Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

CloudWatcher

(1,842 posts)

17. That was no accident.

Reply to Goodheart (Original post)

Sat Jun 13, 2020, 05:18 PM

Jun 2020

There's a difference between accidents and unintended consequences.

It's an accident if I trip and fall. It's not an accident if I fall while trying to walk a tightrope.

The unintended results of risky behavior should never be excused as an accident. Then we can have a reasonable discussion about acceptable levels of risk and the risk/benefits of a particular risky behavior. As others have noted, many (most? all?) police departments have policies against high speed chases now. I'm disgusted if it's not 100%.

Sorry to be pedantic about this, but "accident" is a trigger word for me!

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

24 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

I had this policeman friend who killed a man [View all] Goodheart Jun 2020 OP

Totally agree. Chase should only be given if the suspect is known to be a danger to the public mr_lebowski Jun 2020 #1

Given the haste to escape, there certainly was a good reason to suspect that the fleeing car Goodheart Jun 2020 #4

Something illegal inside is definitely not worth the life of a bystander ... mr_lebowski Jun 2020 #5

That's what we need; psychic cops. BComplex Jun 2020 #11

Definitely. Hi speed chases seem to be a bloodsport in Los Angeles. There's even a youtube channel diva77 Jun 2020 #2

Due to a similar situation in San Francisco decades ago lunatica Jun 2020 #3

My cousin was hit by a police car running a traffic light alittlelark Jun 2020 #6

I was rear ended and pushed into an intersection TexasBushwhacker Jun 2020 #24

They have to live with themselves. pwb Jun 2020 #7

And they should spend those lives in a concrete box, like the rest of us would have to. Iggo Jun 2020 #12

i read that in japan they shoot them w paintballs. mopinko Jun 2020 #8

Amen. We often had work in the street ROW...... jaxexpat Jun 2020 #9

If anyone else did that, it would not be considered an "accident". LizBeth Jun 2020 #10

Wow, it's a wonder he wasn't charged with vehicular manslaughter. My dad was a cop for 30 catbyte Jun 2020 #13

I've been preaching that story for 50 years. Ferrets are Cool Jun 2020 #14

Here in DC, they have a no chase policy IronLionZion Jun 2020 #15

I heard the story of state cop... discntnt_irny_srcsm Jun 2020 #16

That's horrible. Goodheart Jun 2020 #18

That was no accident. CloudWatcher Jun 2020 #17

Yeah, this was some 35 years ago. Goodheart Jun 2020 #19

Sad for everyone involved. CloudWatcher Jun 2020 #21

I'll even go so far as to say pulling drivers over for e.g. going 10 mph over the limit should stop Ron Obvious Jun 2020 #20

In Tucson they got rid of them not because they are unconstitutional per se grantcart Jun 2020 #23

Moral of the story noneof_theabove Jun 2020 #22