Shooting from ’copters?

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

— Late last month in Hidalgo County, Texas, sharpshooters in a state Department of Public Safety helicopter opened fire on a pickup that fled from police. The troopers suspected that the people in the truck were smuggling drugs. But in point of fact, it was stuffed full of Guatemalans attempting to sneak into the U.S. Two were shot dead.

It’s not yet clear how much the state troopers knew. Did or did not a tarp hide the six men crouched in the truck’s bed? And at close range, should the troopers have seen that four people were crammed into the cab?

We support calls for an outside investigation. But whatever the facts of this case, we’re more alarmed that, as a matter of policy, the Texas agency allows state troopers in helicopters to fire on moving vehicles. When no one’s life is at risk.

In our view, that shooting must stop now. It’s both wrong and unconstitutional. Use of deadly force is the ultimate expression of government power. And that power should be wielded only with the greatest of care, and only in the most dire of circumstances.

In this country, government agents’ suspicion of a crime doesn’t automatically justify the death penalty. Hidalgo County isn’t an actual war zone, and the Texas Department of Public Safety isn’t Seal Team Six invading Osama bin Laden’s compound. Criminal suspects are not enemy combatants. They’re innocent until proven guilty.

Should the helicopter have chased that suspicious pickup? Absolutely. Should the department do everything legally in its power to capture suspects and see that they’re prosecuted? Yes.

But when no one’s life is in immediate danger, should troopers risk killing suspects? No. That’s not the American way.

Editorial, Pages 24 on 11/07/2012