut him off. I didn’t shoot.
This is the point where I tell you suicide bombers often detonate when stopped by police or military so they can at least take out as many of the enemy as possible, so I figured I was toast. However, he didn’t detonate. Instead, he ran to the side and sprinted into Mass Ave.
Law enforcement is a crazy job, so I chased him. Here I was chasing a suicide bomber, his flannel shirt flapping behind him in the wind, through traffic in DC. One of our surveillance units coming down the street, seeing they guy’s shirt dangling, called it out on the radio:
“Hensley is chasing some guy down the street with... a cape!”
An agent a block over who couldn’t see the action was understandably confused: “Why... why is Hensley wearing a cape?”
Seriously, law enforcement is a weird job.
An agent a block over who couldn’t see the action was understandably confused: “Why... why is Hensley wearing a cape?”
Seriously, law enforcement is a weird job.
Other agents and Secret Service Uniform Division officers joined the short foot pursuit. The guy bounced off the hood of a car and into the sidewalk. His backpack lay open. I didn’t shoot.
In his backpack was a video game system. He was a college student. Drunk. A little high. Really paranoid. Coming back from an all-nighter with his friends. He had been walking down the sidewalk, saw “cops” and panicked. For that he could have gotten a bullet in the head.
If those who are in law enforcement don’t have the utmost restraint when it comes to using deadly force, tragedies occur. Is there a risk to hesitating? Absolutely. It’s a dangerous endeavor.
But what is the damage done if we don’t sometimes take a step back from a culture that tells us, “It’s you or them. And if you’re wrong, don’t worry - we’ve got your back (wink, wink)? #PoliceReform
I’m adding a tweet to this thread because many have asked if the suspected “bomber” was white & if that was a factor. Fair question. He was not. This isn’t to say race wasn’t a major issue in law enforcement then & it certainly is today. Thanks for the question.
