Let me educate the president about police work

[Grey Colson]

Regarding the "unrest" in Ferguson, MO. P-Bo said people exercising their constitutional right to protest should not be arrested.

Let me help you out here buddy. They DON'T. They arrest people who are throwing molotov cocktails or other harmful objects at others. They also arrest people who loot and/or destroy property. If you can't tell the difference Barry, you might want to exercise your right to remain silent.

He said journalists should not be arrested for doing their job.

Let me help you out here too buddy. They DON'T. They arrest journalists or anyone else for that matter who disobey a lawful command to do something or move somewhere or to stop doing something. Journalists, dentists, doctors, or whoever they may be unless they have diplomatic immunity. Again....if you can't tell the difference, do us all a favor and allow us to continue to assume you're an idiot instead of opening your mouth and removing ALL doubt.

 

[lotstodo]

I agree...with the exception of the reporters. It appears that officers were reprimanded by the chief for the way they handled the situation with the two reporters and the reporters were immediately released.

 

[Grey Colson]

I agree...with the exception of the reporters. It appears that officers were reprimanded by the chief for the way they handled the situation with the two reporters and the reporters were immediately released.

One of which said he was embarrassed to have been released before the others. He stated the predominant reason was because he was a WHITE journalist. That really helps the situation, dumbo!

I feel the jury is still out on the journalists. I would like to have seen video, but what part I heard was them telling them to move back or leave and they wouldn't. They can't just be or stay anywhere they want. If they come on campus here without prior permission and refuse to leave. Guess what? They're taking the ride.

 

[J-man]

The report on the journalist I heard stated that they were arrest because they didn't pack their things and move fast enough, which to me implies they were at least attempting to follow instructions. In the end they were released and I'm sure any pending charges will be dropped. What is disturbing though is the ORGANIZED refusal to televise to the general public the actual footage of what's happening there. Sure you hear about it but very briefly and without detail, for that you have to turn to alternative media and from what I've seen it's not pretty, which is why the MSM won't show it.

 

[lotstodo]

I agree...with the exception of the reporters. It appears that officers were reprimanded by the chief for the way they handled the situation with the two reporters and the reporters were immediately released.

One of which said he was embarrassed to have been released before the others. He stated the predominant reason was because he was a WHITE journalist. That really helps the situation, dumbo!

I feel the jury is still out on the journalists. I would like to have seen video, but what part I heard was them telling them to move back or leave and they wouldn't. They can't just be or stay anywhere they want. If they come on campus here without prior permission and refuse to leave. Guess what? They're taking the ride.

I think the bottom line here is that you don't slam a Washington Post reporter against a coke machine unless you want it on the front page of the Washington Post. The cop said he "helped" him toward the door, the Hufpo and the WT reporter say that he shoved him face first against a coke machine and pinned his arm behind him. There is a short cell phone video before the shove that shows the reporter packing up and talking to the cop all the while filming with his cell phone followed by the cop physically moving the WP reporter toward the door after the reporter apparently took too long packing his equipment. I don't doubt that the reporter was being mouthy, but he was most obviously being very effectively moved toward the door when the "arrest" into the Coke machine happened.

Here is the WP reporter's cell phone video.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/08/13/washington-post-reporter-arrested-in-ferguson/

 

[Boss 302]

One thing that made me laugh is when Obama said the police must be transparent in their investigation. Obama should be the last person to recommend any organization to be transparent.

A lot of people have the police officer who shot and killed the kid tried and convicted already. From what I've been reading there witness statements that are conflicting with each other. Some saying the officer was attacked by the guy and others saying the guy wasn't resisting the officer.

 

[Grey Colson]

I agree...with the exception of the reporters. It appears that officers were reprimanded by the chief for the way they handled the situation with the two reporters and the reporters were immediately released.

One of which said he was embarrassed to have been released before the others. He stated the predominant reason was because he was a WHITE journalist. That really helps the situation, dumbo!

I feel the jury is still out on the journalists. I would like to have seen video, but what part I heard was them telling them to move back or leave and they wouldn't. They can't just be or stay anywhere they want. If they come on campus here without prior permission and refuse to leave. Guess what? They're taking the ride.

I think the bottom line here is that you don't slam a Washington Post reporter against a coke machine unless you want it on the front page of the Washington Post. The cop said he "helped" him toward the door, the Hufpo and the WT reporter say that he shoved him face first against a coke machine and pinned his arm behind him. There is a short cell phone video before the shove that shows the reporter packing up and talking to the cop all the while filming with his cell phone followed by the cop physically moving the WP reporter toward the door after the reporter apparently took too long packing his equipment. I don't doubt that the reporter was being mouthy, but he was most obviously being very effectively moved toward the door when the "arrest" into the Coke machine happened.

Here is the WP reporter's cell phone video.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/08/13/washington-post-reporter-arrested-in-ferguson/

Thanks for the link.

These guys were obviously directed to clear the business by whoever the incident commander was....and it certainly wasn't the line cop. These guys don't give statements or answer questions from the media. That's why any agency of any size at all has a PIO. This reporter, in my opinion, was trying to make himself the news and was clearly not leaving the business as directed.

This officer doesn't have the time, nor is it his business to stop, pose for the camera and BE the news like this reporter wants to be....and got his wish. I don't for a second believe the officers told him to stop recording because he (the officer) was doing something he didn't want seen by the public. He attempted MULTIPLE times (I should go back and count) to get this guy moving out of the business like ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE in the background were doing who were not trying to win a pulitzer prize.

It's also my opinion that, if there was an apology by the chief, it was and still is the result of massive pressure put on him by the media and every politician in the state to include our non-commander n snob. Amazing how quick he directs the DOJ to conduct special investigations into an issue like this.

 

[MrsB]

There were also reporters who had tear gas fired upon them, even after yelling "Press". It was caught on camera by another set of reporters from another station. Sorry - tear has is a little excessive regarding reporters... Especially when there is a camera crew and the whole set up.

I also find it worriesome the extent of militarization of the police.

 

[lotstodo]

I agree...with the exception of the reporters. It appears that officers were reprimanded by the chief for the way they handled the situation with the two reporters and the reporters were immediately released.

One of which said he was embarrassed to have been released before the others. He stated the predominant reason was because he was a WHITE journalist. That really helps the situation, dumbo!

I feel the jury is still out on the journalists. I would like to have seen video, but what part I heard was them telling them to move back or leave and they wouldn't. They can't just be or stay anywhere they want. If they come on campus here without prior permission and refuse to leave. Guess what? They're taking the ride.

I think the bottom line here is that you don't slam a Washington Post reporter against a coke machine unless you want it on the front page of the Washington Post. The cop said he "helped" him toward the door, the Hufpo and the WT reporter say that he shoved him face first against a coke machine and pinned his arm behind him. There is a short cell phone video before the shove that shows the reporter packing up and talking to the cop all the while filming with his cell phone followed by the cop physically moving the WP reporter toward the door after the reporter apparently took too long packing his equipment. I don't doubt that the reporter was being mouthy, but he was most obviously being very effectively moved toward the door when the "arrest" into the Coke machine happened.

Here is the WP reporter's cell phone video.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/08/13/washington-post-reporter-arrested-in-ferguson/

Thanks for the link.

These guys were obviously directed to clear the business by whoever the incident commander was....and it certainly wasn't the line cop. These guys don't give statements or answer questions from the media. That's why any agency of any size at all has a PIO. This reporter, in my opinion, was trying to make himself the news and was clearly not leaving the business as directed.

This officer doesn't have the time, nor is it his business to stop, pose for the camera and BE the news like this reporter wants to be....and got his wish. I don't for a second believe the officers told him to stop recording because he (the officer) was doing something he didn't want seen by the public. He attempted MULTIPLE times (I should go back and count) to get this guy moving out of the business like ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE in the background were doing who were not trying to win a pulitzer prize.

It's also my opinion that, if there was an apology by the chief, it was and still is the result of massive pressure put on him by the media and every politician in the state to include our non-commander n snob. Amazing how quick he directs the DOJ to conduct special investigations into an issue like this.

I agree he was not running toward the door. He was CLEARLY not moving fast enough for the officer. At this point the officer starts as he said, "helping him toward the door". I see no problem up to the point the video stops. The reporter was being a douche, the cop didn't rip the phone from his hand, the reporter wasn't moving out, the officer physically directed him toward the door. No problem. The big but is what happened that turned what we see into being shoved into a Coke machine and arrested? The reporter says that he dropped the phone and recording stopped when the cop for no apparent reason went from showing him the door to slamming him face first into the Coke machine. We don't know if that is true or not, but the Hufpo reporter agrees and the police have not denied that. No reason for the change in heart between showing him the door and throwing him in the back of the paddy wagon has been given. The video stops before the real story starts. I don't think the video shows us what we need to know. Obviously the reporter was moving toward the door when the video stopped as he had no choice. Did the cop just get tired of the guys BS and slam him against the coke Machine or did the reporter begin physically resisting? I guess we will never really know for sure, but it looks like the cop was just fed up and exploded in an admittedly tense situation. I think that's what the chief apologized for.

As for the DOJ investigation, that's a bunch of BS. There hasn't even been an internal investigation of the original shooting yet, and there is obviously now a huge group of violent rioters and looters, notice I didn't say protesters. Word is that hundreds have come from out of town for the free for all. If the NAACP wants to do something, then denounce rampant violence against innocent citizens and their property, don't condone it.

 

[J-man]

I don't necessarily blame the police, it's a tense situation and they've been directly threatened themselves. They have a tough job to do under stressful circumstances, but that's also what they're trained to do. I know if I found myself caught in the middle of it I would follow the instructions to the letter and my body language would clearly reflect my intent to do so. If everyone would obey lawful orders then I'm sure there would be few, if any, incidences.

I still have an issue with the media blockage of what's happening there. They'll show Gaza and the mountain in Iraq, but not a small town in MO.

 

[lotstodo]

Even the original kid's buddy says that there was a struggle at the car. The facts of the original case seem pretty clear.

Two teens are walking down the middle of a road and are told to get on the sidewalk. They mouth off. The cop stops and blocks their way with his car. At some point one teen approaches the car and a struggle ensues through the window. Was it over the cop's gun? Was the gun unholstered when the kid approached? We don't know and neither does the kid's buddy. All we know is that at some point during the struggle the kid was shot. So far so good for the cop, but now the story goes sideways. After being shot, the kid breaks free and both teens run. The cop shoots the wounded teen dead from 35 feet away. Suddenly it isn't a case of deadly force as self defense anymore.

Both sides pretty much agree on the facts of the case, but now we need to have a hearing to see if the entire incident was justified. My gut is that an internal investigation will find that the cop shouldn't have fired on the fleeing kid after he got out of the car. The kid was no longer a threat and was wounded so he wasn't going far. Besides, his buddy surrendered immediately.

If people would just let the facts speak for themselves and let the investigation take its course, none of this would have happened. I just don't see "racism" in fighting over a cop's gun, the moron smartass kid started it. I do see problems with the last part of the shooting however.

 

[stradial]

I won't give my thoughts, they are not popular.
But I can say this....no I won't.

ETA, OK, I will say this. It wasn't very many years ago that the focus would be on the fact that you attack a police officer you suffer the results.
The same was true if you attacked a citizen.
It sure did help cut down on attacks.

 

[J-man]

I still have an issue with the media blockage of what's happening there. They'll show Gaza and the mountain in Iraq, but not a small town in MO.

I stand corrected, they've had MSM coverage most of the afternoon now. Finally. Glad to hear O state there is no excuse for looting and vandalism, as was as none for excessive police force. I hate to admit it but he's correct on both statements. I'm just glad it's getting the coverage it deserves.

 

[Guard Dad]

The president is an idiot.

 

[Winchester]

The report on the journalist I heard stated that they were arrest because they didn't pack their things and move fast enough, which to me implies they were at least attempting to follow instructions. In the end they were released and I'm sure any pending charges will be dropped. What is disturbing though is the ORGANIZED refusal to televise to the general public the actual footage of what's happening there. Sure you hear about it but very briefly and without detail, for that you have to turn to alternative media and from what I've seen it's not pretty, which is why the MSM won't show it.

Never let facts and actual violence get in the way of telling a false story!

 

[Winchester]

There were also reporters who had tear gas fired upon them, even after yelling "Press". It was caught on camera by another set of reporters from another station. Sorry - tear has is a little excessive regarding reporters... Especially when there is a camera crew and the whole set up.

I also find it worriesome the extent of militarization of the police.

Mrs B, not picking on you but please explain to me what everyone is crying about with this "militarization" of the police? Everything I've seen is that these guys are in standard riot gear, there are shots being fired close by, people are throwing firebombs at them, etc.

 

[J-man]

There were also reporters who had tear gas fired upon them, even after yelling "Press". It was caught on camera by another set of reporters from another station. Sorry - tear has is a little excessive regarding reporters... Especially when there is a camera crew and the whole set up.

I also find it worriesome the extent of militarization of the police.

Mrs B, not picking on you but please explain to me what everyone is crying about with this "militarization" of the police? Everything I've seen is that these guys are in standard riot gear, there are shots being fired close by, people are throwing firebombs at them, etc.

Looks like State Patrol officers have replaced the local yocals as the lead force. It also appears they have completely changed their approach, at least for now, at how to diffuse the situation. Mainly they've scaled down the military style approach, backed them away from the demonstrators, and are allowing for peaceful demonstration. I'm just glad to see progress being made to calm the community. Hopefully the looting and vandalism is over.

 

[Grey Colson]

With five years experience in IA, I would never make an excuse for an officer who clearly violates procedure, used excessive force or violated the law. It was never fun when I had to "encourage" an LEO to resign, see them fired and in some cases, arrested. On the other hand, the part of IA I did get pleasure from were those time we were able to prove that a complainant lied about an incident and we exonerated the officer. On one specific occasion, I arrested an individual for swearing to a complaint that we proved to be fabricated.

My biggest problem with this case so far goes along with what LTD mentioned. The investigation is not complete and judgement has been handed down by THE SAME PEOPLE who scream "Innocent until proven guilty" when it comes to one of their own.

The police should be held to a higher standard, but they are not required to throw their constitutional rights in the garbage in exchange.

 

[MrsB]

There were also reporters who had tear gas fired upon them, even after yelling "Press". It was caught on camera by another set of reporters from another station. Sorry - tear has is a little excessive regarding reporters... Especially when there is a camera crew and the whole set up.

I also find it worriesome the extent of militarization of the police.

Mrs B, not picking on you but please explain to me what everyone is crying about with this "militarization" of the police? Everything I've seen is that these guys are in standard riot gear, there are shots being fired close by, people are throwing firebombs at them, etc.

This sums it up perfectly:

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/07/23/conservatives-libertarians-and-liberals-should-all-worry-about-militarization/

I don't mean just in Ferguson. It had only shed light on something that is across the nation, and it does trouble me.

 

[Madea]

I still have an issue with the media blockage of what's happening there. They'll show Gaza and the mountain in Iraq, but not a small town in MO.

I stand corrected, they've had MSM coverage most of the afternoon now. Finally. Glad to hear O state there is no excuse for looting and vandalism, as was as none for excessive police force. I hate to admit it but he's correct on both statements. I'm just glad it's getting the coverage it deserves.

It WASN'T a story during the looting/violence stage of the "protesters". It became a story when the police "armored up".