First Homicide of the Year (1-9-14) http://www.sltrib.com/news/2038778-155/slcpd-shooting-cops-body-cam-was

Basically, an officer was called in because of the suspicious activity of a man with a snow shovel, asking people for money to shovel walks, but there was very little snow. He matched the description of some reports filed earlier for burglary. When the officer approached, the man became hostile and started beating the officer with a shovel, inflicting blows that caused several broken bones. Somewhere in the struggle, the cop's body cam stopped working, and later shots were fired, leaving the aggravator dead, and the cop with broken bones.

I'm not entirely certain who is at fault in this case, attacking a police officer is a serious offense, but one that should be filed against the offender in a court of law and not one enforced by death. It's sad to me that the first homicide of the new year was a police shooting. Don't get me wrong, I greatly appreciate our police officers and what they do for the communities in which they serve. But, that being said, there needs to be balance between current law enforcement tactics and reasonable responses. Even if the officer was in pain and being hit with a shovel, he could have tasered the assailant, and let him have his time in jail, instead of shooting him and taking away his life. It's a volatile topic, and one not easily traversed, to be sure. I just don't like to see deaths at the hands of our officers that are not absolutely necessary. Should we, as the community, decide what  and when it is necessary, or do we leave it up to the officers? There is a certain point that the police need to be more accountable, and less prone to use their firearms. I don't condone them for having guns, those are important for law enforcement-- as a deterrent-- but, in my opinion, shouldn't be fired at anyone unless absolutely necessary.