Involuntary Manslaughter Verdict for Oakland Police Shooting

1. 79

   mega1posted 14 years ago

   How do YOU feel about that?  Seemed like at least VOLUNTARY to me and now they're saying he will probably serve 5 years.  What kind of message does this give police in Oakland?  Man, I would not want to be there right now!

   replyreport
2. 78

   Uninvited Writerposted 14 years ago

   Was this a police man who got shot or someone who got shot by a police man?

   replyreport
   1. 60

      Ron Montgomeryposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Black man shot by white cop.  I hope Oakland is prepared for tonight.

      replyreport
   2. 79

      mega1posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      the white Oakland cop says he thought he was pulling out his tazer and instead pulled his gun - shot a 22 year old black guy in the back -  there were so many videos it isn't even funny - the videos show him taking lots of time and first handling his tazer then finally pulling his gun - looks so much like he reall knew what he was doing.  There will be riots I suppose, not that the do any good - and Oakland cops will be getting hazard pay for quite awhile I reckon.

      replyreport
3. 78

   Uninvited Writerposted 14 years ago

   And a guy who said he accidentally did that would still be a cop?
   
   Sounds like manslaughter is a bit laughable if you say there is so much video evidence.

   replyreport
4. 60

   mikelongposted 14 years ago

   What a ridiculous verdict...  Another proof of institutionalized inequality of justice in our "modern" age..

   replyreport
5. 79

   mega1posted 14 years ago

   so true - we have an inflated opinion of cops and that they can do no wrong, it seems.  There were no blacks on the jury, either! That's what will REALLY have people upset about this verdict I think.  Will this bring about some change in the machines of justice?  We all hope, but it doesn't look like it.

   replyreport
6. 78

   Uninvited Writerposted 14 years ago

   This verdict really is indefensible.

   replyreport
7. 79

   mega1posted 14 years ago

   I just saw a guy on tv in Oakland wearing a homemade T-shirt that says:  If You Want Peace, Work For Justice  - that says it all.

   replyreport
8. 71

   Bill Manningposted 14 years ago

   There was a cop kneeling on the guy who was shot in the back. Which means the bullet came within inches of that cop. Do you really think he wanted to do that?
   
   I know if I was the cop that was almost hit I would have filed charges myself. I really don't think he meant to pull his gun and thought it was his tazer.
   
   It just does not make any sense for him to deliberately shoot the guy. There was people around him that saw this and again a fellow cop right on top of the guy.
   
   Just makes no sense and I believe it was a mistake. I do think he was very stupid and deserves time in jail for his reckless actions, but I don't think he meant to shoot him.

   replyreport
   1. 79

      mega1posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      In Oakland a lot of things happen that don't make sense.  For decades the Oakland police force has really had free reign and terrorized the locals - not only people of color but all races know that the Oakland cops are never held accountable.  There have been many incidents, this is just the latest.  The police force there has been out of control for a long time.  Everyone is hoping that now national attention on the situation will help bring some justice there.   The videos of the incident show the cop touching his tazer several times and then going for the gun.  It really does not look like an accident.  There was a lot of racist verbiage going on from the cops to the black kids.  The kid was shot in the back.  He was unarmed.  You can see why people would feel this is a bad verdict.
      
      One would hope that he did not mean to shoot Oscar, but only he knows in his soul what he intended to do.  One would hope that it will never happen again and that all police abuse in Oakland will be taken in hand and will end.

      replyreport
9. 80

   lovemychrisposted 14 years ago

   This system of "justice" is racist plain and simple.
   
   Just rememebr this when Beck, Hannity and Limbaugh try to tell you that white people are victims in this society....
   That blacks now have the upper hand. It's a despicable lie. They are CIA psy-op.
   Same as Hoover did to MLK, and the FBI did to the original Black Panther movement.

   replyreport
10. 60

    mikelongposted 14 years ago

    The guy who should be gone after more is Pirone....  I think it was this man who instigated and elevated the whole situation to this fatal level....

    replyreport
11. 0

    CuriousGposted 14 years ago

    If I am wrong please tell me, however I do believe the police officer was hispanic not white.  But it should not be about black, white, asian, or any other race for that matter.  Why does everything resort to that? Personally I think it is a sad world we live in, and maybe if people of all races had common sense, police wouldn't have to be on egg shells all the time or even pull out their weapons or show force.  The police officer is no longer a police officer, he is going to jail, is that not enough for what appears to be an accident?  There have been many shootings, and when people resist arrest, or put them self in scenarios such as fleeing etc., there are always possibilities of police using force to get a situation under control.  The riots are ridiculous, and then if someone gets hurt during the riots, are they going to blame the police for that too?  I just don't understand people.  No one takes responsibilities for their own actions anymore, everyone is so quick to blame everyone else for anything and everything.  It's a sad scenerio for all invovled in this situation.

    replyreport
12. 68

    alternate poetposted 14 years ago

    Racism seems to be alive and well - this kinda answers the question of the previous thread about this issue, not the shooting itself but the ridiculous verdict.  The other issue is about the quality of the police when they automatically have both power and weapons.

    replyreport
13. 75

    Mighty Momposted 14 years ago

    Not that it matters particularly, but..
    He was not an Oakland cop but a BART (transit system) cop.
    Not the kind of law enforcement agent -- even in Oakland -- for whom pulling a weapon is a routine occurrence.
    Obviously the jury considered the evidence (including all those videos shot on witness cell phones) and came to the conclusion that the shooting was not intentional.
    The sentencing will set off yet another firestorm in Oakland and surrounding areas.
    
    This case is reminiscent of the Rodney King case years ago.
    No matter how you look at it, it's a giant tragedy, made all the more so because of its racial/racist overtones.

    replyreport
14. 93

    habeeposted 14 years ago

    What I don't get is that he said he accidentally pulled out his gun instead of his taser. Why would you tase a guy lying face down with his hands behind his back? Especially with other officers there to back you up?

    replyreport
    1. 68

       alternate poetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Because he was black and so probably 'deserved' it ?   -   and before the wingnuts start up  - THIS IS AN IRONIC STATEMENT -

       replyreport