Remote-control bomb robots: Law enforcement's new technology 3:11
The Dallas police chief on Monday defended his decision to use a bomb-strapped robot to kill the gunman suspected of fatally shooting five officers, insisting he would "use any tool necessary to save our officers' lives."
"I'd do it again," David Brown said, adding that the move "wasn't an ethical dilemma for me."
He said he advised those operating the robot after a two-hour standoff with the gunman, Micah Xavier Johnson, not to "bring the building down."
"That was the extent of my guidance," Brown said. The plan was devised in about 15 minutes, he said.
"We knew this was the suspect. He was asking us how many did he get," Brown said. "And he was telling us how many more he wanted to get."
At that point, it was unknown how many officers Johnson had injured. Later, the chief learned that five were killed and others were wounded. He said Monday that nine officers were injured in the ambush.
Eleven officers fired at Johnson, including one of the wounded, Brown said Monday. Two operated the explosive device that left Johnson dead after negotiations with him failed.
Brown said Sunday that the investigation into the shooting has revealed that Johnson had enough explosives in his home and knowledge to render "devastating effects throughout our city and our north Texas area."
The investigation is now focused on cryptic letters Johnson wrote in his own blood — "RB" — in two areas of the building he had barricaded himself in after the shooting.
Detectives are also combing through 170 hours of body camera video from the scene of the shooting and reviewing statements from witnesses and officers to determine who should be questioned further to bring greater light to the attack, which Brown has said was a reaction to recent two police shootings of black men,Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.
Authorities have said that Johnson, an Army veteran, acted alone, but investigators are still working to make sure he didn't have help and no one else was aware of his plans.
"I'm highly protective of cops and I want to make sure there's no body else out there that had something to do with this," Brown said.
The department is hurting as officers deal with the investigation into the shooting, the policing responsibilities of the day-to-day and the upcoming services for those they lost.Brown expressed repeatedly his dedication to his officers while speaking with reporters Monday. He said "my brain is fried" and "I'm running on fumes" in the wake of the carnage, but spoke clearly and passionately about his city and the men and women he oversees who work to keep it safe.
"It's going to be the most challenging thing in my life," Brown said. "I don't know how I'm going to do the rest of the week."
But "I'm a person of faith," Brown said. "I believe that I'm able to stand here is a testament to God's grace and his sweet tender mercies, just to be quite honest with you."
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