People who wear a badge are given greater responsibility and greater latitude in the use of force than regular citizens. As citizens, most of us recognize that L. E. is a tough job with a heck of a lot of downsides. Most of us wouldn't take the job no matter what the pay. As a result, when they screw-up, just so it isn't malfeasance, we are usually more forgiving of L. E. than regular citizens.

I don't think we should give them a pass. To me, the state legislature of New York should write a law & guidelines for L. E. for when they screw-up that addresses the peculiarities of the job. Was there not a lesser charge they could be tried under? Maybe the jury thought they were guilty of something, just not the charge under which they were tried (speculating here).

It is interesting that the number of shots fired is such a big issue. What's the difference between a bucket of bullets & a dead body vs a single bullet and a dead body?

B

The "victim" was attempting to leave a scene...he was "under questioning"...-

The officer - (Plainclothes?) did, or did not, SHOW a badge identifing himself as an officer...-

Once the car started moving, thereby violating the "safe zone" of an officer, deadly force came into play...-

Since there was already a standing announcement "...to get a gun..." (or whatever the phrase may have been) - all reasonable assuptions pointed towards the HIGH PROBABILITY that there may be ensuing gunplay...-

As Botnst pointed out, the area may have been a tall-walled canyon...one shot echoing in that area will sound like multiple shots, depending on the angle, distance and proximity to the muzzle of the initial weapon being fired...therefore, one fires, all others start firing...not so much based on true evidence than on adrenalin alone...remember, the crews were hyped up on the announcement of a gun becoming involved in the "shouting" incident...

Now, as the armed parties become more attuned to where they are "suppose" to be shooting, the consentration becomes more intense...either from training or just plain "cowboyism" - and if training dictated that the driver is where the bullets should be airmed at...Mr. Bell suddenly became the poster-boy for the anti-designated-driver club...not only because of the neighborhood, the officers (under-cover) or even the crew he was with...it was his fear of his own neighborhood that caused his death (his actions as the result of a confrontation w/LEOs) ...-

And one other thing...

How long did it take for the whole thing to "go down" - from Bullet Number One to Bullet Number Fifty-one?

Which one of those fifty-one pieces of lead caused Sean's death? Number one? Number ten? Number fifty?

The real problem in all of this?

The more we try to legislate and regulate civility, the more uncivil we appear to become...

Sad...

__________________

M. G. Burg
'10 - Dakota SXT - Daily Ride / ≈ 172.5K
.'76 - 450SLC - 107.024.12 / < .89.20 K
..'77 - 280E - 123.033.12 / > 128.20 K
...'67 - El Camino - 283ci / > 207.00 K
....'75 - Yamaha - 650XS / < 21.00 K
.....'87 - G20 Sportvan / > 206.00 K
......'85 - 4WINNS 160 I.O. / 140hp
.......'74 - Honda CT70 / Real 125
.
“I didn’t really say everything I said.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ Yogi Berra ~

Bell got what was coming to him by trying to run down the cop. Be a thug, die like a thug....no racism involved....

They definitely aren't criminally liable as far as I am concerned. They are given guns and told to patrol the streets and deal with crime.

I don't know why they even bother with the criminal trial. The DA has a conflict of interest in prosecuting police officers and thats just for starters. Its happened before in NY and it will happen again.

A detective squad similar to this one shot a guy 19 times (those are the bullets that hit by the way) because they thought his wallet was a gun when the guy was reaching for ID. Another guy was shot because he tried to stop a guy, who happened to be a cop, from robbing his friends storage bin in a storage facility. Yet another kid was trying to take a short cut through the roof of his apartment building opened the roof door and was promptly shot by some housing cops. No weapons on any of the victims. All in the last 5-10 years or so I believe. They were all criminally cleared, but the civil damages awarded were significant. The departmental punishments were also severe because in a lot of the cases the cops lost their jobs.

So just go straight to the civil trial.

I think the reason the criminal charge is pursued is that people get emotional, not entirely surprising seeing as this type of incident has yet to happen to an innocent white guy.

The criminal charge is pursued because of political pressure. The D/A certainly does not want to have any hint of racism...........which would bring the Feds down upon their heads in a big hurry.

What I am surprised at is that a grand jury offered up an indictment. The basis for the indictment is a curiosity..........what were the instructions to the grand jury?

Maybe the cops hated Nissan.

Because the parallel isn't crystal clear! Sean Bell tried to run a cop over with a car after a shouting match had turned ugly and someone mentioned "getting a gun" and I'm suprised that is not crystal clear! Al Sharpton is an idiot, and not only that, but he makes black people and everyone around him look stupid!

He is living proof that the best way to handle a troublemaker is to give him a microphone and a camera so we all can keep an eye on him! Only white people have to obey laws, didn't you know? The race card is all too easily played because it's convenient! It happens that these two cops were black, but it wouldn't suprise me if Al Sharpton wouldn't grab the white cop and beat him with a whip in front of camera if he could!

It's too easy to start a riot when the law is followed and you don't like the outcome. Instant self victimisation is best when taught by liberals.

As far as Republicans going to Florida to not stand for cheating an election, count me in as one of them! I was all for an honest recount until Al Gore showed his true colors! Keep recounting until you get your way!

And a great big Amen to That!!!

The situation is not the same, granted. I'm talking about how people feel about what is going on around them.

I fully believe that the Republicans would have been seriously intimidating had Gore asked for a full recount. Of course, he screwed up big time with the selected recount for which he asked.

I also reject the idea that all liberals follow Sharpton or act in this manner. Just as I reject the idea that all Republicans or conservatives want to allow big business to simultaneously rape the environment and the consumers.

Several news consortia paid for recounts using the various counting criteria proposed by the campaigns & other political groups. For example: With & without the Armed Forces vote (which Gore wanted excluded) and only in the counties selected by Gore (which Bush opposed) and the various chad issues. I think only one or two versions found a winner in Gore.

I think they could be Googled if you are interested. If it's an important issue you should probably do so.

B

almost 5:00

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

I'll betya CHUCK hates Nissan!

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

If Chuck disliked Nissan they would not exist.

Oh, yeah. I didn't think about that . . .

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Yesterday afternoon, Paul Harvey did a "Rest Of The Story" piece on Chuck...did any of you catch it?

I was thinking "Chuck" through the whole story...got it right!

Think "Little Carlos" and you'll know...

__________________

M. G. Burg
'10 - Dakota SXT - Daily Ride / ≈ 172.5K
.'76 - 450SLC - 107.024.12 / < .89.20 K
..'77 - 280E - 123.033.12 / > 128.20 K
...'67 - El Camino - 283ci / > 207.00 K
....'75 - Yamaha - 650XS / < 21.00 K
.....'87 - G20 Sportvan / > 206.00 K
......'85 - 4WINNS 160 I.O. / 140hp
.......'74 - Honda CT70 / Real 125
.
“I didn’t really say everything I said.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ Yogi Berra ~