Quoted from dogglebe This is a common situation. Recently, in NYC, a woman called the police because her mentally ill son was acting hostile.  While she was on the phone, he was heard screaming, "I got a gun!  I got a gun!" When the police showed up at the house, the son climbed out the window with something in his hand.  Again he shouted, "I got a gun!  I got a gun!"  The police told him to drop it and stop.  He didn't and they shot him. It turned out he had a hairbrush in his hand. Now, all the cop-bashers want the cops arrested, charged, tried and convicted of murder (actually, they just want the cops convicted), saying they they killed a harmless teen. It's great to Monday morning quarterback, isn't it? Phil

They shot a guy armed with a hairbrush.  If they're that incompetent, they certainly don't desreve their jobs.

Quoted from seamus They shot a guy armed with a hairbrush.  If they're that incompetent, they certainly don't desreve their jobs.

Wow, Seamus, you replied to what I said a whole week after I posted it.  That's two whole weeks after the shooting occurred.  You know, I bet the cops involved wished they had to whole weeks to examine a situation like you did.  I bet they also wish they could've evaluated the situation from the safety of their computer.

Unfortunately, they had only a few seconds to decide their actions while a lunatic screaming, "I got a gun!  I got a gun!" is approaching them.

Not quite the same, is it?



Phil

I'm sorry Phil, I don't spend every waking moment waiting for another brilliant pronouncement from the Oracle of SS.  I just got around to reading the thread and responded to it.

First let me say, I don't believe that these officers should be charged with murder, but clearly they shouldn't be allowed back on the streets.

Your rationale that their job is dangerous and scar, therefore it's ok for them to shoot unarmed citizens is ridiculous.  If the job is too dangerous and scary for them to do it properly (i.e. not shotting unarmed citizens) then they should learn to type.  

I believe they thought there lives were in danger.  I don';t think they just guned this guy down for the fun of it.  But their lives weren't in danger.  And part of their job is to make certain they are in danger before they open fire.

And perhaps if the "pro cop" crowd were morre willing to hold cops responsible when they perform poorly, the "anti-cop" crowd would be less apt to call for charges when situations like this arise.