A passerby with a cellphone video'd a cop committing murder

We shall see.

springgreen2 said:

Red_Barchetta said:

MutherF*cker.

Much like with the big banks, I expect no institutional change to come from this.

Just the fact that the cop is arrested, possibly for murder, and if found guilty could face the death penalty, marks a change in the system.

I don't understand your comment at all. The cop was arrested because he was caught on video. There's nothing about the fact that they are now pretty much forced to prosecute that indicates a system change.

TarheelsInNj said:

Isn't that pretty similar to the narrative offered in the Michael Brown case? That he was grabbing for the officer's gun? Maybe they thought here that it would be a slam-dunk to explain away.

The "I was in fear for my life" defense is pretty much iron-clad for police officers. It's very hard to disprove when there's no video available.

My new motto is "If you see something, record something."

I don't think more training will help these situations. As noted on many online newspapers, Officer Slager had and passed many training hurdles. On paper, he was a good cop. Training will not change who you are and how you view people. This man was practically jogging before 8 bullets were fired. Mr. Scott was initially pulled over for a broken tail light. How did a broken tail light lead to his death? Had Slager shot the Taser in lieu of his gun, he could have still had his badge and Mr. Scott would still be alive.

I really do feel for the good cops out there. It's becoming a harming stereotype that all cops are bad cops. We know that isn't true. Slager should have known that not all Black men are criminals. It's time for so many to wake up and note that just because you don't see it doesn't mean it isn't happening. Too many are walking around with blinders on regarding the difference b'twn how Whites are treated by the police vs. how Blacks and other minorities are treated. Hopefully this video will again prove that yes, sadly, this really does happen in 2015.

mjh said:

springgreen2 said:

Red_Barchetta said:

MutherF*cker.

Much like with the big banks, I expect no institutional change to come from this.

Just the fact that the cop is arrested, possibly for murder, and if found guilty could face the death penalty, marks a change in the system.

I don't understand your comment at all. The cop was arrested because he was caught on video. There's nothing about the fact that they are now pretty much forced to prosecute that indicates a system change.

An arrest of police is not a new thing? When did it last happen?

Body cameras please.

Other than Ferguson, of course.@mjh, "Forced to prosecute?" this is a problem for you??!

springgreen2 said:

mjh said:

springgreen2 said:

Red_Barchetta said:

MutherF*cker.

Much like with the big banks, I expect no institutional change to come from this.

Just the fact that the cop is arrested, possibly for murder, and if found guilty could face the death penalty, marks a change in the system.

I don't understand your comment at all. The cop was arrested because he was caught on video. There's nothing about the fact that they are now pretty much forced to prosecute that indicates a system change.

An arrest of police is not a new thing? When did it last happen?

Body cameras please.

For everyone, not just cops.

Body cameras...for everyone?

Passerby being interviewed on MSNBC.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/07/nj-police-allow-their-dog-to-fatally-maul-a-man.html

Anyone see this one? Note how the cop tries to confiscate the phone at the end.

kthnry,

Was the Officer trying to confiscate the video; or was he possibly trying to preserve evidence?

Given the fact that the video in the link provided, has been edited; I'm wondering.

Or perhaps, just perhaps, confiscation was not the right word.

TomR

Listening to the young man who shot the video of Slager and Scott. He needs to be VERY careful when retelling the events.I know some of it is a language barrier and probably nerves. Perhaps he needs an attorney to assist him. I just heard him say that the officers DID see him taping them.

He stated that Mr. Scott was Tased. In my earlier post I said that Mr. Scott was not Tased. This was incorrect.

kibbegirl said:

Listening to the young man who shot the video of Slager and Scott. He needs to be VERY careful when retelling the events.I know some of it is a language barrier and probably nerves. Perhaps he needs an attorney to assist him. I just heard him say that the officers DID see him taping them.

He stated that Mr. Scott was Tased. In my earlier post I said that Mr. Scott was not Tased. This was incorrect.

I wish this young man had gone straight to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

When I first read of this case, I thought that with or without the video, the cop would be charged with murder - I mean, how can you explain bullets in the back of a fleeing citizen. And then, I was wondering why there were protests underway even after the cop was charged with murder. But then, on reading more closely, I see that the original investigation was leaning towards taking the word of the police officer.

Are there any places with the police and citizens are working to improve their relationship? This overall trend of cops being increasingly perceived as Imperial Storm Troopers (Star Wars variety) is no good for anybody except for people in other countries producing anti-America news and propaganda.

The video is brutal to watch. I watch it and wonder if the other Police Officer that arrives ever thinks "We're cuffing the wrong guy!"

TylerDurden said:

The video is brutal to watch. I watch it and wonder if the other Police Officer that arrives ever thinks "We're cuffing the wrong guy!"

None of the "officers" that arrived on the scene contradicted the killers account. They all deserve to be fired and prosecuted.

grahamb said:

How often does this happen when there is no civilian with a camera around?

Bring on the body cameras. I've yet to hear a sound argument against them.

I have heard one significant argument - that it could violate a victim's rights (think about responding to a rape victim) and/or be a deterrent for standers-by to tell the police what happened.

I don't think these outweigh the tremendous good that could be achieved, but I do see real problems.

hoops said:

TylerDurden said:

The video is brutal to watch. I watch it and wonder if the other Police Officer that arrives ever thinks "We're cuffing the wrong guy!"

None of the "officers" that arrived on the scene contradicted the killers account. They all deserve to be fired and prosecuted.

I think this is a very rare case where I wholeheartedly agree with you.

kthnry said:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/07/nj-police-allow-their-dog-to-fatally-maul-a-man.html

Anyone see this one? Note how the cop tries to confiscate the phone at the end.

Yes and in NJ!

pmartinezv said:

kthnry said:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/07/nj-police-allow-their-dog-to-fatally-maul-a-man.html

Anyone see this one? Note how the cop tries to confiscate the phone at the end.

Yes and in NJ!

many times these phones are confiscated and the videos get suspiciously deleted, only to be reborn via a cloud...

Walter Scott would still be alive had the police force investigated this story. SMH

Michael Slager, Cop Who Killed Unarmed Black Man Walter Scott, Had Prior Excessive Force Complaint

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/09/michael-slager-excessive-force_n_7032212.html

kibbegirl said:

I really do feel for the good cops out there. It's becoming a harming stereotype that all cops are bad cops. We know that isn't true. Slager should have known that not all Black men are criminals. It's time for so many to wake up and note that just because you don't see it doesn't mean it isn't happening. Too many are walking around with blinders on regarding the difference b'twn how Whites are treated by the police vs. how Blacks and other minorities are treated. Hopefully this video will again prove that yes, sadly, this really does happen in 2015.

We really need to start hearing these "good cops" speaking out against these atrocities. Yes it takes courage to do so, but if they don't they stop being good cops and just become compliant cops who help with the cover-up.

There have been too many of these situations for society to continue to give the officer the benefit of the doubt. We should now demand solid evidence that it was a good and proper use of force. It should no longer just be acceptable that there is a lack of evidence that it criminal since the officer usually controls the evidence at the scene.

Are there any places with the police and citizens are working to improve their relationship?

Uhm, South Orange?

http://forum.maplewoodonline.com/discussion/115171/coffee-with-a-cop-and-positive-behavior-citations-to-youth#Item_12

TylerDurden said:

hoops said:

TylerDurden said:

The video is brutal to watch. I watch it and wonder if the other Police Officer that arrives ever thinks "We're cuffing the wrong guy!"

None of the "officers" that arrived on the scene contradicted the killers account. They all deserve to be fired and prosecuted.

I think this is a very rare case where I wholeheartedly agree with you.

Likewise.

Yes, more good cops do need to speak up but they don't. It's like they're brainwashed not to snitch, which is ironic because cops plead with communities all the time about snitching on known drug dealers and other criminals. How do they expect communities to snitch when they won't themselves? And ironically, each group suffers the same fate for snitching: bullying, beatings, or much, much worse.

I've seen numerous videos of police taking down young, white men. None of them were ever shot. Many suspects were beyond drunk or high and the officers gladly Tased them. Many of these men and women were very hostile and aggressive toward the police. Do some police just not feel threatened by young, white men? The answer is YES. I recently saw a video of an officer commandeering two white youths on a beach. The office did a great job as one of the teens was very aggressive with the officer. Not once did the officer pull out his gun. No shots were fired. These boys were arrested and lived.

Honestly, each time I read that an officer was "fearful" or that a suspect "grabbed their weapon", I eye roll and count my blessings that my boys are safe.

kibbegirl said:

Yes, more good cops do need to speak up but they don't. It's like they're brainwashed not to snitch, which is ironic because cops plead with communities all the time about snitching on known drug dealers and other criminals. How do they expect communities to snitch when they won't themselves? And ironically, each group suffers the same fate for snitching: bullying, beatings, or much, much worse.

I've seen numerous videos of police taking down young, white men. None of them were ever shot. Many suspects were beyond drunk or high and the officers gladly Tased them. Many of these men and women were very hostile and aggressive toward the police. Do some police just not feel threatened by young, white men? The answer is YES. I recently saw a video of an officer commandeering two white youths on a beach. The office did a great job as one of the teens was very aggressive with the officer. Not once did the officer pull out his gun. No shots were fired. These boys were arrested and lived.

Honestly, each time I read that an officer was "fearful" or that a suspect "grabbed their weapon", I eye roll and count my blessings that my boys are safe.

Well said! It is sad that I often play the "guess his race" game when a news reports comes out of an individual being shot by police, or being apprehended by police. I wish I was as accurate with the lottery numbers. I would be on a beach somewhere.

This is one of those examples that really makes you wonder about the "feel threatened" argument. This guy, shot 6 people, killed 1, had a long rap sheet and actually spent years in jail. He was known to be armed at the time as he was going around town, shooting people, breaking into apartments and stealing cars. Yet he was caught by police by the use of a Taser!!!

http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-several-shot-near-arizona-community-college-20150318-story.html

Anyhow, just saying... this is maddening. Every report of a "I felt threatened" shooting by police should be really, really investigated and not just shoved under the rug and ignored. And the media needs to start asking questions. If you look at the news for this shooting in SC before the video, the cop is not only given the benefit of the doubt, but almost exonerated by the media.

Ryan has been a busy boy. He went on a murderous rampage killing one, shooting six. AND.. he was just released from prison in '13.

Those photos of him are FRIGHTENING! "88" tattooed on his body to memorialize Hitler? Perfect. He's been in and out of prison since 1995! And yet, this is the treatment he receives: “This really was a classic, textbook operation of putting your training into effect," Mesa Vice Mayor Dennis Kavanaugh said. U.S. Sen.

John McCain (R-Ariz.) offered his condolences to the victims of the shootings and praised the quick response by local law enforcement.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and families impacted by the tragedy in Mesa today," he said in a statement. "Our deepest thanks are with the Valley police and first responders who assisted the victims and tracked down the perpetrator to bring this dangerous situation to an end.”

I'm not saying at all that this man should have been killed by the police, but they knew what he was and who he was en route to the call and yet, he survived. I'm truly shaking my head.

Woot said:

TylerDurden said:

hoops said:

TylerDurden said:

The video is brutal to watch. I watch it and wonder if the other Police Officer that arrives ever thinks "We're cuffing the wrong guy!"

None of the "officers" that arrived on the scene contradicted the killers account. They all deserve to be fired and prosecuted.

I think this is a very rare case where I wholeheartedly agree with you.

Likewise.

@Woot @TylerDurden

well its nice to be in agreement every now and then. I thought Woot, that we agree about quite a few things but I maybe im mistaken.

kibbegirl said:

Ryan has been a busy boy. He went on a murderous rampage killing one, shooting six. AND.. he was just released from prison in '13.

Those photos of him are FRIGHTENING! "88" tattooed on his body to memorialize Hitler? Perfect. He's been in and out of prison since 1995! And yet, this is the treatment he receives: “This really was a classic, textbook operation of putting your training into effect," Mesa Vice Mayor Dennis Kavanaugh said. U.S. Sen.

John McCain (R-Ariz.) offered his condolences to the victims of the shootings and praised the quick response by local law enforcement.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and families impacted by the tragedy in Mesa today," he said in a statement. "Our deepest thanks are with the Valley police and first responders who assisted the victims and tracked down the perpetrator to bring this dangerous situation to an end.”

I'm not saying at all that this man should have been killed by the police, but they knew what he was and who he was en route to the call and yet, he survived. I'm truly shaking my head.

I guess he did not "threatened" the cops.

Shooter went to Lenape High school, grew up in Mount Laurel, NJ.

hoops said:

pmartinezv said:

kthnry said:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/07/nj-police-allow-their-dog-to-fatally-maul-a-man.html

Anyone see this one? Note how the cop tries to confiscate the phone at the end.

Yes and in NJ!

many times these phones are confiscated and the videos get suspiciously deleted, only to be reborn via a cloud...

Do they have the right to confiscate your phone?