MovieChat Forums > The Departed (2006) Discussion > Why did the cop shoot, and start a gunfi...

Why did the cop shoot, and start a gunfight, just making things worse?

posted 8 years ago by RynoII
8 replies | jump to latest

SPOILER

Basically after Quinan was dropped from the roof, the cops in the van who are watching want to pursue on foot, and Sullivan gives them an order to stay put.

The one cop doesn't like that so he gets out of the car, and opens fire on the gang, WITHOUT ANY WARNING of 'police, don't move, drop your guns', or anything like that. He just opens fire on them, causing them to shoot back, resulting in officer getting himself shot as a result.

Why didn't he just try to arrest them, instead of wanting to start a gunfight?

[–] wlan 8 years ago

because he saw them killing Captain Queenaan. He couldn't just let them run away

[–] hero-de-celluloid 8 years ago

WITHOUT ANY WARNING of 'police, don't move, drop your guns',

Delahunt had a shotgun out and ready to use. If he precedes by yelling a warning - Delahunt could get the first shot (with a shotgun). He wanted the element of surprise and first shot.

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[–] RynoII 8 years ago

Well the police are always suppose to give a warning first, and the reason why that is, is so a shootout doesn't start. Suspects are more willing to surrender if the police give them a chance to. But if the police are going to open fire with intent to kill then the suspects will shoot back under all circumstances, which just make things worse.

And when the other cops report that the fellow officer broke procedure, and which lead to a shootout, it just makes that officer look bad.

[–] hero-de-celluloid 8 years ago

Well the police are always suppose to give a warning first

Wrong - they are supposed to give warning when they can without compromising their safety. If someone has a gun infront of cop who just committed a violent felony (murder) they don't have to announce "police don't move" if they feel it put them into a position where they could be shot - they should do when they get the chance without compromising their safety. No this can vary from department to department but it fairly standard that a warning should be given when it can be safely. Now tactically he could have done it better - but he also might not have seen the shotgun until it was too late as he had it at his side at first.

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[–] manofsteel4455 8 years ago

The op must be one of those by-the-book people.

[–] noone1647 8 years ago

Mafia Lives Matter

[–] RynoII 8 years ago

I wouldn't say I am one of those by the book people, I just think that shooting first, compromises an officers safety in further. The gangsters did not have their guns pointed at the cops and the guns were pointed down.

If the cops were to say "police, don't move", then the villains know if they move, they are going to be shot, since they are armed. If the police start shooting without warning then the villains know that the police are not taking them alive, and are shooting without warning. This will cause the villains to not have a chance of surrendering and they will scatter, and shoot back.

So by not giving a warning, it's actually more dangerous, cause they will fight back harder, if they know the police are not willing to take them alive.

[–] hero-de-celluloid 8 years ago

I understand your point and police are supposed to issue a warning when they can without compromising their safety but... he felt warning a person armed with a shot gun who was only yards away would compromise his safety - or he just didn't care and wanted to get the jump on him.

Remember he noticed 4 armed men - so if he were to warn them - he could have had 4 men shooting at him - so he chose to get the jump on him. Was it a good call - who knows - if he warned them - the cops could have all died and the bad guys all got away - or they could have surrendered and nobody got hurt. He made the decision within seconds. I don't recall - did the cop die - he was the only cop shot and it looked at first he got shot in the arm. I couldn't tell. When he was laying down it looked more serious. I don't remember if they mention if he died or not.

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