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Why do people think that the police are mental health specialists? Clearly this kid had mental issues. The parents seem like they just wanted him to 'sleep it off'. You can't 'sleep off' the idea of committing suicide. It sounds like the parents knew he was suicidal because it sounds like they had been through this before with him threatening to hurt himself.
Sorry, but the police have to respond when they get a call like that, and if someone is threatening to kill themselves, they can't just get in their cars and drive away. The police didn't kill him. He killed himself. End of story.
These parents should have gotten their kid actual help sooner.
ALL LEO SHOULD BE TRAINED IN *BASIC EMERGENCY MENTAL HEALTH CRISES*. Caps very necessary here. Very surprised Hingham made this call.
Also, sometimes an impulsive thought or plan of action can be shut down by giving less attention to it. So if he wasn't feeling suicidal daily, a night of sleep and resting his brain might have stopped the immediate threat. But we will never know.
And not everyone who kills themselves show signs of depression beforehand. Parents probably thought it was just an adjustment disorder from breakup and moving back home. Would you blame all of the parents of any kid who ever killed themselves?
Do taxi cab drivers get called for domestic disputes or reports of a stolen car ?
No, but they have to pick up random people, who are often armed and extremely dangerous. Why shouldn't they have the same rights that cops do to protect themselves so they can go home safe to their families, just like cops do? Why are police lives more important than cab drivers lives?
The Police have no choice but to meet every threat or perceived threat with great force because we have seen where Police have been ambushed and gunned down for no other reason then they wear a badge.
Society is becoming unhinged and the cops are facing ever increasing threats from drug induced crazy people to suicide by cop scenarios to possible terrorism where it has never been seen before so the cops need to go in "heavy".
Why is this? Arent Police supposed to protect you?
And your "Police are ambushed" scenario is quite rare. Almost non existent in fact. Out of a million Police only about 150 or so are killed on duty every year. More than 3/4 of those are either heart attacks of traffic accidents. Some yes are killed by someone actually attacking them. Horrible. But little in the way of justification for assaulting and killing people just to make it safer for the police. There are few cases for the heavy handedness that you like.
There were 26 police killed violently this year so far If you dont count the Dogs.
One officer was killed during a domestic disturbance
One died from a gunshot 31 years ago
A few during a prison riot
3 were ambushed
The vast majority were killed while either looking for a suspect or investigating a traffic accident. Not giving a traffic ticket.
The Majority of them were African Americans with Latinos coming in close second. If it matters to you.
The ex-GF, then the parents called the police. There were multiple guns in the house. It was a residential area. How can the police not come with a SWAT or other tactical team? The article also says the regional SWAT team has crisis negotiators, although it doesn't specify their role in this incident.
The part about the son being a great kid and having a great evening then threatening to kill himself over a month-old breakup is less than the whole story.
"A load of Crap" ? Did I ever say that the cops have a need to use deadly force every time they are met with a threat?
This case had a terrible outcome but imagine how it could have been worse and it does happen.
What if the depressed guy was armed and instead of killing himself (which I don't condone) he took his anger out on his family then hopped in the car and drove to his ex girlfriends home or place of work and shot up the place?
How many innocent bystanders would have to be gunned down for him to feel justified and then in a fit he either kills himself or starts shooting at cops who then put him out of his misery.
This kind of stuff is happening with more frequency and society demands that the Police we pay for stop dangerous people.
What if the Police just let the guy go and he did go on a rampage? The police and town would be sued.
There is a fine and dangerous line that Police walk everyday. I don't blame them for being a bit quick on the draw.
Who cares if you approve of suicide or not.
You don't need a damn tank going up the steps of a house for this situation.
They have too many toys.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WIHS2006
Agreed, police culture has become very paranoid. They think literally everyone is out to get them, soon we'll have cops shooting babies in strollers because, you know, the 9 month old baby could be a member of Black Lives Matter and planning to pull out an Uzi and spray the police car. It's absurd. Look, policing is dangerous ... I get that. But the cops are basically declaring everyone who isn't a cop as the enemy. There's too much of an "us vs them" mentality. The police are turning themselves into an occupying army instead of law enforcement agencies.
I also recognize that tactical units have a place in policing. That said, I think they are way overused. I fear we are seeing the hammer and the nail theory in action. Also, the police have too many rifles and military gear. There are apparently some agencies that will issue every single officer with a rifle. Again, the hammer and the nail. In my local agency only patrol supervisors + 1 designated car per precinct will carry a rifle. Maybe 4 or 5 officers per shift per precinct (there are 7 in total). Then they have Emergency Services (ESU) for heavier firepower and tactical operations. I think that's a reasonable approach.
Excellent comments and hit the nail on the head.
There has been a shift in this country and not a good one, where all citizens are now viewed as the enemy.
You know the same citizens who pay their salary.
People better start paying attention, but too many are too busy watching "Dancing with the Stars" and FB to notice.
Agreed, police culture has become very paranoid. They think literally everyone is out to get them, soon we'll have cops shooting babies in strollers because, you know, the 9 month old baby could be a member of Black Lives Matter and planning to pull out an Uzi and spray the police car. It's absurd. Look, policing is dangerous ... I get that. But the cops are basically declaring everyone who isn't a cop as the enemy. There's too much of an "us vs them" mentality. The police are turning themselves into an occupying army instead of law enforcement agencies.
I also recognize that tactical units have a place in policing. That said, I think they are way overused. I fear we are seeing the hammer and the nail theory in action. Also, the police have too many rifles and military gear. There are apparently some agencies that will issue every single officer with a rifle. Again, the hammer and the nail. In my local agency only patrol supervisors + 1 designated car per precinct will carry a rifle. Maybe 4 or 5 officers per shift per precinct (there are 7 in total). Then they have Emergency Services (ESU) for heavier firepower and tactical operations. I think that's a reasonable approach.
The rifle issue came about after the North Hollywood shootout in 1997 where the police didnt have any rifles. Just shotguns and handguns. However a bolt rifle would suffice in most cases these days. No need for AR's
The Police have no choice but to meet every threat or perceived threat with great force because we have seen where Police have been ambushed and gunned down for no other reason then they wear a badge.
But there is no threat when someone is home alone. In this case, any threat was created by the police deciding to be the aggressors.
The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'
--Ronald Reagan
I've noticed that the same crowd that idolizes Ronald Reagan and fully embraces his idea that government is bad is the same crowd that, so long as the government comes in uniform and bearing weaponry, will make excuses for whatever those uniformed and armed government agents do, no matter how many of the citizenry they gun down.
Please state your police training & the academy you attended.
lol. Not sure if your serious or not. I guess I have to assume you are.
Its completely irrelevant what my police training is. For the record however, just to make it clear, ZERO. Well, zero besides my military mp training.
Just in case your confused, which apparently you are very much so, the police work for regular citizens and are accountable to regular citizens. So it not only is it my right to criticize the police, its my duty.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cape Cod Todd
Did I ever say that the cops have a need to use deadly force every time they are met with a threat?
Yes you did right here.....
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cape Cod Todd
The Police have no choice but to meet every threat or perceived threat with great force.....
............. so the cops need to go in "heavy".
Don't try and say you didn't mean deadly force. Kinda obvious that "great force" isn't deploying a taser.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cape Cod Todd
There is a fine and dangerous line that Police walk everyday. I don't blame them for being a bit quick on the draw.
See, thats where we differ. I expect them to have better training and be held to a higher standard. Seems to work in other countries.
Never call the cops. The cops are not your friends. It isn't in their interest to be nice. Your best interests are not in the cops' best interests. Never call the cops.
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