# 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:** 53
**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:** [March 9, 2015, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1041 "2015-03-09T06:02:22Z")
**Loach** , have you ever had someone take _your_ gun? ---
**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 13, 2015, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1042 "2015-03-13T13:38:18Z")
Dang, was really hoping that **Loach** would get back to us on how often “often” is. Ah well, the Police Death Forces keep on keeping on:[ > [@](#): > > Officials in Washington say the Potomac Avenue Metro station is open again after transit police fatally shot a man while responding to a call about an “unauthorized person” on the tracks in a subway tunnel. > > Metro Transit Police spokesman Mike Tolbert said the Potomac Avenue station reopened Friday morning, hours after the shooting. Tolbert said he had no details about the man, what he was doing in the tunnel or what prompted police to shoot him. He said no officers were injured. ]([http://bigstory.ap.org/article/d7af5d6a490a4dc3ae9a069aebd20d5b/police-fatally-shoot-man-found-subway-tunnel-tracks-dc](http://bigstory.ap.org/article/d7af5d6a490a4dc3ae9a069aebd20d5b/police-fatally-shoot-man-found-subway-tunnel-tracks-dc)) ---
**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:** [March 13, 2015, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1043 "2015-03-13T13:49:01Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Ah well, the Police Death Forces keep on keeping on Well, the story as-is contains absolutely no details about who the man was, what he was doing, or why he was shot, but one thing we can be absolutely certain of is that the police _must_ have been in the wrong. Right? ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1044 "2015-03-13T19:19:39Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Well, the story as-is contains absolutely no details about who the man was, what he was doing, or why he was shot, but one thing we can be absolutely certain of is that the police _must_ have been in the wrong. Right? I’ll take those odds! ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1045 "2015-03-13T19:44:59Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > I’ll take those odds! Stakes? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1046 "2015-03-13T19:55:14Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Well, the story as-is contains absolutely no details about who the man was, what he was doing, or why he was shot, but one thing we can be absolutely certain of is that the police _must_ have been in the wrong. Right? Given that it’s now 19 hours after the shooting, and police still don’t have an explanation for it, it strongly suggests that they’re having a hard time coming up with one that doesn’t make them look bad. ---
**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:** [March 13, 2015, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1047 "2015-03-13T20:12:25Z")
Semi-related, several Tennessee State Cops have [stepped semi-forward to expose a DUI quota system](http://benswann.com/tennessee-highway-patrol-under-fire-after-troopers-expose-alleged-dui-quota-system/) in the highway patrol. Pressure to produce has led troopers into urban areas, which is kind of not really where they are supposed to be patrolling. I mean, I can sort of see quotas for ticketing, but DUIs are pretty serious and can be life-changing-costly. I do want drunks off the road, but this just seems excessive. ---
**Author:** ![get\_lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@get\_lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/get_lives)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1048 "2015-03-13T22:38:14Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > I’ll take those odds! Me too. ---
**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 14, 2015, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1049 "2015-03-14T05:29:20Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Well, the story as-is contains absolutely no details about who the man was, what he was doing, or why he was shot, but one thing we can be absolutely certain of is that the police _must_ have been in the wrong. Right? No, what we can be sure of is that the lack of details makes this a controversial shooting. Do you just _have_ to be a close-minded reactionary authoritarian asshole when the subject is the police? WTF? ---
**Author:** ![get\_lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@get\_lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/get_lives)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2015, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1050 "2015-03-14T16:47:59Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > No, what we can be sure of is that the lack of details makes this a controversial shooting. > > Do you just _have_ to be a close-minded reactionary authoritarian asshole when the subject is the police? WTF? He’s **Smapti.** it’s his thing. _shrug_ ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2015, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1051 "2015-03-14T18:07:01Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Semi-related, several Tennessee State Cops have [stepped semi-forward to expose a DUI quota system](http://benswann.com/tennessee-highway-patrol-under-fire-after-troopers-expose-alleged-dui-quota-system/) in the highway patrol. Pressure to produce has led troopers into urban areas, which is kind of not really where they are supposed to be patrolling. > > I mean, I can sort of see quotas for ticketing, but DUIs are pretty serious and can be life-changing-costly. I do want drunks off the road, but this just seems excessive. Next thing you know cops will actually focus more on high crime areas to catch criminals… The inhumanity. ---
**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:** [March 14, 2015, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1052 "2015-03-14T18:19:44Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Next thing you know cops will actually focus more on high crime areas to catch criminals… They can’t do that, because racism. ---
**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 14, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1053 "2015-03-14T20:40:55Z")
There are ways to make the police look better in the eyes of the public…[but editing Wiki entries from inside One Police Plaza probably isn’t the greatest one in the world.](https://www.yahoo.com/tech/s/nypd-caught-editing-wikipedia-pages-alleged-police-brutality-010011511.html) ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2015, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1054 "2015-03-14T20:52:05Z")
Thinking Wikipedia reflects an actual unbiased view of anything … dumb. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1055 "2015-03-14T20:53:25Z")
meanwhile [Police officer who stole naked pictures from a perp’s phone isn’t going to jail](https://bgr.com/2015/01/28/police-officer-stole-naked-pictures/) You know what cops fear most? Going to jail. ---
**Author:** ![get\_lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@get\_lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/get_lives)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2015, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1056 "2015-03-14T23:45:07Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > Thinking Wikipedia reflects an actual unbiased view of anything … dumb. Right, but I resent that my tax money is paying for a Wiki troll. Or any troll. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2015, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1057 "2015-03-15T00:39:00Z")
[St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar walks back claims about Ferguson police shooting, can’t say if shooter was associated with protest or police were targets.](http://www.stlamerican.com/news/local_news/article_99565646-c9dc-11e4-b6d7-53a817ba897b.html?mode=jqm) ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2015, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1058 "2015-03-16T07:29:40Z")
In liberal hippie enclave San Francisco, the cops are probably sensitive to issues of racial diversity, [right](http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Officers-linked-to-racist-texts-were-all-veterans-6134489.php)? > [@](#): > > In one exchange with an unnamed officer in May 2012, Furimnger asked whether he should be worried that the black husband of one of his then-wife’s friends had come over to his home. > > The officer responded, “Get ur pocket gun. Keep it available in case the monkey returns to his roots. Its (sic) not against the law to put an animal down.” > > “Well said!” Furminger replied, according to the prosecutors’ court filing. “You may have to kill the half-breeds too,’’ the unnamed officer replied, adding: “Don’t worry. Their (sic) an abomination of nature anyway.” > > “All n— must f— hang,” another unidentified officer texted to Furminger in an unrelated exchange. In another, one of the officers texted “White power” to Furminger, who himself repeats the phrase to another officer in a text. > > Furminger gave his own address in a text to a civilian along with the description: “White power family.” Nice! ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2015, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1059 "2015-03-16T11:32:08Z")
Well, sure, taken out of context… ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2015, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1060 "2015-03-16T11:47:53Z")
And all that is clearly a sign of the failure of liberal policies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=52) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=54)