Controversial New Policy Has Former Texas Police Officer Furious: ‘They’ve Given One More Tool for the Suspects to Kill Police Officers’

A new policy for Houston police officers has drawn significant criticism, with one former Texas cop saying that it provides a "greater incentive" for criminals who want to hurt or kill cops.

Houston Police Chief Charles McClellan introduced the new policy in a Houston Police Department memo dated Sept. 25, KTRK-TV reported.

"Effective immediately, officers shall not discharge a firearm or soft-impact weapon at a moving vehicle unless a person in the vehicle is immediately threatening the officer or other person with serious bodily injury or death by mean other than the vehicle itself," the memo read.

Image source: Getty Images

But former HPD Officer Tom Nixon, who is now an attorney, warned of the possible dangers from the new rule, saying it just gives suspects "one more tool" to kill cops.

"Now what they've done is they've given one more tool for the suspects to kill police officers. Once criminals figure out that they can use their vehicle as a weapon and the police can't shoot them, they will have a greater incentive today and use their vehicle as their weapon to escape,"  Nixon told KTRK-TV.

Legal analyst Joel Androphy echoed Nixon's concern, saying that a vehicle could be used as a weapon just as a gun could.

It's not clear why the department came out with the new policy, and the HPD refused to comment to KTRK-TV, saying only that it is always reviewing its policies to save lives and protect the public.

The HPD did not immediately respond to a request for comment from TheBlaze.

(H/T: KTRK-TV)

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