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2014-08-29 8:27 AM

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Subject: Officer will not be charged in killing

While I of course have a problem with a law enforcement official essentially getting away with murder, unfortunately this is nothing new when it comes to cyclists being struck and killed and the motorist not being held accountable.

It is sad. Terribly, terribly sad. Accidents against cyclists are still not treated equally.

http://www.businessinsider.com/police-officer-will-not-be-charged-in-killing-of-napster-executive-2014-8 



Edited by crowny2 2014-08-29 8:27 AM


2014-08-29 8:41 AM
in reply to: crowny2

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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing
Originally posted by crowny2

While I of course have a problem with a law enforcement official essentially getting away with murder, unfortunately this is nothing new when it comes to cyclists being struck and killed and the motorist not being held accountable.

It is sad. Terribly, terribly sad. Accidents against cyclists are still not treated equally.

http://www.businessinsider.com/police-officer-will-not-be-charged-in-killing-of-napster-executive-2014-8 




I understand your frustration and certainly, nobody really wins in a situation like this but I think its important to understand that this case was not "Murder" like you think it is the cop got away with. While tragic, murder in terms means it was intentional or pre-meditated and neither of which is true in this case. I am sure that the Officer feels horrible and will have to live with this moment every day for the rest of his life which I am sure will not be easy. Of course, I am sure there will be civil litigation and internal investigations and sanctions that will come out of this whole thing but its tragic for everyone involved.
2014-08-29 8:59 AM
in reply to: crowny2

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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing

Originally posted by crowny2

While I of course have a problem with a law enforcement official essentially getting away with murder, unfortunately this is nothing new when it comes to cyclists being struck and killed and the motorist not being held accountable.

It is sad. Terribly, terribly sad. Accidents against cyclists are still not treated equally.

http://www.businessinsider.com/police-officer-will-not-be-charged-in-killing-of-napster-executive-2014-8 

 

As I first read your post, I thought  here is another thread bashing the police and blaming them for XXX. Then I read the article. I agree this cop got away with killing this man. The DA said  (paraphrase) that the cop acted lawfully because he is supposed to respond quickly to police matters.  I work with cops daily in my work and I have never heard of them using text messages for emergencies. The cop had the opportunity to pull over and reply to the text in just as a timely manner as he did driving.

Normally, I am pro LE, but this time I think he messed up and should be held accountable. It may not be murder, but manslaughter or something to the effect seems like it would justified.

2014-08-29 9:05 AM
in reply to: dmbfan4life20

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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing

Originally posted by dmbfan4life20
Originally posted by crowny2

While I of course have a problem with a law enforcement official essentially getting away with murder, unfortunately this is nothing new when it comes to cyclists being struck and killed and the motorist not being held accountable.

It is sad. Terribly, terribly sad. Accidents against cyclists are still not treated equally.

http://www.businessinsider.com/police-officer-will-not-be-charged-in-killing-of-napster-executive-2014-8 

I understand your frustration and certainly, nobody really wins in a situation like this but I think its important to understand that this case was not "Murder" like you think it is the cop got away with. While tragic, murder in terms means it was intentional or pre-meditated and neither of which is true in this case. I am sure that the Officer feels horrible and will have to live with this moment every day for the rest of his life which I am sure will not be easy. Of course, I am sure there will be civil litigation and internal investigations and sanctions that will come out of this whole thing but its tragic for everyone involved.

I was using the phrase "getting away with murder" not in the literal sense but figurative sense.  Yes, I know it was not murder.  I also know that legally he did not break any law because they are exempt from the texting law.  Which I think is a mistake.  

However, something that I don't think was in that article, but was in other reports was that the officer filed a false report.  He claimed that the cyclist moved out of the bike lane.  After investigation that is patently false.  That is a lie.  And at a minimum he should be charged with filling a false report.  

2014-08-29 9:58 AM
in reply to: crowny2

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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing
Originally posted by crowny2

Originally posted by dmbfan4life20
Originally posted by crowny2

While I of course have a problem with a law enforcement official essentially getting away with murder, unfortunately this is nothing new when it comes to cyclists being struck and killed and the motorist not being held accountable.

It is sad. Terribly, terribly sad. Accidents against cyclists are still not treated equally.

http://www.businessinsider.com/police-officer-will-not-be-charged-in-killing-of-napster-executive-2014-8 

I understand your frustration and certainly, nobody really wins in a situation like this but I think its important to understand that this case was not "Murder" like you think it is the cop got away with. While tragic, murder in terms means it was intentional or pre-meditated and neither of which is true in this case. I am sure that the Officer feels horrible and will have to live with this moment every day for the rest of his life which I am sure will not be easy. Of course, I am sure there will be civil litigation and internal investigations and sanctions that will come out of this whole thing but its tragic for everyone involved.

I was using the phrase "getting away with murder" not in the literal sense but figurative sense.  Yes, I know it was not murder.  I also know that legally he did not break any law because they are exempt from the texting law.  Which I think is a mistake.  

However, something that I don't think was in that article, but was in other reports was that the officer filed a false report.  He claimed that the cyclist moved out of the bike lane.  After investigation that is patently false.  That is a lie.  And at a minimum he should be charged with filling a false report.  




The article does not say he "Texted" on his cell phone, it says he was responding to a message on his MDT which is the in car computer. I know that its a small difference but it is a difference when it comes to interpretation of the law regarding whether he was legally allowed to do it or not.

As for the statement he made about the biker coming into his lane, if he gave that official statement and forensics and the investigation prove otherwise (wintesses, in car camera, etc), then yes he will be held accountable for that by the department on an internal investigation. Even though he was found not criminally responsible by the States Attorney, the department can find him in violation and he could be subject to internal sanctions and even be fired depending on what there SOP says, etc. If he lied and lied under oath, chances are he will be fired.

This is a very tragic event. I hate seeing cyclist, runners, etc being injured or killed when they are on the roadway where we designate it safe for them to be. I think it is easy for all of us to monday morning quarterback the situation with the officer and how he handled responding to the message but we were not there and we do not know all the circumstances surrounding the situation. We do not know what their policies are for responding to messages on the MDT. Again, this sucks for all involved and it is so very tragic, nobody wins in a situation like this and many peoples lives are altered forever.
2014-08-29 1:27 PM
in reply to: crowny2

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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing

I wonder what the outrage would be and the media attention would be if instead of it being an old white guy getting killed by a police officer it was a young black child who was about to go to college?

The cop made a mistake, the cyclists and his family are the only one's paying the price and burdened with the results of the poor judgement of this officer actions.  



2014-08-29 2:11 PM
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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing
Originally posted by crusevegas

I wonder what the outrage would be and the media attention would be if instead of it being an old white guy getting killed by a police officer it was a young black child who was about to go to college?

The cop made a mistake, the cyclists and his family are the only one's paying the price and burdened with the results of the poor judgement of this officer actions.  




I think you are right in saying the cop made a mistake. After all, the cop is human, we all make mistakes. I think its wrong to assume the cyclist and his family are the only ones paying the price and being burdened with the results. Do you know the Officer? Do you know how he feels? Have you ever killed anyone before? I am sure the Officer is under a tremendous amount of grief, stress, regret and full of other emotions. He will have to live with this incident for the rest of his life and so will his family. All the attention, scrutiny and emotional baggage that comes with it. Just because he is a cop does not mean he is a cyborg, he is human and has feelings too and wears that badge 8hrs a day just like other people wear suits and ties to work. To think that because he has a badge and a gun he wont be paying the price for this incident is flat out wrong. I bet not a day will go by for the rest of his life where he won't think about this incident and I for sure would never want to carry around that burden.
2014-08-29 2:17 PM
in reply to: dmbfan4life20

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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing

Originally posted by dmbfan4life20
Originally posted by crusevegas

I wonder what the outrage would be and the media attention would be if instead of it being an old white guy getting killed by a police officer it was a young black child who was about to go to college?

The cop made a mistake, the cyclists and his family are the only one's paying the price and burdened with the results of the poor judgement of this officer actions.  

I think you are right in saying the cop made a mistake. After all, the cop is human, we all make mistakes. I think its wrong to assume the cyclist and his family are the only ones paying the price and being burdened with the results. Do you know the Officer? Do you know how he feels? Have you ever killed anyone before? I am sure the Officer is under a tremendous amount of grief, stress, regret and full of other emotions. He will have to live with this incident for the rest of his life and so will his family. All the attention, scrutiny and emotional baggage that comes with it. Just because he is a cop does not mean he is a cyborg, he is human and has feelings too and wears that badge 8hrs a day just like other people wear suits and ties to work. To think that because he has a badge and a gun he wont be paying the price for this incident is flat out wrong. I bet not a day will go by for the rest of his life where he won't think about this incident and I for sure would never want to carry around that burden.

 

regardless, I feel he should be charged. Just cause he feels bad doesn't mean he should get away with it.

2014-08-29 2:23 PM
in reply to: jford2309

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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing
Originally posted by jford2309

Originally posted by dmbfan4life20
Originally posted by crusevegas

I wonder what the outrage would be and the media attention would be if instead of it being an old white guy getting killed by a police officer it was a young black child who was about to go to college?

The cop made a mistake, the cyclists and his family are the only one's paying the price and burdened with the results of the poor judgement of this officer actions.  

I think you are right in saying the cop made a mistake. After all, the cop is human, we all make mistakes. I think its wrong to assume the cyclist and his family are the only ones paying the price and being burdened with the results. Do you know the Officer? Do you know how he feels? Have you ever killed anyone before? I am sure the Officer is under a tremendous amount of grief, stress, regret and full of other emotions. He will have to live with this incident for the rest of his life and so will his family. All the attention, scrutiny and emotional baggage that comes with it. Just because he is a cop does not mean he is a cyborg, he is human and has feelings too and wears that badge 8hrs a day just like other people wear suits and ties to work. To think that because he has a badge and a gun he wont be paying the price for this incident is flat out wrong. I bet not a day will go by for the rest of his life where he won't think about this incident and I for sure would never want to carry around that burden.

 

regardless, I feel he should be charged. Just cause he feels bad doesn't mean he should get away with it.




I understand completely. Its hard for public perception because the case was reviewed by the States Attorney and they decided not to charge him due to the evidence and the way the law is written.
2014-08-29 2:51 PM
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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing
I have a problem with the exemption.
2014-08-29 2:57 PM
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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing
Most people do but this is the way the job has changed. 20 years ago, all you had was a radio, a pen and piece of paper. Now everything is done on computers.


2014-08-31 10:59 AM
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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing
Originally posted by crowny2I have a problem with the exemption.
Then contact your lawmakers.....to the officers it has nothing to do with being "exempt" as their departments REQUIRE them to communicate many transmissions via in-car computer. As far as I'm concerned it's the worst thing that's happened to policing in my 30 years. Police officers with their heads looking down instead of watching their beat......a frigging joke!
2014-08-31 5:06 PM
in reply to: Left Brain

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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing
Originally posted by Left Brain

Originally posted by crowny2I have a problem with the exemption.
Then contact your lawmakers.....to the officers it has nothing to do with being "exempt" as their departments REQUIRE them to communicate many transmissions via in-car computer. As far as I'm concerned it's the worst thing that's happened to policing in my 30 years. Police officers with their heads looking down instead of watching their beat......a frigging joke!


2014-09-02 10:23 AM
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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing

Originally posted by Left Brain
Originally posted by crowny2I have a problem with the exemption.
Then contact your lawmakers.....to the officers it has nothing to do with being "exempt" as their departments REQUIRE them to communicate many transmissions via in-car computer. As far as I'm concerned it's the worst thing that's happened to policing in my 30 years. Police officers with their heads looking down instead of watching their beat......a frigging joke!

 

Those computers are awesome! I can't tell you how many times I have rolled by the Sheriff or city cops around here, they almost always have their heads buried in that computer or yaking on the cell phone. I used to get pulled over frequently for no front license plate on one of my cars, now they don't even notice!

2014-09-02 10:37 AM
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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing

Originally posted by Aarondb4

Originally posted by Left Brain
Originally posted by crowny2I have a problem with the exemption.
Then contact your lawmakers.....to the officers it has nothing to do with being "exempt" as their departments REQUIRE them to communicate many transmissions via in-car computer. As far as I'm concerned it's the worst thing that's happened to policing in my 30 years. Police officers with their heads looking down instead of watching their beat......a frigging joke!

 

Those computers are awesome! I can't tell you how many times I have rolled by the Sheriff or city cops around here, they almost always have their heads buried in that computer or yaking on the cell phone. I used to get pulled over frequently for no front license plate on one of my cars, now they don't even notice!

Unfortunately, you're right on the mark.  Don't even get me started about officers doing their reports on the on-board computers so that they have to back up into some secluded spot (great patrolling idea, huh?) so they don't get shot while having their heads buried in their computer. (yes, it happened here)  If I were king for a day I'd take a flamethrower to every in-car system.

2014-09-02 4:11 PM
in reply to: Left Brain

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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing
Originally posted by Left Brain

Originally posted by Aarondb4

Originally posted by Left Brain
Originally posted by crowny2I have a problem with the exemption.
Then contact your lawmakers.....to the officers it has nothing to do with being "exempt" as their departments REQUIRE them to communicate many transmissions via in-car computer. As far as I'm concerned it's the worst thing that's happened to policing in my 30 years. Police officers with their heads looking down instead of watching their beat......a frigging joke!

 

Those computers are awesome! I can't tell you how many times I have rolled by the Sheriff or city cops around here, they almost always have their heads buried in that computer or yaking on the cell phone. I used to get pulled over frequently for no front license plate on one of my cars, now they don't even notice!

Unfortunately, you're right on the mark.  Don't even get me started about officers doing their reports on the on-board computers so that they have to back up into some secluded spot (great patrolling idea, huh?) so they don't get shot while having their heads buried in their computer. (yes, it happened here)  If I were king for a day I'd take a flamethrower to every in-car system.




LB you are right on the mark for Officer Safety.


2014-09-02 6:07 PM
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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing

Originally posted by dmbfan4life20
Originally posted by Left Brain

Originally posted by Aarondb4

Originally posted by Left Brain
Originally posted by crowny2I have a problem with the exemption.
Then contact your lawmakers.....to the officers it has nothing to do with being "exempt" as their departments REQUIRE them to communicate many transmissions via in-car computer. As far as I'm concerned it's the worst thing that's happened to policing in my 30 years. Police officers with their heads looking down instead of watching their beat......a frigging joke!

 

Those computers are awesome! I can't tell you how many times I have rolled by the Sheriff or city cops around here, they almost always have their heads buried in that computer or yaking on the cell phone. I used to get pulled over frequently for no front license plate on one of my cars, now they don't even notice!

Unfortunately, you're right on the mark.  Don't even get me started about officers doing their reports on the on-board computers so that they have to back up into some secluded spot (great patrolling idea, huh?) so they don't get shot while having their heads buried in their computer. (yes, it happened here)  If I were king for a day I'd take a flamethrower to every in-car system.

LB you are right on the mark for Officer Safety.

I fought on-board computers until I was just overwhelmed by younger and more "progressive" ideas and supervisors.  Hell, most of the new officers don't even know how to talk to people......they ride around with their windows rolled up, faces buried into their computers, running endless numbers of license plates and drivers associated with those plates.  Most of them couldn't discover an on view crime if it ran over them. (and unfortunately, because of the inattention it sometimes does)  I'll never get it......I became a cop so I could deal with people every day, not alienate myself from them. /rant



Edited by Left Brain 2014-09-02 6:27 PM
2014-09-02 7:26 PM
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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing
Interesting read. Just the other day I was following a cop in a 45mph zone and he was easily doing 55. I kept up just because I don't subscribe to the do as I say not as I do concept. Anyway, the guy was swerving like a drunkard and you could see clear as day that he had his eyes were on his computer. I remember thinking how messed up it is that police officers depend in a driving distraction to do their jobs. It blows my mind that those that enforce the law are required to be distracted but citizens gets tickets for being distracted. This article just reinforces that messed up feeling I got.

Interestingly enough, I think the corporate world has it right on this....get caught on the phone when driving. ..get fired.
2014-09-02 7:37 PM
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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing

Originally posted by antlimon166 Interesting read. Just the other day I was following a cop in a 45mph zone and he was easily doing 55. I kept up just because I don't subscribe to the do as I say not as I do concept. Anyway, the guy was swerving like a drunkard and you could see clear as day that he had his eyes were on his computer. I remember thinking how messed up it is that police officers depend in a driving distraction to do their jobs. It blows my mind that those that enforce the law are required to be distracted but citizens gets tickets for being distracted. This article just reinforces that messed up feeling I got. Interestingly enough, I think the corporate world has it right on this....get caught on the phone when driving. ..get fired.

It's entirely possible that he was on his way to a call (speeding somewhat) and communicating to other officers/dispatch over his on-board computer.  Don't ask me why that is a good idea, I think it's ridiculous, but it's becoming the norm in policing.

2014-09-03 10:40 AM
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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing

Sorry, this is more than a tragic mistake.  If you or I were texting while driving (I know it was on the MDC = functional equivalent of texting = taking your eyes off the road to write) we would be in jail for negligent homicide.  I'll leave the texts out but he was also in fact texting his wife in the 4-5 minutes prior to killing Mr. Olin.  There is NO reason that the officer could not have pulled over to respond on the MDC. 

So, as long as an officer of the law is doing it "within the course of his job," he is free to run over whomever he comes upon while writing on the MDC?  And it's just a tragic mistake with no legal consequence.

That does not sit well with me.  I have personally signed the petition to the DA to file formal charges.  Not sure it'll go anywhere.  Probably not.  But it's the right thing.

ETA - here is the DA's report

DA report on Olin

https://pvcycling.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/declining_prosecution.pdf

 

 



Edited by ChrisM 2014-09-03 10:48 AM
2014-09-03 11:24 AM
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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing

Originally posted by ChrisM

Sorry, this is more than a tragic mistake.  If you or I were texting while driving (I know it was on the MDC = functional equivalent of texting = taking your eyes off the road to write) we would be in jail for negligent homicide.  I'll leave the texts out but he was also in fact texting his wife in the 4-5 minutes prior to killing Mr. Olin.  There is NO reason that the officer could not have pulled over to respond on the MDC. 

So, as long as an officer of the law is doing it "within the course of his job," he is free to run over whomever he comes upon while writing on the MDC?  And it's just a tragic mistake with no legal consequence.

That does not sit well with me.  I have personally signed the petition to the DA to file formal charges.  Not sure it'll go anywhere.  Probably not.  But it's the right thing.

ETA - here is the DA's report

DA report on Olin

https://pvcycling.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/declining_prosecution.pdf

 

That's how you get the law changed.....and I hope you do.  Until then, this will happen from time to time.  I would urge a petition to do away with the MDC's altogether.   Good luck with that.



2014-09-03 12:08 PM
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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing
Originally posted by ChrisM

Sorry, this is more than a tragic mistake.  If you or I were texting while driving (I know it was on the MDC = functional equivalent of texting = taking your eyes off the road to write) we would be in jail for negligent homicide.  I'll leave the texts out but he was also in fact texting his wife in the 4-5 minutes prior to killing Mr. Olin.  There is NO reason that the officer could not have pulled over to respond on the MDC. 

So, as long as an officer of the law is doing it "within the course of his job," he is free to run over whomever he comes upon while writing on the MDC?  And it's just a tragic mistake with no legal consequence.

That does not sit well with me.  I have personally signed the petition to the DA to file formal charges.  Not sure it'll go anywhere.  Probably not.  But it's the right thing.

ETA - here is the DA's report

DA report on Olin

https://pvcycling.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/declining_prosecution.pdf

 

 




Just curious, do you know how many people have signed the petition??
2014-09-03 1:12 PM
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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing
Originally posted by dmbfan4life20

Originally posted by crusevegas

I wonder what the outrage would be and the media attention would be if instead of it being an old white guy getting killed by a police officer it was a young black child who was about to go to college?

The cop made a mistake, the cyclists and his family are the only one's paying the price and burdened with the results of the poor judgement of this officer actions.  




I think you are right in saying the cop made a mistake. After all, the cop is human, we all make mistakes. I think its wrong to assume the cyclist and his family are the only ones paying the price and being burdened with the results. Do you know the Officer? Do you know how he feels? Have you ever killed anyone before? I am sure the Officer is under a tremendous amount of grief, stress, regret and full of other emotions. He will have to live with this incident for the rest of his life and so will his family. All the attention, scrutiny and emotional baggage that comes with it. Just because he is a cop does not mean he is a cyborg, he is human and has feelings too and wears that badge 8hrs a day just like other people wear suits and ties to work. To think that because he has a badge and a gun he wont be paying the price for this incident is flat out wrong. I bet not a day will go by for the rest of his life where he won't think about this incident and I for sure would never want to carry around that burden.


I hate this argument, and you hear it all the time whenever a driver runs over a cyclist and escapes punishment, whether they're LE or not. Whatever remorse, stress, or whatever other burden the officer is feeling, it's nothing compared to what the family is going through and will continue to go through for the rest of their lives. That he feels remorse that his irresponsible action killed someone just means that he's not a soulless zombie. It should not exempt him from being punished for it.

This isn't a case where a cop who feared for his life accidentally shot a kid with a toy gun in a split-second decision. This is a guy who did something that common sense says is a stupid idea--namely not looking where you're going while you're driving and killed someone. That he feels sorry for his actions is nice, but I doubt it's much of a comfort to the family of the innocent person he killed.

Edited by jmk-brooklyn 2014-09-03 1:16 PM
2014-09-03 1:31 PM
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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing

Originally posted by jmk-brooklyn
Originally posted by dmbfan4life20
Originally posted by crusevegas

I wonder what the outrage would be and the media attention would be if instead of it being an old white guy getting killed by a police officer it was a young black child who was about to go to college?

The cop made a mistake, the cyclists and his family are the only one's paying the price and burdened with the results of the poor judgement of this officer actions.  

I think you are right in saying the cop made a mistake. After all, the cop is human, we all make mistakes. I think its wrong to assume the cyclist and his family are the only ones paying the price and being burdened with the results. Do you know the Officer? Do you know how he feels? Have you ever killed anyone before? I am sure the Officer is under a tremendous amount of grief, stress, regret and full of other emotions. He will have to live with this incident for the rest of his life and so will his family. All the attention, scrutiny and emotional baggage that comes with it. Just because he is a cop does not mean he is a cyborg, he is human and has feelings too and wears that badge 8hrs a day just like other people wear suits and ties to work. To think that because he has a badge and a gun he wont be paying the price for this incident is flat out wrong. I bet not a day will go by for the rest of his life where he won't think about this incident and I for sure would never want to carry around that burden.
I hate this argument, and you hear it all the time whenever a driver runs over a cyclist and escapes punishment, whether they're LE or not. Whatever remorse, stress, or whatever other burden the officer is feeling, it's nothing compared to what the family is going through and will continue to go through for the rest of their lives. That he feels remorse that his irresponsible action killed someone just means that he's not a soulless zombie. It should not exempt him from being punished for it. This isn't a case where a cop who feared for his life accidentally shot a kid with a toy gun in a split-second decision. This is a guy who did something that common sense says is a stupid idea--namely not looking where you're going while you're driving and killed someone. That he feels sorry for his actions is nice, but I doubt it's much of a comfort to the family of the innocent person he killed.

Courts are historically easy on people who kill other people with no intention to do so.  I get your point, but I'm on the side of the courts in these cases.....I don't care if it's LE or not either. I don't think prison is needed for those who kill accidently, or with no criminal intent.

Even if the Officer in this case is charged, it is MOST unlikely that he would ever see the inside of a jail cell, and that has nothing to do with him being a Police Officer.

You might as well get used to the idea, because it's not going to change any time soon. 

2014-09-03 3:10 PM
in reply to: Left Brain

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Subject: RE: Officer will not be charged in killing
Originally posted by Left Brain

Originally posted by jmk-brooklyn
Originally posted by dmbfan4life20
Originally posted by crusevegas

I wonder what the outrage would be and the media attention would be if instead of it being an old white guy getting killed by a police officer it was a young black child who was about to go to college?

The cop made a mistake, the cyclists and his family are the only one's paying the price and burdened with the results of the poor judgement of this officer actions.  

I think you are right in saying the cop made a mistake. After all, the cop is human, we all make mistakes. I think its wrong to assume the cyclist and his family are the only ones paying the price and being burdened with the results. Do you know the Officer? Do you know how he feels? Have you ever killed anyone before? I am sure the Officer is under a tremendous amount of grief, stress, regret and full of other emotions. He will have to live with this incident for the rest of his life and so will his family. All the attention, scrutiny and emotional baggage that comes with it. Just because he is a cop does not mean he is a cyborg, he is human and has feelings too and wears that badge 8hrs a day just like other people wear suits and ties to work. To think that because he has a badge and a gun he wont be paying the price for this incident is flat out wrong. I bet not a day will go by for the rest of his life where he won't think about this incident and I for sure would never want to carry around that burden.
I hate this argument, and you hear it all the time whenever a driver runs over a cyclist and escapes punishment, whether they're LE or not. Whatever remorse, stress, or whatever other burden the officer is feeling, it's nothing compared to what the family is going through and will continue to go through for the rest of their lives. That he feels remorse that his irresponsible action killed someone just means that he's not a soulless zombie. It should not exempt him from being punished for it. This isn't a case where a cop who feared for his life accidentally shot a kid with a toy gun in a split-second decision. This is a guy who did something that common sense says is a stupid idea--namely not looking where you're going while you're driving and killed someone. That he feels sorry for his actions is nice, but I doubt it's much of a comfort to the family of the innocent person he killed.

Courts are historically easy on people who kill other people with no intention to do so.  I get your point, but I'm on the side of the courts in these cases.....I don't care if it's LE or not either. I don't think prison is needed for those who kill accidently, or with no criminal intent.

Even if the Officer in this case is charged, it is MOST unlikely that he would ever see the inside of a jail cell, and that has nothing to do with him being a Police Officer.

You might as well get used to the idea, because it's not going to change any time soon. 




Don't get me wrong--I'm not saying he should go to prison. I'm just saying that I hate the "he'll have to live with the pain of what he did for the rest of his life" argument as if it somehow changes the outcome of his poor decison.
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