Border Czar Tom Homan said an officer involved in a recent self-defense shooting following a vehicle ramming incident is under severe emotional strain, citing threats, online exposure, and the toll that the use of force takes on law enforcement as an investigation proceeds.
Homan made the remarks during an exchange with Dr. Phil, explaining that he had spoken directly with the officer shortly before the interview and pushed back on claims that the officer was unaffected by the incident.
“My concern right now is, and I talked to the officer involved, and he’s, you know, everybody thinks he’s sitting around feeling comfortable. He’s not,” Homan said.
Dr. Phil confirmed the timing of the conversation and asked Homan to describe what the officer shared.
“You talked to him just minutes ago, just yeah, just as we were sitting down here, you stepped in another room and spoke with the officer. What did he say? How is he doing?” Dr. Phil asked.
Homan said the officer is fearful for his safety and the safety of his family after being identified online and targeted with threats.
“He’s concerned. I’ve seen, today, his face over social media. He’s been doxxed. People are threatening to kill him. So he’s not good. He now he fears for him and his family,” Homan said.
Homan urged the public to allow the investigative process to proceed without inflaming tensions or reaching conclusions before evidence is fully reviewed. He emphasized that the case involves extensive documentation and witness accounts that will be examined.
“And again, let the investigation play out before, you know, say you want to execute this man, let the investigation play out,” Homan said.
“There’s got to be, you know, 100 videos out there. There’s going to be witness testimony, body cam footage. So, you know, let the invest just, let’s decrease the temperature here. Let the investigation play out. But this officer is not in a good spot emotionally for his family.”
Dr. Phil then asked whether the officer was personally affected by the outcome of the encounter.
“Is he upset about what took place?” Dr. Phil asked.
Homan responded by describing the emotional impact that any use of force can have on law enforcement officers, drawing on his decades of experience.
“Of course he is, I mean, any law enforcement officer who uses any sort of, I’ve been around a long time, even if it’s less lethal force, if you have to put hands on somebody and take them down, it affects you,” Homan said.
Homan added that while he has never personally used lethal force, he has observed its effects on others throughout his career.
“And I’ve never used lethal force personally, I can only imagine. Based on my 40 plus years, I’ve never met an officer who had to use lethal force that felt good about it,” Homan said. “It’s a terrible, terrible thing to go through.”
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