Smoothy, now that you've addressed your personal issues, please address Mogran's. Did you notice the phrase "on their own property," which means the cop was trespassing. I refer specifically to the Weimeraner shot in its own back yard behind a six foot fence.

Investigation underway into why officer shot dog in its own yard | Deseret News

And that's only one example:

Gunned Down: Why Are So Many Dogs Shot by Police?

Every time I see one of these stories, which happens almost weekly, one thought runs through my mind: Cowards shouldn't be Cops.

Edit: That thought leads me back to the OP. Police training has borrowed way too much from the military. Soldiers kill people and break things. Cops are supposed to do the opposite. They've stopped doing that.

No one has all of the facts of the situation, but as usual, the media hype stirs the frenzy, the mob mentality takes over for some, and once again division is at the forefront.

Yes, there are some bad cops, but the vast majority serve their communities well, sadly there are some people in society who will take advantage of a situation and this can result in stereotyping, and yes there are some who will perpetuate the problem to their own advantage and agenda... we see this when certain individuals show up or speak out but remain unheard from in regard to injustices and horrific crimes that occur on a daily basis in some neighborhoods.

If it turns out that it is proven that the police officer is guilty, then he should pay the price. However, guilty or not does not justify the actions taken by many ( of which it has been suggested that the majority are not even from there) in destroying the neighborhood. A peaceful protest is one thing, and there are those who have been doing so, but burning, looting, and destroying businesses of innocent people are uncalled for in any scenario. Of course once again the media focus is more on that because that is what stirs emotion.

These days, cops have such a bad reputation that even middle class and wealthy white people don't trust them. In Canada, there have been plenty of cases of police brutality, so the U.S. is not the only country with bad cops. There are basically 3 types of people who become cops, 1. people who come from a cop family. 2. People who got bad marks in high school and have no other career options. 3. Bullies who want a job where they can push people around and abuse authority. One guy in my class became a cop and he was the number 2 type. Barely passed his courses in high school and had no sports or activities outside of school other than working at McDonald's and flunked out of college after one term.

Think you are sterotyping there earl

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There are basically 3 types of people who become cops, 1. people who come from a cop family. 2. People who got bad marks in high school and have no other career options. 3. Bullies who want a job where they can push people around and abuse authority

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Yes, Clete, that was a stereotype. A bad one.

My son is a cop. Doesn't fit in any of those categories. I know a plethora of cops through my work at the hospital. None of them fit into those categories.

The trouble with the stereotypes is that police dept. administrations are the ones perpetuating them. Note the SWAT uniforms. That's USMC MARPAT camouflage. Not only is it totally inappropriate for the job, it provides the visual of "wannabe army men" so prevalent in the stereotype. Why would any procurement office get that if it wasn't to perpetuate the stereotype?
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And my response just diappeared what is going on? I will, say it again, whether you like it or not those who are disadvantaged and black need to respond with respect, not riots and disorder. There is no point in what has been done here, it doesn't help, in fact it is unhelpful

Not all the protestors are disadvantaged black, or poor, and the disruptive violent ones are young criminals, few in number. Stereotypes aside, does it rise to the indiscriminate use of military tactics with military weapons? Poorly trained I might add. I don't think so. Lets not forget the cause of this was the POLICE action of executing a shoplifter in broad daylight in the first place.

He wasn't a shoplifter when he was confronted, just a jaywalker. So while we criticize the outrage, lets not forget the outrageous act that ignited this firestorm.

@cat.....the gear was used since officers have had various projectiles hurled at them and needed to be prepared for just about anything. Better to have your officers over protected than to underestimate a situation and put them in more potential danger.


@clete....add to what you said, the behavior fans the flames of discord even more, along with when Sharpton and Jackson show up and/or speak out when there is a publicized incident.

I've wondered why they aren't seen or heard from regarding the plethora of incidents that do not involve different races, but I have a feeling it's because their words wouldn't carry much weight in those situations, and they know it. Along with the fact that when it involves two races, their words perpetuate the strong emotions and division that the media thrive on.

It was good to hear and see that some protesters and citizens blocked entrance to shops that rioters were trying to damage even more and steal from. Unfortunately those brave and respectable actions naturally didn't get much airtime from media outlets.

Tal... again, no one knows all the circumstances yet. From first impressions, anger... sure. Wanting to speak out about it and protest... rightfully so. But none of that justifies destroying businesses and stealing. Not the majority of protesters turned rioters, but once again the media pictures will prevail.

@Doula. Yes the media brings us current images that are disturbing in so many ways, but this is but the tip of the iceberg in what has probably been going on for a longer time before the cameras got their.

Doula, you missed my point. The riot gear was appropriate, the UNIFORMS are the problem. Police don't wear camouflage, paramilitaries do. THAT'S the stereotype they're feeding.

A fifty caliber rifle perched above a anti mine vehicle seems a bit much for a small town street of unarmed citizens too.

Ah, I see Cat... yes, to you and tal, I agree... they have been called out on the excess. Wise decision to remain on the sidelines since, to step in if necessary... although now some business owners are concerned that there is not enough interaction.

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Smoothy, now that you've addressed your personal issues, please address Mogran's. Did you notice the phrase "on their own property," which means the cop was trespassing. I refer specifically to the Weimeraner shot in its own back yard behind a six foot fence.

Investigation underway into why officer shot dog in its own yard | Deseret News

And that's only one example:

Gunned Down: Why Are So Many Dogs Shot by Police?

Every time I see one of these stories, which happens almost weekly, one thought runs through my mind: Cowards shouldn't be Cops.

Edit: That thought leads me back to the OP. Police training has borrowed way too much from the military. Soldiers kill people and break things. Cops are supposed to do the opposite. They've stopped doing that.

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First... a cop is legally entitled to shoot any animal that they determine to be a threat at the time... inside or outside the house. Good luck proving that THEY didn't really decide that at the moment. The dogs shot aren't usually blind 14 year old Basset hounds with arthitis that can barely move.

Good luck trying to pull a Tresspassing claim OUTSIDE a house (I think that would be barking up the wrong tree, pun intended). Police only need a warrant to ENTER a house... not to look in the windows or step onto the property. And incidentally, because dogs are not Humans they have no proerty rights... meaning they don't OWN or RENT the property.. they only live on it.

If the neighbor kid climbs a fence to take a shortcut and gets attacked... guess who will be held responsible and liable for it? Not the kid.

I'm not defending the cops having automatic weapons, and Armoured personnel carriers... thats a totally separate issue than what I addressed.

Tal, what is going on and the media images you are seeing is part of the Obama plan. He wanted a civilian army just as powerful as our current military. Now that it is coming to fruition then there is a need to use all this hardware they have been given even if it is over reaching in its extent.

There is absolutly no need for them to come to the party like that unless it is to match an existing threat. If normal citizens are a presumed threat then they are in for a huge wake up call.

Cdad, I think that practice started in the 70's under Nixon .

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a cop is legally entitled to shoot any animal that they determine to be a threat at the time

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That's my point. They are mistaken in that determination too often, and are almost never held responsible for their mistakes. It's a hiring and training issue. Police have been trained the last decade or so that every encounter is a threat, not a potential one but an actual threat. They respond to that threat by immediately escalating to deadly force, then get a one to three week paid vacation while Public Affairs figures out a way to say that they reacted according to their training. The public perceives this as cover-up and is more suspicious of encounters with police. The police, meanwhile, develop an attitude of irresponsibility and unaccountability (trickle down attitude, anyone?) that feeds that public perception and the vicious circle gets angrier and angrier.


That's how we get riots when a cop shoots a suspect.

@parttime, I disagree. Were there swat teams forming back then yes. But nothing like the free giveaway of military hardware to LEO's across the country like there has been given away by homeland security. Before it was up to local departments to finance and they witheld the use to extreme cases. Not as in todays time where just serving a warrant justifies the use of a military assault.

They have prepared themselves for the jihad to come, since the populace is allowed to own any weapon, the police must out gun them. You might not have muslim problems but you certainly have extreme right wing groups