Investigation into Alex Pretti's Shooting Raises Questions About Customs and Border Protection Officers' Tactical Decision-Making
A former federal law enforcement trainer has expressed concerns about the tactics employed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers during the fatal shooting of Minneapolis ICU nurse Alex Pretti. Marc Brown, who spent five years training officers at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, believes that the officers' actions in the incident raise "a lot of unanswered questions."
The confrontation between Pretti and the border patrol agents began when Pretti appeared to be filming a deportation operation using only his cellphone. Brown questioned why the agents had initially confronted him, given that he was not an immediate threat.
"We live in a digital age," Brown said. "People are going to record law enforcement. So the question is, what was the need to engage him in the first place?" He also criticized the use of Oleoresin Capsicum spray, or OC spray, in a crowded area, calling it both tactically risky and potentially dangerous.
"OC is an aerosol," Brown said. "Everybody around is going to get exposed — demonstrators, bystanders, and other officers. Now everyone has chemical irritant in their eyes." The use of OC spray also raised doubts about whether the legal threshold for deadly force had been met.
The incident has sparked concerns about the training provided to Customs and Border Protection agents, particularly in relation to de-escalation techniques and the use of force. Brown noted that the officers involved in the shooting were trained to say "Police" upon engagement, but the protocols may not have been followed in this case.
Additionally, the report highlights a broader issue with the training provided to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, who are being asked to perform large-scale sweeps in public spaces without sufficient training. This approach has raised concerns about the risk of harm to both civilians and the agents themselves.
The incident is one of several recent high-profile incidents involving federal agents, which have sparked calls for increased accountability and reform within law enforcement agencies. As investigations continue, it remains to be seen how these incidents will shape the future of policing in the United States.
A former federal law enforcement trainer has expressed concerns about the tactics employed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers during the fatal shooting of Minneapolis ICU nurse Alex Pretti. Marc Brown, who spent five years training officers at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, believes that the officers' actions in the incident raise "a lot of unanswered questions."
The confrontation between Pretti and the border patrol agents began when Pretti appeared to be filming a deportation operation using only his cellphone. Brown questioned why the agents had initially confronted him, given that he was not an immediate threat.
"We live in a digital age," Brown said. "People are going to record law enforcement. So the question is, what was the need to engage him in the first place?" He also criticized the use of Oleoresin Capsicum spray, or OC spray, in a crowded area, calling it both tactically risky and potentially dangerous.
"OC is an aerosol," Brown said. "Everybody around is going to get exposed — demonstrators, bystanders, and other officers. Now everyone has chemical irritant in their eyes." The use of OC spray also raised doubts about whether the legal threshold for deadly force had been met.
The incident has sparked concerns about the training provided to Customs and Border Protection agents, particularly in relation to de-escalation techniques and the use of force. Brown noted that the officers involved in the shooting were trained to say "Police" upon engagement, but the protocols may not have been followed in this case.
Additionally, the report highlights a broader issue with the training provided to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, who are being asked to perform large-scale sweeps in public spaces without sufficient training. This approach has raised concerns about the risk of harm to both civilians and the agents themselves.
The incident is one of several recent high-profile incidents involving federal agents, which have sparked calls for increased accountability and reform within law enforcement agencies. As investigations continue, it remains to be seen how these incidents will shape the future of policing in the United States.
it's like they're more worried about their own safety than the guy they're trying to deport. i've got a cousin who works w/ ICE, & they tell me it's all about 'maintaining order'... sounds like they're making stuff up as they go along 
. it's like they just assumed Alex was a threat & went from there. i'm not saying he wasn't doing something wrong, but come on! you gotta be more careful when dealing w/ people's lives 
. the way it disperses everywhere... it's like a toxic cloud 
. i'm all for law enforcement having to deal w/ difficult situations, but this is just common sense stuff. use less of that stuff & try de-escalation techniques 1st 
, my kid's friend has a family member who works with CBP and they're saying that the training they get is pretty basic and not really geared towards dealing with situations like this. it's crazy that they'd use OC spray in a crowded area... what if someone had a medical condition or was already feeling overwhelmed? 
and i feel for Alex Pretti's family, losing their loved one like that is just heartbreaking 
. the fact that there are questions about whether the legal threshold for deadly force was met raises so many red flags 
. And then they use this OC spray in a crowded area? That's crazy! It's like, what if it had spread to everyone around them? 
The training for these agents is clearly lacking - de-escalation techniques and all that jazz. I feel bad for the nurse who got caught up in this whole mess 
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. and what's up with the training, anyway? de-escalation techniques should be a priority, not just "police" this and "police" that 
. and de-escalation training... yeah, gotta get some of those skills up if they wanna avoid situations like this in the future 
. And let's not forget those OC spray cans are just asking to be used in situations where they shouldn't be, it's like a ticking time bomb waiting to happen 
It just doesn't add up. And Marc Brown's concerns about the tactical decisions made that day are valid 
. The fact that they used OC spray in a crowded area is just crazy 
. I'm all for keeping people safe, but you gotta do it safely too 
. And what's with the lack of de-escalation training? 
It's like they're just winging it and hoping for the best 
. We need to make sure our law enforcement officers are properly trained to handle these situations so that no one gets hurt on either side 
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who uses that in a crowded area? it's like, super risky and stuff. i'm all for keeping ppl safe but u gotta do it in a way that doesn't harm innocent bystanders, u feel? 
what if someone got hurt by accident? poor Alex Pretti shouldve been treated more with respect 
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