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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2015 19:22:36 GMT
**This is very disturbing and disgusting. Edit to add I don't think poorly of the officer at all. I am disgusted by how the police are begin treated now.I am on the side of leo's
"We don't want to be in the media," he said. "It's hard times right now for us."
Heath Boackle, a sergeant with the Birmingham Police Department and president of the city's Fraternal Order of Police, said Thursday that cops are "walking on eggshells because of how they're scrutinized in the media."
"We should be thanking the good Lord because he could be dead right now.," Boackle said of the detective who was beaten.
Police Chief A.C. Roper sees the episode — as well as the reaction, including celebratory and vitriolic comments posted online alongside images of the wounded officer — as symptomatic of a larger problem, in which some don't respect law enforcement.
"The nobility and integrity of policing has been challenged," Roper said. "As a profession, we have allowed popular culture to draft a narrative which is contrary to the amazing work that so many officers are doing everyday across this nation."
Detective struck with his own weapon
The incident occurred last Friday when the detective was on his way to interview a robbery witness and saw a car that was carrying at least two people traveling erratically on the interstate, according to police.
"He calls for backup and tells the man to stay in the car, but he didn't," Boackle told CNN in a phone interview. "The last thing the officer remembers is getting sucker-punched in a parking lot. The next thing, he's waking up in a hospital bed with staples in his head."
According to Boackle, the detective spoke to Janard Cunningham, who was sitting the car. The detective decided to call for backup so that he could continue his robbery investigation while another officer handled the traffic stop.
While he was calling for backup, Cunningham allegedly exited the car and became aggressive, approaching the detective and repeatedly questioned why he'd been pulled over, the union chief said. The detective considered using force but thought better of it and continued his call when Cunningham hit him, Boackle said.
Cunningham is accused of then "pistol whipping" the officer with his own service weapon, Boackle said.
The officer suffered multiple lacerations to his head and face but is expected to recover from his injuries, according to Boackle. The University of Alabama-Birmingham treated and released him the same day. He's recovering at home and has not yet returned to duty, Boackle said.
Chief calls reaction 'absolutely inhumane'
Adding insult to injury: several bystanders, instead of helping, took pictures of the bloodied officer as he was facedown on the concrete and posted the images on social media, where the officer was mocked.
Many people rose to the officer's defense, but the detective's colleagues were outraged by a collection of posts that seemed to revel in the beating.
"Pistol whipped his ass to sleep," one user wrote, employing the hashtag #FckDaPolice. Another mockingly offered the officer milk and cookies for his "nap time."
Roper, the Birmingham police chief, called the fact bystanders would take pictures of an officer being beaten rather than help him, then proceed to post them, "absolutely inhumane." The online commenters only made it worse.
"It really speaks to the lack of their morality and humanity," the chief said. "People commented on the pictures in a celebratory fashion ... disregarding that this public servant has a family and is committed to serve in some of our most challenging communities."
Police support officer, who is 'doing much better'
Some Birmingham officers feel that "if the roles were reversed, there would be demonstrations" and an "outcry from the public," Boackle said.
"The officer was beaten and just left there. People were there long enough to take pictures of the officer full of blood and put it on social media. ... No one stopped to help," he said. "We're lucky we're not talking about an officer who was shot and killed with his own weapon."
CNN affiliate WBRC tweeted a photo depicting the bleeding officer.
According to the city's police chief, the officer is "doing much better than he was on the day of the attack." Roper said his department stands firmly behind a man who he called a "good officer through these years."
"I gave him a direct order," Roper said. "Your mission is to get better and to spend time with your family. He gladly accepted."
Suspect charged with attempted murder
Cunningham allegedly fled the scene but was apprehended later Friday, police said. He is charged with attempted murder and is being held without bond. A second man taken into custody with Cunningham has not been charged with a crime, police said.
Tracking dogs were brought in to help search for another possible suspect, but authorities later said they believed there was no third person.
Cunningham, 34, of Center Point appeared in court Tuesday where his first hearing was postponed, CNN affiliate WBRC reported. His mother told Jefferson County District Court Judge Shelly Watkins that the family would be hiring a lawyer, according to the Alabama Media Group, a collection of news outlets that includes The Birmingham News.
Paperwork on file in Watkins' office had no lawyer listed for Cunningham. His mother hung up on a CNN reporter seeking comment, and a subsequent voice message left for her was not immediately returned.
"I feel that in today's society, both from law enforcement and the citizens, we have to trust in one another and do the best we can for this world as a whole," Boackle said.
Said the officer who was beaten: "I appreciate everyone's support. I have a concussion and I'm still heavily medicated. Right now, I need to focus on healing and getting better." More from AOL.com:
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Post by snowsilver on Aug 16, 2015 19:43:29 GMT
I believe any thinking person would have expected this! And I also believe it's going to get worse.
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Post by PEArfect on Aug 16, 2015 19:48:16 GMT
I'm not surprised. Of course the media attacks are going to lead to hesitation by the LEO's. If they hesitate to protect themselves who's to say they won't hesitate to protect civilians too? Hopefully the majority still have the mentality, "I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6." I know my blue family does.
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uksue
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,530
Location: London
Jun 25, 2014 22:33:20 GMT
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Post by uksue on Aug 16, 2015 20:27:26 GMT
There have been clear cases ( imo) of a few LEOs behaving inappropriately and with excess force towards members of the public.
I agree withCheryl Dirsey'sopinion on this ( ex LA police officer now writer.) any well trained police officer should be trained well enough to know what force to use in any given situation . Being afraid of getting called out shouldn't come into it: if the situation warrants a certain action according to their training and experience then they should use they action. Good well trained personnel ( in any profession ) should know how to behave in a given situation and should have the courage of their convictions .
There are and always have been situations where LEO have been overwhelmed in a traffic stop or other situation. It's s horrible , thankless and dangeroys job, and they know that when they start:
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Deleted
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Oct 5, 2024 21:53:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2015 20:37:20 GMT
There have been clear cases ( imo) of a few LEOs behaving inappropriately and with excess force towards members of the public. I agree withCheryl Dirsey'sopinion on this ( ex LA police officer now writer.) any well trained police officer should be trained well enough to know what force to use in any given situation . Being afraid of getting called out shouldn't come into it: if the situation warrants a certain action according to their training and experience then they should use they action. Good well trained personnel ( in any profession ) should know how to behave in a given situation and should have the courage of their convictions . There are and always have been situations where LEO have been overwhelmed in a traffic stop or other situation. It's s horrible , thankless and dangeroys job, and they know that when they start: I interrupt the article that NO MATTER THE REASON a police officer draws a weapon, the media will find a way to make the cop out as bad. I also feel members of the public are taking full advantage of the situation. I am tired of hearing "an unarmed suspect" cops are not mind readers and suspects can do a lot of harm without a gun.
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Pearl Clutcher
Not my circus, not my monkeys ~refugee pea #59
Posts: 3,149
Jun 25, 2014 19:51:11 GMT
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Post by back to *pea*ality on Aug 16, 2015 21:01:30 GMT
I think it is easy for the public to Monday morning quarterback what LEO's shoulda, woulda, coulda done in any given situation. But while it is happening the officer never knows if the person has a gun or a knife and a split second decision could mean the officer doesn't go home to his or her family.
A LEO friend of mine was shot years ago by a POS drug dealer. Shot in the head, because he had a vest on. At the time, he had a wife and two young boys who grew up without a dad. His murderer is in prison but I heard ( I live in a different state) that after the Michael Brown shooting he was capitalizing on hands up don't shoot and found a lawyer to try and appeal his case - again.
A LEO who graduated from DS's high school who had a family member teaching there was killed by a robbery suspect who had a knife. A wife with young children who will grow up without a dad.
My nephew is a LEO in a rough urban area. He has a two year old and we all pray.
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Deleted
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Oct 5, 2024 21:53:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2015 21:13:51 GMT
I think it is easy for the public to Monday morning quarterback what LEO's shoulda, woulda, coulda done in any given situation. But while it is happening the officer never knows if the person has a gun or a knife and a split second decision could mean the officer doesn't go home to his or her family. A LEO friend of mine was shot years ago by a POS drug dealer. Shot in the head, because he had a vest on. At the time, he had a wife and two young boys who grew up without a dad. His murderer is in prison but I heard ( I live in a different state) that after the Michael Brown shooting he was capitalizing on hands up don't shoot and found a lawyer to try and appeal his case - again.A LEO who graduated from DS's high school who had a family member teaching there was killed by a robbery suspect who had a knife. A wife with young children who will grow up without a dad. My nephew is a LEO in a rough urban area. He has a two year old and we all pray. Do people not realize that this part of the MB story is a lie?? It was put out in the news that it was not true. That is hands where in fact on the cops gun at one point???
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Deleted
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Oct 5, 2024 21:53:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2015 21:29:14 GMT
Dark days for LEOs. Which mean dark days for all of us. They are what keeps lawlessness from overtaking every city in the country.
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Post by PEArfect on Aug 16, 2015 21:30:01 GMT
That is the way the media hysteria works though. The first news reports are false. When the truth does comes out the general public believes the intial false reports and view the actual truth as law enforcement covering up lies. It's like a sadistic version of the telephone game. Escalating lies and exaggerations.
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Post by birukitty on Aug 16, 2015 21:30:30 GMT
How terrible that not one person in that group of people that witnessed the attack, stopped and took photos of the unconscious LEO on the ground covered in blood and then posted it to the media, didn't instead take the time to try to help him instead? That's what came to my mind as I read this article. How? Well obviously I'm not talking about getting into the middle of the fight. Cunningham had the gun in his hand which he was using to beat the LEO so trying to stop him would have been very dangerous. But what about instead of using your smart phone to take photos you instead use it to call 911 and report what's happening? There was no way of knowing if the LEO's call for backup had gone through. That's what I would have done. I think that's what most people would have done-but maybe I'm fooling myself. Obviously it didn't turn out that way in this case. Geez people-where did common decency go?
Debbie in MD.
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uksue
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,530
Location: London
Jun 25, 2014 22:33:20 GMT
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Post by uksue on Aug 16, 2015 21:32:39 GMT
I think it is easy for the public to Monday morning quarterback what LEO's shoulda, woulda, coulda done in any given situation. But while it is happening the officer never knows if the person has a gun or a knife and a split second decision could mean the officer doesn't go home to his or her family. . [ Surely in that split second experience and training counts, not wondering how this will look to the nedia? I worked with dangerous patients in a secure psychiatric hospital where the patients could smell indecision and fear a mile off. I had some very close calls, including having my head pushed down a toilet . All you can fall back on is your training and use the minimum force available to attempt to secure your yen safety . The cases I have in mind excessive force was used on a member of the public . I honestly don't believe the media are out to lynch every LEO no matter what the situation . Has the profession fallen so far in your country's estimation that the media could get away with that ?
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uksue
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,530
Location: London
Jun 25, 2014 22:33:20 GMT
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Post by uksue on Aug 16, 2015 21:34:16 GMT
Birikitty, I totally agree with you.
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Deleted
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Oct 5, 2024 21:53:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2015 21:40:49 GMT
We were at a wedding last weekend and this was a topic. We had many LEO's in attendance from Sgt to slick sleeve. They voiced their opioin that many have expressed hesitation in using force when called for. Those who have been heard saying that have been called out (in our department). If you have hesitation you not only put yourself in danger but the public and fellow first responders. My husband and I sat and listened, when they asked his opioin he pointed to me, to which I said, "we have always agreed he can find another job, but we can never find another him. He will do what is necessary to protect himself, his fellow officers and the public". He smiled and said, 100% what she said. His goal is to come home safe to his family, his goal is not to hurt a person just because. When he pulls his weapon there is a reason. Media should never play a part in a life or death situation.
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Deleted
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Oct 5, 2024 21:53:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2015 21:45:32 GMT
How terrible that not one person in that group of people that witnessed the attack, stopped and took photos of the unconscious LEO on the ground covered in blood and then posted it to the media, didn't instead take the time to try to help him instead? That's what came to my mind as I read this article. How? Well obviously I'm not talking about getting into the middle of the fight. Cunningham had the gun in his hand which he was using to beat the LEO so trying to stop him would have been very dangerous. But what about instead of using your smart phone to take photos you instead use it to call 911 and report what's happening? There was no way of knowing if the LEO's call for backup had gone through. That's what I would have done. I think that's what most people would have done-but maybe I'm fooling myself. Obviously it didn't turn out that way in this case. Geez people-where did common decency go? Debbie in MD. Exactly, but LEO does that everyday. They are there to protect those that would watch them die. We had a LEO shot in one of the housing projects a while ago. The people of the housing unit walked by him and spit and kicked him as he was laying bleeding. But you know what 3 months later he was back patrolling that housing unit...playing catch,carrying groceries,attending community events and not holding a grudge aganist that community. Those that took the photos and didn't help are the drudge of society and karma should happen quickly to them.
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Deleted
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Oct 5, 2024 21:53:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2015 21:46:24 GMT
That is the way the media hysteria works though. The first news reports are false. When the truth does comes out the general public believes the intial false reports and view the actual truth as law enforcement covering up lies. It's like a sadistic version of the telephone game. Escalating lies and exaggerations. Good lord, I know and it is just so damn wrong. When did those protecting us become the bad guy?
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Deleted
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Oct 5, 2024 21:53:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2015 21:47:07 GMT
There have been clear cases ( imo) of a few LEOs behaving inappropriately and with excess force towards members of the public. I agree withCheryl Dirsey'sopinion on this ( ex LA police officer now writer.) any well trained police officer should be trained well enough to know what force to use in any given situation . Being afraid of getting called out shouldn't come into it: if the situation warrants a certain action according to their training and experience then they should use they action. Good well trained personnel ( in any profession ) should know how to behave in a given situation and should have the courage of their convictions . There are and always have been situations where LEO have been overwhelmed in a traffic stop or other situation. It's s horrible , thankless and dangeroys job, and they know that when they start: I interrupt the article that NO MATTER THE REASON a police officer draws a weapon, the media will find a way to make the cop out as bad. I also feel members of the public are taking full advantage of the situation. I am tired of hearing "an unarmed suspect" cops are not mind readers and suspects can do a lot of harm without a gun. Let's see. An elderly woman had some sort of mental episode so her family became concerned and called the police. The police officer shot and killed the woman because she was Asian, was holding a vegetable peeler ,and the police officer feared for his life because he was afraid she would use a martial arts move on him. Officier not held accountable. A woman , who had mental problems, got ahold of a 1 inch razor blade. She was cutting herself. Family could not get the razor blade away from her so they called the police for help. One officer came and when the woman walked toward him with the razor blade the officer feared for his life and shot and killed her. Officer not held accountable. Oh wait a minute. Police dept did say that maybe they shouldn't have sent this inexperience officer out by himself. 15 year old boy was walking across a field holding a toy rifle. Police ordered him to drop the rifle and because he didn't drop it fast enough they shot and killed him. Again the officers were not held accountable. Well documented are the unarmed black men and boys killed by police. Some justified, some questionable, some of the officers have been arrested. Problem is the first three incidents I listed were before Ferguson. The officers that are now being held accountable for their actions happened after Ferguson. What happened to the Asian lady happened in my neck of the woods over 20 years ago. As you can see it stuck with me. Since then every time there was a police officer shooting that is questionable like the ones I listed above I kept a mental score on how many times a cop was held responsible. Not once. When the 15 year old boy was killed his family and friends protested. Had marches through the city for days. I knew about it because again this happened in my neck of the woods but I don't think it received much national media coverage. Then Ferguson happened and people said enough and started to question the tactics used by the police. Granted Michael Brown may not have been the best poster boy for this but it brought to light police actions and accountability. What happened to this officer is on him. Either that or he was sent out into the field without the proper training and tools to do his/her jobs. To use the media as an excuse for not doing your job is stupid and could be covering up the real reason he couldn't or wouldn't handle this guy. I think for far to long in some cases police officers are not being held accountable for their actions unless there is public outrage. I also think the folks on the other side need to step back and admit that not every shooting is not justified. We need to meet in the middle but right now both sides are going to the extreme.
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Post by PEArfect on Aug 16, 2015 21:48:42 GMT
"Has the profession fallen so far in your country's estimation that the media could get away with that ?"
The profession hasn't fallen. The morality of a large majority of the populace has fallen.
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Pearl Clutcher
Not my circus, not my monkeys ~refugee pea #59
Posts: 3,149
Jun 25, 2014 19:51:11 GMT
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Post by back to *pea*ality on Aug 16, 2015 23:03:33 GMT
I think this article in a Time magazine is relavent to the OP- link to Time articleI live in the suburbs of Philadelphia. In the morning, as I am getting ready for work, I turn on local news to get the weather and traffic report. Not a morning goes by where there is not at least one but often more than not multiple shootings by the criminal element. The stats are available on-line.
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Deleted
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Oct 5, 2024 21:53:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2015 23:13:03 GMT
I think it is easy for the public to Monday morning quarterback what LEO's shoulda, woulda, coulda done in any given situation. But while it is happening the officer never knows if the person has a gun or a knife and a split second decision could mean the officer doesn't go home to his or her family. A LEO friend of mine was shot years ago by a POS drug dealer. Shot in the head, because he had a vest on. At the time, he had a wife and two young boys who grew up without a dad. His murderer is in prison but I heard ( I live in a different state) that after the Michael Brown shooting he was capitalizing on hands up don't shoot and found a lawyer to try and appeal his case - again.A LEO who graduated from DS's high school who had a family member teaching there was killed by a robbery suspect who had a knife. A wife with young children who will grow up without a dad. My nephew is a LEO in a rough urban area. He has a two year old and we all pray. Do people not realize that this part of the MB story is a lie?? It was put out in the news that it was not true. That is hands where in fact on the cops gun at one point??? No, way too many people don't know, or refuse to believe the evidence showing it was a lie. Just here last week, we had a thread where people here still didn't know.
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~Susan~
Pearl Clutcher
You need to check your boobs, mine tried to kill me!!!
Posts: 3,259
Jul 6, 2014 17:25:32 GMT
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Post by ~Susan~ on Aug 17, 2015 0:32:44 GMT
I think this article in a Time magazine is relavent to the OP- link to Time articleI live in the suburbs of Philadelphia. In the morning, as I am getting ready for work, I turn on local news to get the weather and traffic report. Not a morning goes by where there is not at least one but often more than not multiple shootings by the criminal element. The stats are available on-line. I live in MS right outside of Memphis and they have at least one shooting there every. single. day. I cannot believe the blatant disregard for human life I see on the news every night. There was an LEO killed in Memphis a couple of weeks ago. He accidentally surprised two males conducting a misdemeanor pot deal. He was shot to death by one of them that was out on probation. It is now believed that his defence is going to be that he thought he was in fear for his life because of all of the "bad" officer shootings that had been happening.
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Deleted
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Oct 5, 2024 21:53:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2015 0:38:12 GMT
I think this article in a Time magazine is relavent to the OP- link to Time articleI live in the suburbs of Philadelphia. In the morning, as I am getting ready for work, I turn on local news to get the weather and traffic report. Not a morning goes by where there is not at least one but often more than not multiple shootings by the criminal element. The stats are available on-line. I live in MS right outside of Memphis and they have at least one shooting there every. single. day. I cannot believe the blatant disregard for human life I see on the news every night. There was an LEO killed in Memphis a couple of weeks ago. He accidentally surprised two males conducting a misdemeanor pot deal. He was shot to death by one of them that was out on probation. It is now believed that his defence is going to be that he thought he was in fear for his life because of all of the "bad" officer shootings that had been happening. This makes me sick. Because it certainly isn't because he was BREAKING THE LAW!!!
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~Susan~
Pearl Clutcher
You need to check your boobs, mine tried to kill me!!!
Posts: 3,259
Jul 6, 2014 17:25:32 GMT
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Post by ~Susan~ on Aug 17, 2015 0:59:16 GMT
I live in MS right outside of Memphis and they have at least one shooting there every. single. day. I cannot believe the blatant disregard for human life I see on the news every night. There was an LEO killed in Memphis a couple of weeks ago. He accidentally surprised two males conducting a misdemeanor pot deal. He was shot to death by one of them that was out on probation. It is now believed that his defence is going to be that he thought he was in fear for his life because of all of the "bad" officer shootings that had been happening. This makes me sick. Because it certainly isn't because he was BREAKING THE LAW!!! If he had just let the officer arrest him, he would probably would have been able to bail out within a few hours. But now, lives have been forever changed.
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tincin
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,378
Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by tincin on Aug 17, 2015 1:30:56 GMT
Perhaps the LEOs need to start policing their own. If there weren't so many blatant incidents of them shooting unarmed people, beating up people, threatening civilians who are taping them, etc. then this predicament would not have happened. They need to step up when they see other LEO doing the wrong thing. Until they police their own, the public will be doing it for them.
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Pearl Clutcher
Not my circus, not my monkeys ~refugee pea #59
Posts: 3,149
Jun 25, 2014 19:51:11 GMT
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Post by back to *pea*ality on Aug 17, 2015 10:41:48 GMT
Perhaps the LEOs need to start policing their own. If there weren't so many blatant incidents of them shooting unarmed people, beating up people, threatening civilians who are taping them, etc. then this predicament would not have happened. They need to step up when they see other LEO doing the wrong thing. Until they police their own, the public will be doing it for them. I agree that it is a few bad apples that the media puts the focus on but there is little attention when they go above and beyond or make the ultimate sacrifice. I think the media has whipped up the public against the police. That being said, the unions have a lot to do with the code of silence against those that need to be rooted out - would be nice to see some changes there. Also, the public needs to put the money where their mouth is and make sure funds are available so every officer has a body cam, a taser, access to back up and training. Many small PD's simply don't have the resources and are under staffed.
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suzastampin
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,587
Jun 28, 2014 14:32:59 GMT
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Post by suzastampin on Aug 17, 2015 12:49:31 GMT
I interrupt the article that NO MATTER THE REASON a police officer draws a weapon, the media will find a way to make the cop out as bad. I also feel members of the public are taking full advantage of the situation. I am tired of hearing "an unarmed suspect" cops are not mind readers and suspects can do a lot of harm without a gun. Let's see. An elderly woman had some sort of mental episode so her family became concerned and called the police. The police officer shot and killed the woman because she was Asian, was holding a vegetable peeler ,and the police officer feared for his life because he was afraid she would use a martial arts move on him. Officier not held accountable. A woman , who had mental problems, got ahold of a 1 inch razor blade. She was cutting herself. Family could not get the razor blade away from her so they called the police for help. One officer came and when the woman walked toward him with the razor blade the officer feared for his life and shot and killed her. Officer not held accountable. Oh wait a minute. Police dept did say that maybe they shouldn't have sent this inexperience officer out by himself. 15 year old boy was walking across a field holding a toy rifle. Police ordered him to drop the rifle and because he didn't drop it fast enough they shot and killed him. Again the officers were not held accountable. Well documented are the unarmed black men and boys killed by police. Some justified, some questionable, some of the officers have been arrested. Problem is the first three incidents I listed were before Ferguson. The officers that are now being held accountable for their actions happened after Ferguson. What happened to the Asian lady happened in my neck of the woods over 20 years ago. As you can see it stuck with me. Since then every time there was a police officer shooting that is questionable like the ones I listed above I kept a mental score on how many times a cop was held responsible. Not once. When the 15 year old boy was killed his family and friends protested. Had marches through the city for days. I knew about it because again this happened in my neck of the woods but I don't think it received much national media coverage. Then Ferguson happened and people said enough and started to question the tactics used by the police. Granted Michael Brown may not have been the best poster boy for this but it brought to light police actions and accountability. What happened to this officer is on him. Either that or he was sent out into the field without the proper training and tools to do his/her jobs. To use the media as an excuse for not doing your job is stupid and could be covering up the real reason he couldn't or wouldn't handle this guy. I think for far to long in some cases police officers are not being held accountable for their actions unless there is public outrage. I also think the folks on the other side need to step back and admit that not every shooting is not justified. We need to meet in the middle but right now both sides are going to the extreme. Are you saying the officer shouldn't have done his job? It was a simple traffic stop until the driver got out of his car and came towards the cop. The officer could have pulled his gun and shot the driver before he got to the police car. Then all the bystanders would have been taking pictures of a dead civilian, rather than a beaten cop, perpetuating the bad cop innocent civilian mantra that has become the norm now. This has made being a police officer into a case of "damned if I do, damned if I don't". I get that there are a lot of over the top police officers. One locally stepped down because he stopped somebody who had given him the finger as he drove by. Pepper sprayed him 20 seconds into the stop, video was taped of the officer kicking him once he was back at the precinct even though he was already handcuffed. Personally, I'm sick of hearing "black lives matter". Of course they do, but so do all the others. Where is the outrage when a black cop kills a white person? (I'm probably going to regret posting this)
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tincin
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,378
Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by tincin on Aug 17, 2015 13:41:01 GMT
Perhaps the LEOs need to start policing their own. If there weren't so many blatant incidents of them shooting unarmed people, beating up people, threatening civilians who are taping them, etc. then this predicament would not have happened. They need to step up when they see other LEO doing the wrong thing. Until they police their own, the public will be doing it for them. I agree that it is a few bad apples that the media puts the focus on but there is little attention when they go above and beyond or make the ultimate sacrifice. I think the media has whipped up the public against the police. That being said, the unions have a lot to do with the code of silence against those that need to be rooted out - would be nice to see some changes there. Also, the public needs to put the money where their mouth is and make sure funds are available so every officer has a body cam, a taser, access to back up and training. Many small PD's simply don't have the resources and are under staffed. I agree with you that it is ridiculous that LEO don't have the safety equipment they need. I wouldn't do the job for the money they do. Our area papers actually do a really great job of pointing out when police and fire personnel go above and beyond. I feel like we have some really great local people but all that could change in a flash if one of them abused their authority. I do think national media focuses on the bad because it suits the agenda of those in power.
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tincin
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,378
Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by tincin on Aug 17, 2015 13:56:38 GMT
Are you saying the officer shouldn't have done his job? It was a simple traffic stop until the driver got out of his car and came towards the cop. The officer could have pulled his gun and shot the driver before he got to the police car. Then all the bystanders would have been taking pictures of a dead civilian, rather than a beaten cop, perpetuating the bad cop innocent civilian mantra that has become the norm now. This has made being a police officer into a case of "damned if I do, damned if I don't". I get that there are a lot of over the top police officers. One locally stepped down because he stopped somebody who had given him the finger as he drove by. Pepper sprayed him 20 seconds into the stop, video was taped of the officer kicking him once he was back at the precinct even though he was already handcuffed. Personally, I'm sick of hearing "black lives matter". Of course they do, but so do all the others. Where is the outrage when a black cop kills a white person? (I'm probably going to regret posting this) [/quote] Perhaps when the number of unarmed white people shot by black cops is anywhere near the opposite you may hear the outcry but the numbers are so freaking skewed I can't believe you would even bring it up. What's it been? One white guy killed by a black cop versus 100 black people killed by white cops? Get real. Also are you impling the pepper spraying, kicking cop shouldn't have resigned?
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Post by Peace Sign on Aug 17, 2015 14:02:36 GMT
I interrupt the article that NO MATTER THE REASON a police officer draws a weapon, the media will find a way to make the cop out as bad. I also feel members of the public are taking full advantage of the situation. I am tired of hearing "an unarmed suspect" cops are not mind readers and suspects can do a lot of harm without a gun. Let's see. An elderly woman had some sort of mental episode so her family became concerned and called the police. The police officer shot and killed the woman because she was Asian, was holding a vegetable peeler ,and the police officer feared for his life because he was afraid she would use a martial arts move on him. Officier not held accountable. A woman , who had mental problems, got ahold of a 1 inch razor blade. She was cutting herself. Family could not get the razor blade away from her so they called the police for help. One officer came and when the woman walked toward him with the razor blade the officer feared for his life and shot and killed her. Officer not held accountable. Oh wait a minute. Police dept did say that maybe they shouldn't have sent this inexperience officer out by himself. 15 year old boy was walking across a field holding a toy rifle. Police ordered him to drop the rifle and because he didn't drop it fast enough they shot and killed him. Again the officers were not held accountable. Well documented are the unarmed black men and boys killed by police. Some justified, some questionable, some of the officers have been arrested. Problem is the first three incidents I listed were before Ferguson. The officers that are now being held accountable for their actions happened after Ferguson. What happened to the Asian lady happened in my neck of the woods over 20 years ago. As you can see it stuck with me. Since then every time there was a police officer shooting that is questionable like the ones I listed above I kept a mental score on how many times a cop was held responsible. Not once. When the 15 year old boy was killed his family and friends protested. Had marches through the city for days. I knew about it because again this happened in my neck of the woods but I don't think it received much national media coverage. Then Ferguson happened and people said enough and started to question the tactics used by the police. Granted Michael Brown may not have been the best poster boy for this but it brought to light police actions and accountability. What happened to this officer is on him. Either that or he was sent out into the field without the proper training and tools to do his/her jobs. To use the media as an excuse for not doing your job is stupid and could be covering up the real reason he couldn't or wouldn't handle this guy. I think for far to long in some cases police officers are not being held accountable for their actions unless there is public outrage. I also think the folks on the other side need to step back and admit that not every shooting is not justified. We need to meet in the middle but right now both sides are going to the extreme. Bravo!!!!! Community policing will help. we have to get citizens to stop fearing the police, while getting LEOs proper training on how to help those with mental health issues, as well as better de escalation tactics. Transparency is important. Accountability too.
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Post by Peace Sign on Aug 17, 2015 14:04:58 GMT
Do people not realize that this part of the MB story is a lie?? It was put out in the news that it was not true. That is hands where in fact on the cops gun at one point??? No, way too many people don't know, or refuse to believe the evidence showing it was a lie. Just here last week, we had a thread where people here still didn't know. The facts of his case don't change just because of ferguson do they? So he found a lawyer. It's doesn't change the crime.
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Post by Peace Sign on Aug 17, 2015 14:10:12 GMT
Perhaps the LEOs need to start policing their own. If there weren't so many blatant incidents of them shooting unarmed people, beating up people, threatening civilians who are taping them, etc. then this predicament would not have happened. They need to step up when they see other LEO doing the wrong thing. Until they police their own, the public will be doing it for them. That is exactly what I was going to say. The officers, 98% of whom do such great work, really need to step up and get these other overzealous rogue cops out! I know it's probably easier said than done but really...look at the after effects of this whole problem. It's harming everyone!
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