18 and Dead.

[Pio1980]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

I believe I saw it mentioned that he had no prior criminal record.

Of record as a juvie, mebbe. So is there an ongoing pattern of this sort of thing or a new pasttime that got shortstopped perhaps.

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[Wasillaguy]

Originally Posted by finnbow

No different than you trying to convict him without actually knowing what happened.

It's seems to me that this whole episode is a series of people overreacting to stuff due to their preconceived notions, racism, or whatever. The victim overreacted to a cop telling him to get out of the middle of the street, the cop overreacted to the victim's reluctance to do so, the community overreacted to the shooting by rioting, the cops overreacted by bringing in storm troopers to enforce the peace and the press overreacted by making national news out of a local shooting (when there were probably about 30-40 other fatal shootings that same day in the country).

And lastly people such as you (who don't live there and have no clue what actually happened) overreacted because they somehow think their uninformed opinion actually clarifies things. Relax. The truth (good, bad and/or ugly) will come out.

The only part I'm not sure was an overreaction was the cops bringing out the riot gear. It was, after all, a riot, complete with rock hurling and Molotov cocktails. There were also death threats to LEO and their families, and live fire at the cops. It was also apparent that bigger forces were engaged than just the locals being mad. Anonymous had attacked police computers, and the NBP were in town stirring things up.

Someone mentioned that a bright side might be that the militarization of police forces will get a good look, but in a way the mob mentality displayed here helps justify the police having that level of hardware.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Wasillaguy

The only part I'm not sure was an overreaction was the cops bringing out the riot gear. It was, after all, a riot, complete with rock hurling and Molotov cocktails. There were also death threats to LEO and their families, and live fire at the cops. It was also apparent that bigger forces were engaged than just the locals being mad. Anonymous had attacked police computers, and the NBP were in town stirring things up.

Someone mentioned that a bright side might be that the militarization of police forces will get a good look, but in a way the mob mentality displayed here helps justify the police having that level of hardware.

Perhaps, but the State Highway Patrol captain was able to come in and cool things off quickly using more restrained tactics. FWIW, he is black and came off a lot more emphatically. In other words, he (a State Trooper) understood the community, whereas its own police chief didn't. The police chief gave off a bit of a Bull Connor air.

[Wasillaguy]

Originally Posted by finnbow

Perhaps, but the State Highway Patrol captain was able to come in and cool things off quickly using more restrained tactics. FWIW, he is black and came off a lot more emphatically. In other words, he (a State Trooper) understood the community, whereas its own police chief didn't. The police chief gave off a bit of a Bull Connor air.

No doubt bringing the Captain and putting away the gear had a positive effect, and agreed the police chief leaves a lot to be desired.
Did you see that none of the 9 arrested the second night were from Ferguson? Trouble is coming in from the inner city and these cops are fully justified in protecting themselves and their community. I think fumigation was a pretty good response at the time.

[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by barbara

Twice for jaywalking once for crossing against a red light. Not sure if those are offenses that I could have been arrested for, but twice got a ticket.

On the other hand, none of those times were preceded by me having an altercation with a store owner and theft so I was not in a defensive mindset when approached by the officer.

Citied twice out of four times. About average for a white person I'd say.

[icenine]

Have you guys noticed that the Mayor is not around...do they have one?

It would be interesting to see what the annual salaries of the cops and Police Chief are...on the surface Ferguson is overwhelmingly African American in population but the local power structure looks white. It seems the people there are not voting to get rid of these guys. I think the city council is all white too someone correct me if I am wrong. I would most def vote to get my representatives elected so the power structure could change.

[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by finnbow

Perhaps, but the State Highway Patrol captain was able to come in and cool things off quickly using more restrained tactics. FWIW, he is black and came off a lot more emphatically. In other words, he (a State Trooper) understood the community, whereas its own police chief didn't. The police chief gave off a bit of a Bull Connor air.

People don't stay at the peak of agitation forever, and the State Police fellow had the advantage of being able to play 'good cop' following a 'bad cop' performance.

I'm not going to fault the Ferguson cops too much for their riot response, except for hassling the media, which was very ill-advised, and well as very police-state. Don't know enough of what they did in what circumstances to criticize.

[barbara]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

Citied twice out of four times. About average for a white person I'd say.

Twice out of three times... As if it makes any difference. 😏

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by icenine

Have you guys noticed that the Mayor is not around...do they have one?

It would be interesting to see what the annual salaries of the cops and Police Chief are...on the surface Ferguson is overwhelmingly African American in population but the local power structure looks white. It seems the people there are not voting to get rid of these guys. I think the city council is all white too someone correct me if I am wrong. I would most def vote to get my representatives elected so the power structure could change.

One black on the city council is what I heard. I hear you on voting but I wonder how many blacks and latinos in Ferguson have a felony convictions that precludes them from voting.

[barbara]

Originally Posted by icenine

Have you guys noticed that the Mayor is not around...do they have one?
.

Good question.