General Discussion

MineralMan

(151,036 posts)

69. I have had occasion to call the police a few times

Reply to The Velveteen Ocelot (Reply #67)

Wed Jul 19, 2017, 11:27 AM

Jul 2017

to report suspected criminal activity in my St. Paul neighborhood. Each time, I had interactions with the responding officers. I am very careful in such situations, and immediately identify myself as the one who called to report the incident. I do that from a distance, before approaching the officers.

Any time I'm dealing with armed police officers, I am careful. Unless it is absolutely necessary, I do not approach them at all. Typically, my interactions have taken place after they have dealt with whatever situation I called them for.

I realize that they do not know who I am unless I tell them. So, I make it clear immediately.

In other situations, like a traffic stop, I use even more caution. However, I can't actually remember when I was last pulled over by a cop. It was many, many years ago.

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The issue in the Minneapolis police shooting [View all] MineralMan Jul 2017 OP

You throw on top black exboyfil Jul 2017 #1

"Their procedures need to be evaluated." No. They need to be prosecuted. Iggo Jul 2017 #4

The two are not exclusive exboyfil Jul 2017 #5

"They" didn't shoot her. B2G Jul 2017 #7

Experienced cops often get to choose the shifts they want MineralMan Jul 2017 #6

He easily could have shot his partner. cwydro Jul 2017 #14

Yes, he could have. MineralMan Jul 2017 #16

It really is beyond belief. cwydro Jul 2017 #20

Well, he likely faces criminal charges, so is remaining silent. MineralMan Jul 2017 #22

I didn't realize you were in the area. cwydro Jul 2017 #23

Press? Oh, yes. It's the topic of the week, and MineralMan Jul 2017 #24

Ok, thanks. cwydro Jul 2017 #43

Ok maybe I have my facts mixed up - but didn't Noor say he would do a press statement nadine_mn Jul 2017 #51

Yes, Good post. cwydro Jul 2017 #54

I don't think so. I doubt he is going to talk to anyone. MineralMan Jul 2017 #62

Here's the statement from the BCA: The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2017 #59

Thanks for posting that! MineralMan Jul 2017 #61

There is a statutory limit on damages paid by municipalities. The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2017 #78

The family could sue in federal court. Mosby Jul 2017 #121

I've both heard and read that the BCA there is very, very ethical - raven mad Jul 2017 #116

From what I saw on our local news this morning... WinstonSmith4740 Jul 2017 #41

Yes. Very unsafe and stupid. MineralMan Jul 2017 #45

Pajamas and guns CharleyDog Jul 2017 #46

And what HAS his partner had to say about all this? rocktivity Jul 2017 #48

This idiot literally fired his weapon across his partner's face. cwydro Jul 2017 #84

The BCA report says the other cop, Harrity, said he was startled by a loud noise just as they drove tblue37 Jul 2017 #88

A "loud noise" versus what -- a gunshot? rocktivity Jul 2017 #102

Harrity mentioned the noise and said it startled him and that Damond approached tblue37 Jul 2017 #106

Yeah that doesn't even make sense Lee-Lee Jul 2017 #110

I bet he already had his gun out as soon as they got there --again, because he was tblue37 Jul 2017 #111

And that's horrible tactics Lee-Lee Jul 2017 #112

But according to another report I read, Damond began conversing with Harrity. rocktivity Jul 2017 #113

His partner likely now has permanent hearing damage Lee-Lee Jul 2017 #93

"Why are police officers so quick to shoot people who are not police officers?" Iggo Jul 2017 #2

+1 YCHDT Jul 2017 #11

They aren't. When you look at the facts its actually quite rare. Lee-Lee Jul 2017 #118

Which is crazy because Proud liberal 80 Jul 2017 #3

They do have training. But, that takes a back seat MineralMan Jul 2017 #10

Training focused on threat suppression. Voltaire2 Jul 2017 #21

You mentioned militarization Proud liberal 80 Jul 2017 #25

But the focus is threat suppression. Voltaire2 Jul 2017 #35

I see your point Proud liberal 80 Jul 2017 #42

They do have rules of engagement training. Hassin Bin Sober Jul 2017 #80

they're all jittery with fear with their training to freakout at people approaching making noise & c Sunlei Jul 2017 #8

So did anything happen to the officer in that situation? Sorry for your loss YCHDT Jul 2017 #12

family 'forgave' him, I didn't pry-but it was a huge loss of a really nice child-college freshman. Sunlei Jul 2017 #17

Yes, and in this case, the shooter was looking MineralMan Jul 2017 #13

MM, what do you think of my theory, in post #88 above, about how this might have happened? tblue37 Jul 2017 #89

I don't know, really. Too little information. MineralMan Jul 2017 #90

have to add its not just the training. off duty they spend TO MUCH time chatting with fellow police Sunlei Jul 2017 #15

K and r. cwydro Jul 2017 #9

No problem. I've been thinking about this incident, MineralMan Jul 2017 #19

K&R!!! n/t RKP5637 Jul 2017 #18

Very well stated! iluvtennis Jul 2017 #26

Thanks. It's a very frustrating situation, MineralMan Jul 2017 #27

We feel the pain all the way here in California...these senseless shootings have to stop iluvtennis Jul 2017 #32

Yes. This has become a national story. MineralMan Jul 2017 #34

It's a mess but this time it will be the race and religion malaise Jul 2017 #28

Possibly so, but I'm trying to help people understand MineralMan Jul 2017 #31

I disagree. cwydro Jul 2017 #74

Who disagrees with that point? malaise Jul 2017 #97

They shoot cops in street clothes too.. HipChick Jul 2017 #29

That's true. If you're not wearing the uniform, MineralMan Jul 2017 #30

We have had two local incidents of this happening...pretty sad HipChick Jul 2017 #40

It often seems to happen when an off-duty cop MineralMan Jul 2017 #64

+1 uponit7771 Jul 2017 #38

I think genxlib Jul 2017 #33

Yes, that plays a role, too, I'm sure. MineralMan Jul 2017 #37

Well said, MM ms liberty Jul 2017 #36

Exactly. MineralMan Jul 2017 #39

Arm everyone to the teeth and this is what you get. yallerdawg Jul 2017 #44

I agree completely. However, MineralMan Jul 2017 #49

Excellent Point. If I were a policeperson, I wouldn't trust anyone coming up to the car. Way too Hoyt Jul 2017 #104

Aren't more people of color more likely to be shot? Cuthbert Allgood Jul 2017 #47

Yes, they are, but the risk is far from limited MineralMan Jul 2017 #50

I get that it wasn't a factor here. But it's kind of Stats 101 Cuthbert Allgood Jul 2017 #55

I think we're probably looking at the situation from MineralMan Jul 2017 #58

Of course it needs to be Cuthbert Allgood Jul 2017 #75

Actually, no. That is the media and anti-cop narrative, but actual studies show it to not be true Lee-Lee Jul 2017 #124

Not completely sure of the methodology of that study Cuthbert Allgood Jul 2017 #130

Well, it's hard to study what happens in fairly small numbers Lee-Lee Jul 2017 #131

With respect, MM... while I agree this is at the core of ALL police-on-citizen violence... TygrBright Jul 2017 #52

I don't disagree with you regarding the MPD. MineralMan Jul 2017 #56

Both the mayor and the police chief are women. The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2017 #76

I would take issue with your statement "the problem isn't race." The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2017 #53

I believe that the core problem isn't one of race. MineralMan Jul 2017 #60

Agreed. cwydro Jul 2017 #63

That might be a more accurate assessment The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2017 #67

I have had occasion to call the police a few times MineralMan Jul 2017 #69

I'm a petite white woman, and I am careful too. cwydro Jul 2017 #87

In order to have government, you must have representative of that government authorized to use force Lee-Lee Jul 2017 #120

and they empty the entire clip into them too. Ligyron Jul 2017 #57

That's part of their training. MineralMan Jul 2017 #65

Was she shot more than once? cwydro Jul 2017 #66

I don't know about this particular case. MineralMan Jul 2017 #68

Yes, I learned to shoot as a kid with my dad. cwydro Jul 2017 #70

The time I shot from inside a car was to kill a rabid skunk MineralMan Jul 2017 #72

Don't blame you one bit. cwydro Jul 2017 #73

Apparently only once. Here's the BCA news release: The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2017 #71

Thanks for posting that. cwydro Jul 2017 #79

I suppose because there are so many guns out there nowadays captain queeg Jul 2017 #77

Not all states are perpetual war zones. moondust Jul 2017 #81

I think the result of the lack of conviction is that it confirms MineralMan Jul 2017 #83

Which makes one wonder why some LEO's are afraid of their own shadows !?!?! uponit7771 Jul 2017 #86

I would like to make another point, bullsnarfle Jul 2017 #82

Yep. cwydro Jul 2017 #91

You need body cams that can be left on then Lee-Lee Jul 2017 #98

Good point. cwydro Jul 2017 #103

Absolutely. I wish body cams existed when I was doing the job Lee-Lee Jul 2017 #108

Most body cameras out there can't record a full shift Lee-Lee Jul 2017 #95

First off --- bullsnarfle Jul 2017 #137

Well on all of that Lee-Lee Jul 2017 #138

As to your premise statement: You hope. You believe. You trust. But you cannot know. Only the WinkyDink Jul 2017 #85

Your premise is flawed to some degree, and your concern overblown Lee-Lee Jul 2017 #92

And yet, an innocent young woman is dead at the hands of the police. MineralMan Jul 2017 #94

I never said what you are claiming I did Lee-Lee Jul 2017 #96

Bottom line Lee - there is NO justification for what happened. None. jmg257 Jul 2017 #99

There absolutely is no justification for that event Lee-Lee Jul 2017 #100

Agreed. Cheers! jmg257 Jul 2017 #101

Yes. cwydro Jul 2017 #126

Why is it that gun toters almost always support shooters, whether it's policeman shooting an unarmed Hoyt Jul 2017 #105

Why is it that gun haters always resort to trite stereotypes Lee-Lee Jul 2017 #109

Ignore them. cwydro Jul 2017 #114

Countless examples where you are wrong - yet you still make the claim NutmegYankee Jul 2017 #115

Should have posted just a few examples. Hoyt Jul 2017 #122

Kick. cwydro Jul 2017 #107

This one outlier notwithstanding, Blue_Tires Jul 2017 #117

I just saw where the officer who shot had 21 months on the job and his partner just a year Lee-Lee Jul 2017 #119

Kicking again. nt cwydro Jul 2017 #123

You got that right! cpamomfromtexas Jul 2017 #125

Why are you a cop if you're that scared being out there Thrill Jul 2017 #127

Right!!! YCHDT Jul 2017 #128

Well, I'm not a cop, so I have no first-hand experience MineralMan Jul 2017 #129

Feel free to apply and find out. Lee-Lee Jul 2017 #132

I think being a cop is a lot like being in the military Thrill Jul 2017 #134

Military vets are actually shown to use force less when they become cops Lee-Lee Jul 2017 #135

Cops (generally) become cops in order to "protect and serve". Decoy of Fenris Jul 2017 #133

Very well said Lee-Lee Jul 2017 #136