GUILTY OK - Eric Harris, 44, fatally shot by Tulsa Co. deputy, 2 April 2015

[Woodland]

Wow.

Kudos to the officers that refused the instruction to falsify records. And kudos to whomever notified a media outlet.

The tide just might be changing on matters of LE wrongdoing.

 

[Rocco]

Bates was on the Today show with his family today. Here is one of the statements he made:

""I never considered the repercussions of what I had just done. It was shock. I can tell you it stayed with me for a number of days. I'm not at all sure it's not still with me today," he said.

He killed a man that was not a threat to him and 'it stayed with him for a number of days"? Really?

I initially had sympathy for this man but after this interview, I might change my mind.

http://www.today.com/news/tulsa-reserve-deputy-robert-bates-falsified-records-report-t15836

 

[Tawny]

Must have been a rough couple of days. I bet he lost like 2 hours of sleep. /end snarkiness

 

[KaaBoom]

Bates was on the Today show with his family today. Here is one of the statements he made:

""I never considered the repercussions of what I had just done. It was shock. I can tell you it stayed with me for a number of days. I'm not at all sure it's not still with me today," he said.

He killed a man that was not a threat to him and 'it stayed with him for a number of days"? Really?

I initially had sympathy for this man but after this interview, I might change my mind.

http://www.today.com/news/tulsa-reserve-deputy-robert-bates-falsified-records-report-t15836

Affluenza. He is rich, he is powerful, the Sheriff's Department loves him. They let him ride along with them and pretend to be a cop. Why would he think there were any repercussions for anything he does?

I really hope he gets some prison time for this, but chances of that are very slim. He has almost certainly already paid off the local judges and DA with campaign donations. Not likely they will send him to prison. They will probably give him community service, helping out the Sheriff's Department.:facepalm:

 

[KaaBoom]

Bates was on the Today show with his family today. Here is one of the statements he made:

""I never considered the repercussions of what I had just done. It was shock. I can tell you it stayed with me for a number of days. I'm not at all sure it's not still with me today," he said.

He killed a man that was not a threat to him and 'it stayed with him for a number of days"? Really?

I initially had sympathy for this man but after this interview, I might change my mind.

http://www.today.com/news/tulsa-reserve-deputy-robert-bates-falsified-records-report-t15836

I love this part of it.

"That is not correct," Bates said about the report, insisting he was certified to be on the streets in his position. "That is absolutely the truth. I have it in writing."

Of course he has it in writing. The problem is that the writings were falsified.

 

[Tawny]

He knows what training he had and didn't have.

There is a similar program or whatever in Houston, where volunteer cops are apparently allowed to carry guns. I was shocked. I am ALL FOR gun ownership rights, and I am not remotely phased when I see weapons on someone's hip, but it really surprised me that they would allow a citizen to carry a gun AND have the 'authority' of a police officer without being an actual paid law enforcement officer.

I always assumed the volunteer officers were meant to observe and report, or issue citations for minor infractions. Never dreamed they were allowed to participate in potentially volatile stings and walk around armed.

 

[Rocco]

Here's another thing I don't understand:

He said he had a clear shot so yelled 'taser taser' before he mistakenly shot his gun and hit him in the head, instead of his taser.

Since when does anyone in LE aim for someone's head when shooting their taser?

 

[Tawny]

Here's another thing I don't understand:

He said he had a clear shot so yelled 'taser taser' before he mistakenly shot his gun and hit him in the head, instead of his taser.

Since when does anyone in LE aim for someone's head when shooting their taser?

I didn't know he shot him in the head, I thought for some reason it was in the stomach, but now I can't figure out where I read that :/ Do you have a link you can share?

 

[Rocco]

I didn't know he shot him in the head, I thought for some reason it was in the stomach, but now I can't figure out where I read that :/ Do you have a link you can share?

Well dang!! I've been re-reading the articles I've read and no, I can't find anywhere that says he was shot in the head so I may be mistaken.

 

[Tawny]

Well dang!! I've been re-reading the articles I've read and no, I can't find anywhere that says he was shot in the head so I may be mistaken.

LOL Now I'm super curious to know where he was shot and I can't find that info anywhere!

 

[Rocco]

LOL Now I'm super curious to know where he was shot and I can't find that info anywhere!

I can't either and I've been looking everywhere! I saw an image and read that an officer had his knee on his head while he was bleeding after being shot so I think from that I got: 'He was shot in the head'

Poster: Rocco

Subject: Deductive Reasoning 101

Grade: F

 

[Tawny]

I can't either and I've been looking everywhere! I saw an image and read that an officer had his knee on his head while he was bleeding after being shot so I think from that I got: 'He was shot in the head'

Poster: Rocco

Subject: Deductive Reasoning 101

Grade: F

This made me literally laugh out loud.

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

Lawyer releases training records for Tulsa deputy charged in killing

http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/18/us/tulsa-shooting-training-records/index.html

 

[Rocco]

Lawyer releases training records for Tulsa deputy charged in killing

http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/18/us/tulsa-shooting-training-records/index.html

"Another seeming oddity of the records is how many classes Bates took on two days.

The Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training records show Bates took 14 training classes worth 20 credit hours on December 10, 2013, and 20 classes worth 31 credit hours on December 11, 2014."

WOW

 

[mysteriew]

The link to video in post #1 still plays for anyone wanting to view it.

It is a shame this happened - finding it hard to really fault the reserve deputy, however it does appear to me he had no reason to fire a taser or a gun at that moment - the incident had come to an end a few seconds before he fired. He would not have known that imo, so he should have kept the taser handy, but not fired it.

The person that was shot was already on the ground, one order to roll on his stomach had been given and was complied with (this can be heard but mostly not seen as the camera is askew. No further commands or shouts are heard - no reaching for his waistband, no suspicion of something in his hand(s). The reserve deputy runs up and fires.

The article deals with what the other deputies did after the shot. It was cowardly imo. No policing is evident. The shot man starts moving, and yelling out he's been shot. This is what could be expected imo. The deputies don't seem to get that - only then do they become enraged that he is moving again - after a few seconds of calm and no orders to lie still. One deputy puts his knee on the mans head and presses down - nasty and unnecessary - he's writhing in pain, not trying to get away - the camera becomes somewhat better aimed at this point. The man yells he can't breathe - a deputy yells back 'f*ck your breath'. F*ck your breath? What is that? Then the same or different deputy starts screaming at the guy that has been shot - you ran, swearing, etc. Non heroic bullying imo.

I don't doubt this is why charges have been laid. Charges have been laid against the wrong person, or not enough people imo. More cowardice imo. When the going got tough, they turned on a 73 year-old one of their own. But I guess as long as something is seen to be done, it will go away eventually. However, are people to think the same deputies won't over-react in the future?

I was actually more shocked by what happened afterwards than I was by the shooting. Cursing the man when he said he couldn't breathe. Not immediately calling for an ambulance. I wonder how long he lay there before they called an ambulance for him?

 

[mysteriew]

"Another seeming oddity of the records is how many classes Bates took on two days.

The Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training records show Bates took 14 training classes worth 20 credit hours on December 10, 2013, and 20 classes worth 31 credit hours on December 11, 2014."

WOW

According to the article you have linked they are theorizing that could be a result of computer classes. It sounds like they may allow people to 'test out' of some classes.

 

[Rocco]

According to the article you have linked they are theorizing that could be a result of computer classes. It sounds like they may allow people to 'test out' of some classes.

I take it the 'they' you are referring to is his attorney. "Wood said Bates may have been cramming in his required training before the end of the year by taking computer classes.

"It's possible you could take a half-hour class and if you know the material you could finish it in 15 minutes," he said."

Not sure where the 'testing out' of classes is mentioned.

I looked up The Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training for Texas and I found a lot of classes listed with the respective credits for each, the location, date and time, but I'm not finding any computer classes listed.

Under the FAQ of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement it states:

I hold a reserve officer license, what training must I have in order to keep my license active? 1701.352(e) of the Occupations Code requires individuals licensed as reserve officers must receive training in civil rights, racial sensitivity, and cultural diversity at least once every 48 month training cycle. (Classes for these topics are listed on the The Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training for Texas site) https://www.tcole.texas.gov/content/frequently-asked-questions

Anyone out there in the WWWS (Wonderful World of Websleuths) who can clarify any of this for me/us?

 

[AngelWings444]

According to the article you have linked they are theorizing that could be a result of computer classes. It sounds like they may allow people to 'test out' of some classes.

Just jumping off your post..

If they allowed this elderly guy to certify 51 online credits in one day, they have a bigger problem. Who knows who took the computer classes only for him? Obviously, this guy shouldn't have been on an uncover sting, in which they are going to be doing a live bust. If he were directing traffic, no problem. Someone is going to have to be held accountable for allowing him on the "job" and putting him in this position in the first place. What was he thinking pulling any weapon out and getting involved in the middle of a bust. How many other times has he been on the "job," when it clearly should only be real law enforcement in these highly fueled stings?

JMO - I think we will find out that many records were falsified to allow this rich guy, who donates to the police and other higher ups, to be with officers to stroke his own ego.

 

[KaaBoom]

"Another seeming oddity of the records is how many classes Bates took on two days.

The Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training records show Bates took 14 training classes worth 20 credit hours on December 10, 2013, and 20 classes worth 31 credit hours on December 11, 2014."

WOW

Also firearms qualification records from four dates in 2012 and 2013 are missing for the entire sheriff's office. How convenient.

 

[Martha Morris]

I was actually more shocked by what happened afterwards than I was by the shooting. Cursing the man when he said he couldn't breathe. Not immediately calling for an ambulance. I wonder how long he lay there before they called an ambulance for him?

You've taken my words - I was going to write exactly the same. The callousness of those officers is jawdropping. Having shot him by mistake, instead of doing all they can to help him, they then abuse him verbally, curse at him and show him no compassion or mercy whatsoever.