I would not say she should not have been a cop, but she should not have been in a role that required a firearm. The problem in our society is that we have too many guns (more guns by 25 percent than people) and this has made the role of police officer much more stressful and dangerous. Consequently, as gun ownership goes up, there are more of these unnecessary and tragic shootings by police.

Maybe cops should carry malpractice insurance.

That sounds sexist.

surgeons
 

surgeons lose millions in malpractice law suits and get uncertified as doctors

A sad mistake....
 

If the young man had simply complied with the traffic stop and not started the scuffle, and if the officer had pulled her taser instead of her gun this would not have been in the news and she would still have her career and her pension. As the footage shows, she was immediately horrified at what had happened. I do not believe she deserves jail time....very sad.

Poor analogy. Surgeons work to save lives at all times. Medical mistakes are covered by insurance. Horribly bad judgement gets medical practitioners banned and they do get jail time
This officer states that she grabbed her gun instead of her taser. I own neither but I’m sure I could tell the difference without looking, just by holding them. Also, I’m sure that the gun belongs in a certain place on their belt as does the taser. Officers should know the difference. Lastly, she fired, knowingly and willingly. I’m sure there are many instances where an office is accused of excessive force when they should not be. I don’t believe that this is one of those cases.

And how much would salaries increase to cover the cost of the insurance?

I have read all of the responses and agreed with maybe three points of realistic views. The remainder smack of racism. Kim Potter showed how she was incompetent to be a police officer. She was an instructor for new recruits and stated at trial that the original officers should have never stopped the car for a minor violation (they were told not to stop cars because of the possible exposure to covid). Brown and black people are stopped all the time because of racist cops and fear for their lives because of trigger happy police. That is probably why he tried to flee. If you think she should go free, then I feel Rittenhouse should be in jail for life! Someone said police are not paid enough, which is not true. Police are paid plenty and can retire at full retirement at 20 years, not to mention that they have civil immunity for their actions. There are some good police personnel but they are in the minority. Too many of the bad ones came out of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars - macho trigger happy "warriors".

“Doctors make mistakes but don’t go to jail”, unless they are charge criminally. Watch “Dr Death” or read the magazine article. Officer Potter made a grave mistake. Very different than the story I have referenced.
My husband and I were discussing this just last night. Police officers would benefit from this type malpractice system in their profession, too. If their actions rise to level of criminal than so be it. I do have sympathy for this woman but will say this was a shockingly rookie mistake for a 26 year veteran. Unless you do “life and death” everyday, it’s really difficult to have the skill set to empathize w what split second decision means. It’s different when you can converse about it than when you are in the situation.

[QUOTE=jammaiora;2042801 There are some good police personnel but they are in the minority. [/QUOTE]

Some? So in your expert opinion is it greater than 5%?

I made no reference to political party, there being a difference between ideology and political party, I don't think one would have much trouble finding persons of any party where some would agree and some disagree, perhaps your implied criticism of the moderator is more of an ideological difference with my comment

He may be a lawyer but not cross-eyed. The version the public consumes via the media is oversimplified and meant to bend to their narrative. The law is intricate and nuanced. What he explained about the law is exactly right. What was the LAW in MN? How was it violated? Can it be proven? The law doesn’t always come down to right and wrong sometimes it has to do with not being allowed to introduce certain types of evidence, or witnesses not being allowed by both sides, for example. Law is more complicated than us non-attorneys make it.

In this day and age how could she be a police officer and not be able to carry a weapon? Police departments in many jurisdictions are facing an exodus of officers, they are just not going to do what they asked to faced with with the current atmosphere, The second amendment was intended to protect the citizenry from an oppressive government, it never occurred to the framers that citizens would lose faith in the governments willingness/ability to protect them from other citizens and of course there are always those who abuse rights and privilege and now many are in fear of those persons

I’m glad you weren’t on the jury since it appears you’ve made up your mind without hearing the evidence presented to the jury.

"Be killed" he was trying to run away, not kill her. They knew him, they knew where he lived. They could have just gone to his house and arrested him. Instead they pull him over and get all aggressive and scare him half to death, then he tries to run..... this was hardly a kill or be killed situation.

You do know police are suppose to protect and serve right, not be judge, jury and executioner.

What kind of verdict do you expect in a lawless Democratic stronghold where the "rights" of criminals outweigh the rights of police officers and law abiding citizens? Tge fact is that every single one of these perps who have been killed by police officers would still be alive today if they had not resisted arrest including George Floyd.

Tell me you didn't pay attention to the trial without telling me you didn't pay attention to the trial...

He was pulled over for expired tags...

You forgot to differentiate between LEGAL and ILLEGAL gun owners...

Insurance companies lose millions...

The average salary in Minneapolis is about $60K... Not exactly "plenty"...

And to compare this case to the Rittenhouse case is folly. Apples and Kumquats...

As did all of the people commenting on this thread...

You missed the part about the other officer being partially inside the car when they tried to drive away...

And just let him go and then show up at his house? Sure, go to a place where they have no idea who's there, if they're armed, if they're walking into an ambush... No thanks...

A psychic eye witness?
 

Thanks for clearing this up since it sounds like you were there and knew for a "fact" that he wasn't going for a weapon.

Or hit/drag the officer who was trying to cuff him...

She deserved zero criminal charges! I wish I was on that jury as I would NEVER agree with charges for a police officer who more likely than not saved many lives with this piece of crap gone. May people start protesting in favor of this hero cop for her heroic action. She needs to be released and I hope the attorney’s groups who free people on unjust charges takes this case ASAP!!

Not all the people.
 

I was not at the scene. I didn't see all the evidence. I was not in the courtroom. I did not hear the instructions to the jury. I did not participate in the jury deliberations. Therefore, I am not qualified to have an official decision on the result of this case.
However, I have the right to an opinion. My opinion is that if perps knew they could/would be shot for attempting to flee they may not attempt it and live to see another day.

After duly pondering posting, at the advice of another poster, I join the posters who support law enforcement, and dismiss the WOKE posters who declare anything that goes towards law and order as racist. We have had enough statues torn down that celebrate our Founders and Forefathers. We do not need statues glorifying criminals. YES CRIMINALS. If you dont break the law, and you don;t resist arrest, you probably won't get killed. Black, White, Green or Purple. Who would want to be a law enforcement officer in NYC, California or Minnesota ? Or a business owner that could be a victim of Smash and Grab, $ 950 free shoplifting sprees etc ? For me, I look forward to the resurrection of the Pinkertons to protect property rights .. Until the legislatures grow a pair and go back to locking up criminals and stop vilifying police and other law enforcement, law abiding people and business owners need to enact any form of property protection. Those states and others have re-enacted the Wild Wild West, and soon the streets will have more bad guys lying on their backs dead in the street. If a carrot doesnt work, you have to use the stick ..

With my cable service, the only testimony that I could watch was her testimony. I have since read several articles about other testimony. One question that her attorney asked her surprised me as to why it was asked. Having served on several juries, I know that all questions are asked for a reason and the witnesses are coached as to how to answer the question and also how to act. The question was in regard to her, as a training officer, not correcting what a rookie does incorrectly in front of a civilian. I can understand doing this unless it created an unsafe situation. This caused me to wonder if the rookie did something wrong, that caused an unsafe condition, that she did not correct? I talked to a couple of former POs that I know who confirmed my suspicion that she could have stopped the situation if she corrected his mistakes. First, the person exited the car and left the keys in the ignition with the car running. These are two violations of standard procedure. He was standing next to the open car door which are two more violations of procedure. If she had corrected any of these items, the shooting would not have occurred. I believe that if she had not been convicted, many police shootings would be blamed on mistaking their gun for a taser. Which brings up another point. She had just finished her annual taser training the previous month. During that training, she was taught that you do not use a taser on a fleeing person or a person behind the wheel of a vehicle that has the engine running. She was also reminded that to remove a gun from her holster, she must push it forward to be able to remove it. To remove her taser, which is on the other side of her gun belt, she must press a button and push the taser toward the rear to be able to remove it. I am not inferring that this happened in this incident, but a dirty PO, who wanted to shoot a no-good crook, would well taser, taser, taser so that their fellow POs would more away so they would not be shot.

tragic accidents
 

There are hundreds being killed every day in this country due to an accident caused by someone else, be it on a highway, at a job site or at home. Most get very little coverage
outside their local area and as it is an accident, it is no big deal for the press.

What's a "teaser"?

Kyle Rittenhouse beat up a girl and was seen giving the white power hand signal while standing in a photo at a proud boys white supremacy function. Jury never got that information either.

The female cop didn’t know of Mr Wright’s rap sheet when he was shot. He was pulled over for having an air freshener hanging from his mirror.

The laws never seem in pursuit of the truth. Information is always being blocked.

Same thing going on with the Jan 6th insurrection. . Lawsuit after lawsuit trying to block the truth from being exposed to the public. Of course you won’t hear about it on conservative cable “news”.

QUOTE=manaboutown;2042440]Her convictions are totally unwarranted. I wonder how many jurors felt fearful of riots and/or were contacted by criminals who threatened them, their families and/or their property.

This should get corrected on appeal.

Wrong Charges Filed Against Kimberly Potter for Duante Wright Death

Anybody get a good look at the horrific criminal record of the vicious felon she mistakenly shot with her gun instead of her taser in the heat of the moment?

"The previously undisclosed 2017 felony petition, obtained by Fox News Digital, alleges that Wright broke into a home before the homeowner, who was in the basement, emerged upstairs and chased him out.

A 38-year-old man identified only as J.M. told police he recognized Wright as a "former acquaintance of his son" when the doorbell rang on Jan. 30, 2017.

"J.M. stated that he did not want to respond to the doorbell and ignored [Wright]," the petition states.

Then Wright walked behind the house and knocked at the back door, according to the court document. When no one answered, he allegedly took down the screen on the bathroom window and crawled inside. At that point, J.M. chased him out.

It’s unclear how the juvenile case was resolved. A spokeswoman for Ben Crump, the attorney representing Wright’s family, did not immediately respond to a request for comment."

"Wright also had armed robbery charges pending at the time of his death. And a pair of lawsuits filed after his death accuse him of shooting a teen in the head and taking part in a carjacking in which an accomplice allegedly shot a young man through the leg.

In the robbery case, Wright allegedly closed one hand around a 20-year-old woman’s throat, choking her, while shoving a gun barrel in her face and demanding cash she had hidden in her bra."

From: Kim Potter trial: Daunte Wright, repeat offender killed by ex-cop, appears in yet another felony complaint | Fox News


It will become increasingly difficult to find good folks agreeable to take on careers in law enforcement if such travesties continue.[/QUOTE]

To say you "wonder" how many jurors were intimidated when there has been no hint of that happening is reprehensible.

Yes, the victim was no great loss to society. But Potter knew nothing g of this "previously undisclosed felony," and even if she did, it was irrelevant. Police officers are neither judges nor juries. It's their job to apprehend, not to sentence nor carry out that sentence. Further, the issue here was whether a veteran officer who even trained others could have confused a gun with a yellow-handled taser on her opposite hip. I don't know if I would have voted to convict, because I didn't watch all of the trial. I do know I would not want her on the police force in my town.

Monday morning quarterbacks are pathetic. Cops need to make ONE_SECOND decisions sometimes. How many of us have to make one-second decisions that can have life and death results? Way less than 1%.
Police and military folks run TO the risk while the rest of us run AWAY from trouble.
We need to give police and the military the benefit of the doubt!

All who have an opinion about this case should read this biography of this criminal and the mayhem & torture he inflicted on others. Give Kim a raise.

You DID read the comment to which my quoted reply was directed, right?

Incorrect...

You forgot the part about the expired tags...

There was an anti-police journalist who was invited to take part in a "shoot/don't shoot" training exercise.

He failed miserably and it left him with a newfound appreciation of the difficult decisions cops make every day...

Activist critical of police undergoes use of force scenarios | FOX 10 News - YouTube


Shoot or don’t shoot? Reporters try new use of force training at Boynton Beach Police Department - YouTube

I personally knew Officer Potter. I was a dispatcher for the Hennepin County Sheriffs Office for 23 years of my 36 year career as a dispatcher. We dispatched for the city that Officer Potter worked for. She was a fine upstanding officer. She made a fatal error that day. Police officers are humans, not robots. Just like a doctor is a human and not a machine. If the doctor accidentally kills someone, she/he is not charged for manslaughter, but simply goes on living their life. If Mr. Wright would have complied, he would be here today living his life.

Obviously this was not an easy decision for the jury, but I do believe other incidents that have been happening influenced their verdict. I believe they were afraid of what would happen to the twin cities and the country if they did not find her guilty.

This was a very sad day for Law Enforcement. No one will want the job of a police officer again. It is a hard job and if you have no backing who will choose to work in that field. We will end up being policed by the military. Won’t that be interesting for career criminals.

Like I said earlier, I was a dispatcher for 36 years. Years ago for every police officer position that was open 100’s of candidates would apply. Six years ago, when I retired, they were lucky if they could get a handful of men and women to apply for the job and to try to find a good one from a handful was not always easy. When something like this happens to one of the good ones, why would anyone choose this profession. I would bet you would steer your son/daughter, grandson/granddaughter into another profession these days. Just ponder what our country will be like down the road when no one goes into the law enforcement field. I, for one, hope I am no longer alive when it comes to that.

Oh please. Like that hasn't been what happens forever.