The "I was tired" defense works.

[ebd10]

I believe this to be a variation on "The dog ate my homework" defense. This is why I tell people that when dealing with police, treat them like a Rottweiler that you don't know; no sudden moves, no loud voices, don't turn your back on them if you can avoid it, and never trust them, no matter how friendly they appear.

 

[psychophipps]

I have the distinct feeling that this much more a case of the 'Blue Wall' than anything else. If any one of us non-LE people popped off an unarmed man in a non-life and death shoot and said, "But I've been been up for a whole 17 hours!" then our families would start a search for stock options in 'Soap on a Rope' for good reason.
I can understand where they're coming from in some regards. They're all cops and they have a crappy job in most respects with equally crappy pay. Everyone they talk to is basically a lying git and they have all sorts of crackheads trying to sue for 'police brutality' when they get face planted for resisting the arresting officers.
The problem starts for the police in that area when they defend their fellow officers who have obviously screwed the pooch. I can see going to bat for a potentially clean shoot but when some asshat pulls his weapon and basically NDs into some random, you seriously need to, y'know...investigate the situation and treat it as any other case of manslaughter. Suspend them. Kick them off the force. Can you honestly say that you want some dink like that backing you up on a felony stop? I sure as hell wouldn't.

Mark(psycho)Phipps( HAHAHA! )

 

[F4GIB]

Gambling is an illegal activity in Virginia. You break the law, there's always the chance you could be compromised by the police,

"Compromised"?

"Compromised" is equivalent to KILLED?

Gambling isn't yet a capitol offense in Virginia is it?

 

[molonlabe]

Quote:
I wonder where are the people, who would claim this is "cop bashing" are?


Some of them have retired to a forum that "talks" about "Glocks" and refuse to post on THR anymore.

They are probably over at TFL. The last time I brought up the dangers of the militarization of our police force they sacked me and their rudeness got the thread closed. At this time all I need to do is sit back and wait for more than 1% of the population to notice this. It will get worse you know.

 

[cmidkiff]

I've been up about 17 hours when I unholster at bed time _every night_. Being a little tired doesn't excuse you from following the 4 rules!

Let's review:
1) All guns are loaded - Yup, broke that one
2) Never point at something you aren't willing to kill - Yup, that one too
3) Finger off the trigger - Yet another one shattered
4) Be sure of your target - Four out of four

Criminal negligence seems like it would be easy to prove. Manslaughter wouldn't be any more difficult. Seems the only reason that charges were not filed is that there was no will to file charges on the part of the prosecutor. Hey... Isn't he an elected official? Seems like an important point to remember at the polls!

 

[mbt2001]

I guess what gets me is the way in which he came after the perp. Seems to me that you are asking for accidents.

But if that is the police departments SOP, then they should be the ones that get in trouble. I am fairly certain that the officer would do anything to have not fired that shot.

 

[mbs357]

He'd been awake for 17 hours? That's fatiguing?? That's like getting up at 6 and still being up at 11!

I get up anywhere from five to six and go to bed at around twelve.
Am I weird? >_>

 

[DRZinn]

My point was that that's nothing.

 

[brickeyee]

"I am fairly certain that the officer would do anything to have not fired that shot."

Like turn down the overtime for the deer shooting he was performing in the early part of the same day?
I find it unlikely he had zero control over the working hours.
Sounds a little to gung ho to be involved in anything involving public safety.
At least fire him.
He pulled the trigger.

 

[beerslurpy]

Raising a handgun and pulling the trigger doesnt take long. If a suspect isnt violent, why not point the gun down and keep your trigger outside the trigger-guard? It might even put the guy at ease to know he is only being arrested by a cop and not being assassinated by a masked guy jumping out of the bushes with a gun.

Or are police officers now too highly trained to employ common sense?

It isnt cop bashing to observe that there is a double standard regarding police commission of crimes. There has been for decades. It just hasnt made the prime time in a big way yet. 99 percent of the public is still focused on the "only a few cops are bad" meme- which, while true, ignores the bigger problem of how we deal with those "few bad cops."

Forgiveness and prosecutorial discretion is called for in a few situations, but having a badge should not be a get out of jail free card. This is a lesson we do not want to teach cops, because the bad ones are the only ones who will take the lesson to heart.

 

[k_dawg]

99 percent of the public is still focused on the "only a few cops are bad" meme- which, while true, ignores the bigger problem of how we deal with those "few bad cops."

Well, those cops [ and their commanders ] who either turn a blind eye, or are part of the hypocritical double standard, are also "bad cops".

 

[Art Eatman]

I don't see it as bashing when one particular incident remains as the thread topic. Bashing is when the behavior of one LEO is extended to be representative of many LEOs.

And, in this particular case and many of the posts in the thread, the proper target is less the LEO than it is the local prosecutorial/judicial system.

Art

 

[mbs357]

Doc,

My point was that that's nothing.

Which was exactly my point. 17 hours is an average day. Now me, I don't have to get up at that time, and I could go to bed earlier, and I'm certainly not doing as much as he is, probably, but my point is yours: That's not too long to be up.

 

[DRZinn]

Which was exactly my point. 17 hours is an average day.

I know, but it looked like you had misunderstood that I meant the same thing. At any rate, we've now wasted more time on it than it's worth.

 

[Autolycus]

At first I thought it said the officer was on duty for 17 hours...

He was AWAKE for 17 hours. This is a huge double standard. If I shot an unarmed man I would expect that me being awake for so long would not matter. How is it that people are not able to see the huge double standard. I am in complete agreement with the shock at the militarization of police. I support LEOs but I do not support this. I feel in complete agreement about the posters who claim that the LEOs on a certain Guntalk forum would hide behind the blue wall.

Hopefully the woman will win a lawsuit and the country will sit up and take notice that certain animals are more equal than other animals.

 

[mbs357]

I know, but it looked like you had misunderstood that I meant the same thing. At any rate, we've now wasted more time on it than it's worth.

Heh, I'm not suprised. I'm great at wasting time.
The only reason I get up at five is so I can browse THR for an extra hour before school...

 

[SalTx]

Although it's been a few short years since I left the field, the last "academy" I attended they instructed us to draw with the finger on the trigger and keep it there until re-holstered. This was different from what I had experienced before..needless to say, on one or two occassions, while qualifying, I shot the dirt in front of my feet. Personally, I think the LEO should face charges of some type..at least should be gone from the field...wish I had that type of lattitude with the "real" criminals I've had to so politely arrest, transport, process, and guard..worked all aspects. I've also spent years where working double shifts due to "lack" of personnel was a 1-2 times a week normal...16 hours....and believe you me..that was no excuse to be rude, bitch, complain, call in sick the next day..at least to the supervisors. God forbid shooting someone DEAD!! Just my opinion.