Should the use of deadly force by police face more scrutiny?

Posted March 23, 2009, at 2:35 p.m.

A legislator is proposing a governor-appointed panel to review cases in which police

officers use deadly force. Currently, law enforcement agencies review the case, and the

state Attorney General’s Office investigates to see if any law was broken. Since 1998,

there have been 54 shootings by Maine police officers. Is it OK to have cops review the

work of other cops? Or should nonpolice people have some say? Are Maine police

officers too quick to use deadly force? Or too slow to use it?

Bangor Daily News