# 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:** 350
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6981 "2015-11-05T10:41:33Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Yes. Skin color is immaterial. Didn’t everyone know that racism is over? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6982 "2015-11-05T15:17:40Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Here’s a 6 year-old future criminal killed by the cops: > > [Boy, 6, killed after Louisiana marshals fire on vehicle during chase, reports say - cleveland.com](http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2015/11/boy_6_killed_after_louisiana_m.html) I guess the child’s father wasn’t aware that his child was sitting next to him in the car when the father decided to attack police officers with his vehicle. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6983 "2015-11-05T15:21:22Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Yes. Skin color is immaterial. I suppose it might be to someone as blind as you. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6984 "2015-11-05T15:27:15Z")
> [@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. (underline added) No, it doesn’t miss the point. If the lady had been white (or red, or yellow), would she have proclaimed that she had been harassed? _Help me! Help me! Police officers are concerned about the public’s safety!_ How dare police officers be concerned about the general safety of the public! :smack: ---
**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, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6985 "2015-11-05T16:21:09Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > (underline added) > > No, it doesn’t miss the point. If the lady had been white (or red, or yellow), would she have proclaimed that she had been harassed? _Help me! Help me! Police officers are concerned about the public’s safety!_ How dare police officers be concerned about the general safety of the public! :smack: Your original response missed the point because you answered a question I did not ask. You responded as if I had asked “_Should_ the police run some sort of background check on everyone they encounter?”, whereas I had actually asked “_Do_ the police run some sort of background check on everyone they encounter?” ---
**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 5, 2015, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6986 "2015-11-05T16:42:45Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Didn’t everyone know that racism is over? > [@Colibri](#): > > I suppose it might be to someone as blind as you. If you two retards had actually read the article you would know they stopped her because a truck driver had told the cops that he almost hit her because of her running in the street in the wrong way which is a misdemeanor. But no you would rather be racist so go right on ahead being racist. > [@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. The police chief said she wants all of her officers to ID ALL people they stop. Also she was committing a misdemeanor. But you people calling the cops racist would know that if you had read the article. ---
**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 5, 2015, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6987 "2015-11-05T18:37:08Z")
> [@PaulParkhead](#): > > Your original response missed the point because you answered a question I did not ask. You responded as if I had asked “_Should_ the police run some sort of background check on everyone they encounter?”, whereas I had actually asked “_Do_ the police run some sort of background check on everyone they encounter?” I’ve never had an “encounter” with the police, as an adult, where I wasn’t asked to show ID, and I’m white as a lily. ---
**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:** [November 5, 2015, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6988 "2015-11-05T18:42:53Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I’m white as a lily. [Couldn’t help it.](http://cache.desktopnexus.com/thumbseg/1749/1749924-bigthumbnail.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6989 "2015-11-05T18:50:56Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > [Couldn’t help it.](http://cache.desktopnexus.com/thumbseg/1749/1749924-bigthumbnail.jpg) Better check it for ID. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6990 "2015-11-05T19:15:48Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > If you two retards had actually read the article you would know they stopped her because a truck driver had told the cops that he almost hit her because of her running in the street in the wrong way which is a misdemeanor. But no you would rather be racist so go right on ahead being racist. If you had actually read **Clothahump’s** post to which I responded, he said color “is” irrelevant, implying it’s never a factor. Do you agree with him? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6991 "2015-11-06T04:30:11Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > [Couldn’t help it.](http://cache.desktopnexus.com/thumbseg/1749/1749924-bigthumbnail.jpg) The cops saw it, overreacted, opened fire. It was excessive and unnecessary. They killed the lily. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6992 "2015-11-06T12:10:47Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I guess the child’s father wasn’t aware that his child was sitting next to him in the car when the father decided to attack police officers with his vehicle. :smack: The police are now walking back from that excuse. Apparently the glass fragments don’t really add up. The police were perpendicular to the car when they opened fire. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6993 "2015-11-06T12:25:54Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > The police are now walking back from that excuse. Apparently the glass fragments don’t really add up. The police were perpendicular to the car when they opened fire. That’s ridiculous. That would mean the heroic first responders were lying. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6994 "2015-11-06T13:47:18Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > The police are now walking back from that excuse. Apparently the glass fragments don’t really add up. The police were perpendicular to the car when they opened fire. > **[Louisiana police concede officers fired shots that killed six-year-old boy](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/05/louisiana-police-deny-car-reversing-six-year-old-shot)** > > Police disavowed an earlier explanation for why officers shot at a car driven by Chris Few, killing his six-year-old son, Jeremy Madis, in Marksville > [@](#): > > On Thursday, Colonel Michael Edmonson, head of the Louisiana state police, denied earlier reports that Few had been reversing his car toward the officers, who then had to defend themselves. “No. I didn’t say that,” he told the Guardian. “That didn’t come from me.” > > At a press conference, Edmonson initially described the shooting as “an exchange of gunfire”, but later clarified that only the officers had shot, and that investigators had found no gun in Few’s car. Officials had previously declined to confirm whether officer gunfire was responsible for Mardis’s death. > > Edmonson also said video footage of the incident does exist, but that investigators have not reviewed it. He added that the officers involved – there are four – had so far refused to speak with state police investigators. Police have not released the names of the involved officers. > > Asked by the Guardian what reason they offered for their silence, Edmonson said: “You’d have to ask them. We are trying to talk with them.” ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6995 "2015-11-06T13:58:13Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > They killed the lily. No jury would convict me. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6996 "2015-11-07T01:05:33Z")
[Guys get tackled by a swarm of officers for the horrific crime of jaywalking, caught on video](http://www.attn.com/stories/4057/austin-texas-jaywalking-arrests) ---
**Author:** ![camille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/22d042/32.png) [@camille](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/camille)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6997 "2015-11-07T06:30:17Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > The police are now walking back from that excuse. Apparently the glass fragments don’t really add up. The police were perpendicular to the car when they opened fire. > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > That’s ridiculous. That would mean the heroic first responders were lying. > [@Gary\_Kumquat](#): > > [Louisiana police concede officers fired shots that killed six-year-old boy | Louisiana | The Guardian](http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/05/louisiana-police-deny-car-reversing-six-year-old-shot) > > > [@](#): > > > > On Thursday, Colonel Michael Edmonson, head of the Louisiana state police, denied earlier reports that Few had been reversing his car toward the officers, who then had to defend themselves. “No. I didn’t say that,” he told the Guardian. “That didn’t come from me.” > > > > At a press conference, Edmonson initially described the shooting as “an exchange of gunfire”, but later clarified that only the officers had shot, and that investigators had found no gun in Few’s car. Officials had previously declined to confirm whether officer gunfire was responsible for Mardis’s death. > > > > Edmonson also said video footage of the incident does exist, but that investigators have not reviewed it. He added that the officers involved – there are four – had so far refused to speak with state police investigators. Police have not released the names of the involved officers. > > > > Asked by the Guardian what reason they offered for their silence, Edmonson said: “You’d have to ask them. We are trying to talk with them.” [It gets worse](http://wiat.com/2015/11/05/questions-remain-after-la-police-shooting-that-killed-child/): During a press conference Thursday, the colonel said police are investigating why the chased even transpired. “We’re not aware of any warrant at this time. We’re not sure exactly what transpired as to why they were encountering the car because we have not spoken to police officers,” Edmonson said. [And even worse than that](http://www.wbrz.com/news/police-officers-arrested-for-shooting-killing-6-year-old): Edmonson said the part time marshals were arrested after reviewing 911 recordings and body camera video. Edmonson would not reveal the nature of the footage, calling it the worst video he has ever seen. “It is the most disturbing thing I’ve seen. I’ll leave it at that.” State Police investigators have said they had yet to locate any warrant and that Few was unarmed. ---
**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 7, 2015, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6998 "2015-11-07T06:33:25Z")
> [@](#): > > Edmonson also said video footage of the incident does exist, but that investigators have not reviewed it. What in the name of fuck … ?! ---
**Author:** ![camille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/22d042/32.png) [@camille](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/camille)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6999 "2015-11-07T06:40:30Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > What in the name of fuck … ?! Keep reading. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/7000 "2015-11-07T06:42:49Z")
It’s not surprising that those with power abuse it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=349) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=351)