Cops gone wild

[Left]

http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x1891154115/Sheriff-requests-FBI-inquiry-into-in-custody-death

The controversy, which has since captured the attention of readers across the country and around the world, began in the waning minutes of May 7 when a sheriff's deputy with a canine tried to take Silva into custody after law enforcement received a report of a possibly intoxicated man outside Kern Medical Center.

Moments later, more deputies and two California Highway Patrol officers arrived. Baton strikes and the dog were used to subdue Silva, who later died at KMC.

But witnesses have said Silva was lying prone on the ground and begging for his life when officers were striking him.

The incident and the way sheriff's deputies treated witnesses who took video of the incident have made national news. The witnesses have described being detained in their homes for hours as search warrants were being requested and obtained.

...When the phones were returned, one of the two videos was deleted, apparently the one that showed the best view.

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130515/18051923103/footage-lethal-beating-deleted-seized-phone-sheriff-asks-fbi-to-take-over-investigation.shtml

The surprising part is that Youngblood decided to call in the FBI to head up a parallel investigation into the death of David Silva. Even better, he had the phones flown out to the FBI's Sacramento office for analysis.

Honestly, considering that this has gone viral, I doubt he could get away with going along with the okey-doke.  Not and keep his job.  So I guess he's chosen to chuck his underlings under the bus, and I hope the FBI chooses to ream them.

...This reminds me of something, though:

http://gawker.com/5825010/police-beat-gentle-homeless-mentally-ill-man-to-death
"This video, shot on July 5 by a student in Fullerton, California, ostensibly features the sounds of 37-year-old Kelly Thomas crying for his father while being Tased by police officers after he supposedly resisted arrest. Thomas was also beaten so badly that he was placed on life support. He died several days later."

[ñͤͣ̄ͦ̌̑͗͊͛͂͗ ̸̨̨̣̺̼̣̜͙͈͕̮̊̈́̈͂͛̽͊ͭ̓͆ͅé ̰̓̓́ͯ́́͞]

Reminds me of what the Portland Police did to James Chasse:

http://www.alienboy.org/

Nothing happened to those police officers and they're all back on active duty.

[Left]

Reminds me of what the Portland Police did to James Chasse:

http://www.alienboy.org/

Nothing happened to those police officers and they're all back on active duty.

I managed to rustle up this one, despite not being sure what year it happened...
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Gun-mechanics-may-be-issue-in-ex-cop-s-murder-1924943.php

Escobar began to leave and ignored the officers' orders to stop, police and witnesses said.

The fatal scuffle erupted when the patrolmen grabbed Escobar, who fell down and then kicked them, police said.

After Escobar kicked Carbonneau in the groin, the officer drew his pistol, police said. The teen then kicked Carbonneau's arm and the gun fired, they said.

http://shron.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/hpd-officer-who-shot-boy-failed-firearms-test/

Carbonneau admitted he then deliberately drew his gun and pointed it at Escobar, who was unarmed, but later claimed the gun went off accidentally. He was allowed to resign.

In 2005, he was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and sentenced to 60 days in jail and five years' probation.

[Stryfe Konstantion]

And I am really grateful that I live in a country where the only times police get to have guns are the armed defenders squad and perhaps some of the state highway patrol. I remember the time when they were trialling tasers http://www.police.govt.nz/resources/2006/taser-trial/ and now they've upgraded the trial to double shot tasers http://www.3news.co.nz/Police-trial-new-tasers/tabid/423/articleID/296040/Default.aspx

[Left]

And I am really grateful that I live in a country where the only times police get to have guns are the armed defenders squad and perhaps some of the state highway patrol. I remember the time when they were trialling tasers http://www.police.govt.nz/resources/2006/taser-trial/ and now they've upgraded the trial to double shot tasers http://www.3news.co.nz/Police-trial-new-tasers/tabid/423/articleID/296040/Default.aspx

The police here seem to forget that the tasers are defined as "less-lethal" weapons, not "non-lethal" ones.
They allow the police to USUALLY not kill someone in a situation where lethal force is called for.

Which makes the use of such a device on detainees who'd already been arrested questionable to yours truly.

http://savannahnow.com/stories/041804/LOC_taserstory.shtml
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=8016495
http://www.news-journal.com/news/police/stun-gun-involved-in-gregg-county-jail-inmate-death/article_b313bf1a-918d-5e1d-b237-3eb3a0a0d5ae.html

[P3nT4gR4m]

And I am really grateful that I live in a country where the only times police get to have guns are the armed defenders squad and perhaps some of the state highway patrol. I remember the time when they were trialling tasers http://www.police.govt.nz/resources/2006/taser-trial/ and now they've upgraded the trial to double shot tasers http://www.3news.co.nz/Police-trial-new-tasers/tabid/423/articleID/296040/Default.aspx

This! The only reason I'd ever feel like I actually needed to have a gun in the house for my own safety is if they armed the filth.

[Stryfe Konstantion]

I've only seen and used a gun once in my life, it felt weird and ugly and horrific in my hands. I can't imagine living in a place where it is that easy to get hold of such things in large quantities. Tasers are bad enough but guns are just *insert sound that describes the feeling of horror convulsions, nausea and immense disgust*

[East Coast Hustle]

If you were surrounded by Americans, you'd want guns too.

[Anna Mae Bollocks]

If you were surrounded by Americans, you'd want guns too.

[East Coast Hustle]

I mean it's funny, but I'm totally serious. Guns are cool. I enjoy shooting cans and watermelons and things with them. But I don't enjoy feeling like I NEED to have one in my home because of the constant stream of unpredictable dipshits around me, and their ridiculous culture of glorified violence.

The little rock that I call home is, statistically speaking, one of the most dangerous places in the world. I've NEVER felt like I need to own a gun there (which is good since it's illegal and carries a mandatory 5 year minimum sentence, but that's another topic). But I'll be goddamned if I'm gonna drive across America on the interstate highway system without being strapped. Or go camping in the woods (it's not the bears you have to worry about). Or meet up with someone to buy something off of Craigslist. Etc. Etc. Etc.

[Left]

If you were surrounded by Americans, you'd want guns too.

I think this holds especially true if you live in Texas.
Truth is often morbidly funny.

I've only seen and used a gun once in my life, it felt weird and ugly and horrific in my hands. I can't imagine living in a place where it is that easy to get hold of such things in large quantities. Tasers are bad enough but guns are just *insert sound that describes the feeling of horror convulsions, nausea and immense disgust*

I don't generally pack heat, because I spend a lot of time in the car driving somewhere.  I have a car, I am therefore driving the weapon.
...But I am a guard.
I am certified to carry a pistol, shotgun, and a tactical baton, should I be paid to do so on behalf of a client of my company.
...Only did it once, at a jewelry store, filling in.
...I never realized how annoying wearing a pistol on your hip can be when you go take a leak. 
...No I did NOT drop my pistol in the toilet. 

...Now, topic thingee:
I REALLY wonder why, on the occasion a police officer gets sent to trial, he or she is exceedingly likely to get a slap on the wrist sentence for killing someone.
...Why are they held to be better than other people in the eyes of the jury, you know?

I've thought for a while now it's a sort of trauma bonding/stockholm syndrome sort of thing.
It's too terrifying to realize the people we authorize to use lethal force are at least as fucked up, or more fucked up, than the rest of us.

[P3nT4gR4m]

I REALLY wonder why, on the occasion a police officer gets sent to trial, he or she is exceedingly likely to get a slap on the wrist sentence for killing someone.
...Why are they held to be better than other people in the eyes of the jury, you know?

I've thought for a while now it's a sort of trauma bonding/stockholm syndrome sort of thing.
It's too terrifying to realize the people we authorize to use lethal force are at least as fucked up, or more fucked up, than the rest of us.

Filth are legally "more important" than humans. If you fuck with one, you get a much stiffer penalty than you would if you did it to an actual person who didn't deserve it.

[Doktor Howl]

I REALLY wonder why, on the occasion a police officer gets sent to trial, he or she is exceedingly likely to get a slap on the wrist sentence for killing someone.
...Why are they held to be better than other people in the eyes of the jury, you know?

I've thought for a while now it's a sort of trauma bonding/stockholm syndrome sort of thing.
It's too terrifying to realize the people we authorize to use lethal force are at least as fucked up, or more fucked up, than the rest of us.

Filth are legally "more important" than humans. If you fuck with one, you get a much stiffer penalty than you would if you did it to an actual person who didn't deserve it.

1.  That's because police are the face of the state.  Of course the state won't tolerate that.

2.  I know a few cops that are actual people and don't deserve it.  Not many, granted, but that's one hell of a broad brush you have there.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I'm not so sure that the FBI are the best people to run an inquiry, considering.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/05/why-did-the-fbi-kill-an-unarmed-man-and-clam-up/276369/

[trippinprincezz13]

I've only seen and used a gun once in my life, it felt weird and ugly and horrific in my hands. I can't imagine living in a place where it is that easy to get hold of such things in large quantities. Tasers are bad enough but guns are just *insert sound that describes the feeling of horror convulsions, nausea and immense disgust*

Guns can be fun. My Dad taught me and my siblings how to shoot a BB Gun when we were younger (incidentally, my parents are probably more anti- than pro- gun). And a few years back, I got to shoot a shotgun out at a wedding in Utah. It was fun, and I would like to learn how to shoot better, mainly for recreational purposes. But then, pretty much everything ECH said. I don't own a gun, maybe I'd like to someday, but it's the culture that's horrible. People that obsessed with guns and violence probably shouldn't have guns.

...Now, topic thingee:
I REALLY wonder why, on the occasion a police officer gets sent to trial, he or she is exceedingly likely to get a slap on the wrist sentence for killing someone.
...Why are they held to be better than other people in the eyes of the jury, you know?

Ehh, essentially what Pent said. My uncle was hit and killed by and officer in Tucson several years back, who was running late for breakfast. From what I know, the cop was suspended, with pay, and that's as far as it went. He wasn't in a crosswalk, but I'm pretty sure I couldn't use that as an excuse for running down someone crossing the street too slowly. I'm not saying the officer did it on purpose, or that the experience wasn't awful for him, since I'm sure most people would rather not have the experience of killing someone, I just can't help but be a bit cynical as to that fact that I'm sure I would have at least had to pay a hefty lawyer's fee to keep me out of jail in that scenario.

And I know not all officers are terrible people. I have met some very nice ones. I try to judge everyone (police and otherwise) on a case by case basis