zero_gravitasBystanders, cop shot as NYPD opens fire on alleged fare-beater in Brooklyn subway
Maddrey said the officers followed the man, each firing a Taser which proved ineffective in subduing the man. He then exited the train while it was still at the station and charged the officers with the knife, the chief said.
What, it’s not a good idea to do that now?
Nah, it’s definitely the police in the wrong here.
Yes, firing a gun in a crowded subway station is absolutely in the wrong, as we can see by the three innocent people shot, one in the head. There are police forces across the world trained to deal with assailants with deadly weapons including knives without shooting them. It’s reasonable to expect the NYPD to have the same level of training and judgement.
They tried to Taser the guy twice.
Just out of interest, what would you have done differently?
BertramDitoreHonestly? The guy had a knife, which might have injured one of the cops, maybe. US police are far too afraid for their own safety, and automatically reach for their gun when they think there might be the slightest minor chance that they could be in a little bit of danger.
If being in dangerous situations makes you open fire in a crowd of random innocent people, then you should not be a cop. Cops need to learn to accept the risks they signed up for, de-escalate, and protect the public before they obsess over protecting themselves. I know protecting the public is not technically their job, but opening fire in a crowded subway is laughably irresponsible, and should be an immediate fireable offense.
x00zaI know protecting the public is not technically their job
It literally is the main job.
I always have this link ready to go, because you would be totally reasonable in assuming it’s their main job, but our lovely Supreme Court says otherwise.
Justices Rule Police Do Not Have a Constitutional Duty to Protect Someone
Supreme Court rules that police do not have constitutional duty to protect person from harm, even woman who obtained court-issued protective order against violent husband which made arrest mandatory for violation; decision overturns ruling by federal appeals court in Colorado; it had permitted lawsuit to proceed against town of Castle Rock, whose police failed to respond to woman's pleas for help after her estranged husband violated protective order by kidnapping their three children, whom he eventually killed; in another ruling, Supreme Court rebukes US Court of Appeals in Cincinnati for reopening death penalty appeal, on basis of newly discovered evidence, after Supreme Court had ruled on matter; 5-to-4 decision involves convicted murderer Gregory Thompson (M)
What the actual fuck
Right? Genuinely unbelievable.
It should be yes, but it’s not.