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Are police held accountable for shooting people to death?

by Donna Wallach (dbwall [at] earthlink.net)
Many news articles about police shootings ending in death of victim only give side of police, usually the victim is blamed and usually questions are not asked as to what actually happened and maybe the shooting could have been handled differently.
I recently read an article in the San Josè Mercury News about a police shooting in Belmont ending in the death of, the victim, a human being and the journalist blamed the victim. Apparently she only questioned the police to get her information for the story on the man who was shot and killed by police.

Originally the police began chasing after the man regarding a domestic violence incident. I do not condone domestic violence of any nature, however, I do not think that it is a crime punishable by death by cop. I also don't think running away from the cops is a crime punishable by death by cop. The cops are, in this incident, as they were in the shooting deaths of Bich Cau Tran, Rudy Cardenas, Johnnie Nakao, Zhaim Bojcic, Camerin Boyd, Sheila Detoy, etc. etc. etc., prosecutors, jury, judge and executioner all in one and all at the same time.

Did the journalist even try to find witnesses as to what happened? How far away were the cops when this man was allegedly throwing rocks at them and then picking up a cement block? How far do you think anyone can throw a cement block? Could it also be that the cops were lying, as they so often do? Maybe the man did not charge the police at all, maybe, as in the case of Rudy Cardenas, he was even holding up his hands in surrender and the cops shot him anyway? He was shot in broad daylight. How many people. armed with rocks, do you think would really charge fully armed cops with guns, mace, tasers, etc.? If a person, by himself, armed only with rocks would actually charge against police, then maybe the person is having a crisis and the psychiatric services need to be called to calm the person down, instead of shooting him and killing him. That is cold-blooded murder.

The cops are not above the law, even though they act that way. I can think of many reasons why someone would run away if they knew the police are after them. People are getting beaten up and are suffering from other physical, mental and emotional abuses, at the hands of law enforcement, inside the city jails and throughout the prison system. Unless a poor person is extremely lucky, if they get arrested, the chance that they will get a fair trial is almost impossible. Too many people face prison or jail time when often what they need is rehabilitation. Why would sending a man to prison make him stop doing domestic violence? I would think that anyone who has anger management issues would come out of jail or prison angrier than they went in. A person committing domestic violence needs some kind of therapy or anger management therapy, not going into prison.

thank you
Donna Wallach in San Jose, sick and tired of cops killing human beings.
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Comments (Hide Comments)
by a US citizen
The cops in this state need to seriously put thweir guns in closets unitl their needed. In Britain some cops don't carry guns until their needed. This practice needs to be adopted here in the US.
Any cop working in California with a gun is a potential killer. If its not guns its stun guns and pepper spray. Anyway the cops are not qualified to deal with lethal weapons.
by John Q Public
Maybe the cops are telling the truth. Maybe the whole thing is caught on their dash cam. Donna, I can safley assume you have never delt with criminals. They do strange things and their actions defy common sense. I know that is hard for you to believe in your sheltered little world, but why don't you ride-along with the cops for at least a month. At least then you can say you have actually seen a criminal.
BTW- police can certainly be justified in shooting a person in the back or with his hands raised in many situations. Learn the facts before you speak.
by TheLegend757 (TheLegend757 [at] aol.com)
Mr. John Q. it is quite sad to hear your thoughts on the worst epidemic to hit America in decades. I have researched numerous cases of death by cop. These cops are killing people all over the country. They are all getting away with murder and now we have a little insight why.If ou read his post he states that cops are justified in the shooting of unarmed men and shooting them in the back because they know they can get away with it. It's time to let these little creeps know that this is TERRORISM. Im more scared of some tough guy cop with a hard on then I am of ever being attacked by a Terrorist from abroad . They are mowing down people all across the world and not even getting indicted because the people who would be prosecuting these cases woule be the same people that they have been working with fopr years. I.E> Judges ,Prosecutors are on the cops side, and if in a court of law in America you need to be found unamiously guilty well a prosecutor doesnt go full tilt or the judge rules in the cops favor and they are back on the street with a license to do whatever the f%$# they want because they already got away with murder. Ive seen many criminals in my life and know that most criminals with half a brain are cunning,slick and crazy like a fox. Not stupid enough to try to kill a cop or even threaten one.The cops initiate the contact illegally and then when the subject gets mad for being stopped for "no Reason" and becomes uncooperative then they get killed>its a sad day in America when these pigs get away with murder. THE KILLING WILL STOP, THE MOVEMENT HAS BEGUN
by John Q Public
Lotta talk, yet no facts......typical..............
by TheLegend757
I will find you and see if you say the same things your sayin on this website on camera for the whole country to see we have your IP address and will find you, and then your gonna run scared and say it wasnt you who said these things just like you and your kind kill and walk away free , so rememeber I vow to find you and rip apart your whole conduct record to see if any misconduct you have committed and the whole country will know what your really about.....Im gonna make you the representative for all cops in the country and Im gonna put you on display for the whole wolrd to see.....THE WORLD WILL KNOW tHE tRUTH, tHE mOVEMENT HAS bEGUN
by John Q Public
I stand behind what I say and I'm not that hard to find. Not really sure what the point of that post was. Again lacking in reality.
by my opinion
LOL Cops are woosies, they cant fight so they use guns!

It takes 7 of them to take down 1 suspect, now tell me exactly

how brave and courageous this is?

And if 7 of them LOSE then the person was on PCP or some

other type of super human drug which made them invincible to 7

police!

This is all my opinion which makes my post not worth a damn

but I thought I would throw my 2 cents in.
by John Q Public
Well I'll give you a little insight so next time you opinion might actually mean something. When I have to fight someone, my only intention is holding on to that person and not getting hurt. I don't try and do it all myself. I simply hold on until the cavalry arrives. 7 Vs 1, I like those odds, 20 Vs 1 would be even better. Could I do it by myself? Sometimes yes sometimes no. If I did it myself then the risk of injury to the suspect skyrockets because I will not lose. Single Officers may resort to the breaking of the suspects bones, gauging eyes, crushing testicles, or whatever means necessary (including shooting the suspect) to end the fight. While all those measures would be justified in certain instances, it means spending a lot of time at the hospital. So it is much easier and less headache to use as many Officers as you can to take the suspect into custody without injuring him.
Kind of like chasing someone on foot. My intent is not to catch the guy, I simply keep him in sight until the cavalry arrives (and yes, 99% of these guys could outrun me anyway).

You obviously have never tried to handcuff someone. Next time you are with your friends ask one of them to try and handcuff you without hurting you. Chances are they can't. Then ask five of them to try. You will see that is still not easy, and they still may not be able to, but the five have a little better chance.
by and 2 cents
My opinion still isnt worth a damn but heres my 3 cents!

Anybody who fights Anyone with more than him/herself is a

woosey in my book.

But I wonder why your concerned about hurting a suspect if

they run? If you run from the police then you should expect a

black eye or to be bitten by a dog or whatever else!

But what I dont understand is the person is fist fighting a Police

officer why dont you take off your badge and Man/woman up?

Instead of calling your freinds so you dont "Hurt" the suspect!

If they have a gang with them it's totally understandable to call

back up. but what I'm talking about is ONE GUY!

And I'll try your suggestion it sounds like a cool idea to try!



by Rodney King
So now we have the real answer about Mr. John Q. Public: he's a cop. Natch.

Yours is a classic corrupt mentality, Mr. Cop. Judging from what I've seen of your colleagues, you made this career choice because you're a swaggering bully who likes to push people around and thinks it'd be even more cool to carry a gun and have a license to kill. Big ego trip, that one. Wow, a REAL man!

I'd be more receptive to the tired old saw "I'm just trying to help people" if I'd had fewer fucked up encounters with pigs who were clearly drunk on their own power and just wanted to play cat-and-mouse with some random passerby. No, I'm NOT a criminal, not vaguely. I'm just a steadfast observer of the human condition.

You guys had your chance with me. YOU BLEW IT.

You blew it when you 'Rodney Kinged' my brother, and when you did it again to one of my best friends. That shit happens EVERY DAY. It's going on somewhere right now. You even shared with us your bullshit rationale justifying it. "Subduing people," my fat hairy ass! It's just the king of the street gangs out on a rampage, knowing goddamn well they can do whatever they want and loving every minute of it.

You blew it again when you killed another guy I knew, a D&D you drowned in a jailhouse toilet. I know you did it, cuz one of your own told me so. You fuckers kill people all the time.

I've even met a few of you who embodied the "I want to help people" ideal, but they're tragically rare. The rest of you assholes just chew them up and spit them out.

For the most part, you and your kind are just knee-cappers and bagmen for the hoi polloi in their penthouses and mountaintop mansions, and you're just too fucking dumb to even figure that out.
by John Q Public
<"why dont you take off your badge and Man/woman up?">

Because I did not take this job to fight. If I wanted that, I would have been a professional fighter, not a cop. Since I am not paid to, nor am I trained to be a fighter, I ALWAYS want the advantage. You use hand, I use pepper, baton or more cops. You use a knife, I use a gun. We both have guns, hopefully I am better trained and more skilled. Maybe I can explain it a better way. Every time I am involved in a fight, it is over a gun. He gets one lucky, punch, kick, elbow, or whatever, my gun is now his. Not a chance I wanna take, so 1 Vs. 1, my intention is to end it quick with a high likelihood that he will be seriously injured(no rules on that kind of fight).
Secondly, anytime a suspect gets hurt and required medical attention, I can count on 2 - 8 hours at the hospital watching him, not worth it (I rather be on the street chasing more bad guys). So there you have it, I am not paid to fight, and I don't fight fair. Call me whatever you like, trust me I have heard it all. Name calling is just that, and nothing more. (usually kind of funny actually).

Hey Rodney, I think you took one to many to head. You are babbling again. I do the job for many reasons, and of course the 120K a year is not too bad either.......LOL
by my opinion
LOL

Well thank you for confirming everything I said!
by S. Parsons (parson16 [at] iastate.edu)
I will give another side to this comment by Ms. Wallach. I was a police officer (I am no longer--I currently attend graduate school) so I feel that I can offer a different perspective. Many people ask, "Why can't officers shoot the subject in the leg or something?" All I can say is that shooting a firearm is not an easy task, first of all, shooting at a moving target is even more difficult, and shooting a "target" as small as a leg while the person is moving is darn near impossible. This task would be reserved for only the "best" of the best who shoot at least six hours a day. It is awful that a man was shot and killed by officers, but I can guarantee you that every one of those officers that were there that day have nightmares every night and constantly question if what they had done was the right thing to do. All good officers scrutinize themseves. A rock, or chunk of concrete, is a deadly weapon and they defended themselves and the public around them. What would have happened if the officers just let him go? You have to agree that you were not there, so it is impossible to make a judgement. You weren't there. The man had run at the officers with this rock or "chunk of concrete", according to witnesses. What would you do in the same situation? Please understand that those same officers are charged with dying for you if they have to. These are the same officers that would come to your home when you are in need and they would protect you with their life, no matter what you think of them.

A Liberal With Another View
by John Faust
Having just stumbled onto this article, I couldn't move on before I saying something! My Brother's Boy was shot and killed this week in SanDiego after being pulled over for a minor traffic violation. Shot three times point blank range, after being sprayed with pepper spray according to reports, never even made it out of the Van! Was supposed to be either waving a fake gun, or reaching for it at the time of the shooting? A fake gun he used in puppet shows for kids. Now obviously there is more to this story, and I for one don't know the truth. I'll also add that within the last week this boy was pulled over for DUI. He told the officers he didn't drink, and refused a breath test, heance DUI. He went down to the station had the test and passed. He consequently filed a report with the dept.'s IA guy's. A religeous boy, I know he wouldn't hurt a fly! Now if you were pulled over and felt singled out would You be upset, combative, not willing to cooperate?? Maybe not to his extent, maybe, but would you go for a fake gun in a seat pocket behind you, with two officers standing right there?? I just don't buy it, and I certainly don't buy the force used as justified!! How well could he have functioned anyway with the spray in his eyes, couldn't probably hit anything if he did have a real gun!! Tell me WHY there wasn't another opition!! Damn!!
by Rodney King
Oh yah, that's what I do when the cops pull ME over. If I have a fake gun within reach, I just grab that sucker and start acting like a violent nut. Intimidates the shit out of 'em!

Sounds like another open and shut case to me. The pigs blew him away, then when the back-up arrived they ripped the van apart and found the fake gun. "Phew!" they said, and "thank God! Here's our alibi." Chalk up another one for the Blue Mafia.
by John Q Public
Are you saying nobody has EVER pointed a fake, broken, or unloaded gun at the cops before? What color is the sky in your little world?
by Rodney King
I'm pointing out that this would be an incredibly stupid thing to do, i.e. not very likely, and therefore the cops' version should be open to question. See, I don't blindly trust everything cops say like you want me to. Sorry.
by John Q Public
Hate to tell you this but there are millions of incredibly stupid people in this County. The prisons a full of them.
by John Faust
Well without giving to much info, lawyers orders.. I agree with mr. q on the gun part, But usually aren't people who really Don'T want to hurt anyone using something like that?? And the officers have admitted that they sprayed first, I'll leave the rest for speculation. So anyway question is there any studies showing single, never married, no kids, cops with more agression?? Thats if you two could quit arguing long enough to
give me an answear.
by John Q Public
Not sure what you are getting at John. Are you saying cops should wait to see if the gun goes off in their face to determine what the person was thinking? Are you willing to take that chance. I am not, will not, and find nothing wrong with shooting first (your odds are better that way).
As for the "study",go for it, not sure where that was headed either.
by freewheelin frank
Please understand that those same officers are charged with dying for you if they have to. These are the same officers that would come to your home when you are in need and they would protect you with their life, no matter what you think of them.


yes nexttime you are in fear for your life call an Old hippie
by my opinion
LOL

The Police wont die for you, frankly if your lifes in danger you have a better chance of being protected by an old hippy than you do a Cop!
by John
Forgot how this dicussion started, police accountability? I'm not sayin there ain't good cops, hell I've done a lot of reasearch on this of late. Cops in LA get harrassed for turning in bad cops, there are cases all over the US, we've had our share here in MN. Few bad cops, bad shooting get actually prosecuted, or lose there case. And as far as were I'm gettin at, there is proof he never had the fake gun in his hand, it was his supposed intent, that got him killed! Vehicle had dark tinted windows so no one could have seen it before hand. Let me tell you something boys, I'm an aircaft inspector, have been for 19 yr's, and been in the bussiness for 30 + years. I know what accountablity is, cause I live it everyday! Every decision I make can cost lives, not just A life but Lives. And if I screw up, even if no one dies I'm accountable - investigated, drug tested, time off, retraining...blah blah blah..you have no idea. But If a cop screws up Administrative leave - W/pay?? Only to for the most part to be cleared?? Justifiable homicide, because someone hadintent! Take yur blinders off... You get the benefit of the doubt 99% of the time...good shooting they say!! You think the rest of the world is stupid.. give me a break. Your answears are typical, without insight, and full of bias. I think I've tired of this site so as we say in our bussiness - Have a nice delay!
by S. Parsons
I think you might be taken more seriously if you would use spell check and learn how to eloquently convey your "feelings". Or, are they feelings? To me, you mouth off without thinking. In any case, I have no idea exactly WHAT you were trying to say in your rambling comment. You make me scared to fly.
by my opinion
Hey S Parsons Learn how to read.

If you cant understand what John Saturday wrote, then BOY you

better get back to school!

And wah wah wah your scared to fly, why should I care one bit?
by John Q Public
John, your argument does not hold water. You can not compare your decisions with Officers. As you stated, you make a mistake and OTHER people die. Cops make a mistake and THEY die on the spot(other people too). The mind set is a little different wouldn't you say? I would not question your decisions about an aircraft carrier. Why?, because I know nothing about them. It's obvious you know nothing about the law and court decisions regarding a justifiable shooting. Just because a shooting does not sit well with you does not make it unjustifiable or unlawful.
< But If a cop screws up Administrative leave - W/pay?? >
Love your thinking on this one, too bad we could not use your way in the criminal justice system. We could assume everyone who gets arrested is guilty and forgo the trial. This would save a lot of money on trials...........
by S. Parsons
It's CAN'T, NOT cant and YOU'RE, NOT your. Someone needs to get back to school and I am having trouble believing it's me. I feel sad for people who are so far from self-actualization that they cannot even try to see another perspective. NOT believe or endorse that other perspective, but to just be quiet long enough to consider it. This world would be a much more peaceful place if people would shut up long enough to consider. There ARE bad cops out there, I will never deny this, but I have known so many more who are honorable. They suffer because of hard-nosed, ignorant fools like yourself. I hope that if you are ever in a situation where you need an officer you will be quick enough, smart enough, strong enough to take care of yourself. And I hope you don't piss your pants in the process. I think you are all talk and you would be the first idiot to call 9-1-1 if you heard someone in your house.
by my opinion
ooooh S Parsons is attacking my spelling LOL

Anyway quit your griping and try some of you own advice about

seeing something from anothers perspective?

and you claim I'm one sided LOL.

Honorable cops LOL your cracking me up!

And nobodies coming into my house, wanna know why?

because I have nothing of value to steal.









by Harold A Maio (khmaio [at] earthlink.net)
Ethics and Actions

Harold A. Maio

The cop who pulls the trigger, the reporter who writes the words are both in the same position of decision -making. Very often those decision are made on the limited basis of experience. Reporters find it far simpler to interview "authority," as defined in their experience, officers to fire their weapons in instances defined by their experiences.

Officers have not immediate review to consult when firing their weapons, or amend their decisions, reporters have editors, who are supposed to oversee printed word. When editors fail, because of limited experience, reporters fail, mistakes are repeated. When officers fail, and review of the action fails, mistakes are repeated.

Trapped by accepted cultural norms, cultural prejudices, impartial examination of acts is difficult at best. Reporting factually is as difficult as any act. The person who runs from an officer is guilty, of running. Discovering why they were running ought to have sufficient importance to delay discharging a weapon. Review of a shooting ought to be impartial as well, exactly as editorial review of an article ought to be. Sadly, it is more often not.
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