Deputy who accidentally shot restrained man actually wealthy executive who pays to play cop

[ghostsinthemachine]

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/deputy-who-accidentally-shot-restrained-man-actually-wealthy-executive-who-pays

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

1. The PUKE who shot him and told him fuck his breath?

Do we know who said that?

Someone who wants to play cops and robbers is the last person who should have a gun

[Comrade Grumpy]

2. The guy who shoot appears to have done so accidentally.

You can hear him on video immediately saying "I'm sorry" or something like that, just after he yells "Taser!" and then pulls his handgun and shoots.

He's also a heavily trained former cop. I think this really was an accident. He drew the wrong weapon. That said, he should be charged with manslaughter. That's what would happen to you or me if we accidentally shot and killed somebody.

He wasn't the guy who said "fuck you breath." That was one of the muscle-bound, bullet-headed regular deputies. That asshole needs to be fired.

[LordGlenconner]

7. He is apparently the sherriff's insurance agent

So not sure about the former cop claim.

[Comrade Grumpy]

11. Looks like I have to back away from that claim.

I read an earlier story on this that said he was a retired cop, but the Washington Post today says he was only a cop for one year, back in 1964-65.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/04/13/the-73-year-old-reserve-cop-who-mistook-his-gun-for-a-taser/

The dude fucked up, and needs to be charged with manslaughter.

The asshole deputy needs to be fired.

[LordGlenconner]

15. Agreed

Unfortunately these "pay to play" jobs are fairly common in SDs in some areas.

[Adrahil]

53. I don't know the subtleties, but Manslaughter seems appropriate. n/t

[951-Riverside]

9. +1000. I know people want any excuse to hate the police this it was an accident. End of story.

Just like the Eric Garner accident, the Akai Gurley accident, the McKenzie Cochran accident, the Jason Conoscenti accident, the John Winkler accident, the Levar Edward Jones accident and how could we forget about the Oscar Grant accident.

This poor old guy who was just trying to help his community is now getting his name and reputation dragged through the mud by a bunch of ne'er do wells who are just looking for any excuse to bash the police over an accident.

Thanks for being the voice of reason here Comrade Grumpy.

[Comrade Grumpy]

13. The guy needs to be charged with manslaughter.

[951-Riverside]

16. Over an accident? I don't think so bub! The officer said it was an accident & apologized immediately

Manslaughter would only apply if the officer pulled his gun during the commission of a crime that he was committing and the gun went off by accident, no crime was committed here.

[msongs]

20. not an "accident". sheesh the guy chose to use a gun and committed homicide. the dead man hardly

thinks it was an "accident"

[progressoid]

21. Well, if he apologized then that's good enough.

Oops.

[etherealtruth]

35. No sh*t!

[denbot]

25. I'm a truck driver, if I make a mistake and someone dies I WILL be prosecuted.

Manslaughter or murder, no question. Why should that asshole be any different?

[leveymg]

26. Too bad the victim didn't live long enough to realize "it was an accident." Manslaughter.

Incompetence. The whole case of assailants in this sad episode has evident mental health problems. The guy who made the comment "fuck your breath . . . you fucking ran" is terminally nuts and clearly too dangerous to be a cop. Here's the punch-line:

"You fucking RAN. Shut the fuck UP. FUCK your breath."

[Laffy Kat]

51. It was negligence if he didn't know what the fuck he was doing!

Anyone who could get their gun and taser mixed up should not be policing. It WAS at the very least manslaughter, IMO.

[Logical]

17. You call that just an "accident"? Imagine you did it to the cop? What happens.....

Then?

[Comrade Grumpy]

19. If you watch the video, it looks accidental.

The old dude yelled "Taser!" then pulled the wrong weapon. And then immediately said "I'm sorry."

Now, it could have been a carefully crafted charade by the play-cop to shoot this guy and pretend it was an accident, but until I see more information to support that, I'm going with accident. They do happen.

That's why I say the guy should be charged with manslaughter. He fucked up and killed somebody. That's manslaughter.

Now, if I had done that to a cop, I'm sure I would be charged with murder, even if it was an accident. But I'm pretty sure it wouldn't come to that, and my bullet-riddled body would be laying in the street.

[Logical]

23. Fruitville station cop got hardly anything! Judges love cops. Nt

[avebury]

49. You cannot excuse what happened as an accident.

First of all, they were carrying on an undercover operation to try to nab a guy for a gun sale. Why or earth would they allow a 73 year old reserve deputy anywhere near this operation? That is pure negligence on the part of the Tulsa County Sheriff's Department.

Second of all, it is appalling that wealthy people are allowed to buy their way onto any type of reserve police outfit. Had George Zimmerman had money, this is exactly the type of situation where you would have found him. The words legalized canned hunt come to mind.

I heard an interview with a long time member of law enforcement who indicated that LEOs generally keep the taser one side of their belt and the gun on the other side which helps to minimize idiot incidents like what took place. If this 73 year old guy had both gun and taser right next to each other on his belt that was always going to be an accident waiting to happen and an incident like this predictable.

The charges filed against this guy are very appropriate and this case is being handled by a well respected DA so I do not expect things to be white washed under the bridge.

I just hope that an outside force will come in and review the Tulsa County Reserve Deputy program and institute a major over haul. Hopefully, the Sheriff will get voted out at the time of the next election.

[arcane1]

29. I thought he was a cop for only one year?

Regardless, I think the taser itself was excessive. But that's why he makes the donations, right? To rough up poor people legally.

[Comrade Grumpy]

42. Well, that's what the Washington Post says.

I thought I saw an earlier article that said he was a much more experienced cop, but I'm willing to settle for what the Post says.

[uponit7771]

33. The thinking that it takes to think the person was a threat enough to have to tase was NOT an accide

... that was forthought...

The person he tased was black...

[Scuba]

3. Kinda like a safari for wealthy racists.

[Jacoby365]

5. My thoughts exactly.

[brentspeak]

12. "The Most Dangerous Game" with a sinister twist n/t

[uponit7771]

34. +1

[hatrack]

44. Boom

.

[Jacoby365]

4. The Most Dangerous Game

The Most Dangerous Game without the challenge. Mistake a handgun for a taser? Sorry, but I'm skeptical. I understand that wealthy executives also pay to hunt exotic animals.

[KamaAina]

6. Accidentally?

[Adrahil]

54. Seems so... he certainly seems to have realized he made a mistake.

But that's a mistake that comes with a prison sentence, IMO.

But I bet he doesn't serve a day.

[Duppers]

58. my thought too.

Don't think the foil hat is necessary.
But I'm very cynical.

[Vinca]

8. At the very least the guy should be charged with manslaughter.

"Oops" isn't a defense. I hope he enjoyed his wealth while he had it, too. The victim's family probably has lawyers lined up for blocks.

[Runningdawg]

24. He won't be charged or even investigated

Sgt. Dave Walker told the Tulsa World that police “would not investigate the death unless the sheriff’s office asked them to, and they have not asked us to.”

The victims family might want to sue, but they won't find a lawyer around here willing to cross the blue line. In OK it's not just the cops that fucked up, it's the whole judicial system.

[Vinca]

32. I just read on the CNN site that he was charged with manslaughter. Better than nothing.

[TorchTheWitch]

39. 2nd degree manslaughter according to the Washington Post

I'm just freaked out about this reserve program wealthy donor or not. According to the alternet article Tulsa has 130 reserve deputies (or whatever they call them), and issuing them tasers and guns and allowing them to work on the street ith minimal training and in this man's case advanced age for such work is just nuts.

I can't help but feel a bit sorry for the man since it was this system that allowed him to believe that he was trained and fit for the work when there's no question that he wasn't and I have no doubt the other reservists in this nutty system are any better qualified. It's this reserve system that is totally insane as this kind of thing is exactly the result of unqualified people given a badge and weapons who have no business being involved in police work. Had Tulsa had the tax money to hire as many qualified officers as needed and equip them as needed there would be no need for donors of equipment or cash and no reserve system at all, and how it should be.

I'm just aghast that this man was given weapons and put into the situation that he was allowing him to believe he was capable when he wasn't.

[Vinca]

59. Many departments have parttime or "reserve" officers.

For the most part they are reasonably well trained, but usually work directly under a fully qualified officer or are assigned to brain numbing work such as traffic control. My first thought about the man in this story was that he was too old. A 73 year old man has no business playing cop. Most state police organizations have a date when officers must retire because of age and it's long before 73. I can imagine, now that I'm older and mixing up mayonnaise and sour cream, the old guy didn't make a "mistake," but was confused. If an older person is a "wannabe," they need to watch reruns of "Cops."

[TorchTheWitch]

60. that was my first thought as well

Sure there are very physically fit people at that age, but regardless it's just too old for the kind of work he was involved in. I don't know if he got confused or what during this incident. I tend to think he was just completely out of his depth and panicked. He didn't seem to be partnered up with an experienced officer either. I can't even figure why on earth he was even involved in this operation to begin with. It's just not something a reserve volunteer has the amount of training and experience to deal with.

Like you said, these reservists should be doing light work though even traffic control can be risky. I just don't think they should be on the street, period. Maybe they could if they were glued to an experienced officer but only for light sort of duty. I also don't think they should be given weapons they just don't have the experience or amount of training to handle correctly. Even experienced officers in a bad situation can panic and make a tragic mistake.

I just read something yesterday that he was buddies with the sheriff. I'm seeing special privileges all over that relationship and very much doubt that any other of the 130 reservists would have been in that same situation as this guy to begin with.

I said before that in a way I feel a bit badly for him. He was given the idea that he was perfectly competent to do this since they gave him minimal training, gave him weapons and put him in the situation. When they do all that then of course he's going to believe he's capable when his age alone disqualifies him for that kind of duty. How many others of these reservists were given the mistaken belief that they're capable when they got some training, were given weapons and could be put into similar difficult and dangerous circumstances? I'm amazed that this kind of tragedy didn't happen before, though maybe it has and it was just covered up or no one actually died or it otherwise just didn't make the press.

[avebury]

50. Apparently the DA deems otherwise and has filed charges.

Fortunately it is not up to the Tulsa County Sheriff's Department to determine whether or not to file charges.

They are ripe for a civil lawsuit for their gross negligence of allowing a 73 year old "pay to play" reserve deputy at the scene of an undercover operation. That is a civil suit that I would love to be on the jury.

[Laffy Kat]

52. Yes!, This ^^^ nt

[bullwinkle428]

10. The whole "73-year-old volunteer" thing stunk to high heaven - it was

pegging the needle on my bullshit meter.

[Sunlei]

14. he got over excited with his power to shock/torture someone with 50,000 volts.

[uponit7771]

36. Yes, that kind of thinking was NOT an accident neither was the callusnous afterwards

[ProdigalJunkMail]

18. we have a Reserve Deputy Program in our county

and they are volunteers... not pay-to-play. so i am not sure that is what is going on. it could be... but it is a bit of an assumption. are the others involved in the program required to be donors?

sP

[safeinOhio]

22. Let him play

inmate for 5 to 10.

[Hoyt]

27. Wealthy George Zimmerman. Need to put a stop to this before goes viral with gun fanciers.

[cilla4progress]

28. So, the Hunger Games

Are on, then.

[Nay]

30. Heard this on NPR. No one asked the relevant question: WHY is a reserve dep carrying

a GUN? A taser I can understand -- but not a gun. On NPR, interviewees said that reserve deputies were mainly to help with traffic, auto breakdowns, etc., and weren't supposed to be involved with criminal investigations or calls. If so, why are they issued guns?

I heard the audio and agree that this reserve deputy immediately knew he'd accidentally shot this poor guy, but that shouldn't absolve him of the natural consequences anyone else would face if they shot someone accidentally.

[Jesus Malverde]

45. I heard it was his own gun...nt

[Nay]

46. WHAAAAAT?? He was allowed to carry his own gun to criminal apprehensions????

That is the most absurd thing I have ever heard. Unbelievable. That sheriff's department is going to be sued into oblivion. Was the godamn taser his, too????

[Jesus Malverde]

47. Ironically the cameras that captured the incident

Were also donationed by the defendant.

[Nay]

57. Oh, my god. Hoist by his own petard. I am simply stunned. I couldn't write this shit. nt

[BainsBane]

31. You mean he pays to commit murder

and get away with it. I hope he doesn't. That audio is damning.

[uponit7771]

37. He accidently shot the man and "accidently" didnt' try to administrer CPR or any other life ..

... saving measures...

MMMMMkay

[johnp3907]

38. "He was a Tulsa police office for one year, in 1964."

He hasn't been a real cop since a year before I was born, and I'll be 50 in a few months!

[TorchTheWitch]

40. that jumped out at me too since I was born in 1964

His being an officer for a year all that time ago means nothing, at it had nothing to do with his qualifying for the reserve system. They have 130 of these reservists a lot of them wealthy donors but not all. It's the system itself that is fucked up giving arms to unqualified persons regardless of ability or age with scant training and allowing them to believe they're capable of working in such a circumstance as he was put into. I'm shocked that something like this didn't happen long before.

It's scary what townships have had to do to in order to have enough warm bodies for the job and to have enough necessary equipment because of budget slashing. Every police department should have enough tax money to have enough qualified officers with the equipment they need without having to rely on donors for equipment and volunteers without necessary qualifications and training to do the job. The system itself gives these volunteers the misguided belief that they are capable when there's no question they aren't. This man's age alone should have disqualified him to have a badge and weapons and allowed to play cop on the streets and in such a situation as this one. It's no surprise to anyone that he turned out to be woefully unqualified and never should have been put in the situation to begin with having the weapons given to him to kill someone.

This is exactly that kind of shit that happens to communities when so many in the community don't want to pay the taxes that gives them a good police force, fire brigade, schools, roads, etc.

[Jetboy]

41. The law should be applied to all equally.

Any person who shoots an unarmed citizen in the back should be charged with murder.

[DeSwiss]

43. Ah, I see it's a DWPC Program.

- Donate. Weapons. Play. Cop. For rich white men who can't get it up any other way than direct oppression.....

Bates, according to Maj. Shannon Clark, is a well-respected member of the Reserve Deputy Program’s 130-member team and one of its wealthy donors. “There are lots of wealthy people in the reserve program," Clark said. "Many of them make donations of items. That’s not unusual at all.”

K&R

[Liberal_in_LA]

48. kick

[ghostsinthemachine]

55. charged with manslaughter

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/report-robert-bates-charged-manslaughter-eric-harris

[KamaAina]

56. What was Johannes Mehserle doing in Tulsa?

The BART cop who "confused" his Taser with his gun at Fruitvale Station that fateful New Year's Eve and killed Oscar Grant.