Deadly Mistake?

A Tulsa volunteer sheriff--

Robert Bates is his name--

Who happens to be seventy-three,

Has a claim to fame:

 

As part of a weapons sting

Of an illegal handgun sale

Involving someone named Eric Harris,

Who happened to be a black male.

 

The police, pursuing Harris,

Brought him to the ground.

"Taser! Taser!" cried Deputy Bates.

And then there was a sound:

 

POW! A single bullet

Hit Harris in the back,

Fatally killing the unarmed man.

(Did I say he was black?)

 

"Oh, I shot him," said Bates,

Holding his gun in his hand--

One that's a common policeman's firearm

Of a Smith and Wesson brand.

 

According to Deputy Bates

He mistook in the scuffle

His Smith and Wesson for his Taser!

That's caused quite a kerfuffle.

 

Bates--an insurance company

CEO by day--

Likes to play cop when he has time off.

An example of "pay to play"?

 

And how much training--one wonders--

When all is said and done,

Should it take for a cop to distinguish

His Taser from his gun?

 

(4-19-15)