Sunil Dutta, PhD
Leaks from the Michael Brown shooting inquiry seem to be intended to prepare the public that Officer Darren Wilson might not be indicted. They suggest that the initial eyewitness accounts — saying that Wilson shot the teenager while he was surrendering or fleeing — were false; maybe Wilson was responding to a legitimate threat.
In the end, though, it doesn’t really matter if the shooting was justified. Yes, the details make a life-and-death difference for Brown and Wilson, and it will surely matter to them. But problem here is much bigger. Ferguson is about what happens when unrepresentative, majority-white law enforcement agencies police majority black communities — and the distrust they feel toward one another. It’s impossible to have a productive, cooperative relationship when those two groups see each other as adversaries. Thankfully, there’s a (painful, slow) way to change that. Here, rather than on Wilson and Brown, is where our focus should be.
With about 2.9 percent of the adult population in prison, the United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world (2.2 million people are in federal, state and […]
Peace officers with guns and authority should never have the right to kill anyone. They should be expert marksmen and markswomen who could shoot an arm or leg to stop a possible assault, but no, they are taught to shoot to kill, only. You do NOT have to kill someone to stop them. Some police just seem to enjoy killing someone and even look for events which give them the chance to do it. I am disgusted by the non-prosecution and exoneration of murderers who get away with killing people, who in many instances are innocent of any crimes. We much, much better oversight of all the police by civilian intellectuals who have a good education and no reason to protect police just because those killers have a badge. We should be able to change the situation in Ferguson, Mo. immediately and not have to wait. Just put the entire force up for reelection on Nov. 4th, if that is possible.
Sir, your comment shows your complete ignorance as well as your hateful prejudice against police officers. If you know of a universe where you can find expert marksmen for police work, who can shoot perfectly under stress, you could certainly hire them for police work. But such a universe exists only in movies. You are right that one doesn’t have to kill someone to stop them. However, police are trained to shoot center mass – the largest mass/body area availalbe – BECAUSE in most shootings officers miss their target. That’s what happens when adrenaline is pumping in blood under life threatening circumstances; at least for an average human being. Obviously you know of some superhumans who can shoot people in arms and leg to stop a possible assault because you live in a fantasy land and have these fantastic ideas.
Calling officers murderers shows your skewed perspective. There is no doubt there are some officers who are heavy handed and a few who are trigger happy but you call all the officers murderers? Shame on you. A vast majority of police shootings are against armed felons and are justified. The questionable shootings are only a fraction and that is when cockroaches like you come out of the woodwork to slander all the officers.
I also support civilian oversight of police. Those in authority should also be closely scrutinized. I hope that such civilians do not include likes of you because they will not be able to do a fair and honest job.