Cop Shoots Mother and 8 yr Old Son In Road Rage...

[AK-74me]

Originally Posted by CalvertNewbie

I agree - my initial feeling is that the cop was "in the wrong" in this case. I can't imagine what valid reason he could come up with to justify the use of his firearm. The fact that the driver may have a suspended license means nothing in this case.

As for cops not being thrown in jail right from the start (in most cases), that's the pretense they're basically hired under. I can't imagine being a cop to begin with - good buddy of mine is NYPD and works in the ghettos of NY everyday, getting shot at and dealing with welfare trash. They risk their lives everyday to keep us safe. There are good cops & bad cops, of course, like in every other profession. There's always rthe possibility of a cop making a really bad decision, which this one clearly did. I don't think we'd have any cops if they felt as though they would immediately go to jail every time they fired their weapon.

Right, another caveat may have been the fact that he was off duty, I am guessing not in uniform. I don't know about you but if I have a driving altercation with someone, who as far as I can tell is just a normal citizen and they draw a gun. I am not stopping either.

[smcop]

Originally Posted by AK-74me

True, but how about the case last year in California where the cop ran over a woman's head who was sunbathing?? I mean, I am sure if I, as a regular citizen drove over a berm BLINDLY and ran over a sun bather on a BEACH that is known to have beach goers lying about I'd be in jail still.

The only way, as I said, this cop shouldn't be in jail right now is if it was a question of whether she was using her car as a deadly weapon.

This could be another case like we saw in our area a few years back where the off duty cop with his family shot that Sailor in a parking lot over road rage.

That Federal Marshal went to jail as he should have! If this cop is wrong..then he should go to jail as well. There is already some liability of the child in the car. I don't care what any of you say, no police officer I know wants to go out and shoot anyone. Are there bad cops....absolutely. Just as there are bad doctors...lawyers...judges...teachers...carpenters...engineers....nurses....etc

[CalvertNewbie]

Originally Posted by AK-74me

Right, another caveat may have been the fact that he was off duty, I am guessing not in uniform. I don't know about you but if I have a driving altercation with someone, who as far as I can tell is just a normal citizen and they draw a gun. I am not stopping either.

That makes 2 of us - I'd be hightailing it outta there real quick if some guy had a gun and was pissed at me! I've learned to calm down a little with the "road rage" I once had. I used to have a habit of talking with my hands (growing up in NY, you just do!) and there were a few times where arguments ensued in parking lots - don't steal my spot or cut me off, buddy!!! I guess maybe I was lucky that nobody ever drew a gun on me.

[AK-74me]

Originally Posted by smcop

That Federal Marshal went to jail as he should have! If this cop is wrong..then he should go to jail as well. There is already some liability of the child in the car. I don't care what any of you say, no police officer I know wants to go out and shoot anyone. Are there bad cops....absolutely. Just as there are bad doctors...lawyers...judges...teachers...carpenters...engineers....nurses....etc

I agree, which is why I don't seem to understand why you always come to the cops "defense" in thses kind of cases, as a good cop you should be the first one to denounce the actions.

[CalvertNewbie]

Originally Posted by AK-74me

I agree, which is why I don't seem to understand why you always come to the cops "defense" in thses kind of cases, as a good cop you should be the first one to denounce the actions.

Ya know, this isn't the first thread I've seen with you and smcop debating the whole good cop/bad cop thing! I think it's about time you guys just meet up and give eachother a big hug - maybe you could go on a ride-along with smcop and debate in person!

[smcop]

Originally Posted by AK-74me

I agree, which is why I don't seem to understand why you always come to the cops "defense" in thses kind of cases, as a good cop you should be the first one to denounce the actions.

No, not true! If a cop does something wrong, then I say he should be punished far greater than anyone else in society. I however give a police officer the benefit of doubt, until the investigation is complete. This job is sometimes a very very violent business. When we have to defend ourselves, or others, I want an INVESTIGATION to determine if there was something wrong, rather than public opinion. I have investigated and charged all manners of society, and that includes law enforcement.

I do vehemently denounce police corruption and abuse of authority, once proven!

[Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by smcop

No, not true! If a cop does something wrong, then I say he should be punished far greater than anyone else in society. I however give a police officer the benefit of doubt, until the investigation is complete. This job is sometimes a very very violent business. When we have to defend ourselves, or others, I want an INVESTIGATION to determine if there was something wrong, rather than public opinion. I have investigated and charged all manners of society, and that includes law enforcement.

I do vehemently denounce police corruption and abuse of authority, once proven!

He was off duty, and it was in a parking lot. He should never have gotten out of his vehicle. Both of them should have been adults about it. For the life of me, I cannot imagine being so upset about what another driver did IN A PARKING LOT that would warrant pulling a gun and firing multiple times. If he felt threatened by her, he should have gotten back in his car and called for help.

[Lenny]

Originally Posted by Cowgirl

... He should never have gotten out of his vehicle. ...

Everyone is assuming this is a case of road-rage (probably because the headline writer said so) but that's not evident from the article. She could have been an ex-GF or wife for all we know at this point from this article.


EDIT*********************************
Associated article linked to this one says Police may have started the 'road rage' part of the speculation.

[smcop]

Originally Posted by Cowgirl

He was off duty, and it was in a parking lot. He should never have gotten out of his vehicle. Both of them should have been adults about it. For the life of me, I cannot imagine being so upset about what another driver did IN A PARKING LOT that would warrant pulling a gun and firing multiple times. If he felt threatened by her, he should have gotten back in his car and called for help.

You are making a lot of assumptions. First, there may be a reason he got out of his car. Second, you assume he had an opportunity to get back in his car and had a chance to call for help. Being off duty has nothing to do with it. If I am off duty, and I see someone hurting you, would you rather I call for help or help you then?

Your assuming he was upset. There are a lot of unanswered questions in the story. The press said it was a case of road rage. It only takes one person to be enraged.

I don't know if the cop was right or wrong. All that I am saying is I give him the benefit of doubt until the investigation is over! YOU hire us to protect and serve, and you expect us to meet a higher standard, well when the stuff hits the fan, I say don't be a Monday morning quarterback, wait till the facts come out!

If the guy is wrong, I say he should be burned beyond what a non-police citizen should be, because we give him the benefit of doubt!

[Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by smcop

You are making a lot of assumptions.

I'm going on what I read in the article.

but they believe it started after one of the parties committed some sort of right-of-way violation in front of the parking lot. When it was over, the officer had fired two bullets through the windshield of a Honda. Inside were a woman and a child.

Originally Posted by smcop

First, there may be a reason he got out of his car.

The ONLY good reason I see to get out of the car would be because of a collision. The article makes no mention of one.

Originally Posted by smcop

Second, you assume he had an opportunity to get back in his car and had a chance to call for help. Being off duty has nothing to do with it. If I am off duty, and I see someone hurting you, would you rather I call for help or help you then?

Your assuming he was upset. There are a lot of unanswered questions in the story. The press said it was a case of road rage. It only takes one person to be enraged.

The article did not say someone was hurting her. The article says it started over a right-of-way violation. If that's true, what good could possibly come from someone getting out of the car?

Originally Posted by smcop

I don't know if the cop was right or wrong. All that I am saying is I give him the benefit of doubt until the investigation is over! YOU hire us to protect and serve, and you expect us to meet a higher standard, well when the stuff hits the fan, I say don't be a Monday morning quarterback, wait till the facts come out!

If the guy is wrong, I say he should be burned beyond what a non-police citizen should be, because we give him the benefit of doubt!

So, tell me what would happen to the average Joe if he'd fired rounds into a car? Would he be at home? Would he get the benefit of the doubt?

Oh, and WE don't hire you to protect and serve. Your boss does that. If it were up to the citizens, I bet several current police officers would not be where they are.