Shooting of police gun at hospital raises safety concerns

Hong Kong has a deserved reputation as a safe city. We accept that police carry guns for use as a last resort to keep it that way. We don't count on a reversal of roles with a violent offender in a public place. A policeman's struggle with a mentally unstable man to regain control of his service revolver, in which six shots were fired and the officer was wounded in the arm, is an example. That it took place in a public hospital accident and emergency unit, scattering people waiting for treatment, heightens concern. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt, although the officer was admitted to hospital. Five other shots hit the walls before the man was subdued with pepper spray. Under police guidelines on the use of firearms, if an officer so much as draws a gun from its holster he or she has to file a report and account for the action to superiors. What sets this case apart is that the policeman did not draw the revolver. It was discharged by the offender while it remained mostly holstered during the struggle. That is just one of the circumstances that call for detailed examination.