What has happened to the police?

[Gravekeeper]

In other news the Ferguson chief of police caused another riot. Apparently he thought apologizing 6 weeks too late would make everything totally cool. So he tried to join the protest march ( the one calling for his resignation ) in plainclothes.

Whiiich caused a riot within 30s when he was recognized.

The guy really is Chief Wiggum.

[Kelmon]

Well, typically, when you get pulled over you inform the cop of your actions before you just reach for something hidden (registration, insurance).

No, that would be *un*typically. A normal person, after being asked to get something, will simply get that item.

[TheHuckster]

No, that would be *un*typically. A normal person, after being asked to get something, will simply get that item.

This.

Not to mention, isn't it obvious someone might, I don't know, say... lie about their intentions anyway??

[Greenday]

No, that would be *un*typically. A normal person, after being asked to get something, will simply get that item.

Well, getting pulled over by a cop is not a normal situation.

[TheHuckster]

Well, getting pulled over by a cop is not a normal situation.

So ...?? The situation isn't (hopefully) normal for the average person, but it was certainly a routine, normal traffic stop for the officer. The guy was pulled over for a friggen seatbelt violation. Tell me how many seatbelt violations wind up with guns drawn, much less shots fired.

When a police officer asks you to get something, it's implied that your next action is to follow that order. You shouldn't have to tell the cop that you're reaching for your license when that's what the police officer just asked you to take out. People shouldn't have to feel like they are dealing with a raging psychopath, which this cop was, when they're pulled over.

This video certainly changes how many people are going to react when an officer pulls me over. Some will feel more comfortable holding a bear cub in one arm and a honey bee's nest in the other in the middle of Yellowstone than getting pulled over for a minor moving violation.

[fireheart17]

In other news the Ferguson chief of police caused another riot. Apparently he thought apologizing 6 weeks too late would make everything totally cool. So he tried to join the protest march ( the one calling for his resignation ) in plainclothes.

Whiiich caused a riot within 30s when he was recognized.

The guy really is Chief Wiggum.

Oh god, the karma is delicious.

[Greenday]

This video certainly changes how many people are going to react when an officer pulls me over.

I hope you don't start by doing something stupid like getting out of your vehicle like the person here who got shot.

I'm not saying that it makes it okay what happened, but there are certain things you just don't do when you are pulled over. You DON'T get out of your car without being told to. You DON'T go reaching for something without saying so.

[TheHuckster]

I hope you don't start by doing something stupid like getting out of your vehicle like the person here who got shot.

He was in a gas station to pump gas. As far as I'm concerned, the police officer didn't even really pull him over, but instead approached him while he was carrying on his daily life. I would agree with you if he were formally pulled over, but the video doesn't show that.

Are you saying I should also be checking for overly aggressive asshole police officers every time I think to step out of my vehicle now?

You DON'T go reaching for something without saying so.

You DO go reaching for something WHEN THE POLICE OFFICER FUCKING TELLS YOU TO!

[Ninja_Sushi]

Huckster, its wise and respectful to announce every action you make when pulled over. I answer my questions with yes sir, or no sir. I tell him/her where my registration is and tell him im going to get them. And I do it slowly. My father is a sheriff. Most of the cops know me, but I still act respectfully. They dont know if im a nut.

Plus I live in Arizona and most people have a weapon, myself included. Best thing is to put them at ease so you can be at ease. I know thats how I would like someone to act with my father so i know he comes home safe

[TheHuckster]

Huckster, its wise and respectful to announce every action you make when pulled over. I answer my questions with yes sir, or no sir. I tell him/her where my registration is and tell him im going to get them. And I do it slowly. My father is a sheriff. Most of the cops know me, but I still act respectfully. They dont know if im a nut.

In many cases I've seen of nuts shooting cops during routine stops, they act deliberately and slowly until they suddenly ambush them. If a police officer is basing the potential peril in a situation on the face value of the criminal's demeanor, they are foolish.

Plus I live in Arizona and most people have a weapon, myself included. Best thing is to put them at ease so you can be at ease. I know thats how I would like someone to act with my father so i know he comes home safe

Again, I implore you tell me how simply telling an officer what you're doing somehow magically defuses the situation? Are you seriously telling me that if the guy said, "I'm going to get my license" before reaching into the car, it would somehow remove any possibility that he'd come out with a gun, as if nobody ever told lies?

I looked at the video again, and I don't see a single thing the victim did that was disrespectful to the officer. He was asked for his license, and thus immediately went to do so. Saying "yes, sir" doesn't change a bloody thing.

Now, I can understand if the officer found the abruptness of his action unsettling. I could even understand if the officer asked him to stop what he was doing if he felt things could get ugly. What I don't understand is why the officer felt like he had to scream like a lunatic as if he just saw a spider and then immediately shoot the suspect. Four times.

All of this is on the cop. A civilian shouldn't feel the need to fear for his life during a routine traffic stop at a gas station if he doesn't say "yes, sir" or "I'm going to get my wallet out, just like you just asked me to."

[Ninja_Sushi]

I think youre thinking I agree more with the officer in the video. Im not. Im just saying its best is a normal stop to do just as I said. Most cops I know dont act like that. He was very jumpy, or had made the decision long before to shoot him.

As for people acting normal before they ambush the cop, yeah that happens. But if you notice when youre ever pulled over, their hand is always near their weapon just in case. When I go for my glove box, a officers hand is laying on his sidearm. Not grabbing it, just resting on it. Much like how I do when im in a relax pose. In my opinion, officer safety takes two people.

[TheHuckster]

When I go for my glove box, a officers hand is laying on his sidearm. Not grabbing it, just resting on it. Much like how I do when im in a relax pose. In my opinion, officer safety takes two people.

Where we disagree is you believe it is a matter of respect to tell the police officer that you're going into the glove compartment to fetch your registration, which is where most people keep their registration (if it's not in the center console), and just after the officer just asked for it, so common sense dictates that the next action you're going to make is to reach for it.

If you're buying booze or cigarettes and a cashier asks for your license, you don't timidly tell them you're reaching in your pocket for it, right? If you're in the office and your boss asks you for a report, you don't timidly tell your boss you're only going into the filing cabinet to grab it, right? So, why is it considered disrespectful to treat the officer the same?

My big point here is people should not have to feel like a police officer is a loose canon who is one heartbeat away from blowing your head off because you made a sudden movement. People shouldn't fear the police. Believing you must make slow movements and announcing every motion you're about to make is a sad commentary on how people view the police force in the US.

Police officers should always be prepared for the worst, even for seemingly routing traffic stops. But reaching for something in your car without declaring your intentions does not constitute poor behavior on the part of the civilian. If cops feel threatened by something as innocuous as that, they are not fit for the job, as far as I'm concerned.

[Rageaholic]

My big point here is people should not have to feel like a police officer is a loose canon who is one heartbeat away from blowing your head off because you made a sudden movement. People shouldn't fear the police. Believing you must make slow movements and announcing every motion you're about to make is a sad commentary on how people view the police force in the US.

Police officers should always be prepared for the worst, even for seemingly routing traffic stops. But reaching for something in your car without declaring your intentions does not constitute poor behavior on the part of the civilian. If cops feel threatened by something as innocuous as that, they are not fit for the job, as far as I'm concerned.

Couldn't have said it better. There's something seriously wrong when simple movements can constitute enough of a threat for cops to shoot you.

[Greenday]

Couldn't have said it better. There's something seriously wrong when simple movements can constitute enough of a threat for cops to shoot you.

That's not at all what anyone is implying. When you work a job that most people dislike you and many people would be happy to kill you, it's quite reasonable to be slightly jumpy when someone makes a quick motion or reaches for something hidden. Because it could definitely by ID they are reaching for. But it could just as easily be a weapon used to end your life.

[Gravekeeper]

When you work a job that most people dislike you and many people would be happy to kill you, it's quite reasonable to be slightly jumpy when someone makes a quick motion or reaches for something hidden. Because it could definitely by ID they are reaching for. But it could just as easily be a weapon used to end your life.

American cops treating the general public as an enemy by default, instead of the people they're suppose to serve and protect, is what's gotten them into this entire mess to begin with. Its one of the fundamental underlying problems. A civilian should not have to be afraid that they will be shot if they accidentally make the wrong move in front of an officer. Being able to judge a hostile movement and intent is one of the most basic parts of police officer training. In order to ensure this very scenario does not happen.

Blanket statements like "most people dislike you and many people would be happy to kill you" are misleading, inaccurate and a gross over simplification of the problem. An officer is suppose to be cautious yes, but not neurotically paranoid and ready to empty a clip in any random black person they encounter.

You could make that same blanket statement about amy number of different professions. Many of which have much much lower approval ratings than the police in the US.