Deaf advocates say police must improve after fatal shooting

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Ken Miller, Associated Press
 Updated 3:24 pm, Friday, September 22, 2017



OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma Association for the Deaf said Friday that police have reached out since an officer fatally shot a deaf man in Oklahoma City, but that more needs to be done, including teaching officers to recognize the deaf and learn to visually communicate with those who can't hear.

"I feel it is necessary to approach the police force as a deaf community and seek more training on dealing with the deaf community," Association Treasurer Johnny Reininger told The Associated Press through an interpreter.
 
Reininger said Police Chief Bill Citty has reached out to the deaf community since 35-year-old Magdiel Sanchez was fatally shot on Tuesday. Bystanders yelled to officers that Sanchez was deaf and couldn't hear their commands to drop a metal pipe he was holding, but police say the officers apparently didn't hear or didn't understand what was being said.
 
Reininger said not all deaf people use sign language and many use hand and arm gestures to communicate. He also said common phrases such as "hearing impaired" or "speech impaired" are considered inappropriate by the deaf, who prefer to be called deaf or hard of hearing.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Deaf-advocates-say-police-must-improve-after-12221031.php#photo-14154978

[bucolic_frolic]

1. They should meet deadly force with deadly force

but out of control combatives, people armed with hand-held objects .... there are tasers, billy clubs, physical control.

[Not Ruth]

2. How would a cop know if someone means with hand gestures when the hand is holding a weapon?

I have a deaf brother and would not understand without ASL.