It Just Doesn't Seem Right

[shawn ny]

[url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AsUjJ.u.Nz_DxonRC9tDsv1DubYF?slug=ap-deputykillsfootballplayer"]Ex-NFL Bengal killed by Calif. deputy in scuffle[/url]

Hitting a police officer with two cans of beer is not ok....but shooting him twice because of it is even more jacked....Especially when it happens in front of the mans son.

[theFRANCHISE]

While the circumstances seem shaky, I can't blame the officer for firing; police officers often go into situations blind and unaware of the situation, and when things escalate into violence, they have to make a judgment call. In this case, the victim was allegedly being violent and uncooperative, and if he's still in reasonably good shape at his age, he's likely still intimidating. While it's easy to say that the police could've exercised more caution and used better judgment, when you're in a scary situation and have no idea what'll happen next, you either shoot first or be shot.

Often, when an officer is killed in the line of duty, it isn't in a shootout; rather, it's because they were caught off-guard or didn't pull the trigger before the other guy. There was no way the police could've known the victim didn't mean to do any harm.

Also, while the victim's past history shouldn't be taken into account in the investigation, repeat offenders are often such because they have poor judgment. With the victim's large arrest record, it's safe to assume (keyword: [i]assume[/i]) that the situation could've gotten more violent if the officers didn't do what they could to subdue the victim. I doubt this was a case of a guy merely walking away from the situation and getting shot, nor do I think it was a trigger-happy officer.

[Guest ArmyRaven52]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' timestamp='1310444196' post='706278']
While the circumstances seem shaky, I can't blame the officer for firing; police officers often go into situations blind and unaware of the situation, and when things escalate into violence, they have to make a judgment call. In this case, the victim was allegedly being violent and uncooperative, and if he's still in reasonably good shape at his age, he's likely still intimidating. While it's easy to say that the police could've exercised more caution and used better judgment, when you're in a scary situation and have no idea what'll happen next, you either shoot first or be shot.

Often, when an officer is killed in the line of duty, it isn't in a shootout; rather, it's because they were caught off-guard or didn't pull the trigger before the other guy. There was no way the police could've known the victim didn't mean to do any harm.

Also, while the victim's past history shouldn't be taken into account in the investigation, repeat offenders are often such because they have poor judgment. With the victim's large arrest record, it's safe to assume (keyword: [i]assume[/i]) that the situation could've gotten more violent if the officers didn't do what they could to subdue the victim. I doubt this was a case of a guy merely walking away from the situation and getting shot, nor do I think it was a trigger-happy officer.
[/quote]

Thank you sir, that was a very well thought out and reasonable reply to a situation where only 5 people tops are privileged to the full facts.

I was reading a bunch of morons on NFL.com, and could not help but laugh at all of these idiots that all of the sudden had law degrees and knew exactly why the cops were wrong, or why the old man had every right to hit him with the bag and blah, ba blah, ba freakin blah.

[BmoreRav]

Scary situaton or not surely the Officer is fully trained for such a situation. Don't Police Officers in the US carry Taser Guns and/or Truncheons? Perhaps my view is different since I live in a Country where the Police Force don't carry firearms but this seems OTT to me.

[shawn ny]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' timestamp='1310444196' post='706278']
While the circumstances seem shaky, I can't blame the officer for firing; police officers often go into situations blind and unaware of the situation, and when things escalate into violence, they have to make a judgment call. In this case, the victim was allegedly being violent and uncooperative, and if he's still in reasonably good shape at his age, he's likely still intimidating. While it's easy to say that the police could've exercised more caution and used better judgment, when you're in a scary situation and have no idea what'll happen next, you either shoot first or be shot.

Often, when an officer is killed in the line of duty, it isn't in a shootout; rather, it's because they were caught off-guard or didn't pull the trigger before the other guy. There was no way the police could've known the victim didn't mean to do any harm.

Also, while the victim's past history shouldn't be taken into account in the investigation, repeat offenders are often such because they have poor judgment. With the victim's large arrest record, it's safe to assume (keyword: [i]assume[/i]) that the situation could've gotten more violent if the officers didn't do what they could to subdue the victim. I doubt this was a case of a guy merely walking away from the situation and getting shot, nor do I think it was a trigger-happy officer.
[/quote]


The point would be that the officers should have used other methods to subdue him other than deadly force which should only be used as a last resort. Insurgents in the middle east get better treatment i guess in that regard. If they knew him and he had prior issues then they should have called for backup first off. If things continued to go bad then use your baton pepper spray or taser. I remember 100+ people drunken brawls in the middle of the streets in schenectady and it only taking 6 cops to clear it only using batons....There was no need to kill anybody and im pretty sure massive street brawl is a bit more scary than a guy and his son.

[1/28/01]

I wont say what I really want to say, but I will say that with a rap sheet that he apparently has/had, the appropriate force MAY have been taken. We'll never know how much this situation could have truly escalated and where it would have ended, so its all speculation at this point.

[flynismo]

I'm not going to say what I really think either. It is frustrating that every time a person is killed in a police altercation, the cops are always made out to be the bad guy.Maybe if you dont use violence against the police, you can avoid all these problems in the first place.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='BmoreRav' timestamp='1310463802' post='706324']
Scary situaton or not surely the Officer is fully trained for such a situation. Don't Police Officers in the US carry Taser Guns and/or Truncheons? Perhaps my view is different since I live in a Country where the Police Force don't carry firearms but this seems OTT to me.
[/quote]
Not always the case. While firearms are often more expensive than tasers, budgeting and political redtape often result in the distribution of funds towards one asset more than another. I can't speak for that specific area, but if there's a particularly high rate of violent crime, firearms are viewed as more of a priority than other suppression methods, largely because much of that violent crime may include the use of firearms. This is done for the safety of the officers. The officers, while trained to shoot center-mass if they must pull the trigger, are also aware of other target areas that can effectively subdue a suspect without killing him; however, center-mass still remains the most accurate, but deadly, means of suppression.

It's also important to note that, while officers are trained to handle scary situations, there's no training for unpredictability. No amount of experience in the field can teach that.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='shawn ny' timestamp='1310474851' post='706331']
The point would be that the officers should have used other methods to subdue him other than deadly force which should only be used as a last resort. Insurgents in the middle east get better treatment i guess in that regard. If they knew him and he had prior issues then they should have called for backup first off. If things continued to go bad then use your baton pepper spray or taser. I remember 100+ people drunken brawls in the middle of the streets in schenectady and it only taking 6 cops to clear it only using batons....There was no need to kill anybody and im pretty sure massive street brawl is a bit more scary than a guy and his son.
[/quote]
The officers may not have had other methods. Again, none of us know the full story, nor will we ever know the full story since we weren't there.

I can easily envision a scenario where the officers gave clear orders for him to back down, he came charging at one officer and started attacking, then got up and lunged towards another. Imagine what would've happened if the suspect had gotten ahold of one of the officers' guns. While this sounds like a Hollywood fabrication, situations like this happen. Every time an officer is killed, the story often leaves people in disbelief because it always sounds like it could've been prevented.

[Purple Nurple]

How about following rule number one? Dont throw **** at a cop.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='Purple Nurple' timestamp='1310573189' post='706994']
How about following rule number one? Dont throw **** at a cop.
[/quote]
And there you have it folks.....Just dont do it!!!!