L.A. police kill unarmed homeless man. Myrtle Beach police avoided shooting armed man.

[damnedifIknow]

The facts are still emerging, but no matter how we slice it, the video of the L.A. police shooting a homeless man looks awful.

That doesn’t mean we should be certain that it wasn’t justified, especially if the officers can prove that the guy went for and almost had one of the officer’s gun, as they are claiming. That would make what we see on the video at least make a little more sense.

Even under that scenario, though, it is disturbing and begs the question: If a handful of officers - who have a suspect on his back on the ground - can’t subdue him short of filling his body up with bullets, is there ever a situation in which shooting a suspect isn’t OK?

Usually, many people claim the officers had no other choice. Oftentimes, that’s simply not true. Police officers throughout the country, and in Horry County and Myrtle Beach, find ways to deal with extremely difficult situations without resorting to lethal force.

In recent months, the Myrtle Beach Police Department faced similar circumstances twice - and each time the officers and the suspect walked away with their lives.

From a piece I wrote in December:

Just last week, a couple of white Myrtle Beach police officers showed incredible restraint when facing an armed black man during a traffic stop, one in which the man presented a handgun, went for the officers weapon after he was disarmed, and after running away turned around, pulled something out of his pocket and threatened to shoot.

The cops didn’t empty their clips into his body. Instead, they noticed he was pointed a cell phone at them.

They arrested instead of shooting him.






Read more here: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2015/03/02/4818917/blog-la-police-kills-unarmed-homeless.html#storylink=cpy

[virgogal]

1. We would all probably be better off without any cops.

Everyone would be responsible for themselves and questionable police behavior would be a thing of the past.

The past 6-8 months shows that this would be the best solution.

[newfie11]

2. Wonder why tasers aren't used more

In this case with the police that close to him, I would think a taser would have worked well.

[hack89]

3. Tazers are not magic weapons

they don't frequently work - if the barbs don't imbed properly for example. They have a hard time penetrating thick clothes.

I prefer their use over guns but I can understand that if a cop really thought his life was in danger why he would use a gun instead.