QUESTION?

How can you tell the difference between a Canadian, Australian, and an American Police Officer?

Pose yourself the following unlikely question:

You're walking down 2nd Avenue in Saskatoon. Suddenly, a dangerous and aggressive looking man approaches another pedestrian, with a knife in his fist, locks eyes with you, screams obscenities, raises his fists, and charges.

This interaction is observed by a City Police Officer who has a Glock revolver on his hip. The officer has mere seconds to act before the pedestrian's life is ended.

What do you do?

AS A CANADIAN POLICE OFFICERS
Answer: (Immediate thought processes)

Is the knife a ceremonial kirpan?
Does he prefer to communicate in English or French?

Is this an aggrieved refugee claimant who is unhappy with his level of welfare benefits and treatment by immigration and welfare?
Will this negatively impact my chances of promotion?

Is this a victim of a residential schools experience?
Is this just his way of telling me that he pays my wages, and wants my job?
Would this be an appropriate time to hug him and sing Koombaya?
Will the media do a profile of him and how he was loved by everyone including his dog?
Is the alleged 'visitor' a member of the NDP or an Environmental Group?
Is he a member of a gang that is just 'misunderstood' by society?
How will the CBC cover this?

Is he a recent illegal immigrant to this country, and just doesn't know how to approach the police?
Is he recently released on parole and hasn't been properly integrated back into the community?
Is he a victim of fetal alcohol syndrome, and just doesn't understand what he is doing? Warn and Charter him as he approaches.

AUSTRALIAN OFFICERS
Answer: BANG!

AMERICAN OFFICERS
Answer: BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! Click....

(Sounds of reloading) BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

Click...