# 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:** 637
**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:** [February 13, 2018, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/12722 "2018-02-13T17:33:41Z")
Some of the wrongdoing by the police is not actually illegal. And some of it falls into untested grey areas. We may be giving them more latitude in some ways than is appropriate for the job. ---
**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 13, 2018, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/12723 "2018-02-13T17:59:45Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > No, police are never charged, always acquitted, and if fired, are quickly rehired by the same or another department. You could look it up. > > Regards, > Shodan I could, but I certainly don’t want to look up where you pulled it out of. ---
**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:** [February 15, 2018, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/12724 "2018-02-15T17:14:11Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > No, police are never charged, always acquitted, and if fired, are quickly rehired by the same or another department. You could look it up. > > Regards, > Shodan Timely response you dumb fuck, given today’s verdict of not guilty for the piece of shit cowardly officer who instead of disarming a 66 year old grandma having an episode wielding a bat OR using his taser, decides to murder her instead. Fuck that piece of shit judge too. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/12725 "2018-02-15T17:49:07Z")
Has he been hired back? That always happens next. Regards, Shodan ---
**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 15, 2018, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/12726 "2018-02-15T18:40:20Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Has he been hired back? That always happens next. > > Regards, > Shodan I know how much you want murderers to be on the police force, but can you keep your fantasies to yourself for once? ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/12727 "2018-02-17T11:13:05Z")
Broward County Sheriff: Twenty 911 calls about school-shooter Cruz received in the past few years. -[The Hill](http://thehill.com/homenews/news/374310-sheriff-says-office-got-20-calls-about-suspected-school-shooter-in-recent-years) ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/12728 "2018-02-17T19:56:09Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > Broward County Sheriff: Twenty 911 calls about school-shooter Cruz received in the past few years. > > -[The Hill](http://thehill.com/homenews/news/374310-sheriff-says-office-got-20-calls-about-suspected-school-shooter-in-recent-years) It’s _HIS_ Sheriff Department that never acted, but he wants the FBI director to resign. Hmmmm. Why didn’t _HIS_ people never do anything? ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/12729 "2018-02-18T19:06:01Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > It’s _HIS_ Sheriff Department that never acted, but he wants the FBI director to resign. Hmmmm. Why didn’t _HIS_ people never do anything? Police visited the house 39 times (including, I imagine, the twenty 911 calls) over a seven year period. But yeah, let’s blame the FBI. > **[From ‘broken child’ to mass killer | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/16/us/shooter-profile-invs/index.html)** > > Long before he slaughtered 17 people at the South Florida high school he once attended, Nikolas Cruz had a disturbing way of introducing himself. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/12730 "2018-02-18T22:46:13Z")
And how much howling would there have been if this young MAGA-bro had both his first and second amendment rights trampled upon? There is no law against crazy fuckers owning AR-15s in Florida so what was reporting him supposed to accomplish? To “keep and eye on him”? You’re going to have to hire a few more FBI agents if you’re going to stake out every armed angry redneck in Florida. If only there were a common denominator. ---
**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 21, 2018, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/12731 "2018-02-21T15:33:43Z")
This just popped up on the AP news feed and isn’t really controversial, IMO; this is just good, solid police work and an example for other officers to follow. [From East Lansdowne, PA](https://www.facebook.com/ELPOLICE/videos/1815785798455404/): > [@](#): > > Police were dispatched to Melrose Ave and Emerson Ave for reports of a dinosaur on the loose. On location we observed a T-Rex taking their kid to school. No problem. Clear. Video at the link, eh. 😃 ---
**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 22, 2018, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/12732 "2018-02-22T00:13:08Z")
[Toronto, Canada today](https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/neq4xw/video-shows-toronto-authorities-violently-pinning-down-a-black-teen-for-20-minutes): > [@](#): > > Videos showing Toronto police and transit fare inspectors pinning down a black teenager have prompted an internal investigation, according to the Toronto Transit Commission. > > On Sunday, Bethany McBride, a Toronto-based chef, posted two videos of the incident to Facebook with the caption, “On my streetcar, a black teenaged boy shoved a fare collector who put his hands on him… and this happens. They held him down screaming for twenty mins.” > [@](#): > > McBride told CityNews the teen was getting off the streetcar near St. Clair West and Bathurst Street when fare inspectors dragged him back by his jacket. > > The teen, who she estimated was around 15, reacted by shoving the inspector who grabbed him, McBride said. At that point, she said two TTC inspectors pinned the teenager onto the ground outside of the streetcar; three cops later joined in, handcuffed the teen, and held him down for 20 minutes, according to McBride. > > In McBride’s videos, the teen can be heard crying, “I didn’t do anything, though. Please, you’re hurting me. You’re hurting me. You’re hurting me.” > [@](#): > > The TTC has not yet responded to VICE’s request for comment. But TTC spokesman, Stuart Green, told CityNews simply not paying a fare would not be grounds for a fare inspector to use force. > > He said the TTC is investigating. > > “What we’ve seen in the video is, of course, of great concern to us.” I hope it is, Mr. Green; I hope it is. ETA: [Miss McBride’s Facebook page with the videos](https://www.facebook.com/Bethany.ej.McBride/posts/10156138987257953); only one is at the VICE link. ---
**Author:** ![UCBearcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/77aa72/32.png) [@UCBearcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UCBearcats)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/12733 "2018-02-23T00:22:40Z")
[https://usat.ly/2oqMZ4R](https://usat.ly/2oqMZ4R) What a fucking pussy. This guy should be stoned. Fucking do your job and save some kids. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/12734 "2018-02-23T00:26:21Z")
> [@UCBearcats](#): > > [https://usat.ly/2oqMZ4R](https://usat.ly/2oqMZ4R) > > What a fucking pussy. This guy should be stoned. Fucking do your job and save some kids. On top of being chicken, didn’t he even bother to tell the cops that they were watching video that was on a 20 minute delay? ---
**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:** [February 23, 2018, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/12735 "2018-02-23T00:33:27Z")
Did you hear the one about the cop who was too afraid to intervene in a school massacre? > **[Armed sheriff’s deputy stayed outside Florida school while mass killing took...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/02/22/armed-sheriffs-deputy-stayed-outside-florida-school-while-mass-killing-took-place/?utm_term=.774c6d4b1df8)** > > A school resource officer didn't enter the Parkland, Fla., high school building where 17 people were killed. He has resigned. ETA: I see UCBearcats has. ---
**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:** [February 23, 2018, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/12736 "2018-02-23T00:41:58Z")
> [@UCBearcats](#): > > [https://usat.ly/2oqMZ4R](https://usat.ly/2oqMZ4R) > > What a fucking pussy. This guy should be stoned. Fucking do your job and save some kids. A well paid pussy, at that. > [@](#): > > In 2016, his annual salary was more than $75,600, though that could have changed in the years since ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/12737 "2018-02-23T07:07:54Z")
Say what you will about this guy’s intestinal fortitude, and I won’t argue with you too hard, but I think this goes to show what a ridiculous idea it is to pay some retiree 80 grand a year to guard your school when it’s obvious that he couldn’t have done shit, probably even if he would have gone inside the building. The odds are that if he would have gone inside there just would have been one more body - his. What the fuck is one 54 year old guy with a handgun going to do against a rampaging teen with an AR-15? The whole notion of one security guard solving all the problems of a potential school shooting is more akin to a feel-good measure in face of this kind of fire-power. ---
**Author:** ![SaneBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SaneBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaneBill)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/12738 "2018-02-23T07:37:13Z")
Even trained people in chaotic scene tend to shoot just anyone who suddenly appears around the corner, especially if that person screams. May that be a killer or panicked student. If that cop would’ve gone inside there’s no saying how many students he would’ve shot. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/12739 "2018-02-23T14:25:59Z")
> [@SaneBill](#): > > Even trained people in chaotic scene tend to shoot just anyone who suddenly appears around the corner, especially if that person screams. May that be a killer or panicked student. > If that cop would’ve gone inside there’s no saying how many students he would’ve shot. I won’t argue that you’re wrong (hence, this thread). But perhaps that’s a reason to have better training for cops and “resource officers” alike. Don’t shoot unarmed people, or armed people who aren’t an immediate threat. It should be fairly easy to identify the one person in a school who is armed with a rifle. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/12740 "2018-02-23T14:46:13Z")
> [@Orwell](#): > > I won’t argue that you’re wrong (hence, this thread). But perhaps that’s a reason to have better training for cops and “resource officers” alike. Don’t shoot unarmed people, or armed people who aren’t an immediate threat. > > It should be fairly easy to identify the one person in a school who is armed with a rifle. How do you know it’s a rifle? How do you know there’s just one person? ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/12741 "2018-02-23T14:52:13Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > How do you know it’s a rifle? How do you know there’s just one person? Good points. I guess you wouldn’t at the time. But you would still be looking for someone who is armed, following the sounds. And, yes, to anticipate your next objection, the shooter could ditch the gun and blend in with the other students, which is just what this shooter did, I guess. Not an easy situation, for sure, which is all the more reason to allow teachers to be armed. They are right there as it’s happening. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=636) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=638)