SC - Walter Scott, 50, fatally shot by North Charleston PD officer, 4 April 2015 - #1

[Tawny]

BBM. Cops are allowed by law to make the judgment call. Which is why responsible parents teach their children to respect authority and obey instructions without question.

JMO

This isn't a totalitarian society.

I encourage my child to question everything that doesn't make sense or feels/seems wrong.

 

[mysteriew]

Re: possibility of PD "coverup"
sbm bbm
(Running several hrs behind in reading thread.)

Who is 'they'? Top admin in that PD? What does 'accepting the statements' mean?

Does Officer Slager being charged w murder mean PD top admin PD 'accepted' his statements? Quite the opposite, imo.
IIUC, PD chain of command investigated the employment angle sufficiently to terminate him.
IDK what further consequences will occur/did occur in aftermath (e.g., employment benefits, pension, health ins, etc).
My non-sci. WAG: there may be some union involvement, required notices, etc. re emp. bene's, etc.

What more do you think PD chain of command should do, as far as Officer Slager is concerned?

Personally awaiting more info about other LEOs at scene, their reports, actions, and PD admin response.
JM2cts.

From what I am hearing 2 officers mentioned first aid, one even said he gave first aid. From what I saw there was no aid given, no attempts to control bleeding or do CPR. Only checking pulse. A police officer doesn't have the authority to determine that medical care is not necessary, even when there is no pulse. Only medical personnel can do that. But even if he decided not to give aid due to no pulse, the record should have reflected that.

I am not hearing that there is any mention from any of the inital reports, that Slagle picked up potential evidence and moved it around. Even though that was on video and there was also another officer in view when it happened.
The department has a possibly explosive situation and have to try to keep it in control. Have you seen any announcement anywhere that they are investigating the actions of the other officers at the scene? And their inital reports were given to
the media as representations of what happened at the scene. Yet those reports are in conflict with the video.

 

[EllieBee]

I thought this photo was when the taser originaly fell to the ground and Scott ran a second time. I think that because Scott is sitting up in this photo. He was already laying on the ground when Slager went back to pick up the taser bringing it back and dropping it next to Scott.

IDK, but I think he is lying face down in this pic. I could be wrong.

 

[MyBelle]

Imo, one doesn't have to experience the poor conduct of LE these days to dislike or be disgusted by it. For me, reading about it makes me angry and afraid - no one should be afraid of LE imo.

It is understandable that people still want to believe in LE and that all is well and all will always work out - imo their current culture is dangerous not to mention costly - in lives, health care and money for incapacitated or wronged citizens. Inexcusable, jmo.

It's worthy of continuing discussion though!!

It isn't a matter of belief, it is a matter of reality. Most folks I know recognize that cops are in a superior position of authority. They also know that if you flee, cops are going to assume you are trying to evade arrest for a serious crime. The concept of doing what a cop tells you to do isn't exactly new.

JMO

 

[Cubby]

IDK, but I think he is lying face down in this pic. I could be wrong.

He was. I messed up. It was another LEO who appeared to be sitting down or in a kneeling position....

 

[mysteriew]

The videos released do not show CPR being performed on Mr. Scott. Could CPR have been performed AFTER what we saw on the tape, by someone else? Perhaps by a paramedic? Perhaps.

About CPR parameters: If the victim is breathing or has a pulse, you do NOT perform CPR. One officer is seen checking Mr. Scott's pulse. Perhaps a pulse was detected at that time. If that was the case, CPR was not indicated.

No but control of bleeding would have been indicated.

 

[Elley Mae]

It isn't a matter of belief, it is a matter of reality. Most folks I know recognize that cops are in a superior position of authority. They also know that if you flee, cops are going to assume you are trying to evade arrest for a serious crime. The concept of doing what a cop tells you to do isn't exactly new.

JMO

I can not imagine running from the police, seriously if I was pulled over I would never take off running. I can not think of one reason why that would work to my benefit in any way. I guess I will never get it. jmo idk

 

[Tawny]

It isn't a matter of belief, it is a matter of reality. Most folks I know recognize that cops are in a superior position of authority. They also know that if you flee, cops are going to assume you are trying to evade arrest for a serious crime. The concept of doing what a cop tells you to do isn't exactly new.

JMO

In reality, there are a whole lot of cops who should not be granted that authority. I can personally think of 3 off the top of my head that should hand in their badges right now because they are racist misogynists, and that's me being kind. There are way more 'good cops' but there are enough BAD cops to justify making sure there are checks and balances in place. You can't just grant all cops absolute authority to do whatever they want.

Have you never heard of cops who are in drug rings, or cops who rape, or cops who beat their wives? Telling people to always just do what you're told and not ask questions because the person has a badge is SO dangerous. JMO

 

[MyBelle]

This isn't a totalitarian society.

I encourage my child to question everything that doesn't make sense or feels/seems wrong.

Yeah, have a kid tell a cop, "officer, this just seems wrong" and see how far it gets him/her. Failure to disobey a police officer is a crime.

I would never encourage a child to question the directive being given by a police officer. There are procedures for lodging complaints later.

JMO

 

[Woodland]

This isn't a totalitarian society.

I encourage my child to question everything that doesn't make sense or feels/seems wrong.

Yes - no one wants their children to be used or abused.

 

[Woodland]

It isn't a matter of belief, it is a matter of reality. Most folks I know recognize that cops are in a superior position of authority. They also know that if you flee, cops are going to assume you are trying to evade arrest for a serious crime. The concept of doing what a cop tells you to do isn't exactly new.

JMO

The response doesn't reflect my point in the quoted post - but thanks for your thought.

 

[Tawny]

Yeah, have a kid tell a cop, "officer, this just seems wrong" and see how far it gets him/her. Failure to disobey a police officer is a crime.

I would never encourage a child to question the directive being given by a police officer. There are procedures for lodging complaints later.

JMO

If that cop is doing something wrong or illegal, and/or potentially dangerous to the health and well being of my child, she is absolutely allowed to call him/her out on it.

No but seriously. Women have reported being raped after being pulled over. Being sexually violated during a "routine" traffic stop and being searched for no reason. Nope. Unless I'm being arrested, I will not follow orders and get out of my car.

So, no, I don't blame a black man in our society for maybe being in fear for his life during a "routine" stop. Murders of unarmed black men by police officers is way too common for me to expect them to just roll over and do what they're told every single time.

Again, he shouldn't have run. That's obvious. But I'm not a black man in this society, so I have no way to know what was going through his head at that moment, what he's experienced at the hands of police officers during all of those other arrests. JMOO, etc.

 

[MyBelle]

In reality, there are a whole lot of cops who should not be granted that authority. I can personally think of 3 off the top of my head that should hand in their badges right now because they are racist misogynists, and that's me being kind. There are way more 'good cops' but there are enough BAD cops to justify making sure there are checks and balances in place. You can't just grant all cops absolute authority to do whatever they want.

Have you never heard of cops who are in drug rings, or cops who rape, or cops who beat their wives? Telling people to always just do what you're told and not ask questions because the person has a badge is SO dangerous. JMO

Excuse me but your rant is misplaced, imo. There are bad apples in every profession including law enforcement. There are also complaint/grievance processes when citizens feel wronged. But in uniform and on the job, cops ARE in a position of authority. If somebody wants to flee, that's their decision just as it is the officer's decision what next action to take.

JMO

 

[Brightbird]

It isn't a matter of belief, it is a matter of reality. Most folks I know recognize that cops are in a superior position of authority. They also know that if you flee, cops are going to assume you are trying to evade arrest for a serious crime. The concept of doing what a cop tells you to do isn't exactly new.

JMO

That's a little scary. Their authority doesn't give them to right to kill people who don't submit to that authority. Cops don't get to kill people unless it's in self-defense or someone else is in clear imminent danger. That's not a hard idea to grasp.

 

[EllieBee]

BBM. Cops are allowed by law to make the judgment call. Which is why responsible parents teach their children to respect authority and obey instructions without question.

JMO

And when cops use poor judgement, people die.

My daughter has an interest in criminal justice and wants to have a career in LE, and took a community college class while still in HS.

One of the first things she shared with me is that, when pulled over for a traffic stop, you have the legal right and actually SHOULD refuse to answer personal questions, such as "where are you headed?" " do you have family there?" "Why do you have two suitcases for a week-long trip?", etc. She said you should not answer personal questions just because it is a LE officer asking them.

You are only required to show documentation.

So honestly, the idea that cops have free reign and we are to subject ourselves to them, regardless of our constitutional rights is not only ridiculous, they are teaching against it in criminal justice courses!

 

[SeeAlice]

In reality, there are a whole lot of cops who should not be granted that authority. I can personally think of 3 off the top of my head that should hand in their badges right now because they are racist misogynists, and that's me being kind. There are way more 'good cops' but there are enough BAD cops to justify making sure there are checks and balances in place. You can't just grant all cops absolute authority to do whatever they want.

Have you never heard of cops who are in drug rings, or cops who rape, or cops who beat their wives? Telling people to always just do what you're told and not ask questions because the person has a badge is SO dangerous. JMO

Walter Scott had NO reason/excuse not to follow lawful commands that I am aware of. He was not in ANY danger when this situation unfolded. He was NOT running for his life.

JMO

 

[MyBelle]

If that cop is doing something wrong or illegal, and/or potentially dangerous to the health and well being of my child, she is absolutely allowed to call him/her out on it.

No but seriously. Women have reported being raped after being pulled over. Being sexually violated during a "routine" traffic stop and being searched for no reason. Nope. Unless I'm being arrested, I will not follow orders and get out of my car.

So, no, I don't blame a black man in our society for maybe being in fear for his life during a "routine" stop. Murders of unarmed black men by police officers is way too common for me to expect them to just roll over and do what they're told every single time.

Again, he shouldn't have run. That's obvious. But I'm not a black man in this society, so I have no way to know what was going through his head at that moment, what he's experienced at the hands of police officers during all of those other arrests. JMOO, etc.

And you certainly can do whatever you wish. Just don't blame the cops if your disobeying their request doesn't work out for you.

JMO

 

[EllieBee]

That's a little scary. Their authority doesn't give them to right to kill people who don't submit to that authority. Cops don't get to kill people unless it's in self-defense or someone else is in clear imminent danger. That's not a hard idea to grasp.

That's a LOT scary. Revolutions have been started over that sort of ideology.

 

[Tawny]

And you certainly can do whatever you wish. Just don't blame the cops if your disobeying their request doesn't work out for you.

JMO

I will blame them if what they're doing is unlawful.

ETA: But this is all fairly off topic and becoming personal, so moving on.

 

[mysteriew]

Yep, I wonder how they are going to go about collecting that $7,800 in back child support, now that he is dead?

Collecting child support should be a civil matter, not criminal. This just shows how badly our system fails.

LOL sorry but I can't agree with that. Check out my signature. A child has 2 parents who have a responsibility to him/her. If the custodial parent doesn't use their resources to care for the child it is called neglect. Why isn't it called neglect when the noncustodial does not use their resources to care for the child?