Quote:EricC85, I agree with you on most of your principals, but in this case, I don't.


The "court" of public opinion labels the actions of the police officer as guilty.


I would love to see the actual report that this police officer made. I'm still betting that the circumstances involved are very different than what is being "reported" by the media.


I was a Deputy Sheriff at one time in my life, and have been on the streets so to speak. I can tell you right now that I would have drawn my weapon if I had to encounter a 6'5 300lb. black man walking down the street holding up traffic. If that suspect made any kind of aggressive move towards me, he would have gotten two to the chest and one to the head, no questions asked. A police officer has the right to defend him/herself if danger is perceived as well as defend the public.


Officers wear body armor for a reason. Put the uniform on and you become an instant target.

On an isolated incident you can make a case for anything. If you take a step back however and examine the cause and effect the shifting of police from protect and serve to stop and frisk has lead to animosity against authority and the people themselves.


You can speak better than I about the situation as you where once an officer. And yes today the uniform makes you a target but it also makes you an authority figure with tremendous power.


The 4th amendment is clear the military and police serve different functions in society. The more militarized a police force becomes the focus moves away from interaction and becomes about reaction. When you have a reactionary police force violent aprenhension is unavoidable.

---