# 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:** 728
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2019, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14542 "2019-01-09T05:10:14Z")
> [@UCBearcats](#): > > [Police officer shoots Chihuahua during call, loses Arkansas dept. job](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/01/07/police-officer-shoots-chihuahua-during-call-loses-arkansas-dept-job/2499817002) > > At least this one was held accountable. I guess a dog is more valuable to the cops than a person. That would be a dead cop, and I’d be happy to serve life in prison for that. ---
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2019, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14543 "2019-01-09T05:39:53Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > That would be a dead cop, and I’d be happy to serve life in prison for that. That’s what they want you to think. The lamestream media won’t tell you that that dog was an illegal immigrant and a member of MS13 who smuggled drugs for Democrat child pornography operations, and his death was the only way to save a bus load of orphans from… crap, I suck at this, give me a minute… vegans? ---
**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:** [January 9, 2019, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14544 "2019-01-09T20:36:27Z")
> [@UCBearcats](#): > > [Police officer shoots Chihuahua during call, loses Arkansas dept. job](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/01/07/police-officer-shoots-chihuahua-during-call-loses-arkansas-dept-job/2499817002) > > At least this one was held accountable. I guess a dog is more valuable to the cops than a person. Is there a legal fund to donate to so someone can sue the shit outta this former deputy? ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2019, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14545 "2019-01-12T16:22:38Z")
[https://www.yahoo.com/gma/indiana-police-release-body-cam-footage-officer-accidentally-105708183--abc-news-topstories.html](https://www.yahoo.com/gma/indiana-police-release-body-cam-footage-officer-accidentally-105708183--abc-news-topstories.html) Now even the cops aren’t safe from cops. Technically doesn’t fit the thread but apparently if you’re a cop, there are no consequences even if you shoot another cop. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2019, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14546 "2019-01-12T17:18:50Z")
> [@Isosleepy](#): > > [https://www.yahoo.com/gma/indiana-police-release-body-cam-footage-officer-accidentally-105708183--abc-news-topstories.html](https://www.yahoo.com/gma/indiana-police-release-body-cam-footage-officer-accidentally-105708183--abc-news-topstories.html) Now even the cops aren’t safe from cops. Technically doesn’t fit the thread but apparently if you’re a cop, there are no consequences even if you shoot another cop. > [@](#): > > “Our conclusion in this incident was this was not a result of an act of negligence, carelessness or otherwise reckless behavior,” Lafayette Police Chief Patrick Flannelly said at a press conference Friday. “It was accidental.” Because, you know, accidents are never the result of negligence, carelessness or reckless behavior. ---
**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:** [January 17, 2019, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14547 "2019-01-17T21:33:22Z")
The search for justice continues. Nope, none yet. **3 Chicago Police Officers Acquitted Of Cover-Up In Laquan McDonald Shooting** [https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/3-chicago-police-officers-acquitted-of-cover-up-in-laquan-mcdonald-shooting/ar-BBSoejP](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/3-chicago-police-officers-acquitted-of-cover-up-in-laquan-mcdonald-shooting/ar-BBSoejP) The smirk on this asshole’s face… ---
**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:** [January 18, 2019, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14548 "2019-01-18T23:54:56Z")
[7 years](https://apnews.com/6bff6a3427a9497dad34ad5dcbfe8c22)! > [@](#): > > The white Chicago police officer who gunned down a black teenager in 2014 was sentenced Friday to nearly seven years in prison, bringing an end to a historic case that was centered on a shocking dashcam video and fueled national debates about race and policing and law enforcement’s “code of silence.” > > Jason Van Dyke was convicted last year of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery — one for each bullet he fired at Laquan McDonald. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2019, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14549 "2019-01-19T00:05:11Z")
Yeah. As it turns out, the sentencing for the lesser charge, aggravated battery with a firearm, is more severe. And he was facing 16 of those. The McDonald family member speaking wanted to make sure it was said that if the sentence was one minute, it would still be a precendent. But, shit. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2019, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14550 "2019-01-19T18:26:53Z")
Tempe, AZ. [Cop shoots a 14-year-old alleged car thief in the back as he runs away.](https://abcnews.go.com/US/tempe-police-release-body-cam-cop-fatally-shooting/story?id=60486902) Includes bodycam video of the shooting. The police spokesman in the linked video (at 0.45 in the clip) says, “The suspect turned towards the officer, at which time the officer perceived a threat, and fired his service weapon.” Judge for yourself whether you think that’s an accurate description of the events shown in the bodycam video. The kid is dead. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14551 "2019-01-26T03:27:36Z")
This is off-topic because it is between two law enforcement officers, but I thought it might be of interest: > [@](#): > > Neighbors peeked out from their two-story red-brick homes a few blocks from the banks of the Mississippi River and saw a sight too familiar in a city rattled by gun violence: two men dragging a bleeding woman into a vehicle and then speeding away. > > But then they noticed something odd. The vehicle was marked with the St. Louis Police Department logo. And the two men were officers. > > In fact, the grievously wounded woman, who soon died at a hospital was a police officer, too: Katlyn Alix, a 24-year-old Army veteran with two years on the force. And St. Louis authorities soon said she was killed by a colleague. > > At first, police called it an “accidental” killing after an officer “mishandled" a gun. But St. Louis prosecutors on Friday evening came to a different conclusion. \*\*The officers, they say, were playing a deadly game — pointing a gun with one round in the chamber at each other and then pulling the trigger. > \*\* > Now, Officer Nathaniel R. Hendren, 29, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action, both felony charges, according to documents released late on Friday by Kimberly M. Gardner, the St. Louis circuit attorney. > **[An off-duty police officer was shot in the chest. Prosecutors say it was a...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/01/25/an-off-duty-cop-met-up-with-two-other-officers-one-fatally-shot-her-chest/)** > > Officer Katlyn Alix died early Thursday after another officer shot her in the chest in an “accidental discharge.” One of her colleagues has been charged. Other articles: > **[Questions surround killing of off-duty St. Louis police officer by on-duty...](https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-courts/off-duty-st-louis-officer-killed-by-fellow-cop-who/article_f3592056-3e0f-5e6a-b083-38039a17424e.html)** > > Two on-duty male officers had gone to one of their homes during their shift when the off-duty female officer stopped by and was shot, police said. [https://twitter.com/stlcao/status/1088949982516994049/photo/1](https://twitter.com/stlcao/status/1088949982516994049/photo/1) ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14552 "2019-01-26T05:16:55Z")
Russian Roulette, but with other people’s lives. Neat. I did wonder if something was up with this case, because the initial statements were written in some pretty extreme cop-speak. It was made to sound like the bullet had animated itself and flown into her chest with no involvement from anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14553 "2019-01-26T05:32:18Z")
Wait. So, the killer, who was on duty, went to his home with another officer. The victim, who was not on duty, was just stopping by for a social call, at _1:00 AM_, when the occupant of the home was not supposed to be there (so she must have been notified that her presence there was desired). While there, at 1:00 AM, they supposedly got into a friendly old game of Russian Roulette (but pointed at the other person) and the victim accidentally became dead from a bullet that happened to involuntarily hit her. Nah. I wonder what really happened. Sex? Drugs? ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14554 "2019-01-26T06:40:55Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > Nah. I wonder what really happened. Sex? Drugs? You said it. If _that_ is the cover story, how fucked up was whatever really happened? ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14555 "2019-01-26T16:35:43Z")
Some key takeaways: there was a third officer present. He was “uncomfortable” with two other cops “playing with guns”. He is the best cop in the story, because he wasn’t terminally stupid or remained part of the coverup. But his response to two cops, one of which on duty, being as irresponsible as possible, didn’t rise beyond discomfort. The department, because of course, tried to sell it as “accidental discharge” and “mishandling”. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14556 "2019-01-26T18:06:43Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > The victim, who was not on duty, was just stopping by for a social call, at _1:00 AM_, The 1 AM portion seems entirely normal to me. I’ve also done shift work like law enforcement does. My time in two second shift supervisory positions had me as the lone member of management and not hanging out with my employees outside of work. Some of my employees were friends and absolutely did arrange to do things like visiting each other to socialize after work in the middle of the night. It’s similar to people on typical daytime schedules hanging out at a friends house in the early evening after work. There’s plenty of fishy stuff there. The time isn’t fishy IMO. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2019, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14557 "2019-01-26T18:32:58Z")
> [@DinoR](#): > > Some of my employees were friends and absolutely did arrange to do things like visiting each other to socialize after work in the middle of the night. Which is all well and good, but unless I am reading the story wrong, two of the three officers _were on duty_. That is somewhat/very different from hanging out after work. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2019, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14558 "2019-01-26T19:38:18Z")
These cops don’t seem to understand that you’re supposed to point the gun at \*yourself \*when you play Russian roulette, not another player. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2019, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14559 "2019-01-26T20:00:56Z")
_An unmarked Los Angeles police car was discovered Friday morning in Carson, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department … The unmarked vehicle has collision damage and a missing wheel, a source familiar with the investigation said._ The car was apparently [abandoned by](https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-lapd-commander-investigation-crash-20190125-story.html) a police commander who oversees a team that investigates police shootings. Last I looked, hit-and-run is kind of frowned upon. You are supposed to stay with your car until the police show up. Of course, if you _are_ the police … ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14560 "2019-01-26T20:14:55Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Which is all well and good, but unless I am reading the story wrong, two of the three officers _were on duty_. I’d put that in the likely fucked up category of not doing their jobs; only likely just because something like taking their lunch break there isn’t entirely impossible and we don’t have information to confirm or deny. Going over to socialize with coworkers ignoring the job you all share is fucked up. It being 1 AM isn’t noteworthy IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/14561 "2019-01-26T21:30:25Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > These cops don’t seem to understand that you’re supposed to point the gun at \*yourself \*when you play Russian roulette, not another player. Assuming they \*were \*playing, and this wasn’t a deliberate murder. It’s not hard to imagine scenarios in which the shooting was either a premeditated or heat-of-the-moment deliberate attack. In fact, many of those scenarios make a lot more sense than the explanation offered by the department. Example: The department is already under pressure related to indictments for cop-on-cop violence last year. Internal tension and rifts are not unlikely. Under those circumstances, say that Cop A sees or hears something incriminating, and word gets around that they’re considering reporting it (either out of duty or to cover their own ass). Cop B would be implicated if an investigation starts, but Cop A doesn’t know that, so when Cop B says he has some relevant info, but is worried about sharing it at the station, Cop A agrees to meet him at his home. Cop B’s attempts to dissuade/misdirect/persuade/intimidate Cop A fail, the situation escalates, and Cop A gets shot. (Cop C, who was okay with his partner trying to talk Cop A down, isn’t happy about being an accessory to murder, and insists on calling for help. When Cop A dies, Cop C doesn’t think the “accidental discharge” story is going to fly. His story is even dumber, but it has the advantage of underbussing his partner.) This is obviously pure speculation, a scenario I made up to fit the few facts I’ve read. I’m just reaching for a less egregiously _stupid_ explanation than the official one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=727) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=729)