# 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:** 724
**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 30, 2018, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14462 "2018-11-30T10:57:55Z")
Meanwhile in Canada . . . , here is how police deal with bad cops. [Niagara cop shot by fellow officer upgraded to stable condition | Toronto Sun](https://torontosun.com/news/provincial/niagara-regional-police-officer-seriously-hurt-in-shooting-incident-siu?fbclid=IwAR2rCVR_DoHwPgivwfi4FKBhtFaJHGiulcVTmgWY4rv9-ngwEKrDcrZvcwU) ---
**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:** [November 30, 2018, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14463 "2018-11-30T12:39:22Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Meanwhile in Canada . . . , here is how police deal with bad cops. [Niagara cop shot by fellow officer upgraded to stable condition | Toronto Sun](https://torontosun.com/news/provincial/niagara-regional-police-officer-seriously-hurt-in-shooting-incident-siu?fbclid=IwAR2rCVR_DoHwPgivwfi4FKBhtFaJHGiulcVTmgWY4rv9-ngwEKrDcrZvcwU) I see he was docked quite a bit of pay over the years, but was never kicked off the force. Is that what you were pointing out? ---
**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 30, 2018, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14464 "2018-11-30T17:46:30Z")
Sorry about placing this here, but I didn’t want to start a Controversial Encounters…Cops On Cops thread: (It’s close anyway because these dumb, violent cops thought the other cop was a civilian…) “Boone, 35, and two other officers, Randy Hays, 31, and Christopher Myers, 27, threw a man to the ground and viciously kicked him and beat him with riot shields, even though he was complying with their instructions.But the three cops had no idea that the man was actually a 22-year police veteran working undercover, whom they beat so badly that he couldn’t eat and lost 20 pounds. …” > **[St. Louis cops indicted for assaulting undercover officer posing as...](https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-st-louis-police-officers-charged-in-beating-20181129-story.html)** > > Three St. Louis police officers are accused of beating an undercover colleague during a protest and, along with a fourth officer, conspiring to cover it up. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14465 "2018-11-30T17:48:55Z")
The paradox between which cop’s statement should be believed will destroy the universe. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2018, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14466 "2018-11-30T17:51:10Z")
I’d say that since they thought he was a civilian, this fits the purposes of the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14467 "2018-11-30T21:41:31Z")
Amber Guyger, the Dallas cop who shot and killed a black man in his own apartment has been indicted for murder. The indictment says she “knowingly and intentionally” shot him. > **[The Ex–Dallas Police Officer Who Fatally Shot A Black Man In His Own...](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tasneemnashrulla/botham-jean-murder-dallas-police-officer-indicted?utm_source=dynamic&utm_campaign=bffbbuzzfeednews&ref=bffbbuzzfeednews&fbclid=IwAR3L9UkuOV_KF9xYvHf_yv-TzXt3T8_TvPa2x0Rq7DGfeUqq3vNf17O6pLQ)** > > Amber Guyger was off duty when she killed Botham Jean. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2018, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14468 "2018-11-30T21:55:40Z")
Curse your bots, **Rick Kitchen**! 😃 Oh well, [here’s the AP article](https://apnews.com/94bf05c1d45145e683d5f446b2db0718). ---
**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:** [November 30, 2018, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14469 "2018-11-30T23:38:12Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > [https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/midwest/ct-st-louis-police-officers-charged-in-beating-20181129-story.html#nt=oft06a-2li2](https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/midwest/ct-st-louis-police-officers-charged-in-beating-20181129-story.html#nt=oft06a-2li2) This is the same case mentioned by **Banquet Bear** up on post #14443. This is another case that gives the lie to the idea that cops are just trying to do their job responsibly, but sometimes overreact under high-pressure circumstances. The [indictment](https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1115986/download) (PDF) in this case shows that these cops were texting one another before the protests, expressing their anticipation and genuine excitement at the possibility of violence. Texts included sentiments like: > [@](#): > > The more the merrier!!! It’s gonna get IGNORANT tonight!!. But it’s gonna be a lot of fun beating the hell out of these shitheads once the sun goes down and nobody can tell us apart!!! > > \ > > I’m on [Sgt \*\*'s] arrest team! me and a BIG OL black dude r the guys that are hands on! No stick or shield…just fuck people up when they don’t act right! … > > That’s my dude today! Haha he’s basically a thug that’s on our side!!! It’s he and I that just grab fuckers and toss em around. > > \ > > Yeah. A lot of cops gettin hurt, but it’s still a blast beating people that deserve it. And I’m not one of the people hurt, so I’m still enjoying each night… > > \ > > Did everyone see the protestors getting FUCKED UP in the galleria??? That was awesome! ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14470 "2018-12-01T01:14:44Z")
Well, they thought he was a civilian and it’s the thought that matters. ETA: didn’t realize that we were onto a new page. ---
**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:** [December 1, 2018, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14471 "2018-12-01T01:47:43Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Sorry about placing this here, but I didn’t want to start a Controversial Encounters..Cops On Cops thread: > (It’s close anyway because these dumb, violent cops thought the other cop was a civilian…) > > “Boone, 35, and two other officers, Randy Hays, 31, and Christopher Myers, 27, threw a man to the ground and viciously kicked him and beat him with riot shields, even though he was complying with their instructions.But the three cops had no idea that the man was actually a 22-year police veteran working undercover, whom they beat so badly that he couldn’t eat and lost 20 pounds. …” > > [https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/midwest/ct-st-louis-police-officers-charged-in-beating-20181129-story.html#nt=oft06a-2li2](https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/midwest/ct-st-louis-police-officers-charged-in-beating-20181129-story.html#nt=oft06a-2li2) And, of course, the undercover officer is black. Nice work, officers. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14472 "2018-12-01T06:20:10Z")
[Precious Jones, a black woman, was sentenced to spend weekends in jail after being late to pay a traffic ticket.](https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/columns/tony-messenger/messenger-st-louis-woman-did-days-in-jail-for-speeding/article_3aca26a5-dca7-5103-8b0e-0fd1b6179b82.html) Since her license was then suspended and the judge wouldn’t let her serve her jail time close to home, she ended up reporting to jail late one day, though she stayed in jail “overtime” to make up for it. That’s why the judge now wants her to spend six more months in jail, and to compensate the State of Missouri for room and board when she gets out. For a traffic ticket. ---
**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:** [December 1, 2018, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14473 "2018-12-01T07:20:23Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > [Precious Jones, a black woman, was sentenced to spend weekends in jail after being late to pay a traffic ticket.](https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/columns/tony-messenger/messenger-st-louis-woman-did-days-in-jail-for-speeding/article_3aca26a5-dca7-5103-8b0e-0fd1b6179b82.html) Since her license was then suspended and the judge wouldn’t let her serve her jail time close to home, she ended up reporting to jail late one day, though she stayed in jail “overtime” to make up for it. That’s why the judge now wants her to spend six more months in jail, and to compensate the State of Missouri for room and board when she gets out. For a traffic ticket. The justice system does seem to be geared toward beating people down, which is socially counterproductive if you want things to not get worse for everyone. On the other hand, the story says that she was doing 120 on the interstate, which really is pretty seriously out of line, not what I would call just a traffic ticket. ---
**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:** [December 1, 2018, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14474 "2018-12-01T07:35:42Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > The justice system does seem to be geared toward beating people down, which is socially counterproductive if you want things to not get worse for everyone. On the other hand, the story says that she was doing 120 on the interstate, which really is pretty seriously out of line, not what I would call just a traffic ticket. I found [another story about this](https://atlantablackstar.com/2018/11/28/st-louis-woman-thought-she-resolved-a-speeding-ticket-after-serving-time-now-she-faces-another-6-months-in-jail-more-fines/), not sure if these details are in **septimus** ’s link: > [@](#): > > Though shocked by the harsh sentencing, Jones still managed to hitch a ride every Friday to serve out her time at the Lafayette County Jail — a nearly three-hour drive from her home in St. Louis County. One day in May, Jones arrived an hour late due to work-related issues. On a separate incident in June, her car broke down. > > She alerted the jail and wasn’t able to make it to Lafayette County until the next day. The jail then kept her for two full days. > > By July, Jones figured she had served her time and paid off her debts. She was dealt a huge blow in September, however, when she received a letter in the mail from Lafayette County saying there was a warrant out for her arrest. It turned out prosecutor Kristen Hilbrenner was seeking to revoke her probation for the time she was late to jail, despite the fact that Jones had stayed and served her full time. That’s outrageous. She served as many minutes as she was ordered to. She should be done. This prosecutor is out of line IMO. If Miss Jones’s being late was that big a deal, it should have been dealt with right then and there. Our justice system should not perpetuate itself. ---
**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:** [December 1, 2018, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14475 "2018-12-01T07:55:59Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > The justice system does seem to be geared toward beating people down, which is socially counterproductive if you want things to not get worse for everyone. On the other hand, the story says that she was doing 120 on the interstate, which really is pretty seriously out of line, not what I would call just a traffic ticket. But whatever the penalty is for driving 120, it shouldn’t be massively compounded for people who are poor, just because they’re poor. Which is basically what happened here, and what happens throughout the system. America’s penal system looks more an more like a debtors’ prison. ---
**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:** [December 1, 2018, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14476 "2018-12-01T19:37:05Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > But whatever the penalty is for driving 120, it shouldn’t be massively compounded for people who are poor, just because they’re poor. Which is basically what happened here, and what happens throughout the system. America’s penal system looks more an more like a debtors’ prison. Back in 1985 I got a ticket in Montana for doing 120+. The ticket was $36. ---
**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:** [December 1, 2018, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14477 "2018-12-01T19:42:55Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Back in 1985 I got a ticket in Montana for doing 120+. The ticket was $36. …and that was for passing that fire truck without signalling. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2018, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14478 "2018-12-02T00:03:00Z")
A police station in Minneapolis decorated their Christmas tree with a Newport cigarette pack, a can of Steel Reserve malt liquor, police tape, empty bags of Funyuns and Takis and a cup from Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. Two cops have been suspended and the mayor is calling for them to be fired. > **[Minneapolis police officers who put up racist Christmas tree decorations will...](https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/minneapolis-police-officer-put-racist-christmas-tree-decorations-will-fired-183728339.html)** > > The display was a Christmas tree adorned with a Newport cigarette pack, a can of Steel Reserve malt liquor, police tape, empty bags of Funyuns and Takis and a cup from Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2018, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14479 "2018-12-02T00:14:21Z")
Were the two police officers involved white? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2018, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14480 "2018-12-02T00:15:33Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Were the two police officers involved white? Presumably. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2018, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14481 "2018-12-02T00:22:45Z")
I just can’t understand why white police officers would decorate a tree like that. For what reason? Antagonize their fellow black officers? I don’t get it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=723) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=725)