I’m a police chief and 25 year law enforcement veteran. I believe any loss of life is a tragedy, both civilian and law enforcement. The May 2015 Law & Order magazine has a commentary titled “The Facts About Officer-Involved Shootings.” A few excerpts: “Approximately 40 million people will have law enforcement contact in the U.S. each year. Of those, less than 2% of them will be involved in a force-related incident in which they must be physically restrained, handcuffed, or even verbally threatened with force by police. And of the 40 million who have police contacts, an incredibly small fraction (.0001%) will be involved in a force-related incident that results in their deadly force.” Also, “from 2003–2009, the United States Dept. of Justice examined deaths by civilians during law enforcement contact. That study showed that of those killed during police force contacts: 42% were white, 32% were black, 19% hispanic and the remaining a variety of other races.” The article points out that “the threat of an unarmed person can be just as real and deadly as an armed person. Over 90% of the law enforcement officers who are disarmed in the line of duty were murdered during that incident. The pure size, strength, adrenaline, intoxication, or desire of another may force the officer to use deadly person on an unarmed person.” To say that unarmed persons are not a threat is inaccurate. In the end, confirmation bias, politics and other agendas (on all sides) blur an otherwise important discussion on how to reduce these tragedies. All lives matter. By all means, gather accurate statistics. Prosecute rogue police officers who commit a crime. But I’ve been to too many police funerals. Let’s not paint all who bravely serve in law enforcement with a broad brush of racism or criminality. It’s ashame the Guardian isn’t counting all the lives of innocent police officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice.