Val Demings Defends Cop Who Fatally Shot Ma'Khia Bryant: 'He Responded As He Was Trained To Do'

[DonViejo]

[George II]

1. She would know better than most who've been discussing this incident on the talk shows.

[Haggard Celine]

3. She's being sought after a lot on

news shows lately, I’ve noticed. I’m glad she is because she’s fair-minded, yet tough. She makes the party look good. I didn’t know much about her back then, but I can see why Joe was seriously considering her as a running mate. She has a bright future ahead, I think.

[targetpractice]

4. I like her very much, too...

I think she's continuing to introduce herself to the general public... And, I look forward to the time when she's established her credibility.

Every time she speaks, she mentions, "As a former law enforcement official of over 30 years".. I kind of roll my eyes (because I know that statement is coming), but remind myself that as a black woman... She feels it necessary to establish herself as an expert over and over again. I wish for her and us that this wasn't necessary.

She might be running for governor or senator... Today on Capehart's show she said she was considering both options! Good for us!

[Haggard Celine]

6. Yes, that would be great if she could replace any

of those assholes in Florida. I'd love to see her replace Rubio, Scott, or DeSantis. If she continues to get recognition, she could very well do that.

[Watchfoxheadexplodes]

2. Exactly

Level headed

[bottomofthehill]

5. Tough to question a woman who has had to respond to similar calls

She has the training and experience. I will not question her knowledge, she is an authority like Chief Ramsey on these matters. Given what the cop was facing it is a very tough split second call.

[Sneederbunk]

7. Once the video was released, the well went dry on this story in a hurry.

Prior to release, Crump tweeted the "victim" was unarmed.

[mopinko]

8. i think it was a wrong choice, but it was definitely A choice.

i do agree he was following his training and that the risk was very high.
i dont agree that he did enough to try to resolve the situation w/o firing.

this is exactly what ppl mean when they talk about defunding the police.
that other way might not have been possible in this situation, and it wont b3 in most until we fund it, staff it, and train it.

but i maintain that another cop, maybe one who put equal value on both of those lives, would have, could have, acted differently.

[intheflow]

10. Agree, he was following his training AND

that training is problematic and needs to transform ASAP.

Realistically speaking, I'm sure they are probably taught both force and mediation, but the emphasis is on force and "quick-thinking," "split-instant" action. (Which is culturally reinforced via journalism, media, and politics.) Specifically, police culture condones "shoot first and ask questions later" via qualified immunity. Training and recruitment need to pole shift emphasis to nonviolent communication/deescalation techniques, statistically-based risk assessment, multicultural history of policing in the US, and body awareness and emotional maturity.

I say it needs to transform because I think it's beyond reform at this point.

[soldierant]

11. And therefore, I would submit that

stating he was following his training is not exactly a strong defense. It's more a defense of him than it is of the training ... but the training is one big thing which has been under fire for some time. (And, being a veteran who was not allwed to ober an unlawful order, I may be a little bit inflexible on that.)

Also, at least as I heard it, she specified her statement was based on what she knew at the time she made it. In other words, she's open to learning. I love that. It's very rare in politicians.

[intheflow]

12. And cops. n/t

[soldierant]

13. Amen to that.

[magicguido]

9. So Train them Differently for fucks sake.