World-Herald editorial: In wake of ‘Cops’ crewman’s death, police candor is welcome

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/opinion/world-herald-editorial-in-wake-of-cops-crewman-s-death/article_c0ce5149-a062-5058-b25a-87c7d7b6e56d.html

At a very difficult moment, Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer got important things right.

He reminded Omahans that “police work is very dangerous, very chaotic.” And he assured them that the investigation into Tuesday night’s shooting deaths of a robbery suspect and a television crewman would be “thorough and transparent.”

With police around the country under added scrutiny post-Ferguson, Missouri, Schmaderer didn’t flinch.

The chief made public the facts gathered so far. He took questions. He gave straightforward answers. He showed photos taken from video of the confrontation. He acknowledged the emotional weight of lives lost on all involved.

FULL editorial at link.

[warrant46]

1. Police cut loose

On African American armed robber using a toy plastic gun to commit robbery.

Barney Fife and relatives in blue do a Bonnie and Clyde take down firing at robber.

Member of the 4th Estate bites dust in crossfire. (sad but predictable)

Forgot to add----Comments Disabled !!

[Omaha Steve]

2. YOU would have known this was a toy?

More here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025454570





It was point blank at the waitresses head. He fired TWO shots. What would YOU have done?

[warrant46]

3. How many shots did the 3 cops fire

Nice toy gun---

Here was my own personal story a few years ago

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20070526/GPG0101/705260588/Sonnenberg-s-father-rejects-suicide-explanation

This young man was shot 11 times. There were 22 other shots that missed Ben and ricocheted around the downtown.

As a side note. An undocumented slaughter house beef boner from Mexico was sitting on a Bar stool 2 blocks away and was hit twice by 2 different shots from 2 different pistols. The packing plant employee, who had false papers and identity subsequently was awarded 1/2 million dollars and lost portions of his large and small intestines and other organs.

http://www.alipac.us/f12/green-bay-families-2-shot-police-plan-sue-city-72575/

Grijalva-Ortiz admitted he's an illegal immigrant, but his status cannot stop him from filing, Swanson said. "Certainly anybody can file a claim," she said.


Green Bay Council President Chad Fradette on Thursday said, "I find it peculiar that in this day and age when a person admits that they are an illegal alien that ICE won't deport them. They won't do anything about it."


Swanson recently asked council members not to comment on the case to keep it from escalating, but Fradette had told other local media that illegal immigrants should not be able to sue the city over an unintentional act.

[Omaha Steve]

4. Two entirely different sets of circumstances

I am sorry about how your circumstances went over the line in the last 2 events.

Why was Ben running? I have no idea. Did the investigation and physical evidence support he was running away and or why?

Thinking every cop is bad is just as bad as the thinking in your video that an illegal isn't entitled to restitution.

You seem to think a toy gun aimed point blank at the waitress (she wondered if she would ever see her baby again) and fired at officers on duty is so trivial. So YOU would have known it was a toy gun shooting at you?

Maybe you need to read everything you can about this shooting. This entire event was captured on video. Ben didn't have that luxury.

Nebraska's State Senator Chambers that represents north Omaha (high crime and high unemployment,) is known for second guessing the police every chance he gets. Not a peep from him yet. Very unusual. Think he knows something you don't?

Omaha tested cams on officers in the two areas of town that have high crime and shootings.

OPD has provided more details to the press and public in 36 hours than Ferguson police have provided in all this time.

And now police have this to consider too: Gang Bangers Painting Orange Tips on Real Guns: http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2014/05/robert-farago/gang-bangers-painting-orange-tips-on-real-guns/

Marta and I were in Green Bay in 97 BTW. Took the tour of the field, Hall of Fame, and the train museum.

OS

http://www.omaha.com/news/crime/omaha-police-get-new-must-have-crime-fighting-gadgets-small/article_949f54cf-f46e-55bc-a0a3-04781fce7122.html

Omaha police get new must-have crime-fighting gadgets: Small cameras worn on officers' bodies

POSTED: THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014 1:00 AM
By Alissa Skelton / World-Herald staff writer

Omaha residents interacting with law enforcement this summer might notice a small camera attached to certain officers’ heads, uniforms or eyewear.

Street patrol officers in the Omaha Police Department began testing 12 wearable cameras this week. For 30 days, officers from the southeast and northeast precincts will wear miniature video cameras created by Taser International that can be mounted in multiple places: on a police uniform, a cap or sunglasses, for example.

Officers wearing the cameras are expected to turn them on when interacting with the public. After a shift ends, the officer will place the camera in a charging docking station. The captured video footage will be automatically uploaded to an encrypted digital storage website called evidence.com.

Police departments across the country are equipping officers with wearable cameras in an effort to build trust between residents and officers, improve civilian and police conduct, reduce the number of complaints filed against officers and improve evidence collection.

FULL story at link.