Officers Acquitted In Sean Bell Shooting!!!

[Gun Slinger]

I second esq_stu's suggestion at closing this thread.

If this has to degenerate into juvenile name-calling and "cop-bashing" there is little to be learned and nothing we haven't heard already.

The case is what it is and nothing said here will change that, especially referring to LEO's as "pigs".

Regards,

 

[The Tourist]

What bothers me in this story is the semantics. The dead are listed as "victims."

If I am attacked by an "agressor" and I, the "prey," fight back and defeat him, he does not become the "victim."

He is still the agressor, and I am simply "the winner."

As to this story, I'm sure the supporters wanted to see a verdict implicating the officers. Heck, if the dead guy was a biker I'd want details.

But at the end of the day, the only cogent detail is why did the officers fire.

And if that volley of gunfire was based on cause, then the condition of the Sean Bell's status does not change to "victim." He might be an agresser, he might be a prisoner, he might be guilty of simply threatening an officer with an unseen firearm.

But he's no victim.

 

[Thernlund]

Referring to law enforcement officers as "pigs" is definitely not high road. Were you at the shooting? Were you in the court for all presentation of evidence? Maybe if your butt were out there on the line at 4 a.m. and facing danger you would have a better understanding of what happened.

I was not present at the shooting, I was not present in the court. I really do not know if this verdict is fair. Although it has it's share of warts and problems, we have to let our court system function and respect it. If there is evidence indicating injustice, we work to fix it the best we can.

Just the circumstantial evidence WE have is awful damning. Man... if this truly was justified in some fashion (and it may be), I'd sure like to hear THAT story. Wow.

Thinking about this, I imagine that it wasn't malicious cops on a rampage. What I think it likely was was a cop all charged up for whatever reason and lost control of himself. Before he knew what happened, 31 shots. His co-workers only followed his lead expecting that he knew something they didn't.

If, and only if, I have it right, Michael Oliver is guilty of severe negligence and reckless conduct. Cops are not allowed to make the same mistakes that citizens make. They are held to a higher standard. Given that, this is a mistake that NOBODY would be allowed to make. So if he lost control and flipped out, he's guilty.

I dunno. From where I sit the read on it is that it was excessive to the point where me giving him the benefit of the doubt is just about impossible. A reload? Ooof. It would take alot to convince me otherwise. It could happen, but it would take alot.


-T.

EDIT: I agree that the pig comment is out of line, BTW.

 

[mojohand]

Yeah, I feel this was excessive. If he felt threatened, he had every right and duty to protect hinself and the public. But there also has to be a line. I don't know what he was carrying, but depending on the clip he had to reload at leastonce. It seems he definately got caught up in the "action" and lost control.

As for closing this post, I don't feel that's necessary. I think this is the perfect forum to discuss these issues, but they need to be respectful. Calling the officers who put their lives on the line "pigs" is uncalled for, even if you don't agree with the verdict.

 

[buzz_knox]

This thread should be closed IMO. Not High Road.

The facts are well within the scope of discussion. The insults aren't. If people either demonstrate a minimum level of civility or get tossed for failing to do so, the facts can't be dealt with.

As much as I dislike the term, there is a synergy to shootings like this. One officer sees a threat and fires, others accept there's a threat and continue to fire until it's obvious that any threat is gone. Three officers can easily burn through 50 rounds (even reloading) very quickly and automatically in these kind of situations.

The case is what it is and nothing said here will change that, especially referring to LEO's as "pigs".

Maybe. Or maybe some will realize that the number of rounds fired isn't indicative of whether it's a legitimate shooting or not.

 

[Rugerlvr]

Lock this. It's out of hand. Too much emotion flying around. Tensions are high.

 

[bowl443]

31 shots??? Holy Cow!!

I usually side with the LEO's on these situations, but 31 shots???

 

[jerkface11]

Did they ever disclose the blood alcohol levels of the officers? (under cover cops can drink to maintain cover in NYC)

 

[Justin]

Already posted elsewhere. And this thread is going nowhere fast.