I have read many articles in the last few years concerning cases of police shooting suspects. Many of the shootings are justified on the basis that the suspect refused to obey orders. I wonder when it became acceptable to shoot somebody for NOT doing something. It is my opinion that lethal force should not be used unless the officer or someone at the scene is in danger of being injured or killed by the suspect.
In many of the cases, the police start yelling orders. Sometimes multiple officers are yelling contradicting orders at the top of their voices. When the person fails to obey the orders, the officer or officers open fire. In many of the cases, the person is far enough away not to be an immediate threat to anyone and may be armed with only a knife or close quarters weapon. Sometimes they are not even armed at all. Other times the person may be holding a firearm but are not displaying it in a threatening manner.
Sometimes the person may be mentally distraught, autistic, intoxicated or otherwise unable to hear or obey the orders to obey. The current application of deadly force or a taser seems to be that if the person fails to obey a yelled order, then shoot them, then do the paperwork. Everybody but the suspect goes home to their families.
A recent article even talked about an officer who tased a nude autistic 12 year old girl who was walking down the street, smiling, oblivious to what was going on around her. She ignored commands to stop so the officer immediately tazed her. What happened to getting a blanket, walking up to her, covering her up and talking calmly to her? What happened to humanity and kindness? Just taze the Mother ****ing little retard girl...
A recent shooting of a mentally ill person with a knife, alone on a trolley car in Toronto, has sparked protests and I think rightly so. The police shot and killed the suspect from a safe distance without trying any de-escalating techniques. They did not try to talk the person down, did not try to calm the person, etc. They only yelled orders at the person at the top of their voice. When he did not obey immediately, they opened fire. At no time were any of the police in danger from the person.
I think it is time for a dialog on how to de-escalate a police standoff instead of yelling at the suspect. In many instances, the person may be mentally challenged, autistic, deaf, intoxicated or otherwise unable to obey. Yell and shoot techniques will most likely result in the death of the suspect under currently used techniques. What ever happened to the police trying to coax the person, talk to them, reason with them, talking in a calm way? What happened to trying to talk them down? What happened to our respect of human life, even that of a suspected criminal?
I've heard this excuse many times used after a shooting, "He refused to obey, I felt threatened, I thought he might do something... so I opened fire."
I think there is no excuse for this type of attitude and that these shootings are sometimes, if not often, unjustified. Pardon me if you disagree but I want to have a honest, calm dialog on the subject without "Yelling", "Cursing", "Blasting", "Attitude", etc. The goal of this discussion should be about how to diffuse a dangerous situation rather than end it quickly with bloodshed.
Fire away!!!
In many of the cases, the police start yelling orders. Sometimes multiple officers are yelling contradicting orders at the top of their voices. When the person fails to obey the orders, the officer or officers open fire. In many of the cases, the person is far enough away not to be an immediate threat to anyone and may be armed with only a knife or close quarters weapon. Sometimes they are not even armed at all. Other times the person may be holding a firearm but are not displaying it in a threatening manner.
Sometimes the person may be mentally distraught, autistic, intoxicated or otherwise unable to hear or obey the orders to obey. The current application of deadly force or a taser seems to be that if the person fails to obey a yelled order, then shoot them, then do the paperwork. Everybody but the suspect goes home to their families.
A recent article even talked about an officer who tased a nude autistic 12 year old girl who was walking down the street, smiling, oblivious to what was going on around her. She ignored commands to stop so the officer immediately tazed her. What happened to getting a blanket, walking up to her, covering her up and talking calmly to her? What happened to humanity and kindness? Just taze the Mother ****ing little retard girl...
A recent shooting of a mentally ill person with a knife, alone on a trolley car in Toronto, has sparked protests and I think rightly so. The police shot and killed the suspect from a safe distance without trying any de-escalating techniques. They did not try to talk the person down, did not try to calm the person, etc. They only yelled orders at the person at the top of their voice. When he did not obey immediately, they opened fire. At no time were any of the police in danger from the person.
I think it is time for a dialog on how to de-escalate a police standoff instead of yelling at the suspect. In many instances, the person may be mentally challenged, autistic, deaf, intoxicated or otherwise unable to obey. Yell and shoot techniques will most likely result in the death of the suspect under currently used techniques. What ever happened to the police trying to coax the person, talk to them, reason with them, talking in a calm way? What happened to trying to talk them down? What happened to our respect of human life, even that of a suspected criminal?
I've heard this excuse many times used after a shooting, "He refused to obey, I felt threatened, I thought he might do something... so I opened fire."
I think there is no excuse for this type of attitude and that these shootings are sometimes, if not often, unjustified. Pardon me if you disagree but I want to have a honest, calm dialog on the subject without "Yelling", "Cursing", "Blasting", "Attitude", etc. The goal of this discussion should be about how to diffuse a dangerous situation rather than end it quickly with bloodshed.
Fire away!!!
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