These are the faces of innocent people killed by cops.

“John was 22 years old. A father to two young sons. He went into Walmart to buy marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers to make s’ mores at a family cookout. While shopping, he picked up an unpackaged BB/pellet air rifle at the store’s sporting goods section. A customer called 911, claiming that John was pointing the gun at people walking by. Since the security video has been released, the customer has recanted. John was carrying a BB gun in the store that sold the gun, in an open carry state. The police arrived, went directly to John and shot him twice before he even knew what was going on. He died at the hospital soon after. A grand jury decided not to indict the officers.” Snopes.com

“On November 22, 2014, Tamir Rice was throwing snowballs and playing with a toy pellet gun in a Cleveland park when a police car rolled into the snowy field. Within two seconds of getting out of his squad car, officer Timothy Loehmann shot and killed the 12-year-old.” Vox.com

“When Justine Damond heard someone cry out in the alley behind her home in July 2017, she did what she had spent a lifetime doing: She immediately tried to help. Damond called 911 not once but twice to report what she thought was a sexual assault. When officers arrived, she ran outside in her bare feet and pajamas, prosecutors say. Moments later, she lay dying of a gunshot fired by the officer who is now on trial in her death.” WashingtonPost.com

 Police protocol needs to change. All Police need mandatory training that will teach them how to react under pressure. How to make quick decisions without taking the life of an innocent person. How to take down a suspect or alleged suspect without shooting to kill. Overkill is unnecessary and a sign of poor marksmanship or training. Also, during Firearms training, most police are trained to shoot in the torso region, but nonlethal areas of the body such as the legs should be taught as well. Furthermore, yearly training and testing should be done to gauge an officer's actions and responses under pressure. Only through repetition and practice will quick thinking become a skill in all situations. Situations that require someone to keep a level head and only shoot to kill when absolutely necessary.

1.      Some jurisdictions require Police Officers to take a Polygraph test.

Questions should be asked to determine if the officer has a history of discriminatory behavior.

2.      Current firearms training in most states is 80 hours or less and that includes lecture hours.

80 hours is insufficient for firearms training, that’s equivalent to two weeks’ worth of on the job training. Firearms training should be thorough because poor training leads to the death of innocent people.

3.     Most Police don’t receive adequate training to think quickly and logically under pressure

Police should undergo training similar to that of Army recruits. Army boot camp training will prepare them mentally and physically for their role as a police officer.

The Roberson case is a perfect example of this.

“How in the world does the security guard get shot by the police?” Pastor Turner said. “A young man that was literally just doing his job, and now he’s gone.”

4.      Most police academies train officers to aim for the alleged suspect's torso. They barely, if at all train them on other takedown methods, such as shooting them in the leg or other nonlethal body parts.

Full body target practice will teach officers how to take down alleged suspects without killing them. Especially in cases where they are unsure of their intended target or in cases where armed alleged suspects have their backs turned to the officer.

“An autopsy commissioned by the family found that Bradford was shot three times from behind. Bradford also had no criminal record, and he was honorably discharged from the Army.” Witnesses have told the family that Bradford was trying to help people to safety when he was shot.  

5.      Poorly trained officers’ overkill and unload their weapons in situations where It is unnecessary to do so. Often times, their targets are already motionless, complying, down or deceased, yet they continue to shoot.

Again, this is caused by their inability to think fast or logically, under fear and pressure. Only poorly trained gunmen need to unload their weapon or overkill someone to take them down.

“When officers from the Robbins and Midlothian police departments arrived, one officer, now identified as Covey, opened fire, killing Roberson. According to witness statements given to local outlets, Covey fired even as witnesses told him to stop. “Everybody was screaming out, ‘Security!’ He was a security guard,” Harris said.” Vox.com

“The city’s Office of Independent Review found the shooting was not in line with Fresno Police Department policy, and Dyer previously expressed some doubt as to whether his officers’ final shot — a shotgun blast to the body as Noble lay on the pavement — was in line with his department’s rules.”

6.      During Traffic stops, people with licensed weapons are being killed because Police officers are afraid that they’ll use it. Therefore, policies need to be put into place on how to deal with licensed armed motorists during regular traffic stops.

If an officer asks for license, insurance, and registration they should expect that the motorists will reach for the requested items. A suggested strategy is to ask the motorists where the weapon is and where the requested items are. If both the gun and requested items are in the same location, then asks if you can retrieve those items for the motorists.

“Officer Yanez testified that he feared Mr. Castile was grabbing for the gun, but Mr. Castile’s girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, said he had merely been reaching for his identification to give the officer.”

“I believe that he panicked, that he was totally out of control and that because of that, Philando lost his life. … If he had concerns about the weapon, say then: ‘Show me both your hands. Put both of your hands on the steering wheel.’” — Glenda Hatchett, a lawyer for the Castile family

7.      Most Cops are failing to issue a warning before shooting.

Cops should issue warnings before shooting someone unless the alleged suspect is undeniably pointing the weapon at them.

“We all know what happens next. (Yanez) pulls out his gun and without warning, without saying ‘Stop, or I’ll shoot,’ he fires seven rounds into that car,” Paulsen told the jury. “He killed Philando Castile and endangered the lives of Diamond Reynolds and (her 4-year-old daughter). … And (Yanez) says, ‘I was nervous,’ but everyone, in this case, agrees that is not a justifiable use of deadly force.”

8.      Some officers shoot suspects that are fleeing, even if the suspect is fleeing from a minor crime or traffic stop

You shouldn’t take someone’s life for minor crimes. If your life and the lives of others are not in immediate danger, chase the suspect or use other methods to track or take them down. Don’t shoot to kill for minor crimes. Again, more training is needed in the physical aspects of training, including Defensive Tactics training.

9.      Most Police receive 80 or less hours of Defensive Tactics training and other nonlethal takedown methods

80 hours is insufficient. If a cop isn’t properly trained in Defensive tactics then they will rely on their firearm instead. In most Defensive Tactic classes, the officer’s practice on each other, joke around some and don’t take it as seriously as they should.

10.  Officers who receive a certain amount of citizen complaints should be required to take additional training classes

Police complaints, especially complaints that show a pattern of unprofessional behaviors or characteristics should be taken seriously. The officer needs more training or other reprimands depending on the severity of the complaints.

11.  Increase Police officer salaries.

Police put their lives on the line every day and most of them have good intentions. Also, their job is stressful and needed. Studies show that job satisfaction and keeping your employee's happy leads to improved job performance.  Given the latter and the nature of the job, officers deserve higher salaries.