NYPD’s handling of subway ‘fare evader’ under scrutiny after shooting injures bystanders

Jill Snider, a former NYPD officer who now serves as an adjunct lecturer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said the NYPD applies a 21-foot standard to people with knives.

“If [officers] were within that 21-foot zone of safety, or there were other people who could potentially get injured we’d have to progress to our firearm,” she said.

Snider said the shooting as described does appear justified, but she hopes officers at least tried de-escalation tactics, such as talking to Mickles.

“The use of force protocol would be: suspect with a knife, a lot of innocent bystanders, Taser didn’t work, then you do generally go to your firearm,” she said.