Man Obeys Cop's Order; Cop Shoots Him

Hopefully this officer will spend time behind bars. Even before he fired his gun, he was behaving in an unwise manner. Had should have begun the encounter with a greeting and allowed himself to be standing close enough so that he could see that the driver/victim was only reaching for the item that was requested (rather than a weapon). This is a case where merely civil behavior on the part of law enforcement would go a long way.

I am very disheartened by these incidents, but I do not agree with demonizing every police officer. That is not going to help any of us. That said, we clearly have a very serious problem with the attitudes and training of police officers.

I am white--and have less reason to fear bad behavior by cops than black people--but even so I am beginning to lose faith. There was a robbery from my garage last year. Having been disappointed with my more recent interaction with local cops, I didn't bother to report the incident. It turned out there was also a robbery that same evening in my neighbor's garage, and she did call the police. When a detective asked me why I did not report the incident, I told him that "I just don't really have faith in your department and would rather not call you guys unless compelled by extreme necessity." The detective looked pretty sad when I mentioned this, and to be fair, he clearly understood the level of problem when a middle class white guy doesn't feel it's worth dialing 911. He said "I am sorry you feel that way." I think he meant it.

We have good reasons to be mistrustful of the police these days. However, and again, I refuse to engage in demonization. To do so is to retreat into mere-hatred, and once you get there you might as well give up. Unless you are a true anarchist, you have no business utterly rejecting civil authorities. We must call out our institutions when they are wrong and struggle to make them better.

Slapacracker wrote:

Smell the coffee wrote:

With statements like that, you make it abundantly clear that you are the fucking idiot.

Only a minority of cops steal, beat and shoot people, but almost all cops witness that bad behavior by other cops and say or do NOTHING. If they sit back and let it happen, they are just as bad as the bad cops. So yes, that makes the majority of cops dirty.

I will ask you this question...........if you were by yourself in an alley with 2 cops, no cameras, no other witnesses. One cop punches you in the face for no reason, whose side would the other cop take? Yours or the cop that hit you? Be honest, what percentage of cops do you think would rat out their partner? I guarantee you would be the one with a black eye and they would say you resisted.

Realistically, about 5% would tell the truth. 95% would back up their partners story. Anyone who doubts this lives in a dreamworld.

jjjjjjjjjj wrote:

Not every cop is like this but this is a systemic problem in which our American police force is acculturated and equipped to respond to everyone, particularly people of color, with guns first and foremost, rather than backing off, taking your time, and getting it right peacefully, like cops in first world countries where they almost never kill people.

THis, this, a million times this... only ppl to disagree are scared little conservatives who prize peace of mind over individual liberty, ex military, and cops+freinds of cops

Slapacracker wrote:

Smell the coffee wrote:

With statements like that, you make it abundantly clear that you are the fucking idiot.

Only a minority of cops steal, beat and shoot people, but almost all cops witness that bad behavior by other cops and say or do NOTHING. If they sit back and let it happen, they are just as bad as the bad cops. So yes, that makes the majority of cops dirty.

I will ask you this question...........if you were by yourself in an alley with 2 cops, no cameras, no other witnesses. One cop punches you in the face for no reason, whose side would the other cop take? Yours or the cop that hit you? Be honest, what percentage of cops do you think would rat out their partner? I guarantee you would be the one with a black eye and they would say you resisted.

Honestly? I'd have to say the percentage that would rat out their partner is greater than or equal to the percentage that would punch me in the face.

Lol

You are either extremely naive or a bold face liar.

Slapp wrote:

You really do have to ask wtf that cop was thinking. I mean, you ask the guy for his id and when he turns to get it you start hitting him with fire? WTF? In the middle of the day, too. Very odd.

Yeah that was an odd reaction. I think it makes cops nervous when people reach into their vehicles, though. Several cops in my area have been shot and killed during routine stops when someone pulled a gun from the glovebox and shot them in the face.

Back in the USSA wrote:

Remember, folks: COPS WILL BE COPS. You\'re not dealing with human beings here.

http://youtu.be/M34vKHjQ6aM

What\'s the big deal? That\'s one less THUG on the street.

There is definitely a culture in most police departments that police should not have to take any risks when dealing with a suspect. You hear officers say all the time things like "we just want to make sure that we [the police] all make it home tonight." Police officers are very aware of incidents where an officer takes a bullet or gets killed in the line of duty. They talk about these incidents all the time and are given additional training whenever there is a serious incident with an officer getting hurt by a suspect. The result is that police officers go around presuming that every situation is a potentially deadly situation and are very easily taken over the edge by the slightest indication of a possible threat. Until the focus of training is more on better managing risk than identifying risk and responding with force, there will continue to be incidents like this. The culture in most police departments among officers is that they do not care if they get discipline, fired or charged with a crime. They are going to go home tonight.

Rufus Washington wrote:

Smell the coffee wrote:

Honestly? I'd have to say the percentage that would rat out their partner is greater than or equal to the percentage that would punch me in the face.

Lol

You are either extremely naive or a bold face liar.

Really? How many times have you been punched in the face by a cop? And don't forget to give us the circumstances.

All of these "shoot first, ask questions later" incidents are pretty troubling. I can see how the cop got spooked in this video, but he started shooting before he had any visual at all on what the man was grabbing. Even if the guy was trying to enter his vehicle and run away, shooting the hell out of him is NOT the proper response. If he WAS grabbing a gun, the cop could have taken cover and THEN shot him given he is likely more skilled and trained with firearms. This video is freakin terrible and a disgrace. I'm glad the guy got fired and was prosecuted. So many times the officers get off scott free with nothing but PAID leave. Absolutely ridiculous.

That wasn't the question.

"I am white--and have less reason to fear bad behavior by cops than black people"

No you don't, and you're an idiot for thinking that you do.

Pointing Out the Obvious wrote:

stateezee wrote:

Oh well your anecdotal support should more than settle the debate!

Pretty sure that he did not say his experiences should settle any debate.

But while we are on the topic of anecdotal experiences, do you have anything to offer by way of concrete evidence that "all" or most cops are basically criminals with badges? Or are anecdotes all you can offer?

I didn't say that all or most cops are basically criminals.

My post was to point out how absurd it is to even give anecdotal evidence as it is worthless given the magnitude of the subject matter. So, no, you didn't and won't see me offer up such "evidence".

Huge part of the problem is that the good cops can't root out the bad cops without risking their own hides. I had an incident in college where while I was getting written up for underage drinking after slipping and falling on the ice (I was drunk for sure, but I walked the 2 miles from the party to my dorm and fell just outside the entrance where the cops were waiting to write precisely such tickets.) I could have and should have just run. While I as sitting on the curb in the freezing cold and the cops is taking 20 minutes to write this simple ticket... I let my anger get the better of me and told the cop to hurry the "f" up. Got arrested for talking back to a cop, his partner (clearly the junior officer) was very uncomfortable with arresting me for essentially no reason other than a couple disrespectful words. Being as how I was a complete idiot at 18 I verbally lit into the cops on the way to the drunk tank. When we got to the drunk tank the top cop took me into the drunk tank.. stripped me naked and proceeded to physically assault me. He had me handcuffed and was doing all kinds of really painful and degrading (sexual in nature) stuff to me, but he knew how to not leave marks. When the head cop finally got off his shift the other cop profusely apologized to me and gave me back my clothes and some water. He then proceeded to tell me that I was going to the hospital because I was incoherently intoxicated... got the hospital 0.00 Bac and instantly discharged. I told my lawyer about all this and we thought we had a case, but first day in court both cops show up and have collaborated on a story about how I was clearly a raging lunatic drunk who couldn't possibly remember anything of the evening, they had a record of me calling the head officer a bunch of nasty words in the back of the car and that was that. I had no choice but to take the ticket and move on. So basically, a cop can arrest you despite your posing no harm to anyone... sexually and physically assault you and lie about it. It seems they have a little too much power. The most disheartening thing of the whole experience was the officer's partner, who clearly knew he was in the wrong and even felt sorry for me, and how he corroborated the bold face lies of his abusive superior.

Pointing Out the Obvious wrote:

Smell the coffee wrote:

Honestly? I'd have to say the percentage that would rat out their partner is greater than or equal to the percentage that would punch me in the face.

That wasn't the question.

The first guy asked 3 questions and the second guy answered one of them. Too bad for you.

AWW--ISN'T THIS CUTE--THE OFFICER "RESIGNS". NO PRISON TIME, NO SUMMARY EXECUTION, HE JUST "RESIGNS".

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/09/24/report-chp-beating-victim-to-get-1-5m-officer-to-resign/

CHP Beating Victim To Get $1.5M; Officer Resigns

September 24, 2014 11:59 PM

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Marlene Pinnock, the homeless woman seen captured on video being beaten in July by a CHP officer, will get $1.5 million to settle her case.

The officer identified in federal court papers as Daniel L. Andrew will resign as part of her settlement.

The 51-year-old Pinnock said she was walking along and minding her own business when the officer, who said he was trying to restrain her to keep her from walking into traffic, tackled her and punched her repeatedly in the face.

The CHP originally reported Pinnock, who has been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and was off her medication at the time of the incident, did not seek medical treatment. She actually spent about a month in the hospital.

Pinnock was walking barefoot near La Brea Avenue near an off-ramp of the 10 Freeway when she said Andrew became “arrogant acting with me” and addressed her by name.

The beating was captured on cellphone video by David Diaz, a music producer who was driving by at the time of the attack.

The CHP said Andrew, who was with the CHP less than two years, was assigned to desk duty after the attack.

On Aug. 10, Pinnock broke her silence and spoke to CBS News’ Carter Evans.

She told Evans that she believed Andrew was trying “to kill” her and she feared for her life.

“He was trying to beat me to death,” she said, “take my life away. For no reason. I did nothing to him.”

The CHP released a statement about the settlement and case overnight Wednesday.

“The bulk of the settlement establishes a special needs trust for Ms. Pinnock to provide a mechanism for her long term care. Additionally, Officer Andrew has elected to resign,” Officer Jaime Coffee said.

A news conference will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday by a coalition of civil rights groups calling for criminal charges to be pressed against Andrew.

The CHP forwarded the results of their investigation last week to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.

Smell the coffee wrote:

The trooper was fired and arrested. So what's your problem?

Oh sorry. As long as you get fired for shooting a guy 4 times while he gets his license out just s requested, then the system is fine. Thanks for clearing that up! Nothing really to worry about here!!

Well the system IS fine when rogue coos are arrested and fired for this type of behavior. So what's your problem?