Washington state police shot at unarmed man 17 times

[Silver]

[font=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif]"three officers involved in [/font][font=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif]the death of an unarmed Mexican man[/font]
[font=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif] in Washington state[/font][font=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif] [/font]
[font=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif]fired 17 shots, including several that struck the [/font]
[font=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif]former orchard worker but none that hit him in the back,"[/font]


[font=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif]isn't that a relief that none hit him in the back?[/font]


[font=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif]so if you're questioned it's best to turn your back ?[/font]


[font=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif]who wants to be a hermit ?[/font]


[font=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif]I guess if you're questioned U hav to move extremely slow . .[/font]


[font=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif]" Am I free to go Officer ?"[/font]
[font=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif]" What crime have I committed ? "[/font]


[font=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif]"Are you detaining me officer ?"[/font]


[font=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif]"I'm going to remain silent"[/font]
[font=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif]"I want to talk to my lawyer"[/font]

 

[Wabbit]

I saw an article on this a few days ago. This is not an isolated incident. If you google, "number of unarmed people shot 2015", you might be surprised. Keep in mind that the stories you hear/read about are not all of the stories happening. I stopped watching the news 24/7, but I still check in every once in awhile. I don't seem to see these stories reported nationally, just locally.

 

[mockturtle]

Being from WA state, I'm not at all surprised.

 

[Silver]

Being from WA state, I'm not at all surprised.

I think Canada would be a great place to move to

if you can stand the cold.

I was goin to visit Guatemala but the murder rate is
super high there, as well as most of Central & South America.

I heard WA is not super RV friendly . .
But must be much better than Cali

 

[jimindenver]

With cell phones and cameras everywhere, it's scary what it shows us of out police departments. It's gotten to the point that they may beat you for having the audacity of not being absolutely submissive and shoot you because they were not sure you are not a threat. It's like they are looking for a reason to use force, not consider it as a last resort.

 

[Wabbit]

... was hit twice in the legs out of 17 shots fired...

I wonder where all those bullets landed and why that isn't also a news story. Saying that, if someone is going to shoot at me, I prefer them to have horrible aim.

 

[LeeRevell]

I wonder where all those bullets landed and why that isn't also a news story. Saying that, if someone is going to shoot at me, I prefer them to have horrible aim.

Many cops can't shoot worth a darn.  I have seen them at our local range practicing before their Quals.  They only shoot once a year, to qualify.  Add their poor performance to that of the usual gang banger, it's a wonder the inner cities aren't all shot to pieces.  Pitiful.

Then add in the current PD and SD love of TACTICOOL operations and gear.  The LEOs are getting trained as TROOPS, not law enforcement.  It's cool to be SWAT.  The departments are getting military weapons and vehicles.  They then need to justify those cool toys, and all the training, so they use them when they shouldn't.  It's a bad situation.

 

[cdiggy]

Many cops can't shoot worth a darn.  I have seen them at our local range practicing before their Quals.  They only shoot once a year, to qualify.  Add their poor performance to that of the usual gang banger, it's a wonder the inner cities aren't all shot to pieces.  Pitiful.

Then add in the current PD and SD love of TACTICOOL operations and gear.  The LEOs are getting trained as TROOPS, not law enforcement.  It's cool to be SWAT.  The departments are getting military weapons and vehicles.  They then need to justify those cool toys, and all the training, so they use them when they shouldn't.  It's a bad situation.

It is very troublesome that PDs are being outfitted with military grade weapons. It is a sign of the beginning of the end. It is like they know there is going to be a revolt and are stockpiling these war machines for the inevitable.

 

[Matt71]

It is very troublesome that PDs are being outfitted with military grade weapons. It is a sign of the beginning of the end. It is like they know there is going to be a revolt and are stockpiling these war machines for the inevitable.

I think it has more to do with the Military Industrial Complex. 

We're at war, which means the military can pretty much justify spending as much money as they can. The problem is that it's hard to justify spending money to buy a bunch of stuff we already have, so they dump the older stuff off on the cops, so they can buy new stuff.

Then you have to consider that once troop levels start getting reduced, we end up with a bunch of gear and no one to use it.

There's definitely a conspiracy going on, but it's about making money, not militarizing the cops.

 

[cdiggy]

I think it has more to do with the Military Industrial Complex. 

We're at war, which means the military can pretty much justify spending as much money as they can. The problem is that it's hard to justify spending money to buy a bunch of stuff we already have, so they dump the older stuff off on the cops, so they can buy new stuff.

Then you have to consider that once troop levels start getting reduced, we end up with a bunch of gear and no one to use it.

There's definitely a conspiracy going on, but it's about making money, not militarizing the cops.

I have seen so many of these vids of cops going bat shit crazy that it scares me that anybody would even think of giving these cops killing machines... The guy in pasco wa shot in the back while running away, another guy pepper sprayed for filming cops popping of caps recklessly and then stepping on the phone to intentionally destroy the evidence, the cop in fla in a bus station bitch slapping a homeless guy when all he was doing was trying to use the public restroom to pee. The list is endless and does not paint a pretty picture of our not so bright future.

 

[Matt71]

I have seen so many of these vids of cops going bat shit crazy that it scares me that anybody would even think of giving these cops killing machines... The guy in pasco wa shot in the back while running away, another guy pepper sprayed for filming cops popping of caps recklessly and then stepping on the phone to intentionally destroy the evidence, the cop in fla in a bus station bitch slapping a homeless guy when all he was doing was trying to use the public restroom to pee. The list is endless and does not paint a pretty picture of our not so bright future.

I don't think this behavior is new. We just see it more, because the current technology makes it possible for anyone to document the behavior. 

In fact, it probably happens less now that there are so many cameras out there.

 

[cdiggy]

I don't think this behavior is new. We just see it more, because the current technology makes it possible for anyone to document the behavior. 

In fact, it probably happens less now that there are so many cameras out there.

Exactly. And now they are being furnished with tanks and machine guns... What could POSSIBLY go wrong???

 

[mockturtle]

Sounds a lot like the SA brownshirts, roughing up the 'undesirables' to instill terror in the community.

A few years ago when I was living in a house [in a respectable retirement community in a small town], there was a domestic dispute a few houses down and the SWAT team blocked off the whole street. I couldn't get to my house for over four hours. The news teams were out and the whole shebang. What a circus! Turns out the guy had already shot himself before they even got there.

Soldiers are well trained in tactical operations but the last thing we want is local cops being armed like military. Yikes!

 

[Matt71]

Soldiers are well trained in tactical operations but the last thing we want is local cops being armed like military.  Yikes!

I was a soldier, and can assure you that I was not well trained in tactical operations.
Military training provides you with just enough training to get by. Any real knowledge or skill is imparted through experience in the field.
And there are just as many bad soldiers as there are bad cops. Sometimes they're the same guys.

It's not about training, it's about mentality. Giving cops tanks doesn't make them bad cops, it just gives the bad cops more toys to play with.

 

[LeeRevell]

I think it has more to do with the Military Industrial Complex. 
There's definitely a conspiracy going on, but it's about making money, not militarizing the cops.

It goes hand in hand.  The military offloads older gear so they can buy new.  (Also why they are so quick to burn up those cruise missiles - use them up and crank the factories!  We need new stuff!)
Then the city fathers get shiny new 'crime fighting tools'.  So the cops get minimal training in using it.  Got to justify the new toys.  Show off to John Q. Public.  "Shock & Awe" on the local front.
It is said "When the only tool you have is a hammer, all problems look like a nail!"
So when some poor guy or gal is sacked out in their van, trying to stealth it, Officer Friendly comes up and acts like he's a grunt on the ground in downtown Beirut.  It's the nature of the cop culture nowadays.  A sign of the times.

 

[mockturtle]

It's not about training, it's about mentality. Giving cops tanks doesn't make them bad cops, it just gives the bad cops more toys to play with.

So true.

 

[VJG1977]

I saw this on the news this  morning.

http://nypost.com/2015/02/24/nypd-using-road-house-movie-to-teach-cops-how-to-be-nice/

 

[MikeRuth]

I agree with many of you and especially Matt, I believe this has been going on just like we saw in that clip for years and years. Now that the common person has the ability to record and show the world what they saw is bringing light to it. And it's about time. That shooting as well as a few others recently all had the possibility of an outcome other than death of the suspect.

the Rodney king beating was one of the first I think in modern times to show what's really happening. I've seen clips of suspects that were not killed but severely beaten. I don't know what they did and don't cast judgment, but I do see another human being suffering when the opportunity to "arrest" should have taken place.

 

[Bdog1]

Remember a story last year about Homeland Security getting 2700 MRAP vehicles! About the same time they ordered up a gazillion 9mm hollow point bullets (that are not legal for use in battle) that started the ammo shortage.

 

[LeeRevell]

It didn't start the ammo shortage, that was already ongoing since 2008. Partly government binge buying by agencies having little or no need for it (Dept of Education, etc.) and partly by the fear among gun owners of increased antigun legislation, which is only now being attempted. Basically mindless stockpiling, and a lot of folks buying then reselling for a staggering profit - GREED. Centerfire ammo is rebounding, as are handloading components - finally! But rimfire ammo remains sketchy. One reason I stocked up early on, at the beginning of the "Immaculate Deception of 2008".
But the problem with US law enforcement has been ramping up for decades, beginning I think with the 1960's protest movements. Add in massively growing gang activity, drugs, racial unrest, etc. and it's easy to understand somewhat why the cops are so antsy. They want to go home at the end of the day, so there's no more "Andy Taylor in Mayberry" style peace officers anymore. They are tacticalized for urban crime. Even in West Podunk, Anystate.
Likely a good reason van dwellers are seemingly being singled out. Maybe LEO is worried those vans are transporting contraband? Or Illegals. So we need to stay as low and off their radar as possible.