To avoid the “Eyes up here, buddy” comments?
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There was an interview with the Mayor of Fort Worth on NPR this morning. She immediately established that she considered this case to be murder, and that the police officer did everything wrong from the very start of the interaction. She pointed out how the case endangers other police officers due to a loss of trust with the community. The city has already pulled in 3rd party investigators from the county and Texas Rangers, as well as the FBI to evaluate for civil rights violations.
From the sounds of it, this is being treated very differently than even the Guyger case.
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With the Guyger case being so close time and locationwise, Ft. Worth HAS to do this or risk crazy uprisings. I’m not saying the Mayor is only saying and doing the right things because of increased scrutiny, but…draw your own conclusions.
Maybe this is the only way to get some real change.
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Eh… I’m not sure the glasses have anything to do with it. Wrap around safety glasses are very practical.
I do agree with the adoption of the Punisher skull (Which is absurd if you think about it.) and things like tactical vests. Like this dude who pulled me over for making an illegal right hand turn (outside the cancer clinic), who was a cop for one of those little towns inside a larger metro. Yeah, buddy, you really need that thing.
I’ve seen vests on cops in really odd situations more and more, because they’re watching the national dialogue and reading more and more into the “us vs them” narrative too. They don’t realize that they are the ones with an organized system that can be adjusted for the better, unlike the people at large, and they don’t realize that escalation isn’t going to magically cause de-escalation.
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I buy those wrap around sunglasses for my guys at work because 1.) they meet ANSI standards for safety glasses, 2.) they help them do their jobs outside in bright sunlight (I also buy clear ones for inside work), and 3.) they are cheap -
https://www.airgas.com/product/Safety-Products/Head%2C-Eye-%26-Face-Protection/Safety-Glasses/p/RAD64051224
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But I’m betting that the job in question does not involve carrying weapons and wearing other tacticool gear while interacting with the public, right?
I’m sure there are situations in which wearing sunglasses makes sense for police officers. One cannot deny, however, that the wraparound Oakleys have become de rigueur amongst a certain type of officer, signalling nothing good.
If I am interacting with someone in public somewhere other than the beach and don’t take off my sunglasses, I’m being rude. It’s a way to de-personalize human interaction, and it’s just one small piece of the trend of militarized policing that I don’t care for.
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When I worked a short time as Sheriff dispatch parole division (totally not my bag), there were definitely enough parolees who’d do what they could to remain on the outside. I was aware of one death of an officer during that time.
The purpose of policing in the US aside, I would never deny someone the right to protect themselves in potentially dangerous situations. Yes, tanks are overkill, but a vest is practical.
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Gun ownership rights are for white people.
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Wow, those are cheap. And they come in clear and amber for indoor/outdoor use. Great to put some in a range bag for anyone who forgot a pair.
I dunno, man, as per both our points, these things have multiple uses. The friend I have in construction wear glasses like this. I just don’t think in this case a type of sunglasses are a problem. Usually when we start pigeon holing based on dress along we start to get in trouble. But I agree that your point works better for certain other gear and types of uniforms.
Ok, I am not talking about wearing a bullet proof vest. I agree that is a prudent precaution. Those typically are worn under a uniform now. I am talking the black vest with POLICE on the back in white and MOLLE loops so you can put magazines or mace or what have you. I suppose those are prudent for SWAT teams and maybe riot situations - but pulling me over for an illegal turn (and other traffic violations)? Seems a bit silly.
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This was never probable cause for sending cops to search a house
They should have told Nervous Norman to mind his own business unless he witnessed a crime
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I get what you’re saying, but from what I’ve read, the guy called the non-emergency number requesting an officer(s) to check on his neighbor. No good deed goes unpunished, I suppose.
From this article (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/15/us/aaron-dean-atatiana-jefferson.html):
“One of Ms. Jefferson’s neighbors, James Smith, had called a nonemergency line at 2:23 a.m. on Saturday to express concern that the doors of Ms. Jefferson’s house had been open for several hours.”
The article linked above also has the call the neighbor made. He probably won’t make the mistake of being neighborly again after this, but I think he was doing the right thing.
You want your neighbors to send cops to search your house if your door is open?
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Not anymore…but I’m also not black nor live in a predominantly black community.
I live in Dallas. First Guyger, and now this incident nearby obviously makes me more hesitant to call 911/311 for anything that might lead to a lethal response.
The neighbor did not “send cops to search” the house. The cops took it upon themselves to do so due to poor training.
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He thought they’d stay on the sidewalk and write a report about how they couldn’t see anything?
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It can also make one look like a casual-dress gas mask mook; which seems like a risky move. Way less competent than tacticool operators; also overtly expendable and everyone hates them.
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https://twitter.com/disco_socialist/status/1010885796730032128?s=21
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White folks call the cops like they’re calling customer service. Because they are.
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Ex-cops don’t go to the same prisons everybody else goes to. He’d be fine.
Obligs:
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I imagine he thought they’d walk up to the door and call out “Police, is everything OK?”
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