Thinking about the family that has had a loved oned killed is not the same thing as wishing that the family of the killer is destroyed.
The videos linked to in this thread clearly show you what happened unless you want to believe something else happened.
Detroit would like a word with you.
Having watched this terrible incident as filmed, I cannot imagine any scenario in which the shooting of a man handcuffed and laying on his stomach while surrounded by three police officers is justified and is anything other than murder.
I was born in Detroit and taught there for 34 years. Lived for for a time too as an adult. So please, lets cut the Detroit jokes.
Detroit: where the weak are killed and eaten.
Well, to be a police officer in California you have to be 20 years old and go to through seven months of low-calorie coursework. Honestly, what do you expect? Seems to me the State of California should think about demanding more education and training before they start handing out firearms en masse.
- Honesty
Did the videos show a true Scotsman carrying porridge through the station?
I can understand you wanting to be some logical and morally acceptable explanation of why the officer killed this person so the cognitive dissonance that you’re exhibiting on this matter is quite understandable.
Hey, I’m back. Sorry for posing questions and fading; transatlantic moves kinda threw my schedule off.
Anyway - Roulette phrased it quite well. I don’t want to see Mehserle hung out to dry but I do want him called to account for his actions, something that is expected of civilians put in the same situation, and something that Mehserle has so far successfully maneuvered to avoid. If the situation had been reversed - Grant shot Mehserle while on duty and it was captured on film - would Grant be home with his wife and child, not worrying about any upcoming questioning or investigation?
No way. He would have been questioned within hours. I don’t know if the news media got it wrong but the officer hadn’t been questioned for 5 days. That falls into the category of WTH?
the police we not trying that hard to control the situation. their sloppiness in performing their duty was that fault,
and it is going to be frustrating until we hear this police force admit it, and announce the intent to change it
And how were they suppose to control the crowd? Did you see the video of people advancing on them? It looked like one of them took a swing at an officer. This started with police responding to fights and the crowd thought it was a group participation event. If they did the classic “pile on” with the person who originally resisted then the crowd would have ratcheted it up a notch in response to police brutality.
Why the police officer drew his gun I have no clue but it was a circus from the git-go with the crowd.
I think the crowd would have reacted better to another officer leaning over and holding one of this guy’s arms in place than to an officer tasering him in the back. He was already pinned down it’s not like they have to wrestle him to the ground or hit him with an asp a few times. As it was, from the time he was pinned they only gave it about 20 seconds before putting a round in his back. That’s not exactly giving it the old college try.
This is all completely tangential to the point anyway. Even if the crowd suddenly rioted and attacked the officers, there still would be no reason for shooting a pinned down man in the back. I understand that an unruly crowd can raise stress levels, but that doesn’t justify or even mitigate what happened.
Well I agree with you on how the individual was handled, I was talking about the crowd. Been there, done that when a crowd gets out of hand. They were already spooled with the initial confrontation. One thing feeds on another.
Agreed.
Latest news: The BART policeman has been arrested:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/13/BAM615A08A.DTL&tsp=1
Ed
Lets see, that would be Tuesday the 13th? 13 days to sit him down for a serious discussion. I’d like THAT investigated as well. If I shot a cop I would be in custody explaining something to someone on day 1.
No, you would be dead on day 1.
True that, and there would be far fewer people speculating whether you accidentally shot a cop and expressing sympathy for your family because you would lose your job as a result of your actions.
He’s not explaining something to someone. He’s been arrested for murder.
Ed
No one here has said that Grant deserved to be shot. So, you guys can stop beating that strawman. Or, posting it over and over and over. That was conceded Page 1 (and page 2, and page 3, and page 4…)
There are possible sitreps where the Police might have needed to stun Clark, leading to the idea that the cop meant to tase Clark but drew his gun instead. Making this a horrible accident and thus Manslaughter.
In Nevada. On a fugitive warrant. Another one for the WTH list.