Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site abnji.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!mhuxv!abnji!jca
From: jca@abnji.UUCP (james armstrong)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: what? goetz in disguise!
Message-ID: <342@abnji.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 19-Feb-85 12:21:34 EST
Article-I.D.: abnji.342
Posted: Tue Feb 19 12:21:34 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 22-Feb-85 06:45:54 EST
References: <333@abnji.UUCP>, <348@enmasse.UUCP>
Lines: 41

>	Now wait a second, the police are trained in the use
>	of deadly force. They are specially empowered to use
>	forceful measures to preserve the public order.
>	As a consequence they are, and should be, held to a
>	much higher standard than the general public.

I agree.  Unfortunately, the NYPD do not.  All the members of the Special
Branch (or some such title) have asked to be transfered as a result of the
indictment against Officer Sullivan.

>	Instead of smirking smiley-faces obscuring whatever
>	meaning was intended, (which are you against,
>	making Bumpers a grand marshall, the police being
>	held to a different standard than citizens, or
>	shooting crazed senior citizens, any or all of
>	these?)
>
>	Besides, if Bumpers was obese and arthritic, what
>	was he doing on the please force? (:->{@*

A bit of background.  Elanor Bumpers was a 72 year old arthritic woman who
weighed ~300 lbs.  She was also mentally unstable.  Due to lack of facilities,
she could not be given proper treatment.  The City, meanwhile evicted Ms.
Bumpers.  The police were called in when she refused to leave.  She is alleged
to have attacked the evicting officers with a carving knife, so Officer
Sullivan fired two shots with a shotgun.  The first shot apparently disarmed
Ms. Bumpers, the second killed her.

My objection is that that would appear to be an unnecessary use of deadly
force.  There are devices to retrain these people.  They were unused.
A police officer ought to be able to defend himself in these circumstances
without the use of firearms.

The police often need to make split second decisions on the use of deadly
force, and they *can't* be wrong.  (I'm sorry I killed your mum, I thought
she was a bank robber :-)  If they make mistakes, they ought to face the
consequences.  They ought not be treated as heros.
-- 
James C Armstrong, Jnr.  { ihnp4 || allegra || mcnc || cbosgb } !abnji!jca

"She's real enough.  Android's legs don't blister."