If anything, I think that cops get a kick out of shooting unarmed black men...

[MrScorpio]

Florida Cop Literally Just Shot Unarmed African American With His Hands Up, Begging Not To Be Shot
December 10, 2014 12:47 am·



Another Florida police officer has shot an unarmed African American. This time, the Florida officer shot and critically wounded a 28-year-old man early Monday during an investigation into a stolen car in Orlando.

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings had little to say about the case besides this, but witnesses claim that the victim, Cedric Bartee, literally had his hands up, begging Sergeant Robert McCarthy not to shoot.

Bartee had his hands in the air, but in spite of this damning detail, during a press conference Monday, Demings said, “I ask everyone to not rush to judgment and allow the investigation to be completed.”

Demings said that “because of the backdrop of everything happening in the country at this time… It’s concerning to me” how people might react to this shooting of an unarmed African American with his hands literally up in the air when he was shot.

Demings came to the defense of Sergeant McCarthy, saying that he only shot Bartee because he failed to comply with police commands. Apparently, this has now become the criterion for when police can use lethal force, even though it has no legal basis.

http://countercurrentnews.com/2014/12/cedric-bartee/#

[Iggo]

1. Of course they do.

[bravenak]

2. So, immediate compliance or death.

Sound like Slavery.

[sheshe2]

5. They should say what they really mean bravenak.

I shot him because he was black.

[bravenak]

6. Really, though.

Just say it straight out. We been knew what they were about. Now, everybody else get's to see it too. Never again will they be allowed to sweep these things under the rug. America is moving on.

[steve2470]

16. +1 nt

[gollygee]

3. Shot for not complying?

Since when is that OK?

Is this going on more than it used to, or has it always been just like this and it's just now getting attention?

[99th_Monkey]

8. We don't get to know that

because there has been no national data base to track killer-cops shooting blacks,
but hopefully that is changing ...

IMHO that is just ONE of a number of changes that need to happen ASAP.
Some others are:
1) body cams on all cops, that they can't just turn off when they want to.
2) ALL police killings of unarmed citizens automatically require a Special Prosecutor
to handle the case (not local DA)
3) Additional training in how to "take down" an unarmed suspect without murdering .. ah, i mean killing, them.
4) Killer-cops do not get "paid administrative leave" for murdering .. ah I mean killing, citizens. Instead they either get a humiliating desk job (like taking out the trash) .. or Unpaid leave.. no more paid vacations for killer cops.

[bravenak]

10. It has always been like this.

I watched the cops shoot a woman with a screwdriver on La Brea, right by the Baldwin Hills motor in, where Popeye's is now. They said she lunged at the officer. She did not. They never even asked for a statement. The woman was known round the way. She was mentally ill. I believe they were harassing her about her shopping cart, the homeless use them to hold their lives. She refused to put the screwdriver down. They shot her. That was at least ten years ago, but I never forgot. She was nothing to them.

[gollygee]

11. It's so horrifying

I hope that the attention makes things change, but it's so horrifying to read about killing after killing. And there isn't even a real excuse given in this case - no "grabbed for the gun" or even the vauge "put hand toward the waistband." Just "didn't comply."

[brer cat]

15. They couldn't disarm her??

I know that they are taught how to disarm people and defuse a situation like that. I guess it is just easier to shoot them down. F#%ing cowards as well as racist killers.

I am really sorry you had to see that, bravenak.

[bravenak]

17. They didn't try to.

She did not comply, they shot her.
It was near Rampart division, I believe.
It was good that I saw it. I have no illusions about law enforcement. Many of us saw dead bodies from time to time. Or shootings. People forget that there are usually children close by when these things happen. Then they wonder why the youth has no respect for authority.

[sheshe2]

4. Gawd Damn them.

This just makes me sick.

[gwheezie]

7. It's boiling over

The police have always done this to black folks but now too many cell phones and too many people willing to take a beating to tell the truth.
A few years ago I've made it a personal rule that if a see a black person in a non life threatening crisis I will not call 911. Last summer a young fella was lying in the street tangled up in his bike. He was blocking traffic and flailing around. People were getting pissed. I got out of my truck and went to help him. He was drunk and a bit belligerent initially but once he figured I wasn't stealing his bike he let me help him. At no point did I think calling 911 would help him. He was trying to get to his momma's house. If the cops showed up I had no confidence they would help the young man. So I took him home.
He was young, had too much to drink and black. I could not in good faith think the cops would treat him like they'd treat a white fella.

[steve2470]

9. kick and rec! nt

[steve2470]

13. local news here, my backyard

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/orange-co-deputy-who-shot-man-suspected-stolen-car/njQt4/

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-cedric-bartee-posts-bond-20141210-story.html