The Death of Walter Scott

[nadinbrzezinski]

As a way of introduction, if any cares to post this in GD, go for it. I will not risk it. I know that the views in this analytical piece are not foreign to this group. I also know there are certain things I will not post on GD. I am giving you the link since, as usual, it is link heavy.

April 8, 2015 (San Diego) You might wonder why I have not said a thing so far, about the death of Walter Scott, 50 years old, at the hands of officer, Michael T. Slager, 33. I first had to collect my own feelings and thoughts on this.

First off, the only reason why former officer Slager has been charged, is the existence of a video. Otherwise, it would likely have gone like this. Why I write this? Well, this is the usual story line, with a few details changing but some elements are always a constant.

Officer fears for his life, after suspect took charge of his Taser. He fired in self-defense, and the District Attorney decided not to charge the officer. The officer is back on patrol.

This is such a well know story line that it almost lacks any surprise any longer. Officers are rarely seen as possibly doing something wrong. This is part of the problem we have. As a society, and I am not talking minority communities who are more often than not the victims of this logic, we tend to believe the officer. After all, departments screen them right?

http://reportingsandiego.com/2015/04/09/the-death-of-walter-scott/

[hollysmom]

1. the latest video is killing me, it looks like some one just felt like killing

someone that day for no reason at all. I mean it would be bad enough if there was some touching, but not even being near each other at any time.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Yeah, Scott was not even within the cone of danger

(I was taught and later taught that concept to my EMS crews.)

[sheshe2]

3. “you do not understand how dangerous my job is.”

Thanks for posting the stats for other job related deaths. I am so sick of the police whine...."I feared for my life!" as they shoot the 'suspect' in the back while fleeing for THEIR life.

After the events of the last few months’ officers feel under siege. Perhaps what they fear is what is starting to happen. For the first time, in a long time, Americans outside the communities that have been under attack by the police, are starting to wake up from the slumber. People are starting to ask valid questions.

Good job nadin. Thanks for posting.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. There are a few times when they have to fear for their lives

just not as often as we hear it.

And police departments should never again investigate their own. That is a basic reform that needs to happen, period, end of discussion.

[Vincardog]

5. The public should hire and review the investigators.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. I am cool with a state agency NOT tied to the police department doing it

see Wisconsin, as long as the civilian review commission is given teeth, and access to the investigation.

Grand Juries have to also be removed from this process. This leads to way too much tampering from local DA's. This has to go to a state commission, and either automatically default to the AG of the state, or federal level. Enough of DA's scratching local departments back and the other way around.

One that I will never see is centralization of law enforcement from a rag tag of small departments with different rules to likely a single state police. One problem we are having is literally 18,000 departments nationwide with each having different rules of engagement as it were.

And those procedures need to be easily searched at an easily accessible website.

Yes, we have been doing a lot of thinking (and writing) on this. I know none of this would be popular. especially with the brass of every small department that would have chiefs and assistant chiefs lose their jobs. And while some are very good, see Richmond CA, that chief turned that ship around... others are nothing short of cowboy operations... I have not been able to find the info, but I suspect we have far more cowboy operations than actual, well supervised, departments.

[Vincardog]

7. IMO "a single state police" would be exactly the wrong way to go. Ne need more May-berries

Thank NYPD/LA criminal enterprises.

I am not advocating 1 man Sheriff's offices chaired by the loKKKal cracker bullie.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. NYP and LAPD need to go

but the problem with the mayberries is that while they are far less vocal, they are far worst, from what I have been able to find out.

Example, yes SDPD went to the DOJ after some of my local finest sexually harassed women they stopped. El Cajon PD, which is 1\3 of SDPD on a good day, got caught red handed doing quotas and internal sexual harassment.

San Diego's "finest" fired the officers, they were prosecuted, they served time. (they were still treated with kid gloves by the legal system.) ECPD, the city manager, not the Chief, not the Mayor (weak form of government) decided that he was cool with a sergeant sending photos of his private parts to females in his squad, and all he needed to do was demote him to patrol officer.

Oh and the Chief still defends his officer, or the quota system a local outlet found about. Also, and I have seen this often, while people are willing to complaint about oh the CHP, (they are no saints), or even sue them... they are far less likely to do it against officer John who works in the 20 personnel department. I am willing to bet those small departments are truly cowboy operations.

Regardless, we need so many reforms to policing it is not even funny.

For example, while people have concentrated on militarization of police... ask how many know of the far more toxic John Byrne Grants from DOJ? Yes, the 1030 program has a place... DSLRS are useful for PDs to gather evidence, winter uniforms for SAR, sure... I put my foot down at MRAPS for some reason, and likely at some of the more sophisticated military gear. The grants have far less control, and let's not start with civilian forfeiture. Now that is a piggy bank for local agencies.

We have been doing way, wwaaayyyyy too much research into all this crap.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

9. Michael Brown and Wilson, use this recent video and put them in it and you wouldnt have to

change much.

Brown was facing the cop, and he may have been about 5 feet closer at the most, other than that, same video, too bad we dont have one, or a TRIAL

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

10. and, as long as a cop says he was in fear for his life, and there is no video

he can shoot and kill anyone, everyone, all day long...

the ONLY reason Wilson cant be indicted is there is no direct proof that he wasnt in fear of his life, and with video you could have that proof

but without video cops will kill anybody they want and we will do NOTHING about it

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Yesterday I spent hours on social media

people overall, were not happy with that they saw Riverside SO Deputies do. So I am hoping what I read is the proverbial worm turning.