This is just tragic....I guess the most important question is...why do transit cops have guns in the first place?
Have you been to Oakland?
Edit: That said, a bizarre sequence, all of a sudden a random shot fired, and a surreal reaction from everyone in the video..., everyone stopping and looking at him, as if the guy had dropped a plate and it broke on the floor, not actually shot another person.
Sad too for all involved. Obviously the victim and family, also the transit cop...his wife just having a baby.
No, but i've heard it's super ghetto. I'm guessing they were transit cops like they are here, but actual police just assigned to the BART for protection.
You honestly feel sympathy for a cold blooded killer?
That's what I thought at first too, until I saw this new video and can see just how stunned the cop is when his gun goes off. Why he had it out and finger on the trigger in the first place, well, I'm not a cop, but I don't know why you'd need it... but he certainly looks shocked when the gun goes off. This guy is toast, either way.
You honestly feel sympathy for a cold blooded killer?
Quite dramatic wording.
I usually don't give law enforcement the benefit of the doubt in situations where they try to intimidate and push around, but you can cleary see in this video that he, and everyone around him is surprised the gun went off.
Not knowing police protocol, but if they feel threatened or someone is engaged with an other officer, guns are usually drawn, even in a traffic stop. Then, all it takes is that minute lapse in concentration, that split second of nerves that kick in and adreneline rushing through the system, and the trigger is accidently squeezed wth the barrel pointed right at the person involved.
Looks to be what happened here...the guy was being uncoperative for a few minutes, he was engaged (in so far as standing up, resisting) the one officer, and this guy pulled his gun out, drawn on the guy just in case something did happen. This guy also wasn't a trained police officer...no idea what the BART transit cop gun training is, but its not likely as time intensive as the Oakland Police Dept. He got nervous, ancy, had that adrenelin rush, and split second of indecision all rolled into one. He reacted/flinched whatever you want to call it, and the worst possible accident happened.
My definition of cold blooded killer is something far more deliberate than what I saw on that video.
I'm gonna say it first, "chime in the cops can do no wrong crowd".
From what I have read, he pulled what he thought was his taser. One of the key reasons, you see CPS members and other municipalities use a cross draw system. I know, I know, all you police haters can't understand how a mistake like that can be made.
Tragic either way.
Last edited by Bent Wookie; 01-08-2009 at 07:02 AM.
In my agency there is no such thing as an accidental discharge. There are however, negligent discharges.
Sucks all the way around. It looks like the officer had no intention to fire his firearm. A man lost his life and an officer will most likely lose his career and spend some time in jail.
$25M wrongful death lawsuit already filed against BART. That's the legal system working quickly (in one facet anyways).
It seems pretty obvious the cop was going for what he thought was his taser to get the suspect to comply. Pulling your gun is inexcusable though.
As for why BART needs armed cops (and they arent just SFPD or Oakland PD re-assignments), the stations can get a little sketchy at night and BART Police actually patrols the surrounding areas near BART stations too. Going through Oakland and Richmond, I fully understand the need to be armed.
*Brace for anti-police, anti-taser, anti-gun posts.
Ugh, that's the thing I never really get with violent protests. I get that you want to protest, but how is damaging other uninvolved people's property or businesses constructive? What do they have to do with it? Maybe just an excuse for some to act like ass-hats.
If I were a police officer, about to pull a weapon on someone (taser, gun, baton, pepper spray, etc.), I'm going to at least take a split second to look and make sure I am using the proper thing. Isn't that common sense?
__________________ KIPPER IS KING
Last edited by Kipper is King; 01-08-2009 at 11:51 AM.
If I were a police officer, about to pull a weapon on someone (taser, gun, baton, pepper spray, etc.), I'm going to at least take a split second to look and make sure I am using the proper thing. Isn't that common sense?
Yup. However, in high stress situation, people often react first without conscious thought. It explains why some accidents like friendly fire in the battlefield, soliders getting killed because they forgot to flick the safety in a fire fight, and other preventable but common injuries or deaths occur.
IIRC, law enforcement and military are taught to keep their shooting finger on the ring, and not on the trigger until they actually fire. (If I'm talking out of my ass, please correct me)
Oakland Transit Cop shoots restrained man in the back
