New Evidence: Zimmerman applied to become a cop but was turned down

[superpatriotman]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/os-george-zimmerman-trial-cop-application-20130604,0,6430716.story

Prosecutors have filed paperwork, revealing that murder defendant George Zimmerman applied to become a police officer in a county near Washington, D.C. but was turned down.

His application and rejection letter are among the latest pieces of evidence the state has notified defense attorneys they may use at Zimmerman's trial, which begins Monday.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder. He's the Neighborhood Watch volunteer who killed Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black 17-year-old, after calling police and describing the teenager as suspicious.

The paperwork does not spell out when Zimmerman applied for the job, but it is not the first indication that he had an interest in police work.

He was a student at Seminole State College, about to complete a two-year degree in criminal justice, at the time of the shooting.

He also took part in a citizens' academy, a program sponsored by the Seminole County Sheriff's Office that allows people to become more familiar with police work.

On his 2008 application to join that program, he wrote, "I hold law enforcement officers in the highest regard as I hope to one day become one."

more at link

[graham4anything]

1. Obviously he was NOT qualified and thankfully wasn't hired as he was NOT qualified.

[JI7]

2. considering how bad many cops are he must suck real bad to be rejected

and the murder of trayvon is evidence of it

[MattBaggins]

17. That statement is so true it is almost sad

[NightWatcher]

3. Of course, he was a wannabe and finally got to do it

He had his gun and he hunted his victim down and got to execute his fantasy. I've seen it with dozens of people. They try to be cops, then jailers, then security guards... They keep falling down the law enforcement hierarchy till they find a spot that doesn't reject them.

[MADem]

4. I read that a long time ago--I can't remember where, but this is not new info to me.

He got plenty of practice beating up some young girl as a bouncer at a club, IIRC....

[LeftofObama]

9. I remember reading it somewhere too.

Thank whoever that he didn't get to be a cop!

[unblock]

5. this seems only very peripherally relevant to me.

i'm sure it "goes to state of mind" or something like that, but i really don't see this as showing anything that being an armed neighborhood watch volunteer doesn't.

is it supposed to show that he was more likely to have an itchy trigger finger? less likely to have been attacked?


i think he most likely was itching for a rationalization to shoot someone, though i think the prosecution will have a tough time proving it beyond a reasonable doubt. i'm not clear on what this legitimately adds to their case.

[uppityperson]

7. "less likely to have been attacked"? wtf? He was the one going after Trayvon.

[unblock]

14. yes.

the prosecution is trying to paint a picture of zimmerman being the attacker (which i believe he was), so they have to undermine the idea that he was attacked and shooting in self-defense (which i believe is the defense story).

so anything the prosecution presents that makes it seem less likely that zimmerman was attacked makes their case stronger.

what i don't get is how his interest in being a cop or being turned down accomplishes that.

[Bucky]

12. I think exposure to law work would make him more aware he was doing things wrong

Correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that wasn't exactly a "an armed neighborhood watch volunteer." That is, he might've been voluntarily watching the neighborhood, but he wasn't affiliated with or accepted by any organization that kept a semi-official eye on the neighborhood. No discipline, no chain of command, no oversight, no policies or prescribed protocols, and no guidelines for how to intercede with "suspicious characters."

I thought he was a just a guy with a gun who took it upon himself to eyeball the neighborhood and, without authority, followed kid who, in his judgment, shouldn't be on the street there.

[Rex]

6. Yet he disobeyed the 911 dispatcher.

Guess she wasn't a cop.

[reflection]

8. Evidence?

Of what? What is this supposed to imply, much less prove?

For what it's worth, I think he's guilty as sin, but I also think he will walk. I say all this as an expert, being a seasoned 'Law and Order' viewer and such.

[JI7]

10. if they can get enough racists on the jury

[reflection]

11. Only takes one, right? n/t

[liberal_at_heart]

13. "I hold law enforcement officers in the highest regard as I hope to one day become one." Did he

honestly think he could act with the same authority as a police officer without being one? This guy sounds delusional along with being certain other things, like racist and paranoid.

[MattBaggins]

15. What is your definition of new?

This came out within days of the murder.

[cherokeeprogressive]

18. That's how I remember it. n/t

[grok]

16. definitely didn't have the education

Not a clue there was something else too but that's enough. At least in my neighbourhood in CA.

You generally need at least an Associates degree and preferably a Bachelor’s in a relevant field(psychology,criminal law,etc) Sure, exceptions are made sometimes but it's exceedingly rare.

My neighbour's boys (21 and 27) are constantly applying and getting rejected. Good guys too. Polite and helpful to everybody. Never drink, swear or get into trouble. One is set to graduate soon with a AS in criminal law so I suspect he will get in.