I feared for my life

[Stinky The Clown]

Those five words are the route to getting away with killing another human.

Cop after cop after cop have used that as their defense when they kill someone. And I understand why. Because it works. I also understand that it is a real concern.

But consider this. When you choose to become a cop you should also be accepting of the danger.

When the Cleveland cop was acquitted by the judge in his bench trial, it is arguable that the verdict was, in fact, just. The car, occupied by two unarmed people, backfired. Even civilians said they heard it and thought it might have been gunshots. So that puts the cops in righteous pursuit. Then, when the car was turned toward them, the "I feared for my life" defense kicked in.

But in the same city, the case of the cop who killed Tamir Rice is not so cut and dried. Sure, the cop saw a large figure pull a gun as he approached. Sure, the cop sensed a bad situation brewing. But isn't there a time when training and, yes, personal risk, have to trump the rush to shoot with deadly intent?

Cops take an oath to protect and serve. They do NOT swear to shoot to kill at the slightest provocation. They do NOT swear to give a shackled man a "nickle ride" that breaks his neck and ultimately kills him. They do NOT swear to shoot to kill over a stolen cigar.

I absolutely get it. There are armed bad guys out there. I get that caution is necessary. But that caution needs to be extended toward the suspected perp, too.

Shooting to kill, no matter the motive, is a last resort, not a first thought and immediate reaction.

If a cop can't handle the risk, and stay calm, then s/he out not be a cop. If they haven't got the temperament, s/he ought not be a cop. If s/he hasn't a tolerant worldview, s/he ought not be a cop.

When cops become a demonstrable threat to innocent citizens, something is very wrong.

Why is ANYONE aghast that the communities most affected by bad cops and bad copping are in turmoil. NO ONE should be made to live in fear of the very people sworn to Protect and Serve.

This is not an apologia for rioters, criminals, gang bangers, wife beaters, and the litany of all the various and sundry scum that inhabit our world and from whom we expect protection and swift justice. It is, however, a word to the cops.

Watch yourselves. We're all watching you, particularly that small percentage among you who are the problems. How about starting your policing jobs by policing yourselves?

[Jackpine Radical]

1. If their sense of justice & commitment to uphold the law doesn't outweigh

their loyalty to, or fear of, their criminal peers, they don't belong on the Force. Unfortunately, Serpico has inspired few followers.

[uppityperson]

2. Very much agree with one comment about 12 yr old Tamir Rice.

"the cop saw a large figure pull a gun as he approached"
Video shows Tamir was neither large not drawing a gun.

"If a cop can't handle the risk, and stay calm, then s/he out not be a cop. If they haven't got the temperament, s/he ought not be a cop. If s/he hasn't a tolerant worldview, s/he ought not be a cop."

[hunter]

3. My own first well tested response to "fearing for my life" is RUN!!!

I don't wear shoes I can't run in.

My second is to talk.

I don't think most cops are qualified to carry deadly weapons, not even Tasers or tear gas.

[X_Digger]

4. 'Protect and serve' is a slogan, not part of any oath.

https://nixle.com/alert/4841716/

PEACE OFFICER OATH OF OFFICE, State of California
California Constution Article 20, Sec. 3. Misc. Subjects
[Required Oath of Office ]

" I, ___________________________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter.

"And I do further swear (or affirm) that I do not advocate, nor am I a member of any party or organization, political or other- wise, that now advocates the overthrow of the Government of the United States or of the State of California by force or violence or other unlawful means; that within the five years immediately preceding the taking of this oath (or affirmation) I have not been a member of any party or organization, political or other-wise, that advocated the overthrow of the Government of the United States or of the State of California by force or violence or other unlawful means. I will not advocate nor become (name of office) a member of any party or organization, political or otherwise, that advocates the overthrow of the Government of the United States or of the State of California by force or violence or other unlawful means."

And it's a slogan not backed up as a mandate..

Hartzler v. City of San Jose, 46 Cal. App.3d 6 (1st Dist. 1975)

[div class='excerpt']The first amended complaint alleged in substance: On September 4, 1972, plaintiff's decedent, Ruth Bunnell, telephoned the main office of the San Jose Police Department and reported that her estranged husband, Mack Bunnell, had called her, saying that he was coming to her residence to kill her. She requested immediate police aid; the department refused to come to her aid at that time, and asked that she call the department again when Mack Bunnell had arrived.

Approximately 45 minutes later, Mack Bunnell arrived at her home and stabbed her to death. The police did not arrive until 3 a.m., in response to a call of a neighbor. By this time Mrs. Bunnell was dead.
...
(1) Appellant contends that his complaint stated a cause of action for wrongful death under Code of Civil Procedure section 377, and that the cause survived under Probate Code section 573. The claim is barred by the provisions of the California Tort Claims Act (Gov. Code, § 810 et seq.), particularly section 845, which states: "Neither a public entity nor a public employee is liable for failure to establish a police department or otherwise provide police protection service or, if police protection service is provided, for failure to provide sufficient police protection service."

[catrose]

5. The times, they are a changing

not for the better.

I was told years ago to say that phrase to the judge when requesting a restraining order.

[JustAnotherGen]

6. Kick

[mountain grammy]

7. Wish I could give this 100 recs..

Well said. And they need to start with policing themselves, and any and all use of force against any civilian gets an automatic independent review.

[Baitball Blogger]

8. Not everyone has the nerves of steel to be a cop.

The mistake is that they recruit only those who will shoot first and ask questions later.

It was over thirty five years ago that someone I know tried to be a cop, like his father was. And they turned him down because he flunked the interview. He gave the "perp" every opportunity before he said he would fire a shot. On that basis, they flunked someone who had an I.Q. and S.A.T. scores that would have allowed him to pass into the Ivy League schools.