Avoiding Being Shot by the Police 101
 

http://www.geocities.com/jetflair/policeshootings.html

1. DON'T COMMIT VIOLENT CRIMES. It seems elementary, but this rule is lost on many. They do the crime, get shot, and then wonder how it could possibly happen. They whine that it is so unfair. Well, Slick, violent crime, like jumping in front of moving cars, is just a high-risk occupation, and, in case you missed it, committing violent crime makes police officers think you might not be a good person.

2. If you ignore rule No. 1, and the police confront you, DON'T RUN AWAY FROM THEM. I know it's hard to believe, but that may make them think you're guilty of something. Hiding in bushes or closets makes some cops (mostly older ones) very nervous. They might even foolishly conclude that you're up to no good!

3. If you disregard rules 1 and 2, and the cops catch up with you anyway and inform you that you are under arrest, DON'T MAKE FAST MOVEMENTS WITH YOUR HANDS. I know it sounds silly, but grabbing a shiny beer can, a dark-colored wallet, or one of those snazzy and real-looking replica guns may make police officers mistakenly believe that you are about to hurt them.

4. If you disregard rules 1, 2, and 3, and manage to get what looks like a deadly weapon into your hands, DON'T POINT IT AT THE COPS. We all know that you're basically a nice person, but that may be lost on the police officers confronting you. In their paranoia, they may even believe they need to protect themselves.

5. If you disregard rules 1, 2, 3, and 4, DON'T BE ASTONISHED IF THE COPS DO NOT INSTANTLY TURN INTO YOUR PERSONAL CONFIDANTE. They may be too preoccupied to realize that you're normally a splendid person and that you're just having a bad day. They may be too preoccupied to see that when you point a weapon at them in a threatening manner, it is just your way of crying out for help. We both know that the whole problem can be traced to the fact that your mother didn't breast feed you, but some police officers are so cynical they just don't see it.

So, there you have it. If you really apply yourself and obey even some of the rules listed above, I bet you'll avoid the vast majority of police gunfire."

Cheri Lewis
Deputy DA
Los Angeles, California

OH and .. ..

6. Don't be black. White cops are afraid of black men.

7. Don't be poor.

While I personally have no experience where number 6 is concerned, I can dispute number 7 since I grew up without the proverbial pot to pi$$ in but still had a fairly easy time avoiding being shot at :)

Me, too. Although I did have a cop point a double barrel 12 guage at my head. In retrospect, a pretty funny story, but it didn't seem like it at the time.

Well all I know is HS, my mom had the cops pulled guns out on her b/c they thought she stole her OWN car, and alledging casing OUR neighborhood-if you ever saw my petite 5-foot tall mother you have to wonder...

Umm.....did your mom ever go to court for any financial compensation? That's the gayest shit I've ever heard...and I just got back from Nor Cal.

Yeah, I thought that would be rule #1. :(

oh they settled with us, but unfortunately in our area this is not uncommon, similar things has happen to my friends

News flash: Not all white cops are racists. Some of the best brothers my chapters produced are police officers, and are damn fine guys who would never act differently towards non-whites in a situation where guns were drawn.

Yes, racial profiling happens. A lot. Once is too much, and it sucks. Im in full support of disciplining, firing, or incarcerating those who practice it. Fraternity parties where the occasional dumb ass paints his face black happen, too. Again, one time is too many times, and they deserve a savage ass beating, but no one on here is saying, 'Dont be black and go to a fraternity party, theyll all be in blackface and pick fights with you.'

Yes, I managed to be pulled over and accused of stealing my car at 17 years old. I am white. I don't hold it against the cop or put any blame on him - he was doing his job. Luckily, we got it straightened out.

The best brothers from your chapter ended up as civil servants? In a non-degree field? ;)

Best as in character, not GPA.


Jerkface. :p

Just teasing .. . but you know, police here in jersey are making in the neighborhood of 100 grand a year . . they should get down on their knees and thank people that do drugs for their salaries.

I'm pretty sure that in the Denver area, most police departments require a bachelor's degree -- except in Denver itself, where they tend to be a little gun happy.

They do tend to shoot a few people, don't they?

But the last Denver Police officer that I remember being killed in the line of duty was a PHd candidate.

The exception, of course, not the rule.

I got pulled over a week after obtaining my license at 16 (first time ever too!). I also am white. His reasoning for thinking I stole my own car: since it was registered in my father's name, it showed the car was owned by a man who was born in 1934....he saw me and didn't think I fit the description. HAHA!

Don't trust THE MAN.

hijack

Actually, more and more police departments are requiring their new hires to have college degrees. The days of people dropping out of high school, wandering around for a few years then deciding to join the police force for want of something better to do are over (at least in major departments)

/hijack

WOW! Here I was, just driving in my car when I heard this and decided to see if I could find and post it.

I thought it was funny...
I also thought it made quite a bit of sense! Soooooooo :p y'all! ;)

That is true. A lot prefer bachelor's but will accept say two years of college.

A lot of that is the market though. More people have bachelor's degrees than ever before. College may not be for everyone, but its for a hell of a lot more people than it used to be.

Its interesting that you say that the days of people wandering around after dropping out of high school and joining are over . . . now the standard seems to be for people that have a college degree but have wandered around for a few years and then join.

Having talked to some people in departments they say they actually like that better. Someone in his/her late twenties early thirties with a degree has likely experienced a bit more of life and is in aposition to understand more gray areas when dealing with people.

I have talked to some police that wince alittle when they are referring to "child police" on their squads, people 18 or 19, 21 or 22 who have a badge and a gun but almost no conception of what the real world is like.

Many went from living at home or some collge dorm experience to law enforcement.Frightening thought. I think you should be minimum 25 before serving.