# 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:** 523
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10442 "2017-02-25T16:16:34Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Right on. In fact, shouldn’t this cop be suspended for not following procedure? I thought his training required emptying his magazine into the suspect’s center-of-mass as soon as there was any threat of misbehavior. > > Unfortunately the video doesn’t show the lead-in to this trespassing crime. Shouldn’t the cop have called for backup when he saw kids on the sidewalk? The threat of trespass was imminent. And just a few warning shots might have prevented the heinous crime altogether. > > I hope all Anaheim residents call 911 next time they see kids on a sidewalk. “Will you send a patrol car? Or should I just start shooting?” Maybe it will help police do their jobs better if they know citizens are following their lead. It would be silly to just start shooting. I don’t know where you are getting the idea that the police would find this behavior acceptable. You are supposed to drag the kid across your yard, and only then do you start shooting. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10443 "2017-02-26T06:56:47Z")
Law enforcement organizations in Texas may be covering up shootings by officers.[ > [@](#): > > Attention was drawn to unreported fatal shootings after freelance journalist Eva Ruth Moravec reported about them as part of “Point of Impact,” a yearlong series on police shootings. Since then, 10 of the missing reports have been filed, according to an Associated Press review, and the attorney general’s office says it’s looking into the other two shootings. ]([http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US\_REPORTING\_POLICE\_SHOOTINGS\_TEXAS\_LAW?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_REPORTING_POLICE_SHOOTINGS_TEXAS_LAW?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT)) Or they may have just been incompetent: > [@](#): > > Both Johnson and Lawrence said they don’t believe any law enforcement agency intentionally failed to report a shooting, but some agencies might have been unaware of the requirement. While I find it nearly incomprehensible that police officers would not know about a law that directly pertains to them, I am heartened to know that some Texas lawmakers are trying to change things for the better and that some police organizations (officially) support the effort: > [@](#): > > The Texas Municipal Police Association supports the bill. > > “We recognize the collection of data is probably in most cases helpful to law enforcement not hurtful,” said Kevin Lawrence, the group’s executive director. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10444 "2017-02-27T02:58:22Z")
This whole thing was about a fucking LAWN. That’s what it was, a LAWN. You don’t grab anyone, you don’t brandish or fire a gun, you don’t do any of that shit over a LAWN. That cop should be fired, get arrested, and face charges. What kind of cowardly scumbag grabs a kid, and fires a gun around kids, over a LAWN? This isn’t law and order. True law and order would be to throw the book at this badge heavy asshole. ---
**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:** [February 27, 2017, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10445 "2017-02-27T06:27:37Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > What kind of cowardly scumbag grabs a kid, and fires a gun around kids, over a LAWN? I donno. Shodan thinks it’s a good idea, ask him. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10446 "2017-02-27T23:00:58Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Either a warning shot or an accidental discharge due to his being in a tussle. There’s no such thing as an accidental discharge. There are intentional discharges and there are negligent discharges. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2017, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10447 "2017-02-28T01:49:10Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > There’s no such thing as an accidental discharge. There are intentional discharges and there are negligent discharges. Purulent discharges as well. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10448 "2017-03-01T20:42:24Z")
[7 Baltimore cops indicted for racketeering, theft, filing false reports, lying to investigators, filing for overtime that wasn’t worked, drug conspiracy charges and more](http://bigstory.ap.org/article/8f96893c858f4a2996d8069bcf1da8e3/7-baltimore-officers-arrested-robbery-other-charges). ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10449 "2017-03-02T00:19:07Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [7 Baltimore cops indicted for racketeering, theft, filing false reports, lying to investigators, filing for overtime that wasn’t worked, drug conspiracy charges and more](http://bigstory.ap.org/article/8f96893c858f4a2996d8069bcf1da8e3/7-baltimore-officers-arrested-robbery-other-charges). > [@](#): > > Some of the officers had been long dogged by accusations of wrongdoing and excessive force. In 2009 members of the city’s delegation had called for a federal investigation into Rayam after he was involved in three shootings over the course of two years, while the city has settled multiple lawsuits involving Hersl. Speedy justice. How many fucking years did it take to indict this guy? > [@](#): > > “These defendants were allegedly involved in stopping people who had not committed crimes, and not only seizing money but pocketing it,” he said. “These are really robberies by people wearing police uniforms.” The most effective way to commit crime is to join the police force. These 7 were indicted. How many more were not indicted? How many Baltimore cops knew about them and did nothing? ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10450 "2017-03-09T06:49:57Z")
[BuzzFeed News reviewed 62 incidents of video footage contradicting an officer’s statement in a police report or testimony. From traffic stops to fatal force, these cases reveal how cops are incentivized to lie — and why they get away with it.](https://www.buzzfeed.com/albertsamaha/blue-lies-matter?utm_term=.mxLz3L5D9#.esKJ86WyR) ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10451 "2017-03-09T13:18:10Z")
What percentage of all videotaped arrests is 62? Regards, Shodan ---
**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:** [March 9, 2017, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10452 "2017-03-09T13:24:00Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > What percentage of all videotaped arrests is 62? > > Regards, > Shodan A small percentage, unless you are the one being arrested, then it’s 100%. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10453 "2017-03-09T13:45:14Z")
Or unless you are bad at math. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10454 "2017-03-09T14:27:48Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > What percentage of all videotaped arrests is 62? > > Regards, > Shodan Whatever the math shows this number to be, I would say that it is too large. Or do you think it is OK for police officers to lie under oath in certain situations? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10455 "2017-03-09T15:10:34Z")
> [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](#): > > Whatever the math shows this number to be, I would say that it is too large. Or do you think it is OK for police officers to lie under oath in certain situations? I’d like to live in a perfect world too, but I don’t know of any. OK, so somebody picked 62 cherries. How big is the orchard? How much better do you think we can do? What will it cost, in money and effort? I realize this is the Pit. If you’d rather have your outrage, fine with me, providing you don’t mind being made fun of. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10456 "2017-03-09T15:54:37Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > What percentage of all videotaped arrests is 62? > > Regards, > Shodan How many would it take to change your mind? 75? 100? 200? 500? 1000? 10000? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10457 "2017-03-09T16:50:46Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > How many would it take to change your mind? > 75? > 100? > 200? > 500? > 1000? > 10000? How many you got? The most recent figure I can find is for 2012, which [says](https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2012/crime-in-the-u.s.-2012/persons-arrested)there were a bit more than 12 million arrests in the US. 62 divided by 12 million works out to 5.1667e-6 according to my calculator. That’s larger than zero, I grant you, but as a figure intended to demonstrate that cops are incentivized to lie and that they get away with it, it falls a little short, IMO. If you have better figures, I am open to persuasion. Got any? If not, feel free to rant so I can mock you - that works too. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10458 "2017-03-09T17:00:20Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > How many you got? > > The most recent figure I can find is for 2012, which [says](https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2012/crime-in-the-u.s.-2012/persons-arrested)there were a bit more than 12 million arrests in the US. 62 divided by 12 million works out to 5.1667e-6 according to my calculator. That’s larger than zero, I grant you, but as a figure intended to demonstrate that cops are incentivized to lie and that they get away with it, it falls a little short, IMO. > > If you have better figures, I am open to persuasion. Got any? If not, feel free to rant so I can mock you - that works too. > > Regards, > Shodan Let’s put those goalposts back, o.k.? We were talking about videotaped discrepancies compared to all videotaped arrests, no compared to _all_ arrests, so lets do this again: How many problematic video arrests would be too many, if 62 is too low to trip your trigger? If the answer is “No number”, then have the guts to say so. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10459 "2017-03-09T17:07:29Z")
The answer is “let’s see your figures”. What is the percentage of videotaped discrepancies compared to all videotaped arrests? If the answer is “I have no idea, and no interest in finding out if I am justified in my rantings but just want to fap off” then have the courage to say so. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10460 "2017-03-09T17:14:26Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > The answer is “let’s see your figures”. What is the percentage of videotaped discrepancies compared to all videotaped arrests? > > If the answer is “I have no idea, and no interest in finding out if I am justified in my rantings but just want to fap off” then have the courage to say so. > > Regards, > Shodan Translation: “My smoke would be interested in taking a trip up your ass. Do you think we could arrange a meet-up?” ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/10461 "2017-03-09T17:29:53Z")
That’s funny - I could have sworn somebody said we were talking about videotaped discrepancies compared to all videotaped arrests. And here we are talking about your ass. Go figure. Regards, Shodan [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=522) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=524)