4 Oakland Officers Killed (Davis: 2009, crime, live)

[gizmo980]

As promised, here is a new thread for you to discuss the OPD tragedy. Please keep this one civilized...
Oakland In Mourning Over Police Officer Deaths - cbs5.com

[krudmonk]

Not the image boost Oakland needed. What's really sad is that the tension keeps getting upped by both sides. Stories of police brutality are very true, but now a case like this puts cops more on edge. They are just people doing a job and we expect each one to be a machine out there. We'll see even more intense responses from fearful police and then greater disdain for law enforcement who disagree with them pulling their guns on everyone at all times. So on and so forth.

[sailordave]

What's sad is the family making excuses for the crimes of their relative. As long as family continues to excuse such behavior then nothing will ever change. The criminal should be buried 6 feet under with his body facing down so he'll see where's he's heading. I hope the police will be looking into who provided him with the guns he was carrying illegally.

[baybook]

I don't think the family was making excuses for their relative. They said he was not a monster. I can't imagine anyone that loves a family member being able to see them as a monster. The kids that did Columbine, did their parents come out and say they were monsters? And theirs was a planned attack.

The relatives are grieving for their loved one and they took the moment to apologize and sympathize for the families of the officiers. I think that was the appropriate statement.

[nmnita]

ok, so the family is grieving and says he wasn't a monster..My opinion and that is all it is, an opinion, grieving of course, comments like he wasn't a monster didn't need to be made. Better comments would have simply referred to the 4 dead policemen and thier families and their loss at this time...

I do get tired of hearing these things everytime a criminal does something, oh he had a terrible childhood or he really was a good kid, whatever..

Nita

[MrSykes]

Originally Posted by nmnita

ok, so the family is grieving and says he wasn't a monster..My opinion and that is all it is, an opinion, grieving of course, comments like he wasn't a monster didn't need to be made. Better comments would have simply referred to the 4 dead policemen and thier families and their loss at this time...

I do get tired of hearing these things everytime a criminal does something, oh he had a terrible childhood or he really was a good kid, whatever..

Nita

People aren't born criminals.

[fizbin]

Originally Posted by krudmonk

What's really sad is that the tension keeps getting upped by both sides.

I don't think this incident has anything to do with any pre-existing sides. A guy with a gun who does not want to get arrested gets pulled over and makes a (bad) decision. Things inevitably escalate. This is one guy making an f'd-up decision and that's it.

[sav858]

This is a really sad event for Oakland and the Bay Area in general and another black eye for the city. But like many other cities with similar problems the tension between police and residents will get even worse, more shootings will happen, no one will want to get involved, shootings/murders will continue to go unsolved, etc...

Some people just need to get it through their head that when you dress and act like a little thug then people, including the police, will treat you like so. From today's SF Chronicle:

"Some young people said they distrust the police because officers unnecessarily harass them. "You can't walk down the street with a hoodie on your head, dreads on your head, without the police hassling you," said Mike Davis, 19, who lives near 74th Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard. "If you're in a car with rims or tinted windows or loud music, they're going to harass you because they've got more power.""

Oakland residents struggle with latest tragedy

Does anyone who actually sees these types of people and cars actually ever have a good opinion pop in their head when they come across it? Some of these people help contribute to their own problems with society in general but they're too stupid and stubborn to realize it. A lot of the residents in Oakland and in cities with similar problems need to take a look in the mirror a little more often b/c many times they are the root of many of the problems that plague cities these cities. You can only blame the police, govt, your mommy, etc..for so long but some people will spend their whole life doing it and doing nothing about their own life and community.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by MrSykes

People aren't born criminals.

No, they are not born criminals..Or I don't think they are. My point simply is, yes, some kids have 2 strikes against them, but not all of these kids will end up breaking the law,certainly only a few will kill someone else..This being said, when someone commits a hideous (spelling) crime it is no less horriblee because their childhood was good or even 1/2 way satisfactory, the crime is still the same and making excuses will not change the facts..

Now, I think we are getting off the subject a little. Yes, cops do sometimes harrass certain people, that is never an excuse to take a life.. sav858 brings up some interesting and good points. Too many people, especailly the younger generation do not realize they bring much of this on themselves by the way they act..



Nita

[baybook]

Originally Posted by nmnita

ok, so the family is grieving and says he wasn't a monster..My opinion and that is all it is, an opinion, grieving of course, comments like he wasn't a monster didn't need to be made. Better comments would have simply referred to the 4 dead policemen and thier families and their loss at this time...

I do get tired of hearing these things everytime a criminal does something, oh he had a terrible childhood or he really was a good kid, whatever..

Nita

Nita, you do realize that you are reading quotes from an interview, right? They made a statement about the victims. I'm not sure what more you want. When the reporter asked what questions, they answered. I didn't see anyone blaming this on a bad childhood.

Put yourself in their situation. Your son does something awful. A reporter asks you why would your son do such a thing. And what do you want to say to the public? How do you respond? Do you say, no comment. Do you say he must have been a monster?

I still feel anger at the family's response is misguided. In the midst of what must be shocking for them, they though of the victims first. That is exactly what they should do.