
Story #4: Policeman injured during a robbery
"In my job we’re all prepared for the possibility of using our service weapon. We’re trained physically, but also psychologically. We practice firing at paper targets, mounted on a metal plate, and it almost becomes a game. We try to improve our accuracy, speed and therefore our score. I think that I’m one of the best on my team, since besides the score I get, the team always turns either to me or the instructor for advice or to assess their performance. In psychological terms, we’re trained to keep a cool head, know when to fire and when not to, and to know the legal limits, but also our own limits. It was the latter aspect that I didn’t know. Since despite my performances in training, I’d never shot at anyone, or been shot at myself. The impact was so strong and intense that I lost consciousness. When I opened my eyes, there was somebody applying cardiac massage – my heart had stopped beating. The impact was so violent that it cracked my sternum, and I stopped breathing. It was no longer a game , and looking back, I’d have preferred the paper target in my place, even though thanks to my vest and the paramedics, nobody died that day."
- San PelÍcano Stories [1/10]
- Don’t talk to me about karma or destiny | San PelÍcano Stories [2/10]
- At that point I did start running | San PelÍcano Stories [3/10]