The Police Murder of Tyre Nichols

[Nickdfresh]

You sure..?

Yup, pretty sure:


And the two white paramedics that stood by fingering each others assholes as Nichols slumped over dying...

[ZahZoo]

True but hand on heart do you think if it was you or I acting the exact same as Nichols would the same thing have happened?

Most likely, yes.

I've encountered police that have acted hostile, aggressive and abusive even when you are polite, cooperative and posed no threat to anyone. When they flip the asshole switch there's no obvious reason for their mode of action. There's just certain law enforcement folks that shouldn't be in the job and pose more of a threat to others than most criminals.

To be fair... I've also encountered true professionals in law enforcement who acted admirably in very stressful situations that were the complete opposite.

[Von Halen]

True but hand on heart do you think if it was you or I acting the exact same as Nichols would the same thing have happened?

Yes

[Seshmeister]

This guy has a bigger knife, is attacking rather than fleeing, importantly has fucking legs and the cops are unarmed.

[Seshmeister]

[FORD]

[Seshmeister]

It's very interesting with the Memphis tragedy... a few peaceful protests and no massive rioting and property destruction at all. I suspect had there been a white officer involved the response would have been different.

True but hand on heart do you think if it was you or I acting the exact same as Nichols would the same thing have happened?

[Seshmeister]

One of the worst things about this case is there is the old adage about how if you don't resist and co-operate fully then you will be fine.

As a New York Times analysis of the footage uncovered, in around 13 minutes, the cops had issued at least 71 commands before radioing that Nichols was in custody. In that short period, they gave Nichols impossible-to-meet instructions: from asking him to show his hands even while they were restraining him, to get on the ground even though he was already on the ground, to telling him to reposition himself, even when he did not have the ability to do so because they had control of his movements.

Police are ostensibly trained nowadays, according to The Times report, to have a single officer deliver specific commands rather than the barrage of directives that were lobbed at Nichols during that fateful traffic stop. Officers are also expected to respond in a professional manner regardless of perceived defiance. In the past, it was commonly known that when it came to policing that civilians would be punished if officers perceived disobedience.

Per the report, the tapes released on Friday do not depict any of the cops looking to diffuse aggressive use of force. In fact, it looks the opposite, with one officer uttering, “I hope they stomp his ass” when Nichols tried to escape the violence.

The impossible orders from the police appear to come from the get-go. After Nichols’ car was boxed in by authorities, he’s told by three officers to get “on the ground.” He abides and is sitting on the ground, but the screams to “get on the ground” continue, with one cop saying, “I’m gonna tase your ass.” It appears, according to the analysis, that the officers also want him to be lying down. He does so. “You guys are really doing a lot right now,” he says. “I’m just trying to go home.”

As officers pin down his arms and press a taser against his leg while making verbal threats, Nichols says: “I am on the ground.” Another officer says, “On your stomach.” It’s met three seconds later with a cop shooting pepper spray into Nichols’ face.

Later after he flees, he is on the ground. Officers demand he give them his hands, but other officers each have a hold of his left and right arm. He’s met with being punched in the face and then sprayed with pepper spray. When a new officer commands that he give him his hands, and Nichols is prevented from following the directive, he is sprayed with pepper spray for a third time.

After being peppered sprayed three times and while he looks barely coherent, an officer kicks Nichols in the face. He has been tased, kicked in the head twice, and repeatedly punched. He is easily handcuffed.

Despite him already being restrained, the officers continue to lob commands at Nichols while continuing to beat him. He’s beaten with a baton, he is punched in the face. While one officer has Nichols’ handcuffed arms pinned behind him and another punches his face, a different officer screams, “Give me your fucking hands” — it is literally impossible for Nichols to comply. He calls out for his mother. The officers continue to beat him.

[FORD]

The previous sheriff here was a antivax/antimask MAGAtt. I'm glad I voted for this guy.

[twonabomber]

They fired a sixth cop yesterday or the day before.

[ZahZoo]

One of the officers was white. Maybe it's more they actually indicted the cops before the video was released....

You sure..?

[twonabomber]

It's also winter. :D

[Nickdfresh]

It's very interesting with the Memphis tragedy... a few peaceful protests and no massive rioting and property destruction at all. I suspect had there been a white officer involved the response would have been different.

One of the officers was white. Maybe it's more they actually indicted the cops before the video was released....

[ZahZoo]

It's very interesting with the Memphis tragedy... a few peaceful protests and no massive rioting and property destruction at all. I suspect had there been a white officer involved the response would have been different.

[Seshmeister]

Not even Florida... :D

HUNTINGTON PARK, Calif. (KABC) -- Family members of a double-amputee shot and killed by Huntington Park police officers last week after he threatened them with a knife are calling the shooting murder.

The Huntington Police Department said Anthony Lowe was shot and killed by officers on Thursday, Jan. 26, after he stabbed a man then threatened responding officers with a 12-inch butcher knife.

Lowe's family and members of the Coalition for Community Control Over the Police held a news conference in front of the Huntington Park Police Department Monday, condemning the shooting as another example of police brutality.

"He's out of his wheelchair, he's amputated in both legs at the knee, and he's moving away from the officers," said Cliff Smith, a member of the Coalition for Community Control Over the Police.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is now heading up the investigation into the officer-involved shooting. The police officers who fired are now on paid, administrative leave, which is standard operating protocol.