The Police Brutality Thread

[Jeff Lebowski]

Racial issues between cops and minorities? When did this start happening???

About the same time we put cameras on phones.

[dabrockster]

Racial issues between cops and minorities? When did this start happening???

Since Obama came into office.. Clearly...

[Y84it]

Although I think this cop had an itchy trigger finger. I can't help but ask what I would do if I saw a guy turn around and dig into his pocket. He also said something like "whatup" like he was talking to an enemy/rival definable did not sound or look conforming and following direction. Police are put in a very difficult position to assess a situation that can be life threatening to them and others if they make the wrong choice.

[Bo Diddley]

Although I think this cop had an itchy trigger finger. I can't help but ask what I would do if I saw a guy turn around and dig into his pocket. He also said something like "whatup" like he was talking to an enemy/rival definable did not sound or look conforming and following direction. Police are put in a very difficult position to assess a situation that can be life threatening to them and others if they make the wrong choice.

It's a fair question, and one you can never truly answer until you're faced with the situation. However, training helps. It helps to break the tunnel vision, control the fight or flight response, control emotions, and aids in more clearly identifying what constitutes a life threatening situation. I think there's a systemic training issue and/or mentality in law enforcement where officers are taught to use force excessively. Of course in their minds it's not excessive, but justified due to x, y, and z.

[thesaint258]

Is police brutality a serious epidemic, or does it just seem that way due to ubiquitous video and social media?

I think it's due to the fact that everyone has a video recorder in their pockets. There are always people in every profession who embody the worst qualities, but they're in the minority. Out of all the law enforcement officers in the country, there aren't many that have videos of themselves like the ones in this thread.

[ERCougar]

Although I think this cop had an itchy trigger finger. I can't help but ask what I would do if I saw a guy turn around and dig into his pocket. He also said something like "whatup" like he was talking to an enemy/rival definable did not sound or look conforming and following direction. Police are put in a very difficult position to assess a situation that can be life threatening to them and others if they make the wrong choice.

Sure, you might not be able to handle the situation. Neither would I. But it's not our job to do it. There are plenty of things that you and I do in our jobs that these guys couldn't do.

I agree with you that we can't really make a judgment based on the video because we have no idea about the context. However, the complete lack of attention after the shooting by the cop is inexcusable. The lackadaisical approach of the medics is maybe even more troublesome because that IS their job. I'm pretty quick to defend medical personnel but I am absolutely baffled at what happened there. That may not get a lot of public traction but I guarantee that those medics are getting some sort of "training" right now.

[Y84it]

Sure, you might not be able to handle the situation. Neither would I. But it's not our job to do it. There are plenty of things that you and I do in our jobs that these guys couldn't do.

I agree with you that we can't really make a judgment based on the video because we have no idea about the context. However, the complete lack of attention after the shooting by the cop is inexcusable. The lackadaisical approach of the medics is maybe even more troublesome because that IS their job. I'm pretty quick to defend medical personnel but I am absolutely baffled at what happened there. That may not get a lot of public traction but I guarantee that those medics are getting some sort of "training" right now.

I agree he wasn't helping the guy at all after he shot him. He should be trained on what to do in that situation. Adrenalin was pumping I am sure also shock but that is no excuse. EMT was as bad as the cop. Where is the urgency?

[Color Me Badd Fan]

These videos are epidemic. It's a matter of time before people start retaliating against the police, and when that time comes, I'm going to be rooting against the cops.

Good hell. There are over 300 million people that live in this country. Look at the actual number of videos and let me know if this is an epidemic.

[Northwestcoug]

Yep, imagine that's your daughter or niece or whatever -- I think anybody would approach the cop in that situation and ask him why the hell he's wrestling with a teenager in a bikini. That cop needs to be fired. He's the one escalating the situation by running around like an idiot and picking fights with kids. The other cops seem pretty professional and I'm not sure why they don't reign in the little man.

Just watched the video. That cop needs to go. What was the point in having the girl face down, for like 4 minutes? It was almost like he realized he had gone too far in the beginning (sure looked like the other 2 cops noticed it), yet he wouldn't back down for fear of 'admitting' his mistake.

[TripletDaddy]

Good hell. There are over 300 million people that live in this country. Look at the actual number of videos and let me know if this is an epidemic.

it's all going to "boil over" soon!!!!

[dabrockster]

it's all going to "boil over" soon!!!!

Yeah, you are right.. 2 cops killed from a gun shot at pointblank range as they sat in their vehicle was nothing, cops having to handle mob-like behavior where guns are going off and cops being hit in the face from stray bullets, Or another one gunned down from a routine stop.

You are right though..

[TripletDaddy]

Yeah, you are right.. 2 cops killed from a gun shot at pointblank range as they sat in their vehicle was nothing, cops having to handle mob-like behavior where guns are going off and cops being hit in the face from stray bullets, Or another one gunned down from a routine stop.

You are right though..

what do you predict will happen when this all boils over? Targeted assassination of law enforcement officers across the nation or a full-fledged Manson-style global race war?

[imanihonjin]

Yeah, you are right.. 2 cops killed from a gun shot at pointblank range as they sat in their vehicle was nothing, cops having to handle mob-like behavior where guns are going off and cops being hit in the face from stray bullets, Or another one gunned down from a routine stop.

You are right though..

Non Sequitur would not be able to contain his excitement.

[Bo Diddley]

what do you predict will happen when this all boils over? Targeted assassination of law enforcement officers across the nation or a full-fledged Manson-style global race war?

Public opinion will continue a downward trend--think US soldiers during and after the Vietnam War. Violence against police will increase. What kind of increase is hard to predict. I think a lot of that depends on how the police respond to these highly publicized negative events.

[scottie]

Just watched the video. That cop needs to go. What was the point in having the girl face down, for like 4 minutes? It was almost like he realized he had gone too far in the beginning (sure looked like the other 2 cops noticed it), yet he wouldn't back down for fear of 'admitting' his mistake.

He resigned:

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/id...50609?irpc=932

"I had 12 officers on the scene, and 11 of them performed according to their training. They did an excellent job," Conley said.