San Diego Cop Shoots Would Be Bike Thief

[justinrhenry]

sounds like he should have shot sooner and more.

[derby]

OK I know this is a serious issue ... but 'three year veteran' (from the article)

how many years of experience does one need to have before they can be called a veteran?

[Scotzman]

how many years of experience does one need to have before they can be called a veteran?

I guess technically a day.

[Betty]

how many years of experience does one need to have before they can be called a veteran?

Closer to 40 than 0 I would suggest.

Veteran normally indicates long service. Considering a typical working life three years is far from long.

[hbliam]

I guess technically a day.

Nope. We call them boots or rookies. 3 years is still a rookie. At about 5 years they quit calling you rookie.

[derby]

Closer to 40 than 0 I would suggest.

Veteran normally indicates long service. Considering a typical working life three years is far from long.

the us military would disagree... eligible for benefits after 180 days (a lot closer to 0 than 40).

in this context, i don't think there's any confusion that the author meant "an officer with 3-years of experience".

[Betty]

in this context, i don't think there's any confusion that the author meant "an officer with 3-years of experience".

Since we have already moved off topic ... why the hell isn't that what the author wrote then. They get paid for doing it ... so why use words that may change the context.

Before we know it the use has entered colloquialism and people start to think 1 day's experience bestows veteran status ... and using excuses like 'but wiki said'. This leads wankers like me to get frustrated at the most minor things and carry on like a dickhead on internet forums.

... and I am not going anywhere near your military comment ...

[silentbob]

The MPs shot and killed a motorcycle thief right outside my balcony one night.  I'd like to find out where they buried him so I can piss on his grave once a year.

[Scotzman]

the us military would disagree... eligible for benefits after 180 days (a lot closer to 0 than 40).

in this context, i don't think there's any confusion that the author meant "an officer with 3-years of experience".

That's what I was going off of. We deploy people who are 18 and they are "veterans".

[derby]

Since we have already moved off topic ... why the hell isn't that what the author wrote then. They get paid for doing it ... so why use words that may change the context.

Before we know it the use has entered colloquialism and people start to think 1 day's experience bestows veteran status ... and using excuses like 'but wiki said'. This leads wankers like me to get frustrated at the most minor things and carry on like a dickhead on internet forums.

... and I am not going anywhere near your military comment ...

the military probably did more to, uh, blur the meaning of the word than anybody else.

it means old, experienced, or anybody that has ever served (including active duty).

[Scotzman]

the military probably did more to, uh, blur the meaning of the word than anybody else.

it means old, experienced, or anybody that has ever served (including active duty).

I can agree with that along with just about every dictionary.

[Veloce-Fino]

What was this cop thinking?? Headshots only for bike thieves!!

[derby]

What was this cop thinking?? Headshots only for bike thieves!!

my guess is that they're trained to shoot center mass...

[zenjim]

I agree that hanging is too good for him, and a head shot would be preferable.

But with no other witnesses, I rather enjoy the fact that the description of what transpired sounds like it was taken from a police manual. There is no mention of the thief actually having a gun. We have only the word of the "three year veteran".

[fastwin]

No head shots on thieves. Only .22 cal gut shots. Then you get to watch them squeal, puddle up and do the snow angel thing. Damn... did I just say that? On Christmas Eve for goodness sake?

Oh well, I'm over it, back to shooting thieves!