# Controversial encounters between law-enforcement and civilians - the omnibus thread #2 **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 23, 2020, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread-2/912531 "2020-06-23T20:29:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 201
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2024, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread-2/912531/4008 "2024-03-19T23:42:39Z")
@Chronos: > **[Questions remain in wake of LA homemade fireworks blast](https://apnews.com/article/ca-state-wire-los-angeles-business-lifestyle-53677bc0e44cdb445b3400a2222e64b0)** > > A massive explosion rocked a Los Angeles neighborhood as homemade fireworks were being destroyed by a bomb squad, leaving a trail of destruction, injuries and questions in its wake as the July Fourth holiday approaches. The LA Police Department found a massive amount of illegal fireworks in 2021. The bomb squad detonated 10 pounds or so of the stuff which they considered too dangerous to move in their bomb truck. The bomb truck was not strong enough to handle the explosion. So either the bomb squad miscalculated or the manufacturer lied or perhaps it was an old worn out containment vessel. But the major point is seventeen people were hurt — including nine Los Angeles police officers and a federal agent — in the blast. So while you or I or almost anyone else would have cleared the area around the truck while the explosion was being done, the “trained professionals” of the Los Angeles bomb squad didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2024, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread-2/912531/4009 "2024-03-22T02:52:59Z")
[All 6 officers from Mississippi “Goon Squad” have been sentenced to prison for torturing 2 Black men](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mississippi-good-squad-rankin-county-brett-mcalpin-joshua-hartfield/) > Brett McAlpin, about 27 years > Joshua Hartfield, about 10 years > Christian Dedmon, 40 years > Hunter Elward, 20 years > Jeffrey Middleton and Daniel Opdyke, 17.5 years ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread-2/912531/4010 "2024-03-23T01:11:41Z")
GOOD. GOOD. That’s excellent (grrrrr Discourse). ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2024, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread-2/912531/4011 "2024-03-29T19:49:40Z")
> **[Miss. Teen Was Fatally Hit By Police Car While Walking Home, Family Says —...](https://people.com/miss-teen-chased-fatally-hit-by-police-car-walk-home-family-says-they-plead-for-body-camera-video-8621787)** > > Kadarius Smith, 17, died March 21. His family is asking for the bodycam video depicting the police cruiser’s fatal impact. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2024, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread-2/912531/4012 "2024-03-29T20:37:56Z")
And on the other end of the scale, we have this lady who caused a 4 car accident, left the scene and then came back and hit the cop too. (I assume her age has more to do with it than anything else, but the details are sparse). > **[4-vehicle hit-and-run; driver returns, hits Caledonia squad car](https://www.fox6now.com/news/4-vehicle-hit-run-driver-returns-crashes-caledonia-squad-car)** > > While officers were blocking a lane of traffic in order to protect the scene, the vehicle that caused the initial accident returned to the scene and drove into the back of one of the squad cars. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2024, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread-2/912531/4013 "2024-03-29T23:43:34Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > [Questions remain in wake of LA homemade fireworks blast | AP News](https://apnews.com/article/ca-state-wire-los-angeles-business-lifestyle-53677bc0e44cdb445b3400a2222e64b0) > > The LA Police Department found a massive amount of illegal fireworks in 2021. Oh, yeah, we talked about that case at the time. Has there been some new development? ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2024, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread-2/912531/4014 "2024-03-30T00:22:17Z")
The ATF published a report on the explosion: [https://www.atf.gov/resource-center/docs/foia/report-investigation-716-e-27th-street-explosion-los-angeles-june-2021/download](https://www.atf.gov/resource-center/docs/foia/report-investigation-716-e-27th-street-explosion-los-angeles-june-2021/download) A few police officers got minor discipline (this was announced almost two years later): > **[Bomb Squad Officer Suspended for South LA Fireworks Blast](https://www.nbclosangeles.com/investigations/bomb-squad-officer-suspended-for-south-la-fireworks-blast/3138229/)** > > LAPD imposed a 10-day suspension for a single officer involved in the June, 2021 accidental explosion that damaged or destroyed 17 homes The man with the fireworks was sentenced to 5 months in prison: > **[South LA blast: Man gets prison for transporting fireworks that led to...](https://abc7.com/fireworks-explosion-south-los-angeles-man-sentenced-artujo-ceja/12382535/)** > > A man who stockpiled illegal fireworks in his South L.A. backyard, leading to a massive explosion due to a botched LAPD detonation, has been sentenced to five months in prison. It cost a lot of money: > **[LAPD fireworks explosion has cost the city $9.5 million so far, with number...](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-11-02/lapd-fireworks-explosion-has-cost-the-city-9-5-million-so-far-with-number-expected-to-rise)** > > City Controller Kenneth Mejia's office said that an additional $1.7 million has been committed, but not yet spent. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread-2/912531/4015 "2024-04-02T04:43:30Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > [Teen killed in law enforcement shootout was likely unarmed, state AG says](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-09-29/teen-girl-likely-unarmed-when-killed-in-police-shootout-a-g-says) They have finally released the videos: > **[Footage shows deputies fatally shooting 15-year-old Californian girl](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKfJLMKyd4I%2F)** > > Newly released law enforcement footage captures the moment California police fatally shot an unarmed 15-year-old girl who was a reported kidnapping victim. O... ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread-2/912531/4016 "2024-04-02T13:27:21Z")
16-minute video here by the Civil Rights Lawyer reviewing a terrible, terrible training program that a lot of cops were sent to at taxpayer expense. Includes footage from the training seminars showing cops talking about and (promoting) methods to get away with illegal traffic stops, and promoting deep contempt for the people whose rights they’re supposed to protect. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4vjCdHWAmps/maxresdefault.jpg "Cop Training Seminar EXPOSED on VIDEO | 1000's of Cops Nationwide Involved!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vjCdHWAmps) ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread-2/912531/4017 "2024-04-02T13:46:30Z")
This is horrific. That cop should go directly to jail. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread-2/912531/4018 "2024-04-02T15:30:11Z")
Without constant oversight (by people who are not themselves corrupt), the police have an alarming tendency to turn into the biggest and best-armed gang in town. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2024, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread-2/912531/4019 "2024-04-03T19:15:01Z")
> **[A mom called 911 to get her son mental health help. He died after police...](https://apnews.com/article/police-dog-force-taylor-ware-taser-ketamine-b81cdbeb6ee01f234801215807863690)** > > When a 24-year-old former Marine experienced a manic episode at a southern Indiana rest stop, his mother called 911 for help getting him mental health treatment. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2024, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread-2/912531/4020 "2024-04-08T19:01:23Z")
Posters here: suppose you call the police about a suicidal/homicidal person.That person raises a gun toward the police and the police shoot and kill him. But they shoot you too. > **[DCI Major Crime Unit Investigating Officer Involved Shooting in Cedar Rapids,...](https://dps.iowa.gov/dci-major-crime-unit-investigating-officer-involved-shooting-cedar-rapids-iowa-0)** > > April 6, 2024 > **[Cedar Rapids police shoot, kill armed man, wound bystander, Iowa officials say](https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/local/2024/04/07/armed-man-dead-bystander-wounded-in-shootings-by-cedar-rapids-police-iowa-department-public-safety/73235935007/)** > > Iowa's Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the fatal shooting of an armed man and the wounding of a bystander by Cedar Rapids police PS. Could this be a suicide by cop situation? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2024, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread-2/912531/4021 "2024-04-09T11:52:44Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > suppose you call the police about a suicidal/homicidal person. I would be extremely hesitant to call 911 for someone who was suicidal, unless I really hated the person. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread-2/912531/4022 "2024-04-10T00:04:49Z")
No kidding. “Hello? Ya, I’ve got a suicidal man out here. Could you send a couple of officers over to finish the job? I don’t think he has the balls to follow through. K thanks bye” ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread-2/912531/4023 "2024-04-10T04:30:50Z")
Edited out. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2024, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread-2/912531/4024 "2024-04-11T02:04:29Z")
I didn’t realize the police in Chicago treated not wearing a seat belt so seriously [I would have expected Chicago police to emphasize fighting violent crime as Chicago has more murders than anywhere else in the country]: > Officers in an unmarked police car stopped Reed for not wearing a seatbelt, according to COPA. But things devolved quickly as he appeared to refuse officers’ commands and didn’t immediately leave the SUV, according to video. > **[Deadly Chicago traffic stop where police fired 96 shots raises serious...](https://apnews.com/article/police-shooting-chicago-officers-investigation-ca147a5ea386e70190f23bd6912445f0)** > > A deadly traffic stop where plainclothes Chicago police officers fired nearly 100 shots in under a minute has raised serious questions about the use of force and role of tactical officers in police departments. > **[Off-duty officer charged with murder after shooting man in South Carolina...](https://apnews.com/article/police-officer-charged-murder-south-carolina-882f0de20ad60b300d580641e8912436)** > > An off-duty police officer in South Carolina has been charged with murder after state investigators say he shot a man trying to drive away after the two fought in a fast food restaurant parking lot. > DeLustro started his career with police in New York City and worked there for 22 years before moving to South Carolina in 2003, according to his police training records. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2024, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread-2/912531/4025 "2024-04-11T02:14:48Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > I didn’t realize the police in Chicago treated not wearing a seat belt so seriously: > > > Officers in an unmarked police car stopped Reed for not wearing a seatbelt, according to COPA. But things devolved quickly as he appeared to refuse officers’ commands and didn’t immediately leave the SUV, according to video. > > [Deadly Chicago traffic stop of Dexter Reed raises serious questions about use of force | AP News](https://apnews.com/article/police-shooting-chicago-officers-investigation-ca147a5ea386e70190f23bd6912445f0) > Officers in an unmarked police car stopped Reed for not wearing a seatbelt, according to COPA. But things devolved quickly as he appeared to refuse officers’ commands and didn’t immediately leave the SUV, according to video. > > Reed fired first, according to COPA, I didn’t realize the police everywhere treated getting shot at so seriously. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2024, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread-2/912531/4026 "2024-04-11T03:33:04Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > I didn’t realize the police everywhere treated getting shot at so seriously. Just quickly reading the linked article, there does seem to be much more involved. > [@](#): > > “Based on the totality of the available evidence, [Chicago Office of Police Accountability] has grave concerns about the officers’ ability to assess what is a necessary, reasonable, and proportional use of deadly force,” COPA Chief Administrator Andrea Kersten wrote in an April 1 letter obtained through a records request. > > The American Civil Liberties Union also criticized the officers’ actions, including for immediately drawing guns and making profanity-laced commands. > > “From the moment they all jump into the vehicle to chase the car, you can feel the adrenaline rush,” said ACLU of Illinois spokesman Ed Yonka. “There were no efforts at de-escalation.” > [@](#): > > Officers in an unmarked police car stopped Reed for not wearing a seatbelt, according to COPA. But things devolved quickly as he appeared to refuse officers’ commands and didn’t immediately leave the SUV, according to video. > [@](#): > > “From the moment they all jump into the vehicle to chase the car, you can feel the adrenaline rush,” said ACLU of Illinois spokesman Ed Yonka. “There were no efforts at de-escalation.” > [@](#): > > The officers were part of a “district tactical unit,” according to COPA. Chicago police say tactical officers have been part of each district’s patrol for years. They’re generally sent to areas with high crime patterns, working in uniform and sometimes in street clothes. > > Earlier this year, Snelling halted a similar citywide unit, formed during unrest in 2020, that came under fire for sending officers into unfamiliar police districts, among other things. > > Elsewhere in the country, [elite units](https://apnews.com/article/tyre-nichols-police-scorpion-unit-cd977af56806aedf5074d432172a4bc5) of plainclothes officers have faced scrutiny, particularly following the beating and death of [Tyre Nichols](https://apnews.com/article/tyre-nichols-profile-memphis-3104f3cdbaf568daf6647eca080d4001) in Memphis. While police say such units can respond to increased crime, advocates have called out aggressive tactics and traffic stops to search for larger crimes. Officers looking for a pretense to stop someone? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2024, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread-2/912531/4027 "2024-04-11T04:06:32Z")
I seem to recall a while back there was an effort in many communities to reduce car chases. The idea was that if the civilian driver took off at high speed, the police would not chase after them unless they were already suspected of something actually serious such as kidnapping or murder. What happened with that idea? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread-2/912531.md?page=200) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread-2/912531.md?page=202)