The family of police officer David Rathband, who was blinded by fugitive Raul Moat, has called for officers to be armed after two female police officers were shot dead in Greater Manchester.
Ash Rathband, whose father David was shot by Moat, made the call along with Pc Rathband's twin brother, Darren.
Pc Rathband was found hanged at his home in Blyth, Northumberland, in February, around 18 months after being shot while on duty, sitting unarmed in a traffic patrol car.
Police had offered a £50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Cregan
His son tweeted: "It's time for police to be armed in my opinion.
"Yet again another awful incident :-( #officerdown "
Pc Rathband's twin Darren also called for officers to be armed.
He tweeted: "Give them more than a bloody piece of plastic and some spray. Tragic!"
The comments come after two unarmed female police officers were killed after attending a "routine incident" that led to the arrest of one of the country's most wanted men, Dale Cregan.
Home Secretary Theresa May said the incident was "a terrible reminder of the risks that police officers face every day to keep our communities safe."
Pc Rathband was sitting unarmed in his patrol car in Newcastle's West End when Moat crept up on him, tapped on his window and blasted him twice with a sawn-off shotgun.
His identical twin said: "The events today bring it all back to the front of your mind - not that it is ever far away.
"It is just tragic for the families, the police officers in Manchester and across the country.
"It beggars belief. How many officers need to die before the powers realise that it is the 21st century and you cannot fight crime with an outdated piece of plastic and a bit of spray.
"No job is a routine job and there is always the potential for conflict. We don't go on jobs where people are happy to see us.
"I am angry some other families have now lost a daughter, sister, mother or wife and it makes me angry that the thin blue line is getting thinner and thinner. If the public knew how thin that thin blue line was, they would be ashamed."