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[starwarsfan541]

This is not from the case in question, but it does give some insight on what a cop might be up against. Not comparing to this case. Was just posted on reddit:



It looks like your questions have been sufficiently answered, but I'd like to share this story with you. This happened to me recently:
At about 01:30 in the morning, I pulled up in my cruiser to a medical office building to follow up on a theft case I was working on. The parking lot is not very well lit. As I step out of my cruiser, a man runs towards me, holding something in his right hand. It's dark, and all I can make out is that it's thin, about 6" long, and one half is wrapped in cloth. He starts swinging it around, yelling "I'll fucking kill you! I'll eat you! I'll fuck you!"
I draw my firearm, point it at him, and start giving loud verbal commands. At the same time, I radio dispatch for help. He's not responding to my commands. He's still yelling, swinging the item, making stabbing motions, making threats. He starts approaching slowly, I back off to keep distance. We start moving into the street. About that time my backup shows up. Other officers draw down on the man, start giving verbal commands. He's still not responding.
At this point, it would have been prudent to tase him, but my department doesn't equip us with tasers.
We finally end up in a well lit area across from a restaurant (and boy oh boy, were the cell phones out.) As we're continuing to go back and forth with this guy, one of my backup units gets in close enough to see that what he's holding isn't a knife, and doesn't look like a shank, either. He hits the guy with OC spray to no effect, and then moves in with a baton, striking the hand holding the object. The guy finally drops the object, we all move in and take him down. Bonus: He's covered in feces and urine.
So what was the object? All that time? A ninja turtles toothbrush.
Here's the thing: At any time during that encounter, from the time he initially approached me aggressively to the time we were finally able to see what the item was, had he charged at me or another officer, or a bystander, I (we) would have shot and killed him. Now I did have the presence of mind during the encounter to wonder if the item was in fact a knife, because I've had similar experiences before. But given his behavior, and the way he was brandishing it, I had perfectly good reason to believe that it was a weapon. More importantly, I'm not going to let my own doubts get me killed.
So what if I had killed him?
Well, the cell phone videos would be out. The media would report, initially, the most simple version of the story:
Townsville Metro Police Kill Man Wielding Toothbrush.
Reddit is pretty quick with things like this, so shortly thereafter on the front page:
Police officer MURDERS man over ninja turtles toothbrush.
The initial news headline would play out for a bit, until they got a few more details.
Townsville Metro Police Shoot Young Black Man Wielding Toothbrush.
Another media outlet, upset that they didn't get the initial scoop, goes with something a bit more sensational to grab the media consumer's attention:
Townsville Police Kill Unarmed Young Black Man.
There you have it. The average media consumer's opinion has already been formed by the headline - many won't even bother to read the story. Even if they did, the story will contain the most basic of details. Cops shoot guy, guy only has toothbrush.
Here's what the stories won't contain: My thoughts and feelings upon the initial encounter. The things that I can (or can't) see. My fear. My wondering if I'm about to kill a man, and how I'm going to deal with that. Am I going to break down like so many others? Become an alcoholic? What if it doesn't stop him? What if he kills me? I need help. Where are they? What's taking them so long? Who is this man? Why does he want to kill me? What if a bystander walks into this? I can't let him take a hostage. Goddamnit where is my backup?!
And then later: My god, I almost killed a man over a toothbrush. Would it have been justified? Maybe the courts would have exonerated me, but would I still get fired? Could I forgive myself? Great, I've got someone else's shit and piss all over me for the third time this week.
And then, much later...well, just imagine, after all that, how it feels to see someone watch a massively abbreviated news report on the incident, form an entire opinion based upon that miniscule amount of information (and their complete lack of qualified expertise or experience) and condemn me for my decisions. As weird as it sounds, this is my job - my expertise. Criticizing me for how I deal with a shit covered maniac is no different than you walking in on an open heart surgery and telling the surgeon he's using the wrong scalpel.
Don't let the media form your opinions. Understand that investigations can take a very long time. Most importantly, understand that these situations are often so massively complicated that no journalist could ever truly convey all of the details - especially what's going on in my head when I have to make that critical, life altering decision.

This is a great post on the subject

 

[Angelus Errare]

as if being in a gang should be a death sentence anyway.

If being in a gang was a death sentence, then there would be no cops.

 

[abuC]

I bet the good ole "He reached for my gun" excuse will be used.

 

[ipukespiders]

That post makes it seem like good cops should want to wear cameras just as much as the people concerned about police abuse.

Maybe he does want to, or at least is not against the idea.

You can ask him yourself, if it's something you feel strongly about.

http://np.reddit.com/r/AskLEO/comments/2d9f3w/in_light_of_recent_and_abundant_media_coverage/cjnkn4v

 

[Sàmban]

This is not from the case in question, but it does give some insight on what a cop might be up against. Not comparing to this case. Was just posted on reddit:



It looks like your questions have been sufficiently answered, but I'd like to share this story with you. This happened to me recently:
At about 01:30 in the morning, I pulled up in my cruiser to a medical office building to follow up on a theft case I was working on. The parking lot is not very well lit. As I step out of my cruiser, a man runs towards me, holding something in his right hand. It's dark, and all I can make out is that it's thin, about 6" long, and one half is wrapped in cloth. He starts swinging it around, yelling "I'll fucking kill you! I'll eat you! I'll fuck you!"
I draw my firearm, point it at him, and start giving loud verbal commands. At the same time, I radio dispatch for help. He's not responding to my commands. He's still yelling, swinging the item, making stabbing motions, making threats. He starts approaching slowly, I back off to keep distance. We start moving into the street. About that time my backup shows up. Other officers draw down on the man, start giving verbal commands. He's still not responding.
At this point, it would have been prudent to tase him, but my department doesn't equip us with tasers.
We finally end up in a well lit area across from a restaurant (and boy oh boy, were the cell phones out.) As we're continuing to go back and forth with this guy, one of my backup units gets in close enough to see that what he's holding isn't a knife, and doesn't look like a shank, either. He hits the guy with OC spray to no effect, and then moves in with a baton, striking the hand holding the object. The guy finally drops the object, we all move in and take him down. Bonus: He's covered in feces and urine.
So what was the object? All that time? A ninja turtles toothbrush.
Here's the thing: At any time during that encounter, from the time he initially approached me aggressively to the time we were finally able to see what the item was, had he charged at me or another officer, or a bystander, I (we) would have shot and killed him. Now I did have the presence of mind during the encounter to wonder if the item was in fact a knife, because I've had similar experiences before. But given his behavior, and the way he was brandishing it, I had perfectly good reason to believe that it was a weapon. More importantly, I'm not going to let my own doubts get me killed.
So what if I had killed him?
Well, the cell phone videos would be out. The media would report, initially, the most simple version of the story:
Townsville Metro Police Kill Man Wielding Toothbrush.
Reddit is pretty quick with things like this, so shortly thereafter on the front page:
Police officer MURDERS man over ninja turtles toothbrush.
The initial news headline would play out for a bit, until they got a few more details.
Townsville Metro Police Shoot Young Black Man Wielding Toothbrush.
Another media outlet, upset that they didn't get the initial scoop, goes with something a bit more sensational to grab the media consumer's attention:
Townsville Police Kill Unarmed Young Black Man.
There you have it. The average media consumer's opinion has already been formed by the headline - many won't even bother to read the story. Even if they did, the story will contain the most basic of details. Cops shoot guy, guy only has toothbrush.
Here's what the stories won't contain: My thoughts and feelings upon the initial encounter. The things that I can (or can't) see. My fear. My wondering if I'm about to kill a man, and how I'm going to deal with that. Am I going to break down like so many others? Become an alcoholic? What if it doesn't stop him? What if he kills me? I need help. Where are they? What's taking them so long? Who is this man? Why does he want to kill me? What if a bystander walks into this? I can't let him take a hostage. Goddamnit where is my backup?!
And then later: My god, I almost killed a man over a toothbrush. Would it have been justified? Maybe the courts would have exonerated me, but would I still get fired? Could I forgive myself? Great, I've got someone else's shit and piss all over me for the third time this week.
And then, much later...well, just imagine, after all that, how it feels to see someone watch a massively abbreviated news report on the incident, form an entire opinion based upon that miniscule amount of information (and their complete lack of qualified expertise or experience) and condemn me for my decisions. As weird as it sounds, this is my job - my expertise. Criticizing me for how I deal with a shit covered maniac is no different than you walking in on an open heart surgery and telling the surgeon he's using the wrong scalpel.
Don't let the media form your opinions. Understand that investigations can take a very long time. Most importantly, understand that these situations are often so massively complicated that no journalist could ever truly convey all of the details - especially what's going on in my head when I have to make that critical, life altering decision.

Yeah...that's nice.

Now tell me how this story fits in with innocent people getting choked to death while begging for their lives, getting their necks stepped on, getting killed while shopping without instigating, having their children shot in the streets like animals without instigating and I may be able to muster a smidgen of sympathy for these heartless criminals known as law enforcement officers.

No fucking sympathy. Fuck all cops. Even the good ones are part of the problem; you never hear them speak out about things like this.

 

[Cyan]

Maybe he does want to, or at least is not against the idea.

You can ask him yourself, if it's something you feel strongly about.

http://np.reddit.com/r/AskLEO/comments/2d9f3w/in_light_of_recent_and_abundant_media_coverage/cjnkn4v

You don't have to ask, he already agreed:

Former LEO here. This is why ALL LE depts should have manditory lapel cams on, 24/7. You would've been rightful in engaging the suspect to neutralze the threat. Fact of the matter is, plenty of stories recently do NOT share the same facts with your story, and it's unfortunate. To show the good, to show the bad, we need accountability 24/7. 24/7 cams help literally everyone that matters (innocent civilians, innocent LEOs) and hurts those that don't (those attempting to do serious bodily harm or death to other innocents.) It's just a win/win that needs to happen. Are these stories often taken out of context and blown up? Yes, unfortunately, but 24/7 cams (while on duty obviously) would clear up a lot of this murky cases, and allow a layer of transparency that would add to the general populus' trust in the Law Enforcement Agencies, as they should have.

[–]Revenant10-15Police Officer 9 points 3 hours ago

Couldn't agree more.

Great sentiment, but I'm not sure this is particularly relevant to this case.

 

[CornBurrito]

Yeah...that's nice.

Now tell me how this story fits in with innocent people getting choked to death while begging for their lives, getting their necks stepped on, getting killed while shopping without instigating, having their children shot in the streets like animals without instigating and I may be able to muster a smidgen of sympathy for these heartless criminals known as law enforcement officers.

No fucking sympathy. Fuck all cops. Even the good ones are part of the problem; you never hear them speak out about things like this.

Or what about time police officers have been caught planting drugs on people?

 

[commedieu]

This is not from the case in question, but it does give some insight on what a cop might be up against. Not comparing to this case. Was just posted on reddit:



It looks like your questions have been sufficiently answered, but I'd like to share this story with you. This happened to me recently:
At about 01:30 in the morning, I pulled up in my cruiser to a medical office building to follow up on a theft case I was working on. The parking lot is not very well lit. As I step out of my cruiser, a man runs towards me, holding something in his right hand. It's dark, and all I can make out is that it's thin, about 6" long, and one half is wrapped in cloth. He starts swinging it around, yelling "I'll fucking kill you! I'll eat you! I'll fuck you!"
I draw my firearm, point it at him, and start giving loud verbal commands. At the same time, I radio dispatch for help. He's not responding to my commands. He's still yelling, swinging the item, making stabbing motions, making threats. He starts approaching slowly, I back off to keep distance. We start moving into the street. About that time my backup shows up. Other officers draw down on the man, start giving verbal commands. He's still not responding.
At this point, it would have been prudent to tase him, but my department doesn't equip us with tasers.
We finally end up in a well lit area across from a restaurant (and boy oh boy, were the cell phones out.) As we're continuing to go back and forth with this guy, one of my backup units gets in close enough to see that what he's holding isn't a knife, and doesn't look like a shank, either. He hits the guy with OC spray to no effect, and then moves in with a baton, striking the hand holding the object. The guy finally drops the object, we all move in and take him down. Bonus: He's covered in feces and urine.
So what was the object? All that time? A ninja turtles toothbrush.
Here's the thing: At any time during that encounter, from the time he initially approached me aggressively to the time we were finally able to see what the item was, had he charged at me or another officer, or a bystander, I (we) would have shot and killed him. Now I did have the presence of mind during the encounter to wonder if the item was in fact a knife, because I've had similar experiences before. But given his behavior, and the way he was brandishing it, I had perfectly good reason to believe that it was a weapon. More importantly, I'm not going to let my own doubts get me killed.
So what if I had killed him?
Well, the cell phone videos would be out. The media would report, initially, the most simple version of the story:
Townsville Metro Police Kill Man Wielding Toothbrush.
Reddit is pretty quick with things like this, so shortly thereafter on the front page:
Police officer MURDERS man over ninja turtles toothbrush.
The initial news headline would play out for a bit, until they got a few more details.
Townsville Metro Police Shoot Young Black Man Wielding Toothbrush.
Another media outlet, upset that they didn't get the initial scoop, goes with something a bit more sensational to grab the media consumer's attention:
Townsville Police Kill Unarmed Young Black Man.
There you have it. The average media consumer's opinion has already been formed by the headline - many won't even bother to read the story. Even if they did, the story will contain the most basic of details. Cops shoot guy, guy only has toothbrush.
Here's what the stories won't contain: My thoughts and feelings upon the initial encounter. The things that I can (or can't) see. My fear. My wondering if I'm about to kill a man, and how I'm going to deal with that. Am I going to break down like so many others? Become an alcoholic? What if it doesn't stop him? What if he kills me? I need help. Where are they? What's taking them so long? Who is this man? Why does he want to kill me? What if a bystander walks into this? I can't let him take a hostage. Goddamnit where is my backup?!
And then later: My god, I almost killed a man over a toothbrush. Would it have been justified? Maybe the courts would have exonerated me, but would I still get fired? Could I forgive myself? Great, I've got someone else's shit and piss all over me for the third time this week.
And then, much later...well, just imagine, after all that, how it feels to see someone watch a massively abbreviated news report on the incident, form an entire opinion based upon that miniscule amount of information (and their complete lack of qualified expertise or experience) and condemn me for my decisions. As weird as it sounds, this is my job - my expertise. Criticizing me for how I deal with a shit covered maniac is no different than you walking in on an open heart surgery and telling the surgeon he's using the wrong scalpel.
Don't let the media form your opinions. Understand that investigations can take a very long time. Most importantly, understand that these situations are often so massively complicated that no journalist could ever truly convey all of the details - especially what's going on in my head when I have to make that critical, life altering decision.

Police aren't one big body. Fuck police means the shit bags. Get it through the heads of folks; the browns are aware of good law enforcement members. Mainly family.

Shitbag police are shitbag people. All people aren't bad, but there are shit bags. Does this dude want a pat on the back for doing his job? As a black man, I've heard all about good police from my father. A detective. This isnt news to anyone.

The blue line exists. The nypd choked a man to death and are prerending it didn't happen. Corruption is real.

Cool story bro!

Edit:

And even more terrifying because this cop is a real person that thinks this is some how above board. Or worth discussion.

 

[Air Zombie Meat]

Cops in other countries manage to deal with toothbrush wielding maniacs without shooting them dead. Not really impressed.

 

[KidGalactus]

Can we all agree that there is a fucking problem now?

 

[soundahfekz]

Can we all agree that there is a fucking problem now?

#notallcops

Shits disgusting

 

[Sàmban]

Can we all agree that there is a fucking problem now?

it's just a few bad apples executing innocent civilians in the streets

 

[UberTag]

Negro hunting season is at full effect.

Thank GOD I'm in Canada.

Yeah, you should have nothing to sweat up here.
Now, if you were part of the First Nations, well... I'm afraid you'd be in some trouble.

(It probably says something that I was prepared to make this remark out of happenstance and googled just for shits and giggles only to find the article I linked to.)

 

[youngplaya21]

Cops in other countries manage to deal with toothbrush wielding maniacs without shooting them dead. Not really impressed.

This is the depressing part.....

 

[FeenixRising]

I came in there thinking this was the Ferguson thread....

.....wow

 

[commedieu]

Can we all agree that there is a fucking problem now?

I don't know. A cop on reddit wrote a riveting post about doing his job!!!

 

[Enzom21]

Can we all agree that there is a fucking problem now?

No, people won't agree. Check the other thread about the other unarmed black person murdered by police.

They will make excuses for cops, say pictures are photoshopped or staged, justify cops shooting teargas into their front lawns, etc. As long as it is mainly black people being murdered, most people won't care.

 

[NEOPARADIGM]

Can we all agree that there is a fucking problem now?

I'd think we're on the verge of 24/7 cameras on police activity. Like the reddit cop said, "24/7 cams help literally everyone that matters (innocent civilians, innocent LEOs) and hurts those that don't." Only a matter of time, I'd bet.

 

[starwarsfan541]

Yeah...that's nice.

Now tell me how this story fits in with innocent people getting choked to death while begging for their lives, getting their necks stepped on, getting killed while shopping without instigating, having their children shot in the streets like animals without instigating and I may be able to muster a smidgen of sympathy for these heartless criminals known as law enforcement officers.

No fucking sympathy. Fuck all cops. Even the good ones are part of the problem; you never hear them speak out about things like this.

I have friends who are cops, fuck you, yes there are bad ones, but saying f them all is ridiculous

 

[UberTag]

No, people won't agree. Check the other thread about the other unarmed black person murdered by police.

They will make excuses for cops, say pictures are photoshopped or staged, justify cops shooting teargas into their front lawns, etc. As long as it is mainly black people being murdered, most people won't care.

OK for cops/government to murder...

In the USA = poor blacks
In Canada = indians
In the Gaza strip = pretty much anyone

 

[MHWilliams]

This is not from the case in question, but it does give some insight on what a cop might be up against. Not comparing to this case. Was just posted on reddit:

And if he killed the man, that would've sucked for him, but he still would've killed a man over a toothbrush.

He showed the right amount of restraint for the situation. Seemingly, many others have not and people keep dying because of it.

 

[WaffleTaco]

The US should make African Americans a protected class of citizens with the way that so much of society are striving to exterminate them.

What about the black people that actually commit crimes? Are people racist in this country? Yes, this country was founded on it. In time things will change.

 

[Carnby]

Tritobia Ford said her son was lying on the ground and complying with the officers’ commands when he was shot.

I don't believe for a second that this is true.

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

I don't believe for a second that this is true.

And why is that?

 

[Enzom21]

I have friends who are cops, fuck you, yes there are bad ones, but saying f them all is ridiculous

If the "good" ones protect or make excuses for the bad ones then yes, fuck them too.

 

[commedieu]

I don't believe for a second that this is true.

Unthinkable.




http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IKy-WSZMklc

 

[Kusagari]

This is not from the case in question, but it does give some insight on what a cop might be up against. Not comparing to this case. Was just posted on reddit:



It looks like your questions have been sufficiently answered, but I'd like to share this story with you. This happened to me recently:
At about 01:30 in the morning, I pulled up in my cruiser to a medical office building to follow up on a theft case I was working on. The parking lot is not very well lit. As I step out of my cruiser, a man runs towards me, holding something in his right hand. It's dark, and all I can make out is that it's thin, about 6" long, and one half is wrapped in cloth. He starts swinging it around, yelling "I'll fucking kill you! I'll eat you! I'll fuck you!"
I draw my firearm, point it at him, and start giving loud verbal commands. At the same time, I radio dispatch for help. He's not responding to my commands. He's still yelling, swinging the item, making stabbing motions, making threats. He starts approaching slowly, I back off to keep distance. We start moving into the street. About that time my backup shows up. Other officers draw down on the man, start giving verbal commands. He's still not responding.
At this point, it would have been prudent to tase him, but my department doesn't equip us with tasers.
We finally end up in a well lit area across from a restaurant (and boy oh boy, were the cell phones out.) As we're continuing to go back and forth with this guy, one of my backup units gets in close enough to see that what he's holding isn't a knife, and doesn't look like a shank, either. He hits the guy with OC spray to no effect, and then moves in with a baton, striking the hand holding the object. The guy finally drops the object, we all move in and take him down. Bonus: He's covered in feces and urine.
So what was the object? All that time? A ninja turtles toothbrush.
Here's the thing: At any time during that encounter, from the time he initially approached me aggressively to the time we were finally able to see what the item was, had he charged at me or another officer, or a bystander, I (we) would have shot and killed him. Now I did have the presence of mind during the encounter to wonder if the item was in fact a knife, because I've had similar experiences before. But given his behavior, and the way he was brandishing it, I had perfectly good reason to believe that it was a weapon. More importantly, I'm not going to let my own doubts get me killed.
So what if I had killed him?
Well, the cell phone videos would be out. The media would report, initially, the most simple version of the story:
Townsville Metro Police Kill Man Wielding Toothbrush.
Reddit is pretty quick with things like this, so shortly thereafter on the front page:
Police officer MURDERS man over ninja turtles toothbrush.
The initial news headline would play out for a bit, until they got a few more details.
Townsville Metro Police Shoot Young Black Man Wielding Toothbrush.
Another media outlet, upset that they didn't get the initial scoop, goes with something a bit more sensational to grab the media consumer's attention:
Townsville Police Kill Unarmed Young Black Man.
There you have it. The average media consumer's opinion has already been formed by the headline - many won't even bother to read the story. Even if they did, the story will contain the most basic of details. Cops shoot guy, guy only has toothbrush.
Here's what the stories won't contain: My thoughts and feelings upon the initial encounter. The things that I can (or can't) see. My fear. My wondering if I'm about to kill a man, and how I'm going to deal with that. Am I going to break down like so many others? Become an alcoholic? What if it doesn't stop him? What if he kills me? I need help. Where are they? What's taking them so long? Who is this man? Why does he want to kill me? What if a bystander walks into this? I can't let him take a hostage. Goddamnit where is my backup?!
And then later: My god, I almost killed a man over a toothbrush. Would it have been justified? Maybe the courts would have exonerated me, but would I still get fired? Could I forgive myself? Great, I've got someone else's shit and piss all over me for the third time this week.
And then, much later...well, just imagine, after all that, how it feels to see someone watch a massively abbreviated news report on the incident, form an entire opinion based upon that miniscule amount of information (and their complete lack of qualified expertise or experience) and condemn me for my decisions. As weird as it sounds, this is my job - my expertise. Criticizing me for how I deal with a shit covered maniac is no different than you walking in on an open heart surgery and telling the surgeon he's using the wrong scalpel.
Don't let the media form your opinions. Understand that investigations can take a very long time. Most importantly, understand that these situations are often so massively complicated that no journalist could ever truly convey all of the details - especially what's going on in my head when I have to make that critical, life altering decision.

Oh boohoo.

I'm sure American cops are the only ones who have to deal with situations like this. Because they're certainly the only ones murdering unarmed people during them.

 

[zero_suit]

I don't believe for a second that this is true.

How come?

 

[Carnby]

And why is that?

I'll say because his family is probably lying, and I doubt that the officer shot him for no reason.

 

[J10]

I have friends who are cops, fuck you, yes there are bad ones, but saying f them all is ridiculous

Your friends can get new jobs. Problem solved.

 

[titiklabingapat]

The US should make African Americans a protected class of citizens with the way that so much of society are striving to exterminate them.

I know it's a joke but this isn't such a bad idea. Ugh.

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

I'll say because his family is probably lying, and I doubt that the officer shot him for no reason.

based on what exactly

 

[Enzom21]

I'll say because his family is probably lying, and I doubt that the officer shot him for no reason.

What are you basing this on? Do you have information that we don't have about the family?

 

[starwarsfan541]

If the "good" ones protect the or make excuses for the bad one then yes, fuck them too.

and I wonder why people look down on gaf/ reddit/ twitter for any political discourse

blanket statements arent good for anything, I agree police can and do abuse their power etc, but this thread gets ridiculous real fast (plus I dont believe the mom, and in the MO case I dont think either side is being honest)


Need to stay out of off topic, maybe write a detailed analysis of this on a decent political site

 

[Empyrean Heaven]

Here we go again.

Cops get off, Riots ensue.

Lock your doors, kids.

 

[Carnby]

based on what exactly

The same amount of information that you have.

 

[WaffleTaco]

Your friends can get new jobs. Problem solved.

Really? That is not an optimal soultion for anyone involved. Police have families to support and not all are scum.

 

[Camp Lo]

 

[Enzom21]

and I wonder why people look down on gaf/ reddit/ twitter for any political discourse

blanket statements arent good for anything, I agree police can and do abuse their power etc, but this thread gets ridiculous real fast (plus I dont believe the mom, and in the MO case I dont think either side is being honest)


Need to stay out of off topic, maybe write a detailed analysis of this on a decent political site

So defending a bad cop is okay?

 

[J10]

Really? That is not an optimal soultion for anyone involved. Police have families to support and not all are scum.

Eh, it's doable though. Easier than getting a new race, at least.

 

[heliosRAzi]

The US should make African Americans a protected class of citizens with the way that so much of society are striving to exterminate them.

They should declare black people an endangered species

I'll say because his family is probably lying, and I doubt that the officer shot him for no reason.

You make a convincing argument

 

[bob_arctor]

and I wonder why people look down on gaf/ reddit/ twitter for any political discourse

blanket statements arent good for anything, I agree police can and do abuse their power etc, but this thread gets ridiculous real fast (plus I dont believe the mom, and in the MO case I dont think either side is being honest)


Need to stay out of off topic, maybe write a detailed analysis of this on a decent political site

Haha that last line is fucking amazing.

 

[starwarsfan541]

So defending a bad cop is okay?

No, though defendgin a bad cop in the first place is subjective plus its kinda there job regardless

 

[Kettch]

Don't let the media form your opinions. Understand that investigations can take a very long time. Most importantly, understand that these situations are often so massively complicated that no journalist could ever truly convey all of the details - especially what's going on in my head when I have to make that critical, life altering decision.

I assume you're totally in favor of cameras on cops then? Just the simple audio of "I'll fucking kill you! I'll eat you! I'll fuck you!" would absolve you of wrongdoing in most everyone's eyes.

People aren't just out for cop blood and want anarchy to reign the country. We want a responsible police force that's held accountable for their actions while still being able to protect the community.

This should be a win/win solution. Corrupt/abusive police have evidence against them and police who make a completely understandable mistake, like you almost did, have evidence in their favor.

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

The same amount of information that you have.

which I have used to neither condemn nor condone either side

see how that works

 

[commedieu]

Really? That is not an optimal soultion for anyone involved. Police have families to support and not all are scum.

Can someone quote that long statistical post about police abuse/data pls.

 

[WaffleTaco]

Eh, it's doable though. Easier than getting a new race, at least.

So who would protect the public against actual criminals? If all good cops leave the system, the system would be even worse.

 

[KidGalactus]

Are people racist in this country? Yes, this country was founded on it. In time things will change.

In the meantime, people are being gunned down like dogs.

My feeling is that saying "in time things will change" (or any similar thing) is meant to deal with this sort of nonsensical action by offering up the possibility that in some theoretical future things will be different, when there is no guarantee that they will.

It is patently absurd, and I also feel that it is designed to deflect any actual engagement with what is pretty clearly still a real issue.

Nothing ever gets better by putting off reaction and discussion until the magical day when the issue is no longer a problem. Partially because that day might never come, and partially because when people that should know better say things like this, it makes it ok (for them and others) to feel alright about doing, and saying nothing.

 

[Carnby]

which I have used to neither condemn nor condone either side

see how that works

WOW!

If we all used this method, Labor's and my posts would be the only posts in here.

 

[Speevy]

Black people need to start wearing fake blood so the cops think they're already dead when they arrive. Good grief.