Update - Officer who fatally shot Justine Damond (Australian) charged with murder, turns himself in

a reply to: Wayfarer
I agree the fear excuse in so many cases needs to be reviewed.

Fear is a natural response to a perceived danger. Perceptions can create an irrational response or an over reaction to a situation. The monster the mind can create is usually always bigger, meaner, and nastier than what actually exists.

It is believed that we are only born with two fears. The fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. All other fears are learned fears. Uncontrolled fears can be deadly for for a variety of reasons.

Maybe the solution is to require better trained and less fearful police officers.

a reply to: NightSkyeB4Dawn

It all goes back to 2 Supreme Court decision where they established that ..

A) a cop could shoot a fleeing suspect if he FELT others might be in danger..

B) that the cop cannot be judged by 20/20 hind sight..


Put those together and it is impossible to convict a cop for a wrongful shooting , because the DA must prove the officer DID NOT feel threatened in the moment he shot.. which is basically impossible..




We need to make the aftermath matter..

If the cop shoots someone because he is afraid they are armed and they are armed after the fact.. cool.

If acop shoots someone because he is afraid they are armed and the person is not armed..

It should be the cops @$$... DEFINITELY his job, and maybe his freedom.

In the US at least, what most people really want is accountability. If a police officer commits a crime we need to know that the police officer isn't above the law and will have a fair investigation and process including trail and sentencing or acquittal.

Too many times there are questionable actions by the police and no consequences. That leads to feelings that all the police are corrupt, protests etc.

a reply to: Xcathdra

What’s a reasonable officer?!?!

That is not an objective measurement lol..

As you mentioned they established that the aftermath could not be considered a factor..

So all the cop has to do is fabricate some situation where he can claim he felt threatened, and it is a blank check to kill anyone..

It is IMPOSSIBLE to prove either way if a person felt threatened.

I have zero problem with creating a lesser charge for officers who meant well , but screwed up..

Or maybe not even a charge, but decide that person doesn’t have the mental fortitude to be a cop.. legally..

But I can sure a dozen cases where unarmed people were killed from a distance and the cop was commended..