MN - Philando Castile, 32, shot by police officer, 6 July 2016 #1

[BayouBelle_LA]

So anyone who drinks should not be a school employee? Ok I can go along with that as I do not. I wonder how many would go along with that idea

I never said that. You're the one that said alcohol is the worst drug of all. My opinions are my own and we can agree to disagree.

 

[DaleTray]

I've been following this on twitter. I'm not American, but I have to say. When is something going to be done? When is real change going to happen? Philando is the 18th person killed by police this month. Its only the 7th. Are American police allowed to kill with impunity? Time and time again they are found not guilty/not even taken to court for killing. If they get away with it, these shootings will continue. This is why the perception of Americans is that they are crazy. No value for life.

Let's you and I go join the police academy. Let's patrol for 5 yrs. Let's keep stats on when we feel threatened the most and learn when we best be on guard and hyper alert. After our 5 yrs you and I can compare our notes and post our actual results. But actually, I would be terrified to walk a mile in the moccasins. The most difficult decision I had to make today was "whats for lunch" I was never in fear of losing my career/income/retirement, and more importantly my life was never asked to be put on the line. A few careers aren't as easy as mine.

 

[SugarQueen]

Yes, because black people should be terrified of cops. Um hm. Yup. It is their fault if they make a false move and get shot!!

They pay taxes for LE. You know. Protect and serve, BTW child, this is how you need to be so they don't blast you away. Um hm

Teaching a child how to act shouldn't have anything to do with race. My soon to be 16yo has had it drilled into him repeatedly how to act if he is pulled over, or stopped by an officer on the street. I have told him to never run, or ignore a request from LE. We have spoken about LE just trying to do their job, and make it home at the end of their shift. I have explained to him if he has an issue with anything they ask of him the time to deal with that is in court....not on the street. It's not difficult to teach.

 

[DaleTray]

Regardless of race, these incidents seem to be occurring more and more often.

I fear we just live in a much faster world today with much less patience and respect for our fellow man. It's an all for one and one for all world w more guns and people making less money in a materialistic world. Many go to the suburbs and hide in the secure home and alarm system never realizing it's the cops paying more of the price for each of us in the ever increasing gun toting world that seems to show less respect each day

 

[oh_gal]

I have to say I honestly never thought about the proportional rates. To me, every time I hear someone stating that only African Americans are killed by White officers, it translates into my brain as "numbers" (as in, out of 100 people killed, most were African American). Based on "numbers" alone, we see that that is not true. Now, proportionally, that is a whole different story. And if I mentally insert the word "proportionately" (or proportionally - I don't even know what the word is supposed to be, at this point!)
in that statement, then I see the point.

 

[KaaBoom]

Too many innocent cops do get killed at a simple traffic stop, I don't blame them for being cautious, and I'm not saying the cop was in the right here. But, I'll have to get more info, and I hate for anyone to be killed or injured over something like this.
All MOO only

In a traffic stop, an innocent motorist is about 30 times more likely to be killed by the LEO, then the LEO is to be killed by the motorist. It’s the citizen that has a right to worry about being shot. The cop has a bullet proof vest on. It’s almost impossible to kill him. The citizen on the other hand has no protection, what so ever.

 

[KaaBoom]

Yes, weed possession is a capital crime in MN. Um, never mind

Drugs kill. Not the drugs, they are fine. But the cops who will kill you for using the drugs.

 

[human]

Teaching a child how to act shouldn't have anything to do with race. My soon to be 16yo has had it drilled into him repeatedly how to act if he is pulled over, or stopped by an officer on the street. I have told him to never run, or ignore a request from LE. We have spoken about LE just trying to do their job, and make it home at the end of their shift. I have explained to him if he has an issue with anything they ask of him the time to deal with that is in court....not on the street. It's not difficult to teach.

I wonder if people in France or England or Norway, for instance, teach their children this. How about New Zealand or Australia?

I know the answer. No, they do not. So why do Americans accept this kind of life?

 

[human]

And teachers and hospital workers never signed up to be targets of death. Probably theater goers either.

 

[sloane7777]

I'm jumping in to follow this because I've had personal experience of being stopped w my hubby , and have first hand knowledge that there is something to fear when stopped. This looks bad.

 

[Beyond Belief]

I really don't want to watch that car scene film again but did the female passenger ever ask the child if she was okay? Just wondering

 

[Everyday Grace]

I fear we just live in a much faster world today with much less patience and respect for our fellow man. It's an all for one and one for all world w more guns and people making less money in a materialistic world. Many go to the suburbs and hide in the secure home and alarm system never realizing it's the cops paying more of the price for each of us in the ever increasing gun toting world that seems to show less respect each day

There are other "more deadly" professions that receive even less respect.

http://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-dangerous-jobs/

Some above law enforcement on the list also impact public safety. Would it be disrespectful for the public to insist on higher standards for those professions?

 

[oh_gal]

I can't even fathom what could be done to fix this situation. What was it that caused us, as a society, to turn the page like this? Surely people did not always need to fear being pulled over by the police, did they? Has this always been an issue? Sincerely asking, since I'm starting to think that maybe my head has been buried in the sand, or I've been too insulated.

 

[KaaBoom]

Does a broken taillight indicate something other than a broken taillight? I mean in a profile type of way?

I don't exactly know why police stop people for that other than to let them know so they can repair it. Do you get a ticket for it?

One time when I was 17, I was driving and I heard a car horn beep at me. I looked over, and a cop driving along side me, yelled out his window, “Your tail light is out, get it fixed”. I nodded my head to him and drove on.

30 years later I got pulled over by three cop cars with lights and sirens for the exact same thing. They dragged me out of my car and handcuffed me. I had to stand there for 45 minutes while they searched my car for the drugs they thought I had. Finding none they wrote me a $10 fixit ticket, and let me go.

That is how much this country changed in 30 years. They used to serve and protect us. Now it is them against us.

 

[bluesneakers]

I wonder if people in France or England or Norway, for instance, teach their children this. How about New Zealand or Australia?

I know the answer. No, they do not. So why do Americans accept this kind of life?

Part of the problem is too many Americans are convinced "It can't happen to me." That's why blaming the victim is so popular - you can convince yourself that you would never do ______ and therefore you will never be shot by a law enforcement officer. I know what not to do and I'm a good person so I have nothing to worry about. Other people need to shape up, stop being criminals, be more respectful, say "Yes sir!" more often, stay out of the wrong neighborhoods, stop drinking, stop doing drugs, stop playing with toys. If only they would behave they wouldn't have a problem.

It's some messed up mental gymnastics done to cover up something very ugly.

Looking at the lack of compassion people display after a police officer kills someone shows you how Americans are just fine with this.

 

[drjones]

I can't even fathom what could be done to fix this situation. What was it that caused us, as a society, to turn the page like this? Surely people did not always need to fear being pulled over by the police, did they? Has this always been an issue? Sincerely asking, since I'm starting to think that maybe my head has been buried in the sand, or I've been too insulated.

do you know how many traffic stops there are in this country each day? how many total interactions with police there are?

things like this are extremely rare. obviously that doesnt make it any less egregious if in fact it turns out that this shooting was as bad as it seems.

 

[DexterMorgan]

One time when I was 17, I was driving and I heard a car horn beep at me. I looked over, and a cop driving along side me, yelled out his window, “Your tail light is out, get it fixed”. I nodded my head to him and drove on.

30 years later I got pulled over by three cop cars with lights and sirens for the exact same thing. They dragged me out of my car and handcuffed me. I had to stand there for 45 minutes while they searched my car for the drugs they thought I had. Finding none they wrote me a $10 fixit ticket, and let me go.

That is how much this country changed in 30 years. They used to serve and protect us. Now it is them against us.

Agree. Communities use to have relationships with the police. Especially the beat walkers or foot patrol police.

People use to be on a first name basis with the police in the communities. That's because police use to take the time to stop and chat with residents on their beat walk. Jmo

But now in these days; That lack of simple bonding between communities and police rarely exist in most places.

So you are right Kaboom. Things Definitely has changed.

 

[Gardenista]

At around 6:50, she said the officer told him not to move, but instead he started to put his hands up and the officer shot him when he moved to do that.

[video=youtube;rDRSDvZxkPA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDRSDvZxkPA[/video]

 

[LolaMoon08]

But LE is entitled to respect and compliance. I am a law abiding citizen so if a cop asked to look in my car I would say "go ahead". But even the most basic stop (even speeding) starts rolling downhill once you immediately start proclaiming your rights loudly and repeatedly. Film the traffic stop and argue with the judge rather than the cop.
I am licensed to carry but seldom seldom carry (maybe 5-6 times a year). I actually have a holster permanently mounted beneath my steering wheel for long road trips. I was pulled over approx 4 weeks ago approx 9 pm. coming home from dinner. Cop said I was doing 42 in a 35 mph. Cop immediately saw my holster and immediately asked if I had weapon in car. I stated no. He asked me a few general questions to see if I was drinking. It was a 4 min stop w/o a warning or ticket. We showed each other mutual respect and I never felt threatened or felt i would go to jail. It was John Wayne that was quoted something like "Life is hard. It's even harder if you are stupid"

I'm a law abiding citizen too. I've never had a traffic violation in my life. I have a lot of Black friends and I guess I got pulled over for being in a "Black neighborhood." I was young and dumb and had no problem consenting to them searching my car. They brought the dogs out and said they alerted to drugs (LIE) and tore my car apart. A female officer took me to the side of the road to search me like a criminal. Worse part was having to lift up my shirt over my head, bend over and shake my bra as she held her hands under my breasts. Needless to say... not a damn thing was found. I got no apology, but they made sure to tell me in a threatening way that the don't want to see me back in that neighborhood.

I will NEVER consent to anything ever again. I'll give you my license and registration and that's it. You want to search my car? Nope!

 

[Jen Darme]

Regardless of race, these incidents seem to be occurring more and more often.

RSBM

The mainstream media is reporting them more, in part due to cell phone videos.

CNN: We're not seeing more police shootings, just more news coverage

The headlines make it feel as if the country is experiencing an unprecedented wave of police violence, but experts say that isn't the case. We're just seeing more mainstream media coverage, and for a variety of reasons.

Let's be clear: That's just each expert's sense of things. We rely on hunches because real numbers don't exist, likely because no one thought it important to keep a tally until recently.

Chat with a publisher or editor at one of the country's African-American newspapers, and she or he can tell you they've been covering these cases for a long time.

... "This is the African-American experience, and for some reason non-African-Americans don't believe it."

They're starting to believe it, thanks to cell phones, said Cedric Alexander, the DeKalb County, Georgia, deputy COO of public safety and president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.

"Black and brown people have been making these complaints for years, but they fell on deaf ears because no one wanted to believe some officers would act that way," he said.​