HOLY SHIT I AM LIVID
I have very mixed feelings on the police, okay? On the one hand, I try, when I can, to give the benefit of the doubt to guys who (ostensibly) risk their lives to try and prevent crime, save lives, and protect the citizenry. That job is a worthy goal.
But I really don't trust the police, because I think we have far too many of the wrong kind of people doing this job. I'm about as priveleged as it gets--middle-aged white dude with a good education--and I get nervous around police. I can't imagine how less priveleged people must feel, and I competely do not understand people who always give police the benefit of the doubt regardless of circumstance, or who claim that fearing/distrusting the police is unreasonable. I think that's crazy. I do not have confidence in the police we have in this country. Especially now.
Just last night, we were all having a chat (we being my wife and I, my wife's parents, and my wife's brother and his wife). My brother-in-law works for the courts, and so we get quite a bit of legal scuttlebutt from him (not to mention, interesting stories). He told us one about this complete imbecile cop (even the judge referred to him, in private, as "officer doofus") who screwed up a crime scene investigation and then lied about it on the stand, only to be contradicted by the surveillance video. Then the real stunner: the cop had known about the existence of the video. He is clearly show on the video, watching the video. And he STILL lied about it! On the stand!
That was depressing (if slightly amusing). Then this morning I'm greeted with this:
Man shot six times in his own house after calling 911
And the police try to cover up the fact that they shot an innocent homeowner in the back
And to add final insult to injury, the policeman who shot him has been cleared in the investigation.
Let me repeat that, and give details:
1.) the homeowner (Anthony Arambula) caught an intruder in his home, subdued him, and held him at gunpoint. He and his wife both called 911, explaining the situation.
2.) Arambula's wife met the police outside, and loudly and clearly told the sergeant that her husband was the one with the gun, and that he had the intruder subdued. She said plainly "PLEASE DON'T SHOOT". This has been verified by the investigation.
3.) The first officer inside shoots Arambula six times. Without warning or identifying himself as an officer. The first time, in the back. The last two, while he is lying on the floor.
4.) The cops talk about the shooting, not knowing that Arambula's cell phone is still open to 911, and recording everything they say. The officer's first words after realizing what he just did were "fuck". He admits to shooting first because he thought Arambula looked like "he might be the hispanic male they had been pursuing". His superior cuts off his apology saying that they "have his back" and that he should shut up.
5.) Arambula, thinking he is dying, asks the police not to take him outside so his wife and children don't see his bloody body. Instead, the police drag him outside (by his gunshot leg), cuff him, put him on the hood of the police cruiser, and drive him down to the station on the hood of the fucking cruiser. They never called an ambulance.
6.) The police close ranks to protect the shooter. The shooter himself lies and claims that Arambula pointed his gun at him (despite the recording showing that he never even saw Arambula's gun)...note that: he lied during the investigation. The shooting has been ruled "accidental" and the officer was cleared by an internal investigation. Arambula is (quite naturally) suing the department.
I have no words. I despair at the standard of law enforcement in this country. I am enraged.
But I really don't trust the police, because I think we have far too many of the wrong kind of people doing this job. I'm about as priveleged as it gets--middle-aged white dude with a good education--and I get nervous around police. I can't imagine how less priveleged people must feel, and I competely do not understand people who always give police the benefit of the doubt regardless of circumstance, or who claim that fearing/distrusting the police is unreasonable. I think that's crazy. I do not have confidence in the police we have in this country. Especially now.
Just last night, we were all having a chat (we being my wife and I, my wife's parents, and my wife's brother and his wife). My brother-in-law works for the courts, and so we get quite a bit of legal scuttlebutt from him (not to mention, interesting stories). He told us one about this complete imbecile cop (even the judge referred to him, in private, as "officer doofus") who screwed up a crime scene investigation and then lied about it on the stand, only to be contradicted by the surveillance video. Then the real stunner: the cop had known about the existence of the video. He is clearly show on the video, watching the video. And he STILL lied about it! On the stand!
That was depressing (if slightly amusing). Then this morning I'm greeted with this:
Man shot six times in his own house after calling 911
And the police try to cover up the fact that they shot an innocent homeowner in the back
And to add final insult to injury, the policeman who shot him has been cleared in the investigation.
Let me repeat that, and give details:
1.) the homeowner (Anthony Arambula) caught an intruder in his home, subdued him, and held him at gunpoint. He and his wife both called 911, explaining the situation.
2.) Arambula's wife met the police outside, and loudly and clearly told the sergeant that her husband was the one with the gun, and that he had the intruder subdued. She said plainly "PLEASE DON'T SHOOT". This has been verified by the investigation.
3.) The first officer inside shoots Arambula six times. Without warning or identifying himself as an officer. The first time, in the back. The last two, while he is lying on the floor.
4.) The cops talk about the shooting, not knowing that Arambula's cell phone is still open to 911, and recording everything they say. The officer's first words after realizing what he just did were "fuck". He admits to shooting first because he thought Arambula looked like "he might be the hispanic male they had been pursuing". His superior cuts off his apology saying that they "have his back" and that he should shut up.
5.) Arambula, thinking he is dying, asks the police not to take him outside so his wife and children don't see his bloody body. Instead, the police drag him outside (by his gunshot leg), cuff him, put him on the hood of the police cruiser, and drive him down to the station on the hood of the fucking cruiser. They never called an ambulance.
6.) The police close ranks to protect the shooter. The shooter himself lies and claims that Arambula pointed his gun at him (despite the recording showing that he never even saw Arambula's gun)...note that: he lied during the investigation. The shooting has been ruled "accidental" and the officer was cleared by an internal investigation. Arambula is (quite naturally) suing the department.
I have no words. I despair at the standard of law enforcement in this country. I am enraged.