Ferguson, MO

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

But why should anyone think the police is really going to do those things in a fair and unbiased manner? Trusting the police force at this point is just letting the fox guard the henhouse.

It has always been my understanding that any time an officer discharges his weapon an investigation is done. It has already been announced that the state police or some other entity is doing said investigation. I don't know why people would think the police wouldn't do it in a fair and unbiased manner.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by AGDee

It has always been my understanding that any time an officer discharges his weapon an investigation is done. It has already been announced that the state police or some other entity is doing said investigation. I don't know why people would think the police wouldn't do it in a fair and unbiased manner.

Because of historical and contemporary fear and distrust of law enforcement and other predominantly white male institutions. There are plenty of incidents in which law enforcement are unfair, biased, and violent towards racial and ethnic minorities. "Community policing" is typically only done in predominantly white communities. Generations of opinion polls and surveys on the police result in whites being the most (and sometimes the only people) pleased, impressed, and trusting of law enforcement. We actually had a taser discussion in a GC thread years ago and racial tension with law enforcement was a topic in that thread.

With that said, it becomes a circular argument to definitively say the police will be unfair and biased every time. On one end, the riots in Ferguson garnered more attention and demand for answers (which reached the federal government) than silent protests, attorneys, and community leaders probably would have garnered. On the other end, the circular argument continues and people will be pissed regardless of the outcome.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I don't know why people would think the police wouldn't do it in a fair and unbiased manner.

Police protect their own. One of the most notorious cases in Chicago was that of Jon Burge, who was allowed to keep his pension after he was convicted of ROUTINELY torturing black men in Chicago. The votes in his favor all came from other cops.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0..._n_814894.html

[ZetaPhi708.20]

Hate to sound like a cliché, but sending some prayers out to Ferguson tonight. Another bad night. Minors allegedly hit with tear gas.

[ZetaPhi708.20]

Watching MSNBC now.

[KDCat]

Originally Posted by AGDee

It has always been my understanding that any time an officer discharges his weapon an investigation is done. It has already been announced that the state police or some other entity is doing said investigation. I don't know why people would think the police wouldn't do it in a fair and unbiased manner.

Because they're never fair and unbiased? I've seen the results of police investigations into police behavior in St. Louis and its suburbs. They routinely justify outrageous police behavior. Our cops aren't as bad as Chicago cops, but they are close.

After the arrest of Maury Travis (a serial killer) the cops hung him in his cell the same weekend. It was ruled a suicide. He had his hands tied behind his back and it was still ruled a suicide. It's hard to be sorry for a serial killer, but that was not justice and it was extremely corrupt.

Some St. Louis cops were at a bar in Pontoon Beach, IL and were bothering a female customer. When she tried to leave with her friends, a cop followed them into the parking lot and drew a gun on them. When another patron intervened, the cop shot them. He was then shot and killed by a Pontoon Beach police officer because he refused to put down his gun. The cops with him lost their jobs. The only reason anything happened to those cops is that they were out of Missouri and there were no political consequences for prosecuting them.

There are dozens of lesser offenses committed every year. St. Louis cops routinely beat people and file false reports about it. It's routinely found to be justified.

I was taught to be very, very careful around St. Louis cops. They will kill you or hurt you, just because. It's worse if you are poor and even worse if you are poor and black.