And neither do most of you. There is no offense of "conduct unbecoming a police officer." There IS a Uniform Code of Military Justice article of "Conduct Unbecoming an Officer," but that is an entirely different code of laws. Stop watching TV and start researching the law if you're going to spout off about something so blatantly obvious to those who basic knowledge.

I watched the video and cannot see how any of you are so pissed off at what happened. It's a grainy film of something that happened at night, and you can't even see the suspects. I'd be the first one to call for the police officer's badge and see him sent to prison if his actions were clear. His actions and the actions of the suspects were not clear. We should reserve judgment on this until all of the facts become clear in a court of law.

And seriously, are we "real close to a reckoning in this country?" That's the most absurd statement I've read on this entire forum. Do you seriously want to know what happens when there are no police officers to protect you? Obviously you don't know what police do every single day that directly benefits the good citizens of this country. Give me a break.

I think that you've missed the point of most of these posts. I don't think that anyone is responding based on what they've seen. They are basing their accusations on what they've heard. Based on what I can hear on the tape, the command to get up is pretty clear as is the response from the victim.

As for things that "become clear in a court of law", please let me know when facts have ever clear in a case like this. The judicial system is not about truth and facts, it is about presenting your version of the truth and facts in such a way that the jury of the people who couldn't get out of the duty to make an (un)educated guess. Having been involved in several court proceedings of various types (albeit in civil court), the truth rarely, if ever, makes an appearance. Any good attorney is going to spin the facts in their direction to make their arguement seem like the most logical and sensible to the folks in the jury box. Just ask your favorite lawyer or cop for proof.

This country has been "due" for a serious reckoning for the past 141 years if you listen to the right people. The reason changes from time to time - race, religion, politics - but anyone who's ignorant enough to think that the vox populi of America is really going to rise up against itself anytime soon needs to screw their tinfoil hat on a little tighter. Civil wars and rebellions don't happen in times of prosperity in any society without outside influence, and when the Cletus and Britney of Newport, TN (as opposed to the Cletus and Britney of Malibu) can go down to their local Sears and pick up a flat screen TV for $100, they're not going to be able to forment rebellion.

The only way to know the exact truth is to have been there. Since I wasn't there, I'm reserving judgment until it gets sorted out in a court of law. It's a good thing that lawyers battle these cases out. The half-truths and accusations on this board make me glad that we have some system of adjudicating matters without mob rule.

Yeah, the Chino resident who recorded the shooting, Jose Luis Valdes, was arrested by Pomona police Friday on an outstanding warrant from Dade County, Fla., for aggravated assault.

KTLA link

There are several people quoted who praise Webb, also. In addition, the video had been edited into something quite different from what I saw originally.

A few more scraps...

Link

Webb's father says he has "never been in trouble a day in his life."

At the risk of jacking my own thread, I feel compelled to add this. It reinforces my opinion that most police forces don't do enough to clean up their own ranks.

Link

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y25...35_320X240.jpg

I would like to see the video of this "cop" taking it up the ass while he is in prison.

here in houston, i used to wait tables some years back with a guy who used to be a cop. it was not long after the incident where two houston cops anally raped a black man with a billyclub while several others watched and didn't do anything to stop it. the guy i worked with was one of the cops who watched but didn't do anything. he got a lawyer and paid some high $$$$ dollars and after several months and court battles was eventually allowed to return to duty...

as henry rollins said - "the only good cops are the ones pushing up daisies...."

fucked up shit happens all the time. it's mostly whether or not you choose to "see" it.

-Mav

Let's say (devil's advocate a little), that he DID say "DON'T get up". Just for fun now, hear me out.

Now the kid says,"Ok I'm getting up now".

What is your first reaction when you tell someone NOT to do something and they start doing it? (slowly I might add)

You say "NO, I said DON'T do that".

Those argueing for this position might also note he shot him THREE TIMES at point blank range. Not once, not twice, THREE TIMES. I don't know what crack you have to be on to miss a lethal shot even once, but what in the world would make you shoot three goddamn times?

My guess?

1) He didn't know he was being taped (this is almost a given)

2) He had a grudge against the military or had some pent up anger towards a certain type of people (colored people, people who drive fast, people who wear certain "gang" colors)

3) (MOST IMPORTANT) He fired three times because if he killed him, he thought he could make up any bullshit story he wanted to about him looking like he was drawing a gun, or perhaps "coming at him"

Maveric is also right in the fact a lot of stuff happens that shouldn't in the military, police, pretty much every government faction because the good people are far and few between, and the corruption either kills them, or suppresses their ability to do whats right.

I'm with that other poster above...revolution.

Yea because no innocent people die in revolutions, and everything is always all better afterwords.

lol, yeah because he knew the guy was in the military
:rolleyes:

FYI, training would "make you shoot three goddamn times" and US police officers are not trained to shoot to wound/incapcitate.

I think it's more sickening that this cop is gonna go to jail for eliminating a loser from the streets anyway.

Why was the douche going 100mph? He did something that would cause that nobody with nothing to hide would do that.

You've never had to hold a gun to a man who just ran at 100mph from you, this guy is willing to risk his life going that fast, just to get away.... What else is he going to do to get away? Killing you probably is an option.

did you read the article...?
the guy who got shot was the passenger in the car, not the driver...and he didnt have a gun.

doesnt matter, he still was in a car that was trying to outrun him at high speeds, What are the chances that both guys are involved in whatever they are running to hide?

Are they low enough chances you're willing to risk your life on?

and how exactly would you know if he had a hidden gun or not? or a knife? or a razor hidden in his mouth?

so what are you saying? that all people involved in running from the police, driver AND passengers should be shot? I guess that means that the idiot father who tries to flee the police with his wife and children in the car should start saying goodbye to his 3 year old?

If there was ANY question about the cop thinking his life could be in danger, he should have WAITED for backup before giving instructions other than 'stay down' and 'keep your hands where i can see them.

see above, and a razor in his mouth? now you're just reaching.

Deputy to Be Charged With Shooting Airman
 

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,187089,00.html

Now, if that were any of us normal joes, we'd be in jail with a 6 figure bond. :crazy:

Nice to know there will be a trial.

I never saw an answer as to why Webb was so close to the guy, either.

Here's an update: http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/03/10/air....ap/index.html

A couple of notable clarifications on points raised in the earlier discussion:

The shootee/victim was not charged with any crimes
The shooter/policeman is being charged with attempted voluntary manslaughter
The victim is confirmed to not be the driver of the car

Another update
 

Deputy changes story after seeing videotape of shooting

Pretty typical fallback when caught redhanded.

Whenever I see this type of report....I try to consider what a Cop must go through when he is forced to act in the split second process of enforcement. And to understand how flawed we humans are. Truth be told, I cant say I wouldnt have shot someone in the same situation so its a tough call to criticize the officer.
Simply by running from police, and forcing a pursuit, anyone in that vehicle must be considered dangerous, and thus more likely to be the object of deadly force when confronted. As for the story change....seems a pretty cut and dry Lie.

Normally I would say, Cut the officer a break. BUT having seen the video, there were so many bad choices that the officer made that put him into a dangerous position in the first place. So many jumpy problems. No reason to talk the way he did to the PASSENGER. I hope that the investigation is done impartially.

I am curious as to why the driver was running, what the passenger was doing in the meantime and what his place was in the situation, and where the other officers were (it said he'd JOINED in the pursuit- so there were other cars already in pursuit), and What made the officer so jumpy. Sooo many questions, so many mistakes. Even if the passenger deserved to get shot I'd like to hope the officer is not allowed to stay on the force.

In an unprecedented development, I agree with the last three posters.

I think the changed story will be his undoing. Oh yeah, if memory serves, the driver was on probation, or didn't have a license.

This all makes me wonder how often this happens when there is no one around to video tape it.

The changed story... of course, after seeing the video.

That's what makes me angry as well. I've been told by some in a position to know that judges in less publicized cases know full well that a cop is lying, but they side with the cop anyway.

I don't mean to sound like I hate cops. I just want a better system for getting rid of the bad ones.

A very similar incident happened in Alexandria, VA. A teenage BACKSEAT PASSENGER was killed because an OFF DUTY cop, working security for a Pancake House shot at a jeep because a waitress said they didn't pay their bill.

The cop said the vehicle was charging him, yet all the shots were in the side and back of the jeep.

Then come to find out that the kids may have left the money on the table, oh, we're not sure about that because nobody is saying.

Turns out the passenger was one of the most loved students, academically excellent, already accepted to a college...