# 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:** 95
**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:** [April 20, 2015, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1881 "2015-04-20T20:39:53Z")
It appears that being black in America is viewed by the police in the same way as being an ex-con. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2015, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1882 "2015-04-20T20:43:05Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > Tampa Bay’s finest, meting out justice on an even keel: > > [How riding your bike can land you in trouble with the cops — if you’re black](http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/how-riding-your-bike-can-land-you-in-trouble-with-the-cops---if-youre-black/2225966) > > Only CRIMINALS don’t carry around their bike receipts! Who the fuck carries around the receipt _for a bike_? Of all my possessions, the only ones I can probably prove I bought are the cars and the house. And for the house I’d have to go to the safe deposit box. ---
**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:** [April 20, 2015, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1883 "2015-04-20T20:50:02Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > What part of broken spine, injured voice box and dead a day later do you not understand, you stupid fuck? The part where he didn’t deserve any of that. > [@](#): > > Oh, let me guess, you stopped reading at “Black man”, right? I do not believe that white people should be allowed to get away with crimes for which others would receive appropriate justice. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1884 "2015-04-20T20:51:33Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I do not believe that white people should be allowed to get away with crimes for which others would receive appropriate justice. And how would you propose we go about rectifying that? Let the cops self-investigate? ---
**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:** [April 20, 2015, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1885 "2015-04-20T20:54:00Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > And how would you propose we go about rectifying that? Let the cops self-investigate? Having people who are trained in the law and investigative techniques looking into the matter is certainly a better idea than people who know neither acting as judge and jury based on a Youtube video. ---
**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:** [April 20, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1886 "2015-04-20T21:03:49Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > Having people who are trained in the law and investigative techniques looking into the matter is certainly a better idea than people who know neither acting as judge and jury based on a Youtube video. Ok, so cops are right out! Lawyers, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![slumtrimpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@slumtrimpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slumtrimpet)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2015, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1887 "2015-04-20T21:12:33Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > … > > I do not believe that white people should be allowed to get away with crimes for which others would receive appropriate justice. Wait. What? Are you saying the ‘justice’ administered to ‘others’ (sounds like a pretty loud dog whistle for people of color) is what white people should also receive 'cause… well, 'cause it’s appropriate? :eek: Holy moly! In other words, breaking spines and shootings in the back and beating the life out of someone just for shits and grins is ‘appropriate’ and should be administered across the board to everyone instead of just people of color. Lovely. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2015, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1888 "2015-04-20T21:18:29Z")
[Cop found not guilty in fatal 2012 shooting of Rekia Boyd](http://gawker.com/cop-found-not-guilty-in-fatal-2012-shooting-of-rekia-bo-1699043824) “Servin said he saw Antonio Cross reach for a gun during the conflict, and only fired because he felt his life was in danger. One of the bullets fatally struck Boyd. Police never found a weapon on Cross.” ---
**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:** [April 20, 2015, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1889 "2015-04-20T21:19:10Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > Ok, so cops are right out! > > Lawyers, maybe? Ideally, independent detectives and lawyers. If that’s not an option, the local cops are certainly going to do better than random internet commentators. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2015, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1890 "2015-04-20T21:21:21Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > Tampa Bay’s finest, meting out justice on an even keel: > > > [@](#): > > > > There was the 54-year-old man whose bike was confiscated because he couldn’t produce a receipt to prove it was his. > > Only CRIMINALS don’t carry around their bike receipts! ]Isn’t that sorta like how back in the day cops would demand well-dressed blacks to produce a store receipt to prove they hadn’t shoplifted the clothes? > [@slumtrimpet](#): > > Wait. What? Are you saying the ‘justice’ administered to ‘others’ (sounds like a pretty loud dog whistle for people of color) is what white people should also receive 'cause… well, 'cause it’s appropriate? :eek: > Holy moly! > In other words, breaking spines and shootings in the back and beating the life out of someone just for shits and grins is ‘appropriate’ and should be administered across the board to everyone instead of just people of color. > Lovely. The idea has some merit: If middle-class white people got treated by the police for a single day the way black people get treated, they’d storm the precinct houses and hang the police from lampposts. ---
**Author:** ![slumtrimpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@slumtrimpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slumtrimpet)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2015, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1891 "2015-04-20T21:25:27Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > ]… > The idea has some merit: If middle-class white people got treated by the police for a single day the way black people get treated, they’d storm the precinct houses and hang the police from lampposts. Well yeah, but it’s still not ‘appropriate’. ---
**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:** [April 20, 2015, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1892 "2015-04-20T21:39:55Z")
> [@slumtrimpet](#): > > In other words, breaking spines and shootings in the back and beating the life out of someone just for shits and grins is ‘appropriate’ and should be administered across the board to everyone instead of just people of color. > Lovely. If adult human beings haven’t learned the appropriate way to obey the law and respect officers of the government, then yes, they need to have some common sense beaten into them. > [@Lumpy](#): > > ]The idea has some merit: If middle-class white people got treated by the police for a single day the way black people get treated, they’d storm the precinct houses and hang the police from lampposts. I have no opposition to people using the ballot box as a means of objecting to police practice. Vigilantism and mob justice, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2015, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1893 "2015-04-20T21:42:54Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > If adult human beings haven’t learned the appropriate way to obey the law and respect officers of the government, then yes, they need to have some common sense beaten into them. Showing anything but the utmost deference definitely necessitates the use of deadly force. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2015, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1894 "2015-04-20T21:51:23Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > If adult human beings haven’t learned the appropriate way to obey the law and respect officers of the government, then yes, they need to have some common sense beaten into them. Before, or after a trial? ---
**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:** [April 20, 2015, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1895 "2015-04-20T21:53:48Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Before, or after a trial? Before. But bear in mind the level of “respect” that’s being talked about is the fairly low level of not fleeing or attacking the officer. ---
**Author:** ![OwnRules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ea666f/32.png) [@OwnRules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OwnRules)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2015, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1896 "2015-04-20T22:16:45Z")
Follow-up on the 73 year old Tulsa reserve deputy who killed a black man due to a mistake between his gun and taser: [**Tulsa sheriff chokes up while defending reserve deputies: First priority ‘is to my God’**](http://www.rawstory.com/2015/04/tulsa-sheriff-chokes-up-while-defending-reserve-deputies-first-priority-is-to-my-god/comments/) > [@Sheriff Stanley Glanz](#): > > “ **One of the things I tell all my employees,” he said, choking up. “I have priorities in my life. First is to my God. Number two is my family. And third is being sheriff**.” How about you work as a pastor or a priest and have someone who cares about law and justice take your place? Asshole. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2015, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1897 "2015-04-20T22:19:23Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I have no opposition to people using the ballot box as a means of objecting to police practice. Vigilantism and mob justice, not so much. Most people here would agree with you, with the exception of NRA-Republicans who prefer their “Second amendment solution”. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2015, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1898 "2015-04-20T22:52:16Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > Before. But bear in mind the level of “respect” that’s being talked about is the fairly low level of not fleeing or attacking the officer. It sounds like you are saying that fleeing a police officer justifies the use of deadly force. Is that correct? ---
**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:** [April 20, 2015, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1899 "2015-04-20T23:13:53Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > It sounds like you are saying that fleeing a police officer justifies the use of deadly force. Is that correct? It appears to be something like fleeing from a mountain lion. If you encounter a mountain lion in the wild, you are supposed to face it down, make yourself look big, and fight for your life if you have to, fleeing just triggers its chase-and-eat reflex. The police are just like that. You have to face them down, make yourself look big and convince them that you are not prey; fleeing just triggers their chase-and-subdue reflex, a primal thing that they have no control over. I think it is the badge, some kind of cave-man-brain field is generated by the badge. ---
**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:** [April 21, 2015, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/1900 "2015-04-21T00:41:28Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > It sounds like you are saying that fleeing a police officer justifies the use of deadly force. Is that correct? No. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=94) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=96)