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[shadow_shogun]

An off-duty St. Louis cop was accidentally shot by a colleague as a gun battle raged nearby between police and a band of suspected car thieves.

The off-duty cop, who lives nearby, heard the chaos erupt. He grabbed his service weapon and hurried out to help police at the scene, according to the Post-Dispatch. The 38-year-old officer, an 11-year department veteran, was initially stopped by two uniformed St. Louis cops and ordered to the ground.

But the cops soon recognized the mystery man as one of their own and told him to walk toward them, according to a department incident summary released Thursday.

That's when another officer arrived — and fired at the off-duty cop, striking him in the arm, the report said.
According to Fox 2 Now, the officer who fired at his colleague told investigators he feared for his safety and didn't recognize the man as one of their own.

More at the link to NY Daily News

Goes to show that even within the force, black people are still not safe. All that is needed for justification of shooting us is he/she feared for their safety.

Please lock if old, couldn't find any topic regarding the story.

 

[Condom]

Didn't recognize him because...

 

[Slayven]

What will Blue Lives Matter say?

 

[Volimar]

Without the power of the badge to keep his black rage in check, that officer was just as much a threat as any other black person.

 

[zero_suit]

Ahh, the go to 'feared for my safety'.

 

[Vic]

According to Fox 2 Now, the officer who fired at his colleague told investigators he feared for his safety and didn't recognize the man as one of their own.

Ugh.

 

[Garlador]

He feared for his life... from his actual backup.

Surreal.

 

[OG Shaka Zulu]

NYPD did the same thing in 2009, except they killed their African American "Brother in Blue".

 

[Slayven]

Why so many fearful people becoming cops?

 

[PandaPandaPanda]

shoot first, deal with consequences (or lack thereof) later

 

[Mariolee]

'Feared for my safety' is the stupidest excuse I have ever seen, and I hate how often it keeps coming up.

 

[keiichi]

How do you arrive late to what's happening and feel for your safety when the other officers are allowing the off-duty officer to walk towards them.

 

[theWB27]

Why so many fearful people becoming cops?

No consequences.

 

[Fantastapotamus]

If a cop arrives at a scene and a guy with a gun runs around, not wearing a uniform it's actually somewhat believable that he felt threatened, right?
I mean, it's still a problem that apparently the first thing this guy then did was shoot at him, but at least, AT LEAST, the guy who was shot was actually carrying a gun.

 

[soundscream]

Cops are cowards......seems about right.

 

[PopeReal]

"I feared for my life" always works for cops.

Bunch of scared motherfuckers. Maybe work from home or something.

 

[shadowkat]

.....at least he didn't kill him?

Honestly don't know what to say anymore.

 

[shadow_shogun]

shoot first, deal with consequences (or lack thereof) later

That seems to be the norm now. Look at how great it's worked for them so far so why stop now.

 

[NoblesseOblige]

What will Blue Lives Matter say?

Turns out blue was code for white lives all along!

 

[Sephzilla]

'Feared for my safety' is the stupidest excuse I have ever seen, and I hate how often it keeps coming up.

I know, right?

If you immediately go into "fear for your safety" mode the moment any kind of threat rises you shouldn't be a cop

 

[sensui-tomo]

Why am I paying taxes to fund scaredy cats again, hell when I was younger I used to put the police in the same respect category as firefighters are. Ugh wonder how the police union will spin it.

 

[blakep267]

If a cop arrives at a scene and a guy with a gun runs around, not wearing a uniform it's actually somewhat believable that he felt threatened, right?
I mean, it's still a problem that apparently the first thing this guy then did was shoot at him, but at least, AT LEAST, the guy who was shot was actually carrying a gun.

Presumably the first 2 cops had the situation under control and saw he was a cop but the 3rd guy saw the illustrious walking black man and assumed he was a threat

 

[nhlducks35]

 

[n00bsauce87]

How does one "accidentally" shoot another person

WHILE

acknowledging that you "feared" for your safety

Can this happen at the same time?

 

[Htown]

how did he fear for his safety, when he JUST got there?

like, the dude was interacting with the other two officers, and the other dude just rolled up and decided he was immediately in danger and fired?

that doesn't make any goddamn sense, even by stupid police excuse standards

 

[Moppeh]

If a cop arrives at a scene and a guy with a gun runs around, not wearing a uniform it's actually somewhat believable that he felt threatened, right?
I mean, it's still a problem that apparently the first thing this guy then did was shoot at him, but at least, AT LEAST, the guy who was shot was actually carrying a gun.

But he wasn't running around waving a gun in the air or whatever. He was walking towards two officers who had already confirmed who he was.

This fucking guy showed up to a situation that his colleagues clearly had under control and immediately fired at a black guy with a gun without assessing the situation at all.

 

[ahoyhoy]

Was just thinking that.

At least this cop can look forward to a rewarding career in teaching.

 

[TS-08]

If a cop arrives at a scene and a guy with a gun runs around, not wearing a uniform it's actually somewhat believable that he felt threatened, right?
I mean, it's still a problem that apparently the first thing this guy then did was shoot at him, but at least, AT LEAST, the guy who was shot was actually carrying a gun.

In a world where that's the actual sequence of events, perhaps.

 

[nicanica]

Black cop gets to shoot him back.

Play ground rules bitch.

 

[Claude Augario]

He's actually going with "feared for my safety" against another cop?

Even though the other cops apparently had it under control?

 

[John Rabbit]

Why do we keep hiring cowards to be cops? What is the point of a police force if they're all terrified?

 

[Akuun]

So a guy is obviously with the other police officers and no one is treating him like a threat. You get out of your car, don't ask any questions, and immediately shoot him? What the fuck?

The car thieves must've been so confused.

 

[Kinyou]

That's when another officer arrived — and fired at the off-duty cop, striking him in the arm, the report said.
According to Fox 2 Now, the officer who fired at his colleague told investigators he feared for his safety and didn't recognize the man as one of their own.

This sounds like he just fucking stormed in and opened fire. The situation was under freaking control

 

[theWB27]

If a cop arrives at a scene and a guy with a gun runs around, not wearing a uniform it's actually somewhat believable that he felt threatened, right?

I mean, it's still a problem that apparently the first thing this guy then did was shoot at him, but at least, AT LEAST, the guy who was shot was actually carrying a gun.

Who said the cop was running towards them? He pulled up with other cops already on the scene. He can't read a situation? He can't read if his fellow cops looked threatened or not?

You just painted a scenario that didn't happen to make up an excuse of why cops keep shooting black folk.

 

[ahoyhoy]

I wonder how often cops threaten people by simply whispering "Don't make me 'fear for my life'..."

 

[Raguel]

I wonder...if an armed bystander shot a cop on accident and said "he feared for his safety," would the person get away with it? It sure seems that cops, no matter how ridiculous the situation is, seems to get away with it 100%.

 

[Goldenroad]

First thing I thought of.

 

[OG Shaka Zulu]

This is going to make work awkward.

So a guy is obviously with the other police officers and no one is treating him like a threat. You get out of your car, don't ask any questions, and immediately shoot him? What the fuck?

The car thieves must've been so confused.

Lmao. I'd pay to see their looks of confusion.

 

[VanWinkle]

If you care for your safety so easily, you shouldn't be a cop.

 

[BFIB]

My city is becoming such a shit hole.

Corrupt cops icing on the cake.

 

[Lil Marco]

Why so many fearful people becoming cops?

Because it makes them feel strong.

 

[Slayven]

The black cop about to learn what they really think about him

 

[ArkkAngel007]

Didn't recognize him because...

You'd be surprised at how different people can look outside of uniform (Cops, military, construction, etc).

That aside, shows what the real problem is, and I too am curious what Blue Lives Matter and GOP-stans gotta say for this.

 

[Attack You]

didn't recognize the man as one of their own.

Incredibly apt word choice.

 

[Spring-Loaded]

If a cop arrives at a scene and a guy with a gun runs around, not wearing a uniform it's actually somewhat believable that he felt threatened, right?
I mean, it's still a problem that apparently the first thing this guy then did was shoot at him, but at least, AT LEAST, the guy who was shot was actually carrying a gun.

Is this not among the saddest "well, at least ..." ever?

Dude was cooperating with the other officers who probably thought he was dangerous, but at least didn't immediately shoot at him.

 

[LastGamer84]

My city is becoming such a shit hole.

Corrupt cops icing on the cake.

I worked in St. Louis for two years, never thought much of the place.

 

[Barzul]

There was an episode of The Wire kind of like this.

 

[Arttemis]

"the officer who fired at his colleague told investigators he feared for his safety"

Cops can say this in response to anything and get away with it.

 

[BriGuy]

"Feared for his safety" is starting to lose meaning. The mere existence of black people shouldn't instill fear, and if it does, you have no business being a cop. There's gotta be some kind of testing they can do for this.

 

[Cagey]

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/...cle_761b9cc4-75d1-5023-a38f-c4096f99d114.html

The Post-Dispatch first reported those details Thursday morning based on police sources with knowledge of the shooting. The department media office later confirmed them.

The pursuit began downtown near the Dome at America's Center about 10 p.m. when license recognition equipment alerted police to a vehicle that had been stolen June 15 in Maryland Heights. Officers pursued the vehicle, a white sedan, and used spike strips at one point. Three people inside the stolen car then opened fire at the pursuing officers, striking police vehicles. The officers backed off but continued to follow the car.

The department says the car crashed near the intersection of Park Lane and Astra Avenue, northwest of West Florissant Avenue and Riverview Boulevard. Three people inside fled the vehicle.

Two officers, "fearing for their safety," fired at the suspects, striking one in the ankle, according to a department summary of the shooting.

The off-duty officer heard the commotion and came out of his nearby home with his department-issued gun, police said. That's when he encountered fellow officers and was shot by one of them.

I'm guessing the claim will be that the officer who opened fire and hit the off-duty officer was alerted to shots being fired by the uniformed officers at the actual suspects at the scene he responded to before he got there.