# 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:** 349
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6961 "2015-11-04T07:06:49Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Vid-cams on police vehicles and and on officers should be mandatory, and use of vid-cams by the public to record police should be protected. Yeah, but the whole point is those cams can be a real infringement on the cops bustin heads like they’re use to. Advocates of this (non-cams) must be anti-law enforcement and for societal chaos–because there is no excluded middle ground according the **S&S brothers** … ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6962 "2015-11-04T15:05:28Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > Yeah, but the whole point is those cams can be a real infringement on the cops bustin heads like they’re use to. > > Advocates of this (non-cams) must be anti-law enforcement and for societal chaos–because there is no excluded middle ground according the **S&S brothers** … On re-reading this, “~Advocates of this (non-cams)” comes across wrong, because this is what catches police abuses. Without the documentary visual evidence provided by cell phone video, it would always be the cop’s version of an encounter in court—and that is always “reaching for weapon; I shot in self-defense!” ---
**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:** [November 4, 2015, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6963 "2015-11-04T17:50:03Z")
Yeah, but on the other hand the **S&S brothers** reject the video version of the events whenever it differs from the cops’ testimony - and who are you going to believe, your lying eyes or their cast-iron prejudice ?! - so… Thankfully, juries seem to generally skew non-bugfuck-insane when confronted with primary evidence of gross misconduct. Not that it brings the dead back to life. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6964 "2015-11-04T21:33:06Z")
Racist Texas is being racist again. > **[Racism? By whom? This video of Texas cops stopping a black professor is a...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/11/04/racism-by-whom-this-video-of-tex-cops-stopping-a-black-professor-is-a-racial-rorschach-test/)** > > Dorothy Bland said she was stopped for "walking while black." But cops said Bland was to blame, and critics are now calling for her to lose her job. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2015, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6965 "2015-11-04T21:38:52Z")
So the police briefly conversed with a law-abiding citizen, offered some helpful advice, and they parted ways without anyone being shot, Tased, cuffed, manhandled, arrested, or otherwise encumbered in any way. Where exactly is the “controversy” here? ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6966 "2015-11-04T21:56:26Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > So the police briefly conversed with a law-abiding citizen, offered some helpful advice, and they parted ways without anyone being shot, Tased, cuffed, manhandled, arrested, or otherwise encumbered in any way. > > Where exactly is the “controversy” here? I was thinking that too. But is it SOP with a “friendly advice” type encounter to ask for ID and radio back to HQ? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6967 "2015-11-04T22:07:59Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Racist Texas is being racist again. > > [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/11/04/racism-by-whom-this-video-of-tex-cops-stopping-a-black-professor-is-a-racial-rorschach-test/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/11/04/racism-by-whom-this-video-of-tex-cops-stopping-a-black-professor-is-a-racial-rorschach-test/) Bland? I wonder if she’s related to that other Bland who had committed suicide in a holding cell? I guess it now considered racist for cops to talk to black people? From the linked article - \*Many others were equally angry — but with Bland. “As a person of color, this upsets me,” said former Dallas mayor Ron Kirk, who is also African American. “Particularly against what happened in South Carolina. Particularly as this country is wrestling with very real concerns regarding the police treatment of African American youth.” “She took advantage of a very innocent and thoughtful police response — walk on the right side of the street — she’s just looking for her Skip Gates moment,” Kirk told the Morning News, referring to the 2009 arrest of black Harvard professor Henry Louis “Skip” Gates, which led to accusations of racism against the Cambridge, Mass., police officer.\* Skip Gates moment? Isn’t that the incident where Obama first issued those immortal words, “I don’t know the facts, but…”? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6968 "2015-11-04T22:15:27Z")
> [@PaulParkhead](#): > > I was thinking that too. But is it SOP with a “friendly advice” type encounter to ask for ID and radio back to HQ? Why not? It’s only been 14 years since the 9/11 attacks in 2001. I’m under the impression that there are still bad guys, criminals, university deans, and terrorists running around loose. If you see something, say something. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6969 "2015-11-04T22:21:46Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Why not? It’s only been 14 years since the 9/11 attacks… When those highly organized teams of power-walking jihadists threw themselves into the WTC towers and the Pentagon, causing mass destruction and the deaths of thousands. IOW, you’re very stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Hooleehootoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/eada6e/32.png) [@Hooleehootoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hooleehootoo)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6970 "2015-11-04T23:00:55Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Where exactly is the “controversy” here? Do you agree that it was a consensual encounter, not a Terry stop, and that she would have been within her rights to refuse to id herself and give her birth date, or did they have reasonable suspicion that she had committed a crime? It doesn’t necessarily have to be racism to be annoying and objectionable. Normal-cop-level-suspicion-of-everything is also. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6971 "2015-11-04T23:12:48Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Officer Tough Guy has been fired. > [http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/28/us/south-carolina-school-arrest-videos/](http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/28/us/south-carolina-school-arrest-videos/) > [@Smapti](#): > > And the department settles for wrongful termination in 3… 2… 1… > [@desertmonk](#): > > When that does not happen will you admit you are wrong about this case? So 3… 2… 1…, what does that mean? A week? (so far) Any word on the settlement of the lawsuit? Any word of a lawsuit? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6972 "2015-11-04T23:22:43Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Where exactly is the “controversy” here? Public safety reminder = good. Carding = bad. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6973 "2015-11-05T00:19:03Z")
[West Virginia teen killed by cop over a trivial prank witnesses say he didn’t even participate in.](http://www.wvgazettemail.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20151103%2FGZ01%2F151109827%2F1277) ---
**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:** [November 5, 2015, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6974 "2015-11-05T02:10:28Z")
Wet underwear. Clearly, somebody needed to die for that. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6975 "2015-11-05T02:49:59Z")
If the gotch doesn’t fit, you must not acquit. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6976 "2015-11-05T02:54:13Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Wet underwear. My Secret Service code name. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6977 "2015-11-05T04:36:23Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Why not? It’s only been 14 years since the 9/11 attacks in 2001. I’m under the impression that there are still bad guys, criminals, university deans, and terrorists running around loose. If you see something, say something. Well, that sort of misses the point. If the lady had been white, and the police had stopped her to advise that she should change her exercising habits, would they have, as a matter of routine, called in to check whether or not she had any outstanding warrants? I genuinely do not know. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6978 "2015-11-05T05:12:10Z")
> [@PaulParkhead](#): > > Well, that sort of misses the point. If the lady had been white, and the police had stopped her to advise that she should change her exercising habits, would they have, as a matter of routine, called in to check whether or not she had any outstanding warrants? I genuinely do not know. Yes. Skin color is immaterial. ---
**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:** [November 5, 2015, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6979 "2015-11-05T05:42:23Z")
Here’s a 6 year-old future criminal killed by the cops: > [@](#): > > A 6-year-old autistic boy was killed when marshals in a Louisiana city fired at vehicle as the boy’s father attempted to back into the officers during a chase, reports say. > > Avoyelles Parish Coroner L. J. Mayeux said Jeremy Mardis, a first-grader at an elementary school in Effie, La., died from multiple gunshot wounds to his head and chest, according to CBS News. He was pronounced dead at the scene in Marksville, La. > > The boy’s father, Chris Few, also was shot multiple times and was listed in stable condition at a local hospital, reports the New Orleans Advocate. > > The Town Talk says it’s unclear why Few was fleeing from officers. Sources tell the Town Talk that Few might have been involved in an altercation at a local bar, while other sources say marshals were attempting to serve a warrant. > **[Boy, 6, killed after Louisiana marshals fire on vehicle during chase, reports...](https://www.cleveland.com/nation/2015/11/boy_6_killed_after_louisiana_m.html)** > > The vehicle, driven by the boy's father, was attempting to back into the marshals, reports say. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Hartwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6980 "2015-11-05T09:51:37Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Yes. Skin color is immaterial. Look who’s here! Did you get your eyes checked yet? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=348) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=350)