What’s your knee-jerk reaction when you believe you have been wronged? Do you want payback? Do you demand to be vindicated? Do you scream for justice? These reactions are natural. Why? Because instilled in each human being is a sense of right and wrong. We believe justice should be served and the innocent vindicated. But knee-jerk reactions are rarely good ones. Such reactions are often sparked by anger, and that can be devastating. Consider the following case.
On Thursday May 1, four young people were riding around in a stolen vehicle and decided to flee on foot when Cincinnati police officers stopped them. One of the occupants of the stolen car was 18-year-old Ryan Hinton who was armed with a handgun. During the foot pursuit Hinton was shot and killed by an officer. Those are the bare facts of the case.[1] The initial report was that the shooting was justified.
As with all officer-involved-shootings (OIS), there will be several investigations conducted by outside agencies and/or a specialized unit within an agency. In addition, federal authorities may be called upon to conduct their own inquiry. The investigations will shed light on the shooting for the public and allow police administrators and district attorneys to determine if the use of force was justified. If the investigation reveals officer culpability, administrative action will be taken and criminal charges filed.
Recently, police worn body cameras have become important evidence in OIS. Although videos don’t capture everything officers see, videos are very useful in helping to determine what happened and if protocol was followed. It takes time to collect all the documentary evidence, witness statements, crime-scene diagrams, and other forensic evidence. Once all the interviews are conducted and the evidence evaluated, a final investigative report will be written and presented for review. In the simplest and most clear-cut OIS, these investigations take weeks, if not months to properly investigate.
On several levels, it’s critical not to make a judgment before all the evidence has been evaluated and the reports submitted. Releasing evidence prematurely may not only taint the investigation, but it can also be dangerous.
In the above case, the family was allowed to view body camera video from the officer who shot Ryan Hinton. The video was shown at the police department the day after the shooting. After seeing his son shot on video, a distraught 38-year-old Rodney Hinton, Jr. left the police department and moments later came upon Deputy Larry Henderson who was working a graduation ceremony. Deputy Henderson was standing on a sidewalk, monitoring pedestrian and vehicular traffic when Hinton intentionally accelerated his car into the deputy and killed him.
The family of a person who was shot and killed by a LEO should never have been able to view the video within 24-hours of the shooting. As a pastor, and former homicide detective, I recommend that a family never view the death of a loved one on video. Nothing good can come from the images that will forever be replayed in one’s mind. The family’s lawyer can view the video for the family. Further, Mr. Hinton’s lawyers and his family should never have allowed him to drive in such an emotional state. Mr. Hinton should have waited for the investigation to take place and then allow an impartial authority and/or jury to decide guilt or innocence and the appropriate punishment, if any is warranted.
Finally, no matter the outcome of an investigation, vengeance is never acceptable. The Bible warns, “Do not say, ‘I will repay evil.’” When every fiber in our bones wants to right a wrong, we are told not to repay evil.” So, what are we to do when wronged? “Wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.” Wait. Just wait on the Lord. Justice is coming. Jesus paid the debt for all who trust in him. For those that refuse, they’ll face Judgement Day.
Bringing Hope to Law Enforcement
The Strong Blue Line Foundation—at no cost to officers or their agencies—brings hope to LEOs with training seminars that help them navigate a myriad of issues they deal with. One way we do this is by training chaplains. In the “Winning a Gunfight” seminar and book, officers learn how to win a gunfight tactically, mentally, and ethically—or body, soul, and spirit. As important as it is to survive a gunfight, winning is much more important. Winning means you come out of a gunfight as a victor. Winning is having a holistic victory. It goes beyond a tactical victory. It also means being victorious mentally and ethically. It’s complete victory—body, soul, and spirit. Please partner with us to make strong officers with strong relationships by giving them real hope for complete victory! To help, click on the “Donate” button.
On the Road
Last month, Sherry and I traveled to “The Ranch Ministries” in South Dakota where we were invited to minister to 55 Junior Marine ROTC high school students. In addition to facilitating handgun shooting, we were able to speak into the lives of these young people and share with them where real hope is found. Thus far this year, we have logged over 17k miles and have traveled through some 21 states, holding events in seven. Our travels ended in June (for the most part!), and we’ll take to the road again in September.
Pray for your police.
[1] https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/06/us/rodney-hinton-jr-cincinnati-denied-bond
