Video of Walter Scott killing is but a glimpse of police misconduct

[damnedifIknow]

A generation ago, when someone complained of police misconduct, we would learn that a police spokesperson denied the accusation and that was that. Because we were not there and did not know those involved, it was impossible to draw any conclusions. There was also an understandable reluctance to believe that the local department would spread falsehoods. Now more and more incidents are captured in cellphone videos, and that means citizens can judge for themselves whether the police broke the law. Smartphones are providing us with a glimpse of the widespread abuse that policymakers have been ignoring for years and changing the world of American policing."

*The first thing to note is that Scott was about 20 feet from Slager and was running away, not toward him. To elude capture, lots of criminals run from the police. However, the Supreme Court has ruled that cops can only use deadly force against a fleeing suspect if that person poses a serious danger to the police or others. So, for example, if a criminal shoots at schoolchildren and then turns and runs in another direction, the police would be justified in firing their weapons. But a cop breaks the law if he shoots out of anger or frustration simply because his quarry is about to get away. And that's what seems to have happened with Slager."


*Policing in the United States is decentralized among thousands of cities and counties — so professional and ethical standards will vary. Still, it seems safe to say that too many officer-involved shootings receive little scrutiny. What occurred in South Carolina was not an anomaly, it just happened to be caught on video."

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-0412-lynch-shooting-20150409-story.html

[pkdu]

1. All so true , but why did the reporter wait til the last line to state the critical fact. Nt

[Downwinder]

2. Would you believe by Timothy Lynch?

Timothy Lynch is the director of the Cato Institute's Project on Criminal Justice.

[procon]

3. Looking at how he brazenly planted that taser

right in front of the second officer, only proves that corruption and lawlessness must be institutionalized in that whole police dept. This type of criminal misconduct has existed for such a long time that it has become the normal and commonplace culture. Slager felt comfortable in being so be so open about covering up a murder because he was not worried that his fellow cop would ever turn him in.

There's no way to clean up a crooked police dept that allows dirty cops like Slager to run rampant and terrorize the citizens they should serve. From the top down, they all need to go.

[BrotherIvan]

4. And sounds exactly like the fantasy story of Darren Wilson

A kid runs away but turns into a "demon" and decides to charge straight at the gun as it is firing and hitting him with his head down like a bull???? He runs through bullets because he is so big and bad. Does ANYONE fucking believe this story now????