FBI investigating after cellphone video shows police fatally shooting unarmed man in Fresno

[villager]

Source: LA Times

Cellphone video showing Fresno police officers shooting an unarmed 19-year-old man lying on the ground at a gas station has sparked protests and prompted the FBI to launch an investigation.

The shooting, which occurred last month but generated debate this week after the video was made public, is the latest in a series of police use-of-force incidents caught on tape.

The video shows Dylan Noble lying on the ground on June 25 as two officers with their guns drawn stand feet away from him. As officers yell “Keep your hands up” and other commands, one shot is fired. Seconds later, a third officer approaches the pair, and another shot rings out. At one point during the video, Noble can be seen raising his arm and saying, “I’ve been shot.”

The witness video does not show the moments just before the fatal shooting. Two shots already had been fired at Noble before the recording began.

Police Chief Jerry Dyer told The Times on Thursday that Noble twice raised his shirt with his left hand and used his right hand to reach under his shirt into his waistband. The officers, he said, feared for their lives.

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Read more: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-video-shooting-dylan-noble-20160707-snap-story.html

[Lunabell]

1. Cops have gone batshit crazy lately

I'm an old white woman and I have thought to myself about how to avoid being shot during a traffic stop!

[Rex]

2. So instead of closing the gap, the cops just lingered back and put holes in his body.

Do they not train cops in how to be cops? Do they all go to DeVry to learn how to be cops? That is just pathetic. I think the standard for being a cop needs to be raised a lot higher.

[arithia]

3. did you know that police are legally allowed to deny applicants

with "too high" an IQ?

Since the "same standard" is applied to all applicants regardless of race or gender, the 2nd circuit found that Yes Virginia, you can be too clever for police work. Their logic? “Those who scored too high could get bored with police work and leave soon after undergoing costly training."

'Murica.

[Bradical79]

4. Yeah, it's crazy

We need comprehensive reform so bad. Hiring practices, training, funding... it all needs redone.

[olddad56]

5. all of those who score high leave, or some of them?

sure wouldn't want anyone with half a brain to stick around and rise to a level where they could make an impact as a detective or an administrator.

[ohnoyoudidnt]

6. That was my first thought when I heard their reason.

There must be opportunity for advancement. If a regular patrol isn't interesting enough for the smart ones, they can earn promotions.

Maybe those in power don't want smart people coming for their jobs? idk

[Igel]

7. I was surprised by this.

This was a while back. Don't know their reasoning is all that wrong, but for individuals it might be.

At the same time, one implicature is that the police are, therefore, below average in IQ. That's not a correct implicature, and since we like facts that mistaken inference should be ruled out.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/court-oks-barring-high-iqs-cops/story?id=95836
"The average score nationally for police officers is 21 to 22 (on the Wunderlic assessment), the equivalent of an IQ of 104, or just a little above average."

[arithia]

8. The PD's argument at trial

was that higher IQ applicants are often overqualified and overqualified people wouldn't be happy there in the long run.

This, of course, stinks of multiple logical fallacies.

For starters, it assumes that higher IQ applicants are more educated. It also makes assumptions about people's willingness to do a job based around their intelligence.

Their argument also ignores the fact that intelligence is largely "set" by the time we are old enough to apply for such a job. If someone has the luck to be born with good genes and a family with resources, they are far more likely to have a high IQ from natural development and not due to any kind of being "overqualified". A person can't help if they are born with the genes for high IQ, after all.

At the risk of sounding like some kinda intelligence snob, I personally don't want anyone with average or slightly above average intelligence to have the power of judge, jury and executioner. Humanity is demonstrably stupid- particularly in groups and particularly when in stressful situations.

Besides, Idiocracy was disturbingly prophetic. What happens when the average drops well below 100? Based on the police department's arguments, that 104 might be in the "too high" and "overqualified" department someday.

[puffy socks]

12. How does a job where everyone keeps saying

"put their lives on the line every day"
jive with
"...could get bored with police work and leave soon after undergoing costly training"?

[PatSeg]

9. In a lot of these incidents,

the police seem to be overly reactionary. I think they often really are afraid for their lives even when there does not appear to be any overt danger. They must be very poorly trained or were poorly screened in the first place, probably both. This is the real world, not some TV cop drama and if one is not willing to put oneself in danger, perhaps they should consider a different occupation.

[reddread]

10. here is what I understand to be the deal

guy was pulling up his saggy pants and they started shooting, didnt finish until he was on the ground with the last two shots.
cops are not releasing their body cam footage.
jerry dyer is a piece of work to be admired, feel free to google his colorful past.
dont forget to ponder what dark aspects might not be common knowledge, for this fellow to last as
long as he has in a role with prior frequent turnover.
lots and lots of killings and execution from this PD.
they seem to thirst for it.
steroids.
#2 cop going down for every kind of drug deal.
Dyer's cop sister's son being busted for dealing?
things that make you go

what justice system?

[PatSeg]

11. Whoa, that didn't take long

Jerry Dyer sounds like a character in an HBO series. Most definitely "colorful". Thanks.

[reddread]

13. Fresno the mini series pt Doh

the sheer number of cops killing people for brandishing cell phones put Dyer in a bind five or more years ago.
I was on a plane coming home with some cops dad who told me the next cop that shot (presumably killed) someone would be fired. Seemed to work for a while but that embargo was clearly lifted.
some local gangsta shot at a cop and wounded him.
they tracked that fellow down and surrounded him and filled him full of bullets for that transgression.
they must be losing their minds over this turn of events, gonna have to find some people to shoot.

[PatSeg]

14. Oh my god

That is horrifying. Perhaps they should make cell phones illegal in Fresno or PEOPLE. Sounds like the corruption is too deep seated for any quick fixes and needs a federal intervention.

[PatSeg]

15. Fresno Whistleblower found stabbed

From January:

“Corrupt Fresno cops are going to try to kill me this weekend, possibly tonight,” the activist wrote on Facebook just before his death.

http://www.mintpressnews.com/fresno-whistleblower-dies-in-suspicious-fire-after-warning-that-cops-would-kill-him/213202/

I had no idea it was that bad. What a scary place to live.

[reddread]

17. wow, I knew nothing about that

thanks.

[PatSeg]

18. You are welcome

That one gave me the chills.

[christx30]

16. So a belt could possibly save a life.

If the cops think you're reaching for a weapon, they'll kill you. If they tell you to freeze, let your pants fall.