18 votes

A Texas police officer trying to shoot a loose dog killed a woman instead

15 comments

  1. [2]
    Gaywallet
    Link
    He clearly had close to zero control over his gun and was firing while scared and backpedaling in the same direction as a civilian with zero respect for their livelihood. This is incredibly...

    He clearly had close to zero control over his gun and was firing while scared and backpedaling in the same direction as a civilian with zero respect for their livelihood.

    This is incredibly infuriating. Why does this man have a gun. Where was his training? What the fuck is wrong with America?

    14 votes
    1. Amarok
      Link Parent
      We make high school bullies into cops without real training, pay them shit so anyone with skills gets a better job to make more money, and kick anyone intelligent off of the police force for being...

      We make high school bullies into cops without real training, pay them shit so anyone with skills gets a better job to make more money, and kick anyone intelligent off of the police force for being overqualified. Oh, and now we give military hardware surplus gift packages to random police departments, since we've built so much excess military hardware we don't know what to do with it all anymore.

      When the dumb ones get scared they start spraying bullets. :P

      15 votes
  2. [5]
    spit-evil-olive-tips
    Link
    Bodycam footage (obviously graphic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgR2bIESlIY

    Bodycam footage (obviously graphic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgR2bIESlIY

    5 votes
    1. [3]
      sqew
      Link Parent
      So I wasn't sure I wanted to watch the video after reading the article, but I just did. That officer had better be charged with, at the very least, involuntary manslaughter. His first reaction to...

      So I wasn't sure I wanted to watch the video after reading the article, but I just did. That officer had better be charged with, at the very least, involuntary manslaughter.

      His first reaction to a dog running towards him (while there was still easily fifteen yards between him and the dog) was to pull out his gun and fire three shots while backpedaling quickly, with those shots being in the general direction of an unarmed civilian.

      As always, I completely fail to understand how this man and others as willing to use lethal force at the drop of a hat as he clearly was become police officers.

      13 votes
      1. [2]
        alyaza
        Link Parent
        mostly because the nature of current policing instills into the police officers the idea that lethal force must always be on the table at all times--innocuous or serious--lest a police officer be...
        • Exemplary

        As always, I completely fail to understand how this man and others as willing to use lethal force at the drop of a hat as he clearly was become police officers.

        mostly because the nature of current policing instills into the police officers the idea that lethal force must always be on the table at all times--innocuous or serious--lest a police officer be taken off guard by an armed suspect or some other threat and killed or incapacitated. US policing places very, very little emphasis on deescalation, and people who become police officers are also often people who are kinda trigger happy to begin with.

        addendum: there's also approximately no chance he gets charged for this. police unions are strong, public sympathies stronger. worse people get off for worse crimes committed with a badge and a uniform.

        13 votes
        1. sqew
          Link Parent
          I know it probably won't happen, which pisses me off just as much as it always does. You're definitely right about this. Many of the officer recruitment tactics I've seen seem almost purpose-built...

          addendum: there's also approximately no chance he gets charged for this. police unions are strong, public sympathies stronger. worse people get off for worse crimes committed with a badge and a uniform.

          I know it probably won't happen, which pisses me off just as much as it always does.

          people who become police officers are also often people who are kinda trigger happy to begin with

          You're definitely right about this. Many of the officer recruitment tactics I've seen seem almost purpose-built to attract people who feel like they need a gun and a brotherhood to get any respect in the world. In general, it seems like US policing places the safety of the officer above the safety of the public, which, in my mind, is rather silly, especially since we like to go on about how our law enforcement are putting their lives on the line for us.

          4 votes
    2. imperialismus
      Link Parent
      What the fuck. Even after he’s fired off three shots in her direction and she appears to be incapacitated on the ground, his first thought is still about his own safety from the dog: Ma’am, get...

      What the fuck. Even after he’s fired off three shots in her direction and she appears to be incapacitated on the ground, his first thought is still about his own safety from the dog: Ma’am, get ahold of your dog.

      And chances are he’s going to face no real consequences.

      1 vote
  3. monarda
    Link
    I feel for everyone involved, including the police officer. The life of everyone involved has been impacted for the worse, and if my love could infiltrate and ease any one of them, I would post it...

    I feel for everyone involved, including the police officer. The life of everyone involved has been impacted for the worse, and if my love could infiltrate and ease any one of them, I would post it forthwith.

    4 votes
  4. alyaza
    Link
    this article in pacific standard seems topical given the course of discussion in this thread: Abusive Behavior May Be Contagious Among Police.

    this article in pacific standard seems topical given the course of discussion in this thread: Abusive Behavior May Be Contagious Among Police.

    4 votes
  5. [5]
    Octofox
    Link
    Serious question but why do people in America with the ability to leave still stay? The whole place seems like a hellscape.

    Serious question but why do people in America with the ability to leave still stay? The whole place seems like a hellscape.

    1 vote
    1. [2]
      spctrvl
      Link Parent
      Immigration isn't as simple as catching a flight to a country and not leaving. Unless you're rich or you've got an advanced degree in an in-demand field, most countries just flat out won't take...

      Immigration isn't as simple as catching a flight to a country and not leaving. Unless you're rich or you've got an advanced degree in an in-demand field, most countries just flat out won't take you. And if you have either of those things, life in America isn't nearly so dysfunctional, so there's not as much pressure to emigrate.

      11 votes
      1. eladnarra
        Link Parent
        Exactly - I'm a dual US/UK citizen, so I have one "easy" option a lot of Americans don't have, but even that's complicated by my disability and the complications of trying to get my partner to the...

        Exactly - I'm a dual US/UK citizen, so I have one "easy" option a lot of Americans don't have, but even that's complicated by my disability and the complications of trying to get my partner to the UK. Immigration is hard and expensive.

        1 vote
    2. nic
      Link Parent
      Statistically, the bad things that get a lot of press are very rare. On the whole, the benefits of living here for me outweigh the negatives.

      Statistically, the bad things that get a lot of press are very rare. On the whole, the benefits of living here for me outweigh the negatives.

      7 votes
    3. Diet_Coke
      Link Parent
      Where would we go? It's not impossible to emigrate, but it's difficult. I have skills here that wouldn't necessarily transfer anywhere else. My family and friends are here. I may have to revise my...

      Where would we go? It's not impossible to emigrate, but it's difficult. I have skills here that wouldn't necessarily transfer anywhere else. My family and friends are here. I may have to revise my opinion though if Trump wins the next election somehow.

      4 votes