# Controversial encounters between law-enforcement and civilians - the omnibus thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 10, 2014, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942 "2014-10-10T07:35:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 135
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/2681 "2015-05-13T00:28:51Z")
Figure it’s about time for this to be linked here. (SIAP - I searched on Chris Rock without a return.) [Chris Rock ~ How Not To Get Your Ass Kicked By The Police](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igQDvYOt_iA) Some stuff in there for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/2682 "2015-05-13T00:34:49Z")
[Reaction to Madison Police Officer Matt Kenny being cleared in shooting of Tony Robinson](http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/as-community-absorbs-tony-robinson-decision-reaction-from-the-streets/article_ed2ff13c-dc64-5d1f-936e-fcf7ea4ecb9a.html) [Officer Kenny cleared](http://host.madison.com/news/local/crime_and_courts/madison-police-officer-matt-kenny-cleared-in-shooting-of-tony/article_428b0cf9-da97-5951-9936-2f699547ba3f.html#utm_source=host.madison&utm_campaign=most-popular-tabs-2&utm_medium=direct) From everything I’ve read, Robinson was an unarmed kid behaving very badly. Attacking people and was invading a house when shot by the cop. Yes, too bad he was shot, but he was 19 and very large and threatening and those circumstances, was killed. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/2683 "2015-05-13T01:15:15Z")
> [@BigAppleBucky](#): > > [Reaction to Madison Police Officer Matt Kenny being cleared in shooting of Tony Robinson](http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/as-community-absorbs-tony-robinson-decision-reaction-from-the-streets/article_ed2ff13c-dc64-5d1f-936e-fcf7ea4ecb9a.html) > > [Officer Kenny cleared](http://host.madison.com/news/local/crime_and_courts/madison-police-officer-matt-kenny-cleared-in-shooting-of-tony/article_428b0cf9-da97-5951-9936-2f699547ba3f.html#utm_source=host.madison&utm_campaign=most-popular-tabs-2&utm_medium=direct) The stories in both links are fully redacted. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/2684 "2015-05-13T04:08:06Z")
Your browser is broken, they work for me. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/2685 "2015-05-13T04:27:12Z")
That strange, I click and it goes straight to a site with Scarlett Johansonn in porn movies she made when she was nineteen… ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/2686 "2015-05-13T04:28:18Z")
OK, sites totally crashed now… ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/2687 "2015-05-14T11:29:02Z")
[Officer off the hook for killing unarmed kid with Down Syndrome after saying he feared for his life. Video tells a different story.](http://www.wptv.com/news/local-news/investigations/questions-about-role-of-state-attorney-in-deputy-involved-shooting) ---
**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:** [May 14, 2015, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/2688 "2015-05-14T12:20:37Z")
I’m reminded of a comedy skit we did in high school acting class. A parody of “Dragnet” entitled “Drag-It”, Detective Thursday would shoot people dead without provocation, wait three or four beats and then say “Stop or I’ll shoot!” ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/2689 "2015-05-15T02:27:31Z")
[US Border Patrol agents behaving badly](http://www.ifyouonlynews.com/videos/watch-border-patrol-agents-hold-beat-taser-and-illegally-search-innocent-woman-video/) Guess they forgot to destroy the video. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/2690 "2015-05-15T03:49:21Z")
[Police behaving badly](http://www.rawstory.com/2015/05/video-reveals-baltimore-cops-were-looting-during-freddie-gray-protests/): two Baltimore officers suspended for being caught on video taking part in the looting during the riots over police mistreatment of Freddie Gray. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/2691 "2015-05-15T03:59:02Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > [Police behaving badly](http://www.rawstory.com/2015/05/video-reveals-baltimore-cops-were-looting-during-freddie-gray-protests/): two Baltimore officers suspended for being caught on video taking part in the looting during the riots over police mistreatment of Freddie Gray. Looting? I thought it was legitimate protest by a mistreated community? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/2692 "2015-05-15T04:25:56Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > Looting? I thought it was legitimate protest by a mistreated community? It was, until the police showed up and turned it into a riot. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/2693 "2015-05-15T07:01:01Z")
Been whooshed, **esch**. That there was some droll irony, **Steophan** -style. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/2694 "2015-05-15T10:20:46Z")
Ouch! I just noticed this post. ☹ How do these shameful incidents keep happening and happening? > [@monstro](#): > > You may remember the black homeowner who called 911, only to be shot by one of the officers responding to the scene. You may recall that according to the sheriff’s office, the officers had given the guy clear instructions to put down his weapon. But because that silly negro refused to comply with this simple request, after much deliberation it was decided he had to be taken out. That was the [story](http://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2015/05/08/investigation-after-white-deputy-shoots-black-homeowner) they told us. > > Now we get the truth: > > [Dashcam recording indicates that deputy fired on homeowner almost instantly](http://www.abcnews4.com/clip/11483337/2-seconds-deputy-fired-weapon-at-homeowner-almost-instantly-video-shows). > > Why aren’t these recordings ever released to the public right away? Why does the police always get a chance to tell their side of the story before we get to see what really happened? Because they were able to paint Heyward as a gun-wielding fool on a suicide mission, there are people who can listen to that audio and shrug it off as another incident where “both sides were wrong”. We live in a society where a black man can be clearly victimized by both fellow citizens (criminals) and his government (police officers), and the average internet commenter will still lay the blame on him. > > Heyward is now paralyzed from the waist down and unable to speak. Too bad for him that in the ambulance he supposedly blamed himself for the whole thing. The racist yahoos on the internet won’t let that go. But we know most of you guys are bigoted against white cops. Have the Board’s impartial observers, **Smaphan** and **Steopti** , commented on this incident? ---
**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:** [May 15, 2015, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/2695 "2015-05-15T10:55:19Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Have the Board’s impartial observers, **Smaphan** and **Steopti** , commented on this incident? I predict Smapti will observe, " Hey, bears are unpredictable. And being able to walk is a privelige, not a right. God bless America." ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/2696 "2015-05-15T11:59:03Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > I’m reminded of a comedy skit we did in high school acting class. A parody of “Dragnet” entitled “Drag-It”, Detective Thursday would shoot people dead without provocation, wait three or four beats and then say “Stop or I’ll shoot!” A friend’s kid had a toy gun that played sounds when you pulled the trigger - it made the sound of several shots, then a voice saying “Hands Up!” - in _that_ order. I think that some toymaker is a keen observer of American police procedure… ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/2697 "2015-05-15T14:36:45Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Heyward is now paralyzed from the waist down and unable to speak. Too bad for him that in the ambulance he supposedly blamed himself for the whole thing. The racist yahoos on the internet won’t let that go. So he’s been rendered unable to speak by the shooting, on account of having been shot in the neck, but still managed to verbally excuse the cops after the shooting. Says police investigator. Yeah, OK, I buy that. Now, there’s the matter of the bridge I’ve bought from you last month, it hasn’t been delivered yet and… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/2698 "2015-05-15T17:07:56Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Have the Board’s impartial observers, **Smaphan** and **Steopti** , commented on this incident? > [@kayaker](#): > > I predict Smapti will observe, " Hey, bears are unpredictable. And being able to walk is a privelige, not a right. God bless America." Since all we have is audio, it’s impossible to tell how Heyward reacted to the command to show his hands, but from what we have here, it sounds like the cop panicked and fired too soon, assuming the homeowner to be the burglar. If he sues, then I would expect him to succeed. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/2699 "2015-05-15T17:12:47Z")
> **[Witness Accounts in Midtown Hammer Attack Show the Power of False Memory...](https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/15/nyregion/witness-accounts-in-midtown-hammer-attack-show-the-power-of-false-memory.html)** > > Two people who saw a police encounter on Wednesday reported different details; surveillance videotape showed that both of them were wrong. Moments later, Mr. O’Grady spoke to a reporter for The New York Times and said the wounded man was in flight when he was shot. “He looked like he was trying to get away from the officers,” Mr. O’Grady said. Another person on Eighth Avenue then, Sunny Khalsa, 41, had been riding her bicycle when she saw police officers and the man. Shaken by the encounter, she contacted the Times newsroom with a shocking detail. “I saw a man who was handcuffed being shot,” Ms. Khalsa said. “And I am sorry, maybe I am crazy, but that is what I saw.” At 3 p.m. on Wednesday, the Police Department released a surveillance videotape that showed that both Mr. O’Grady and Ms. Khalsa were wrong. So much for eyewitnesses… ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/2700 "2015-05-15T18:22:39Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > [http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/05/15/nyregion/witness-accounts-in-midtown-hammer-attack-show-the-power-of-false-memory.html](http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/05/15/nyregion/witness-accounts-in-midtown-hammer-attack-show-the-power-of-false-memory.html) > > At 3 p.m. on Wednesday, the Police Department released a surveillance videotape that showed that both Mr. O’Grady and Ms. Khalsa were wrong. > > So much for eyewitnesses… Sad, but true. I’ll remember that if ever I’m on a jury. Also sad that the cop fired three times and only scored two hits on a crowded NYC street corner. Could have hit an innocent. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=134) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=136)