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[Jarmel]

He obviously was making the other cops look bad.

 

[Aselith]

Here's what I think happened: They fired this guy because he needed to be in the wrong to save the other two officers. If he was the first cop there and he considered the guy to not be a threat, then they were wrong to shoot. But if he was wrong procedurally, then it's easier to argue that they were right to feel threatened and were right to fire.

I think it was about saving the longer serving cops and not who was actually right. And that's a pretty good microcosm of what's wrong with our police forces in the US.

 

[kirblar]

Here's what I think happened: They fired this guy because he needed to be in the wrong to save the other two officers. If he was the first cop there and he considered the guy to not be a threat, then they were wrong to shoot. But if he was wrong procedurally, then it's easier to argue that they were right to feel threatened and were right to fire.

I think it was about saving the longer serving cops and not who was actually right. And that's a pretty good barometer of what's wrong with our police forces in the US.

2 were union. 1 was not.

I don't think you're wrong.

 

[AsakuraZ]

As a former law enforcement member and a veteran, man I just don't know what to say. This shit is just so damn infuriating, I can't really say anything that hasn't already been said.

Be careful guys, just honestly be careful. These are dark times and my hope is that everyone stays safe. It's a sad day when we have to fear the people meant to defend us.

 

[KingV]

This is what people are talking about when they say there is an institutional problem with the police. Not all cops are assholes. But all cops are complicit in a system where they protect their own at the expense of the public they are supposed to serve.

Yeah this is damning evidence that the whole institution of policing is fucked up.

Why would anyone want this dude to have been shot? He was carrying an unloaded gun.

CLEARLY the fired cop was in the right. How can it even be up for debate?

 

[hipbabboom]

I guess his firing makes sense really when you consider it within the current framework of how the police justify shootings. They can't do anything to acknowledge that the good cop was right in his judgement when the other cops came and emptied their bullets into the suspect. Doing so would mean the murder was unjustified, however, if you paint a picture where the good cop was being reckless and not following protocol then you make a clear case for murderers to be justified. Just to be sure (because after all, murder is a serious crime) you double-down and fire the good cop then triple-down and take his pension away because what kind of monster exposes his partners to a gun-toting deranged suspects -- I'm sure no cop in the force would want a cop like that on their six. Justice was served.

 

[Lys Skygge]

Nope. I'm fucking done ever trying to defend the Institution of Police here in the states. Here is this fucking golden opportunity to clearly show that police who do their job properly and keep their heads while saving lives are the examples departments want to have other officers follow and you fucking fire him and kill his pension?
BUT OOHHHH Now the officers that fucking MURDERED THE BLACK GUY get medals and hand jobs and paid time off and all sorts of other shit cause FUCK justice and whats right and rewarding brave, confident and strong officers. We need weak fucking trigger happy pussies around here!!

FUCK these people. So fucking tired of this garbage.

But what about all those "good" cops that play catch with young black boys? Or give minorities ice cream after pulling them over?

Spoiler

/s

 

[Apt101]

This shit is infuriating. This is the kind of cop people need to set up some kind of fund for. I'd gladly donate several hundred dollars.

 

[ezrarh]

It's both. There are plenty of piece of shit cops. The profession attracts sociopaths.

There are shitty people everywhere. It's up to the institution(s) to do a proper job and weed those type of people out. America's institutions are broken and I'm not optimistic in any of them turning around the ship anytime soon.

 

[Zetta]

Yo this can't be real, what the actual fuck is going on D:

 

[The Hermit]

Jusus christ

I didnt knew the police crisis was that bad in US

 

[Facism]

absolutely fucking disgusting show of corruption.

 

[DragonSworne]

He should seriously get a better lawyer.

 

[Mivey]

Its weird how a video game is advocating more cautious use of violence then the actual real life police in the US. No really, that game basically only allowed you to shoot (without punishment) when you were already shot at.

 

[FlowersisBritish]

What kills me is "what's the point of calling the cops?" In this scenario? The GF called because she wanted someone to help him, not kill him! What do they do? They kill him? What is their job that they are doing and putting themselves at risk for here??? Is it helping the guy? Cause he's dead...

 

[jroc74]

This news was already bad enough...until the real punch line:

Oh and the man he refused to shoot?

Unfortunately, two more cops then showed up, and quickly shot Williams dead.
...

As it turns out, Williams’s gun wasn’t loaded. There’s no way any of the police officers could have known that. But it does show that Mader had read Williams correctly — he wasn’t actually a threat to anyone but himself. His life could have been saved.

What...in ...the...actual....fuck.......

But he was terminated for putting the other officers lives in danger.

Wow. I guess these 2 will get medals of honor.

 

[MetatronM]

What kills me is "what's the point of calling the cops?" In this scenario? The GF called because she wanted someone to help him, not kill him! What do they do? They kill him? What is their job that they are doing and putting themselves at risk for here??? Is it helping the guy? Cause he's dead...

GF: "Help, my boyfriend is going to kill himself!"
Police: "You just leave that to us, little lady."

 

[Kai Dracon]

This cop's story isn't that uncommon. I've heard plenty of accounts from people with real military experience going into domestic policing and effortlessly outclassing low-IQ bullies who just want a license to curb stomp fellow citizens. And even when the legitimate officers respond first, they are still hamstrung by policies designed to support and protect the bullies.

 

[DerangedHermit]

Doesn't surprise me much since reading an article about a whistleblower in one US precinct that when his department found out what he was doing/going to do, they contacted some psychiatric hospital, declared the guy insane and he was put there against his will and drugged out of his ass.

After some time, some family or friends finally found him and he's now in some legal battle against the department. Probably won't win either.

 

[smokeandmirrors]

Fuck the police.

 

[benjipwns]

Its weird how a video game is advocating more cautious use of violence then the actual real life police in the US. No really, that game basically only allowed you to shoot (without punishment) when you were already shot at.

Look at the rules of engagement for the actual U.S. military.

Hell, just look at ROE Cards which are basic guidelines and not the full rules.

 

[AxelFoley]

This is what people are talking about when they say there is an institutional problem with the police. Not all cops are assholes. But all cops are complicit in a system where they protect their own at the expense of the public they are supposed to serve.

Real talk.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Look at the rules of engagement for the actual U.S. military.

Hell, just look at ROE Cards which are basic guidelines and not the full rules.

Just had the same conversation with my brother. American police force RoE would not hold up to the Geneva Convention. They would literally be war crimes.

 

[PHOENIXZERO]

Shit is like a dark comedy...

 

[Fulminator]

damn this is so fucked up

i don't even know how we can fix this shit anymore, but one thing is for certain and that's the police force in america is corrupt af, if it wasn't clear before

 

[rjinaz]

I mean there it is folks. Cops are expected to kill. Protect and serve my ass.

 

[SlipperyFishes]

Columbo would never succeed as a 21st century cop

 

[benjipwns]

Just had the same conversation with my brother. American police force RoE would not hold up to the Geneva Convention. They would literally be war crimes.

The U.S. military has actually loosened their rules of engagement to deal with the fact that insurgent fighters hide in the civilian population and police would still regularly wind up in at least a court-martial by them.

The lede of this story even hints at the disparity between the focus:

After responding to a report of a domestic incident on May 6 in Weirton, W.Va., then-Weirton police officer Stephen Mader found himself confronting an armed man.

Immediately, the training he had undergone as a Marine to look at “the whole person” in deciding if someone was a terrorist, as well as his situational police academy training, kicked in and he did not shoot.

“I saw then he had a gun, but it was not pointed at me,” Mr. Mader recalled, noting the silver handgun was in the man’s right hand, hanging at his side and pointed at the ground.

 

[Prototype Viktor]

What a infuriating and depressing story. The Police system in America is just fucked up.

They wanted him to serve the communities want to suicide by cop

 

[Agent Gibbs]

Thats the attitude UK Cops display and look how few deaths we have on a yearly basis! Its disgusting people think he was a bad cop, the bad cops are the cowboys who shoot first ask questions later (or rather don't and justify the shooting)

 

[ShironRedshift]

Unfortunately nothing about this surprises me. Cops simply aren't given training for how to deal with these situations. And when someone dies happen to have that training it conflicts with the instincts of those that don't, leading to situations such as this.

And the most frustrating thing is that I don't expect anything to change, since not enough people care and police unions are just too strong at this point, nevermind all the other protections they've been given by law and the courts. I'd love to be wrong, but I can't see that being the case.

Just fuck everything about this situation though, man. Just... fuck.

 

[Offshore Breeze]

This is extremely upsetting to read. I really hope this man gets the justice he deserves somehow.

 

[fabricated backlash]

I mean, at this point, what can you still say?

I can only hope you guys in the US stay safe and stay clear of these murderers.

 

[ebullientprism]

Here's what I think happened: They fired this guy because he needed to be in the wrong to save the other two officers. If he was the first cop there and he considered the guy to not be a threat, then they were wrong to shoot. But if he was wrong procedurally, then it's easier to argue that they were right to feel threatened and were right to fire.

I think it was about saving the longer serving cops and not who was actually right. And that's a pretty good microcosm of what's wrong with our police forces in the US.

Yeah I am betting this is what happened. American police is so fucked up.

 

[OrangeGrayBlue]

I grew up in a different WV town and sent this story over to the mayor of my hometown. I'm skeptical anything will come of it, but it would be nice if I could help him procure a new job.

 

[SomeRandomWeirdGuy]

If you want to experience even more rage head on over to /r/protectandserve and check out the comments on this incident. Whole lotta cops defending his firing, because by not shooting first he "endangered innocent lives"

 

[BronsonLee]

Columbo would never succeed as a 21st century cop

Of course not, he was way too fat

This is a union sacrifice btw

 

[OrlanisWorks]

Shit is like a dark comedy...

It is all one big joke, after all.

 

[rjinaz]

If you want to experience even more rage head on over to /r/protectandserve and check out the comments on this incident. Whole lotta cops defending his firing, because by not shooting first he "endangered innocent lives"

If he was a 20 year old White woman I wonder if they'd feel the same.

I don't have to wonder. All lives matter though.

 

[PataHikari]

The problem here is that he turned on his empathy for a black man. That is against the rules.

If he had only used his Marines training and descalation skills on screaming white men armed with three assault rifles he'd still have a job.

 

[ShironRedshift]

If you want to experience even more rage head on over to /r/protectandserve and check out the comments on this incident. Whole lotta cops defending his firing, because by not shooting first he "endangered innocent lives"

RIP Nana Ruth. Never forget.

But seriously like... Not only was no one else ever in danger, but what about the innocent life that actually was taken here? That's why nothing's going to change anytime soon. :/

 

[Mortemis]

Sounds like their police department made a mistake when doing the IQ tests, he sounds way too smart.

Really awesome that he was able to adjust to the situation and nearly help the guy, fuck that police department. Everything is fucked.

 

[Bladenic]

The gun wasn't loaded punchline really got me. That dude could be alive today. And the officer should be receiving praise and a raise, not getting fired without pension. Ridiculous.

 

[Vilix]

He's obviously overqualified for the job. He'll go on to do great things outside of law enforcement.

 

[gamma]

If you want to experience even more rage head on over to /r/protectandserve and check out the comments on this incident. Whole lotta cops defending his firing, because by not shooting first he "endangered innocent lives"

Can you link that? I can't find the post.

 

[Dai101]

How in the FUCK is this real? How has a fucking sick joke or twisted parody become actual real life and completely normal?

God dammit! Fucking depressing man.

What the?

It sounds to me like he's a great human being and a great cop. The people who came in after him and shot the victim are the terrible cops. It confuses me that you think they should protect "order" and not people in America, that should never be the case, and it absolutely should be the other way around.

Oh sweet summer children.

Ok I see my post being quoted with incredulous outrage.

What exactly is being objected to?

That cops aren't here to protect us?
That a person can be too good to be a cop?
That if you see that the police dept from the top down are not the good guys, it makes this firing understandable?

I might have a bit of snark in my post... But I don't get it. If you need me to expound on why, I guess I could... but it seems the majority (all?) of the thread would be in agreement with me. The story is proof enough.

A lot of people (mostly white) can't grasp the fact that the popo is not there to defend them. Is hard to grasp that they do something bad or innapropiate.

 

[benjipwns]

Can you link that? I can't find the post.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ProtectAnd...irton_terminates_officer_who_did_not_fire_at/

Who knows. Maybee what the other officers saw was way more dangerous than what the article and fired officer stated.

He could have violated some policy, really hesitated when he shouldn't have, or be getting completely and unfairly fucked by a shitty department.

Just going by the article, it sounds like he got reall lucky and at the worst needs some remedial training.

Reaction is always slower than action. I was trained that if someone is holding a gun, and appears to be threatening you or anyone else, you open fire.

Even if it's pointed down. They can raise it and get shots off faster than you can react. Getting killed in an Academy scenario taught me that quite definitively.

I never trust a news article to accurately recount facts.

He took a gamble with lives. I can not condone this. He got lucky.

I'd like to hear the entire story before I judge, I suspect there's a lot the media has left out

 

[not psycho]

Awful.

It's like "don't ask, don't tell" for Good Cops. You can be one if you keep it secret, but if you demonstrate a propensity or intent to engage in good policework, you're gone.

 

[Astral Dog]

And the suicidal man was violently killed too, this is a sick joke

 

[zelas]

Where's the GoFundMe for this guy?

I'd actually donate if he has one. This is ridiculous.