Especially (as Hoss pointed out) in the direction of fuel pumps, and who knows if the shots could have hit any bystanders. The cop is facing some serious jail-time. I doubt he'd be very popular in prison.
Unarmed South Carolina man shot by police
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Especially (as Hoss pointed out) in the direction of fuel pumps, and who knows if the shots could have hit any bystanders. The cop is facing some serious jail-time. I doubt he'd be very popular in prison.
I think you're right about police becoming almost military.
On the flip side of that, the entire US population seems to be packing guns so the police almost have to consider everyone armed and dangerous. It's a bad combination.
It's nearly 2am here in the UK, so even if I do get yakky, I don't think I will make it tonight! I'll give it a try though.
I've waited nearly 6 months. Another 24 hours won't hurt.
This is all very alien to me, as the police don't carry guns here and I've never been to the US.
I guess it's just a case of being cautious and using some common sense really. There doesn't seem to much evidence of either in the footage of this incident.
I'm just happy that the guy who was shot is making a good recovery.
I'm here for a while if you want to chuck a few through.
It's nearly 2am here in the UK, so even if I do get yakky, I don't think I will make it tonight! I'll give it a try though.
I've waited nearly 6 months. Another 24 hours won't hurt.
Despite all the shots fired, he only hit the guy once in the hip, apparently. Damn lucky.
Given that the cop fired four shots at point blank range and only hit the guy once, it's probably just as well that the cop lost his badge. His aim is crap!
..indeed, sudden movement without clear intent never justifies deadly force...
...you are correct...dumb behavior on the "victims" part...dumber on the cop's...
I was watching this on CNN as I worked out. It was really disturbing.
Paraphrasing:
Cop says, let's see your license.
Man nods, turns and leans into his car to get his license. In other words, he was doing what he was told.
Cop goes berserk, pulls out his weapon and screams at the man to come out, and starts shooting. Man comes out, holding his hands up, as cop keeps shooting. Man falls, does not say things like, "You #*$&* *#$*&@), you shot me!" No, he says, "Sir, what did I do? Why did you shoot me?" And so on.
Now, one of the commentators said that the man should have told the cop he was reaching into his car for the license. Really? You're nervous because a cop stops you, you're polite, you're doing what you're told, you haven't received this year's training in "Exact Protocol To Follow When Stopped," and you're open to be shot because you're what you're told wrong?
How about this: If reaching into the car is such a wondrously fearful thing, how about the cop say, "Sir, if you're going to lean into your car, this is what I want you to do." Because the cop supposedly is trained on all kinds of contingencies (but apparently, not too well sometimes), and the cop should establish the protocol.
My thoughts:
1. Completely, shockingly, unjustified. He should not have a badge. It doesn't bother me that criminal charges are pending. He shot a guy for no reason. Generally, you put people in jail for that.
2. The state needs to pay the medical bills and settle with this guy soon. They do not want a civil jury to see this video.
3. It's a good thing that there was a dash cam, that it was on, and that it was pointed the right way. We've seen how utterly wrong this cop's perception is. If there wasn't a cam, how would he have described the situation? How much more believability would he have had? Or worse, given all the police shootings throughout all the years, how badly can these trained guys get it wrong but make it sound reasonable when telling it later?
Really disturbing.
Paraphrasing:
Cop says, let's see your license.
Man nods, turns and leans into his car to get his license. In other words, he was doing what he was told.
Cop goes berserk, pulls out his weapon and screams at the man to come out, and starts shooting. Man comes out, holding his hands up, as cop keeps shooting. Man falls, does not say things like, "You #*$&* *#$*&@), you shot me!" No, he says, "Sir, what did I do? Why did you shoot me?" And so on.
Now, one of the commentators said that the man should have told the cop he was reaching into his car for the license. Really? You're nervous because a cop stops you, you're polite, you're doing what you're told, you haven't received this year's training in "Exact Protocol To Follow When Stopped," and you're open to be shot because you're what you're told wrong?
How about this: If reaching into the car is such a wondrously fearful thing, how about the cop say, "Sir, if you're going to lean into your car, this is what I want you to do." Because the cop supposedly is trained on all kinds of contingencies (but apparently, not too well sometimes), and the cop should establish the protocol.
My thoughts:
1. Completely, shockingly, unjustified. He should not have a badge. It doesn't bother me that criminal charges are pending. He shot a guy for no reason. Generally, you put people in jail for that.
2. The state needs to pay the medical bills and settle with this guy soon. They do not want a civil jury to see this video.
3. It's a good thing that there was a dash cam, that it was on, and that it was pointed the right way. We've seen how utterly wrong this cop's perception is. If there wasn't a cam, how would he have described the situation? How much more believability would he have had? Or worse, given all the police shootings throughout all the years, how badly can these trained guys get it wrong but make it sound reasonable when telling it later?
Really disturbing.
On the other hand, haven't American citizens had the Constitutional right to bear arms for over a couple of hundred years? I was also under the impression that there were clear 'rules of engagement' (for want of a better or more accurate term) governing what cops could and could not do depending on the situation, not only to keep themselves safe but also members of the public...even suspects.
It's a bad combination, but it's nothing particularly new.
We do have firearms officers, and according to a news report I saw when I was in London, more 'ordinary' plods are carrying, these days (9mm semi-automatic pistols...Glocks, iirc - the kind without safeties
), and it's fair to say that the dedicated firearms units have had a few "incidents" in recent times - not to mention the fact that several forces seem to have become a bit Tazer-happy.The irony with the firearms lot is, they used to be trained by the SAS. The Police Authority were pretty uncomfortable with that, as they thought the SAS methods were too aggressive and were bound to lead to "incidents". The Met then set up a separate police firearms training unit, so they could train coppers in police-approved methods. Net result: more "incidents" than when the training was handled by SF.
But, either way, I'm now doubting that the cop in this instance was a former soldier. Usually, four shots at point-blank range is 2-3 more than a trained soldier needs (unless he was the platoon's chief cook and bottle-washer). I dunno. Maybe he was high or something?
There was mention of an earlier incident with this officer whereby he took down an armed assailant in the previous year? I wonder if he has some left over PTSD type issue from this and perhaps it's made him more reactive than (obviously) is safe?
Either that or he enjoyed the glory and went chasing more.
That did cross my mind also... (it was just too scary a thought though
)
Yes, they are charging the cop with felony assault. ( actual charge, aggravated assault and battery)
The only thing that I can see that the victim shouldn't have done is get out of his car. You see a lot of people do this and I'm not really sure why. The police always say you should stay in your car with your hands visible until the officer instructs you otherwise. When you get out of your vehicle, it can be seen as a threatening move.
But still, there is nothing here that indicated the guy was a threat. I can't figure out why this officer was so wound up. The police department took swift action against the officer which is unusual in these cases so that should tell us something.
But still, there is nothing here that indicated the guy was a threat. I can't figure out why this officer was so wound up. The police department took swift action against the officer which is unusual in these cases so that should tell us something.
...the ONLY thing I can think of that might have made the trigger happy cop hinky to start with is, when he ran the guys registration-it popped up that the driver had a permit to carry concealed, and he thought the guy was going for his weapon...still does not justify such a use of force, without a firearm being seen...
I have seen the entire video. The guy pulled into the convenience store and was getting out to go inside. You see the cop getting ready to turn out of the parking lot, then the victim pulls in and stops to get out. The cop backs up and swings his car around and then you hear the "Show me your license" about a second or two later. Now keep in mind, this officer has to open the door, get on his feet and make his way around the opened door and the cruiser before he could have shot. My poi nt is the time frames all suggest one thing to me: he already had his weapon ready to unholster when he got out of the car, BEFORE this guy turned or did anything. But the guy was not getting out of the car due to being stopped, he was getting out to go inside and was somewhat startled by the police officer suddenly calling to him.
If I was on the jury... maximum damage reward to victim, maximum jail time for cop.
Things like this are why I say we all need to start being very watchful of the police as they ramp up their military style approach to "community service". Fortunately this person wasn't killed, but there have been plenty who were for no good reason. Sure, after the fact, the cop was punished or what have you and the determinations have been made that things were done improperly, but what does that do to restore the victim? Nothing, so the power we give the police to essentially end your life and freedom at their discretion is an extremely dangerous thing to entrust to any human being and must be constantly watched by someone other than those who are given it and seek to protect it for themselves. In the end, and I hate to play this card but I will, WE pay their salaries and they work for US. So WE are the ones who should be watching their actions. The idea that isn't allowed is so insane to me I can't believe it's allowed. And the notion that IA at any PD isn't biased towards the police is beyond specious.
If I was on the jury... maximum damage reward to victim, maximum jail time for cop.
Things like this are why I say we all need to start being very watchful of the police as they ramp up their military style approach to "community service". Fortunately this person wasn't killed, but there have been plenty who were for no good reason. Sure, after the fact, the cop was punished or what have you and the determinations have been made that things were done improperly, but what does that do to restore the victim? Nothing, so the power we give the police to essentially end your life and freedom at their discretion is an extremely dangerous thing to entrust to any human being and must be constantly watched by someone other than those who are given it and seek to protect it for themselves. In the end, and I hate to play this card but I will, WE pay their salaries and they work for US. So WE are the ones who should be watching their actions. The idea that isn't allowed is so insane to me I can't believe it's allowed. And the notion that IA at any PD isn't biased towards the police is beyond specious.
Read my comment right after yours, he didn't pull the guy over. So he had ZERO reason to be ready to fire that quickly.
Holy crap, I would probably be taken out because I would never even think to ask if I could show him... it wouldn't have even (until now) crossed my mind.
Same here
Me too. Luckily i dont drive. A wise ass crack to much and boom, you have a gun in your face. Or if your tired or slightly tipsy and not thinking at the highest point of your capacity and move. Bang. Sounds a risky policy to me. Well none is incapable of error, even the police force. I guess the guy will get a good amount of money for being shot. Damages or what it is called. Is it the police or the state or who that pays that?Holy crap, I would probably be taken out because I would never even think to ask if I could show him... it wouldn't have even (until now) crossed my mind.