Support NeoGAF

[Tinfoilhatsron]

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

Honestly don't know what to say anymore.

Yup. It's pretty bad. Fucking hell, we need reform but no one is doing it.

 

[PandaPandaPanda]

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

Even though the other cops apparently had it under control?

let's not beat around the bush

the one and only reason is: he's black

It's really fucking sad that this is becoming the new normal.

 

[AtomskEater]

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.

To add to what others are saying, it's unclear how far away the shooter was from the off duty cop, how the off duty cop had his gun holstered (was it immediately visible from wherever the shooter walked up from?), etc.

But even if he was aware that the dude had a gun, unless off duty WAS brandishing it at the two officers or something I don't think shooting as soon as he saw off duty was a sensible reaction.

 

[jmdajr]

"Oh shit, my bad."

 

[Zubz]

Any odds we'll see repercussions because the victim was also a cop this time?

... I mean, probably not, but the amount of despicable behavior cops get away with sickens me.

 

[firehawk12]

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.

He should have worn his uniform before coming to the scene, clearly. You're not blue until you wear blue!

Any odds we'll see repercussions because the victim was also a cop this time?

... I mean, probably not, but the amount of despicable behavior cops get away with sickens me.

Everyone gets a paid vacation?

 

[Morat]

Having lived in Missouri, I find some this both shocking and unsurprising

 

[Rookhelm]

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.

It's like when a scene in GTA or Watch Dogs glitches out, and all the NPCs start shooting at each other.

 

[Slayven]

Any odds we'll see repercussions because the victim was also a cop this time?

... I mean, probably not, but the amount of despicable behavior cops get away with sickens me.

I am calling my shot, the victim will either apologize for getting shot or be fired because of "Reasons"

 

[sixteen-bit]

Any odds we'll see repercussions because the victim was also a cop this time?

No.

http://wtop.com/prince-georges-county/2016/07/officer-cleared-friendly-fire-death-jacai-colson/

 

[Chococat]

You don't just shoot someone because you don't recognize them.

Just goes to show, how there is little to no training for how officers are to assess situations. If the two officer already on the scene don't seem alarmed, why would you shoot?

And racism. Really doubt the same outcome if it was a white guy walking up to the cops. Shoot and ask questions later seems to be their mission.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

He should have worn his uniform before coming to the scene, clearly. You're not blue until you wear blue!

Everyone gets a paid vacation?

That takes too long to put on quickly! How about a convenient arm band...?

 

[Kickz]

Ugh.

Terrible..

 

[Saint of Killers]

Jesus fucking Christ. Maybe if you're *that* in fear of your safety being a cop isn't for you?

Looking forward to the day when it's the turn of American police to have their jobs automated.

 

[tbm24]

sure is reassuring to know law enforcement are so easily scared.

 

[Walter White]

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

Why even become a cop if you fear for your safety? So fucking stupid. What the fuck you think might happen if you become a cop.

 

[timetokill]

Being a cop while black

 

[schwabdizzle]

My city is becoming such a shit hole.

Corrupt cops icing on the cake.

It's a great city besides the high murder rate which is mostly in North City

 

[the210]

Just a FYI: Black COP's are often just as prone to assuming black people are more dangerous / more criminal as their counterparts. I know my worst interactions with officers have been with black cops.

 

[psynergylover]

If I'm reading this right(only read what's in the OP)


Two cops had already had the situation under control and then out of nowhere another cop just up and shoots him!? What!?

This cop(black cop) is about to get hit with that reality check.

 

[Imperial Bishop]

What will Blue Lives Matter say?

"We meant blue-white, not blue-black!"

 

[Gattsu25]

We need to screen out these fearful simps who are constantly in fear of their lives.

We need more police officers like this and we need to make sure that they keep their jobs instead of getting fired for having a backbone: http://www.npr.org/2016/12/08/50471...e-slower-to-shoot-but-that-got-this-vet-fired

 

[Saint of Killers]

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

Why even become a cop if you fear for your safety? So fucking stupid. What the fuck you think might happen if you become a cop.

Shoot first, worry about consequences later. That's what they're taught: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/...first-and-he-will-answer-questions-later.html

 

[sturgboski]

Whatever happened to that officer who found out he was part black and the reactions by the precinct? Seems apt.

Edit:

Shoot first, worry about consequences later. That's what they're taught: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/...first-and-he-will-answer-questions-later.html

Oh that is the POS guy I keep thinking of for why we are in this state.

 

[HStallion]

Why so many fearful people becoming cops?

A license to kill makes you a whole lot more brave

 

[LakeEarth]

"Fearing for my life" is the cop equivalent of the hunter's cry "he's coming right for us!"

 

[kirblar]

"Fearing for my life" is the cop equivalent of the hunter's cry "he's coming right for us!"

Yup. It's disgusting that it's just something that you can say to a jury and they'll let it slide. (because they understand.)

 

[Violence Jack]

Another paid vacation for trigger happy cops. We all look alike to them, and our skin color alone is enough to be worthy of being shot with no repercussions.

 

[Imm0rt4l]

Yup. It's pretty bad. Fucking hell, we need reform but no one is doing it.

Reform is great in theory. But some vestige of white supremacy will always remain. So really, I'm the pessimistic type. Reform ain't fixing shit.

 

[LProtag]

Will the NRA stand up for the principles of having a "good guy with a gun" at the scene?

 

[Jest Chillin]

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.

If he was running around, sure. But the article specifies that the Off Duty officer had already been stopped and identified by two other officers and was told to walk towards them. Unless there is a report that he ran towards them with his gun out instead of walked, this is problem.

The problem really is that Police are authorized to use deadly force on "threat." In theory, officers are trained in what constitutes a threat but the nature of chaos scenes and ever changing context necessitates that Officers have that leeway. But that leeway can be and often is abused by Officers to cover everything from poor judgement calls to intentional abuse of power. If the go to response to "threat" wasn't deadly force, I think we'd see less less incidents like beatings and shootings, as the barometer for what is excessive in any given situation would be lower. Lower threshold means even those intentionally abusing power are less likely to push their luck out of sheer self preservation and those making mistakes in judgement will have less severe results.

This doesn't solve the underlying issues in the slightest but could at least prevent more serious injuries and deaths.

I mean at this point I'm not sure there is any direct solutions that aren't a nuclear option since the problem is systemic.

 

[Xiaoki]

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

Excuse? Its not an excuse and they are not actually not in fear of their safety in the situation.

Its a "get out of jail free" card that works everytime, so why wouldnt you use it?

Seriously, who wouldnt want to escape any and all consequences after they mess up in unimaginable ways just by saying a simple phrase.

 

[Iva Demilcol]

Of course he was fearing for his safety: it was a black man. Can't you see that? He must've been terrified, who wouldn't be? D:

 

[Jmanunknown]

let's not beat around the bush

the one and only reason is: he's black

It's really fucking sad that this is becoming the new normal.

Its not becoming the new normal this has been the normal reality for black people since the United Sates was founded. Whats actually happening now is literally progress compared to what has generally happened throughout the history of the US.

 

[Imperial Bishop]

A license to kill makes you a whole lot more brave

That's the only way I can make sense out of someone applying for a job where your safety is not guaranteed.

 

[Gattsu25]

Its not becoming the new normal this has been the normal reality for black people since the United Sates was founded. Whats actually happening now is literally progress compared to what has generally happened throughout the history of the US.

What's happening now is that local news can very quickly get national attention (this case) + individual accounts can actually be documented on the scene - both thanks to social media.

 

[elrechazado]

This happened to Officer Pryzsboluski in Baltimore, so I understand.

 

[TheOMan]

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.

I didn't want to laugh, but I did. Sad!

 

[Inuhanyou]

"i feared for my safety" is the new jim crow

 

[Omzz]

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

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

I just hope one day this can stop being an excuse

 

[The Jazz Cabbage Master]

You feared for your safety because your head is full of shit concepts that dehumanizes people.

Fear
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real

 

[Nekofrog]

"you just shoot one of our own!"

"Yeah but he's black"

"Oh right fuck him, demotion for him promotion and vacation for you"

 

[PopeReal]

I am at a brewery having my lunch. I don't recognize anyone but the staff.

Can I start shooting or should I not panic? I mean some of them look suspicious.

 

[BigDug13]

From 1980-2013, police killings were performed 51% by whites and only 42% by black people. Yet when a black man approaches, the "feared for my life" excuse always comes out. I guess if a black officer wants to respond to a shooting, he better don his full uniform next time.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/01/09/are-black-or-white-offenders-more-likely-to-kill-police/?utm_term=.42327e2f1d31

 

[Aselith]

So how does this interact with the laws that give you stiffer penalties for shooting a cop?

 

[theignoramus]

Why are so many cops who act like cavemen enlisted in America's police force?

Are these people capable of solving a situation without a firearm or a beating?

 

[BigDug13]

So how does this interact with the laws that give you stiffer penalties for shooting a cop?

The cop would probably be in more trouble if he shot a police dog instead.

 

[……forgetit]

Why wont someone stop this cop on cop crime?

 

[Johndoey]

"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.

Starting to? It's always been short-hand for "Black people were nearby and they frighten me".

 

[Syder]

What will Blue Lives Matter say?

Cyan Lives Matter?