Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuart Zaikov
If the police were allowed to do their jobs the looting would not happen. A certain segment of the population as described above have learned that free stuff is their for the taking.
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allowed to do their jobs" is a very broad term, unfortunately. Some might argue that Derek Chauvin, the officer charged with George Floyd's death, was "doing his job". The question of what is an officer's job is often posed and there are often different answers given. This is similar to what is the government's job, or primary responsibility in America; many different answers ensue. In the "old days" it seems there were fewer of these types of incidence, but the police were in a difficult situation, regarding looting and arson - what should the proper response be? Should deadly force be used to protect property, or, only life? Currently (right or wrong), there are a myriad of hi-tech tools at the disposal of most all urban police forces, e.g. pepper bullets, tear gas, rubber bullets, tasers, K-9 dogs, LRAD sound cannons, repellant spray, armored vehicles, riot-control gear, ad nauseum, making this an easier question to answer; lethal force, as a response, can often be avoided. There are really only two choices if the goal is to protect property: sufficient police presence (Natl Guard or LEOs) to maintain a defensive blockade and repellant force - almost impossible under most conditions, due to limited resources. Or, containing looters and arsonists using the above methods/devices. Both of these are dependent upon the orders received from their superiors, however, as to what and when any actions will be taken. If the order to protect property is not given, then the response will be minimal! Mayor Jacob Frey, in the press conference that I viewed was fairly explicit that (paraphrasing) buildings were not so important and lives mattered. This, in spite of all of the non-lethal options available
Having said all of that, inciting the people that we are speaking of with incendiary language should NOT be the goal of a
responsible elected official
Mayor Jacob Frey (press conference - national TV):
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Being Black in America should not be a death sentence. For five minutes, we watched a white officer press his knee into a Black man's neck."
Shouldn't a more responsible and less inciteful comment have been:
Getting killed while in police custody should never occur in America and we will ensure that justice will prevail?
Fred
