Ferguson, MO

[me]

The core of the problem in the Ferguson incident is the same as in most police shootings - the extremely wide latitude allowed to justify the use of deadly force.

My position is that it is far too wide and allows for far too many abuses and corruptions.

One can't have a civil society and one based on the rule of law and yet have LEOs to so easily assume the power of judge, jury, and executioner.  You wind up with what we have now, far too many interactions between LEOs and citizens end up with deadly force being used.

Here's the Ferguson issue from LEO's perspective, including an analysis of the applicable law: http://www.policeone.com/ferguson/articles/7782643-Why-Officer-Darren-Wilson-wasnt-indicted/

The problem is that it's simple justification. 

Now I understand there are dangers to the job - though not nearly as dangerous as espoused, as of 2013 LEO still hadn't shown up in Forbe's top 10 dangerous jobs in America - but then no one drafts anyone to be an LEO.  As with any job, when you take it you assume all the inherent risks.  That's not to say we shouldn't try to make the job as reasonably safe as humanly possible, but with LEOs that can't be at the expense of our rule of law.

With the Ferguson LEO shooting, I see the officer 'guilty' of resorting to unnecessary deadly force, and probably of resorting to the 'dead men tell no tales' so common in situations of self defense.  Officer Wilson had the option of waiting for back up before confronting the situation.  Wilson also had the option of driving out of the situation when he was supposedly attacked.  I see no scenario with the facts as currently known that should have prompted deadly force.

Just to preempt one of the common arguments, from the videos I've seen Wilson is right handed meaning his gun was on his right side, away from the driver's door, and with the car door and Wilson's body between the outside driver's side and Wilson's gun.

The shooting would have never happened if Brown hadn't robbed that store and had the law called on him.  He was in the wrong period.  He made a poor choice and it cost him his life.  Yes, it is unfortunate that a life was lost but everyone needs to quit making this a black and white thing because it happens to whites too.  It is a state issue to deal with not a federal issue any way you look at it and they need to stay the hell out of it.  It is costing that town and state a lot of money because it was made public and caused businesses to be burned, looted, and vandalized.  How many people are not going to have a paycheck now because of all of this?  His, Brown's, behavior cannot be excused just because he's black and that seems to be what is happening because they, the powers that be whether it be the administration or Sharpton and the Panthers, want to create unrest by making it a black on white thing and drawing the rest of the country into it. 

[The Troll]

   We have some Republicans on the Zone who are more racist than most.   

  But we need some real changes in the police state we have become.  1 - We need a civilian police board who examines all police abuse.  Also these people will be change each year and none can be related to any city official or police officer.  With the power to fire these bad cops.  2 - No money that comes from police action, like tickets can finance any city expenses.  None of the money can be used to pay for police actions.  Any and all money the cops take in will be used for the poor, hungry and homeless people in that city.  Cops have no business being revenue collectors, it always lead to corruption.  If these changes were made you would see a big change in police arrests and tickets.                 Smiling cops they are not. 

[me]

   We have some Republicans on the Zone who are more racist than most.   

We do?  Last time I noticed you were the king of making racist statements. 

[Henry Hawk]

The shooting would have never happened if Brown hadn't robbed that store and had the law called on him.  He was in the wrong period.  He made a poor choice and it cost him his life.  Yes, it is unfortunate that a life was lost but everyone needs to quit making this a black and white thing because it happens to whites too.  It is a state issue to deal with not a federal issue any way you look at it and they need to stay the hell out of it.  It is costing that town and state a lot of money because it was made public and caused businesses to be burned, looted, and vandalized.  How many people are not going to have a paycheck now because of all of this?  His, Brown's, behavior cannot be excused just because he's black and that seems to be what is happening because they, the powers that be whether it be the administration or Sharpton and the Panthers, want to create unrest by making it a black on white thing and drawing the rest of the country into it. 

I agree 100% of everything you just said.

[The Troll]

I agree 100% of everything you just said.

  As I remember it the killer cop didn't get the report of the robbery.  It was in the news for many days.  Were the cops came up with it is bullshit as usual.     He pulled up to them to say something about them walking in the middle of the street.  The cop killed the boy right out and he should be tried for murder.  Let a criminal trial clear him if he isn't guilty.   

[me]

  As I remember it the killer cop didn't get the report of the robbery.  It was in the news for many days.  Were the cops came up with it is bullshit as usual.     He pulled up to them to say something about them walking in the middle of the street.  The cop killed the boy right out and he should be tried for murder.  Let a criminal trial clear him if he isn't guilty.   

Were you there?  You didn't listen very well last night did you? 

[Purplelady1040]

Were you there?  You didn't listen very well last night did you?

Funny, but a grand jury has to hear everything and weigh the evidence that there is enough to have a criminal trial. They did that and and their wasn't. Plus the grand jury was made up of about 7 blacks and 5 whites. Don't be a thug and comply with the police and things like this wouldn't happen!

[Locutus]

Funny, but a grand jury has to hear everything and weigh the evidence that there is enough to have a criminal trial. They did that and and their wasn't. Plus the grand jury was made up of about 7 blacks and 5 whites. Don't be a thug and comply with the police and things like this wouldn't happen!

Actually, it was 9 whites and 3 blacks. 

[Purplelady1040]

Actually, it was 9 whites and 3 blacks.

Okay! The point is that there was not a sufficient evidence to indict the officer!

[Henry Hawk]

  As I remember it the killer cop didn't get the report of the robbery.  It was in the news for many days.  Were the cops came up with it is bullshit as usual.     He pulled up to them to say something about them walking in the middle of the street.  The cop killed the boy right out and he should be tried for murder.  Let a criminal trial clear him if he isn't guilty.   

unbelievable
This is why we have riots.   People with this mentality!

[Locutus]

If anyone is so inclined, here is a link to the evidence that the grand jury saw. 

http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/_documents/ferguson-shooting/

[Locutus]

Another link to the same:  (78 separate items and links to documentation)

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/11/25/366507379/ferguson-docs-how-the-grand-jury-reached-a-decision#docs

[Purplelady1040]

Thanks for posting that Locutus

[The Troll]

Funny, but a grand jury has to hear everything and weigh the evidence that there is enough to have a criminal trial. They did that and and their wasn't. Plus the grand jury was made up of about 7 blacks and 5 whites. Don't be a thug and comply with the police and things like this wouldn't happen!

  Why would I think that you would get this wrong?    You seem wrong on some many things. 

[Purplelady1040]

  Why would I think that you would get this wrong?    You seem wrong on some many things. 

No, a grand jury listens to evidence and decides if there is enough evidence for a trial. I was wrong about the black-white ratio of people on there but there was not enough evidence for a trial. I can tell that you have no clue how the legal system works but that is not surprising.