An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer fired his gun at a white SUV fleeing a car stop in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on July 1. The SUV had been pulled over by federal immigration officers, and when the driver did not emerge after repeated orders, an officer shattered the window. The SUV then drove away, clipping the ICE vehicle stopped in front of it before turning the wrong way down a one-way street.

Concerns Over ICE Tactics

Policing experts say the incident demonstrates poor tactics by ICE officers. According to Kenneth Corey, a former chief of department for the New York Police Department, the officers missed multiple opportunities to conduct the car stop more safely. Corey stated that the vehicle was not properly positioned to prevent the SUV from fleeing and that the officers were in a poor tactical position.

The incident has raised concerns about the training and tactics used by ICE agents, particularly in regards to vehicle stops. Experts say that ICE agents have not received sufficient training on how to conduct vehicle stops safely and that the agency’s recent change in tactics has not come with additional training.

The ICE spokesperson said the driver had a criminal history of assault, hit-and-run, and a domestic incident, and had “weaponized his car and rammed an ICE law enforcement vehicle.” However, Corey disputed this account, saying that the SUV did not ram the ICE vehicle and that the officers’ actions were not justified.

Training and Tactics

Local law enforcement departments typically direct their personnel not to fire at a moving car unless there is a threat of deadly force by means other than the vehicle itself. Corey said that shooting at the vehicle is not an effective way to stop it and can put innocent bystanders at risk.

The incident has also raised questions about the onboarding and training of new federal immigration officers. The administration has reduced the required training days for ICE agents, which has exacerbated concerns about their ability to handle high-pressure situations.

In response to the incident, the Department of Homeland Security has announced plans to implement additional training for ICE agents, including training on high-risk vehicle stops and crowd control.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.