Civil Unrest in West Philly (Media, Wall: lawyers, taxes, professionals)

[coldblooded36]

Listen, I grew up around people and attitudes that would be considered 'left', but the constant 'outrage' at police is a little dishonest to me. We live in a country where, as I just read in a statistic, gun sales are way up. Pair that with increases in drug abuse, mental illness, hollower public services and local employment. Violence is on the rise sharply in Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Chicago, do you think the problem is really the police?

[leoliu]

Originally Posted by coldblooded36

Listen, I grew up around people and attitudes that would be considered 'left', but the constant 'outrage' at police is a little dishonest to me. We live in a country where, as I just read in a statistic, gun sales are way up. Pair that with increases in drug abuse, mental illness, hollower public services and local employment. Violence is on the rise sharply in Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Chicago, do you think the problem is really the police?

After a while you see a pattern: civil dispute with violence--calling police--police trying to control the situation, but becoming the target of violent threat--boom boom--blaming and defunding police--rioting, looting...this country is losing its essential values and ability to tell the right from the wrong.


One of the witnesses calling the suspect a "nice and wonderful guy"...for him, charging towards the cops with a knife in hand is "nice and wonderful"...LOL...

[Checkmarkblue]

Originally Posted by KansastoSouthphilly

I think we need to rethink policing in this city/country. The militarization of police is clearly a problem and people are right to feel like the police are an occupying force in their neighborhoods instead of an extension of them. I am in favor of diverting a large portion of the budget to stuff like mental health counselors. That said, after watching the video, I can't say that I blame the police for shooting. The guy was rushing them with a knife. Society failed by not address the guys mental health problems, but I can't blame the individual cops for not wanting to pay for that failure with their lives.

So question. Are cities are going to hire thousands of Master degree professionals trained in mental health to go out on patrol with police? What if someone with a mental situation is on the roof or swimming in a river and the mental health care worker is not trained for such role?

I do agree thet militarization of police is a problem is a problem in black Hispanic and poor white communities. Their needs to be reform of course, and more emphasis on mental health treatment. But mental health is not going to fix policing in America. It will improve, but not fix. Also America has a gun problem in which cops are quick to kill in fear of getting shot and killed.

I grew up in the south Bronx. Plenty of black men who grew up in single mother homes have mental health problems and the city or state could not provide proper needs. I also ws told Reagan made things worse with defunding mental health in the 80s and Clinton crime bill in the 90s created a hornets nest for the black American.

[bostonguy1960]

And how did he pass the UberEats background check with all of his issues in the past ten years I read about?

Oh, as a fellow Uber driver, I guess Checkr proves again that their background checks are lacking.

And supposedly, these apparently flimsy background checks don't go beyond seven years?

And why does he have nine children, not secure employment, mental issues and nine kids?

[SpeedThink]

Condolences to the family of the deceased.

These type of incidents continue to occur over and over again - the killing of people who are maybe influenced by mental illness or alcohol/drugs.

Frankly, the police need an additional weapon at their disposal - a non-lethal weapon such as the use of pressurized nets or more effective tasers, tranquilizers, etc. etc.

Or dogs.

Even robots should be considered if not too expensive.

Police have a very difficult job! They have to make a split second decision to minimize threats to public safety.

Of course, there may be police who are racist and/or not a good fit for the job but it appears reasonable to believe that most police are performing their job to the best of their ability.

[selhars]

The nonsensical, red herring questions are astounding. But I get that this is the Internet and cogent thought may be a challenge to see in some discussions. And some responses are a visceral, knee-jerk response....for me, too, lots of times.

And why does he have nine children, not secure employment, mental issues and nine kids?

Uh, because the ability to have children has nothing to do with a person's mental state. Is the government supposed to forcibly sterilize the mentally ill? Some people do need to be, IMO. But clearly we as a society won't be doing that.

So question. Are cities are going to hire thousands of Master degree professionals trained in mental health to go out on patrol with police?

We know the answer to that is no. But what does that have to do with having more -- even if only a few more -- mental health professionals available when there is clearly time to try to DE-escalte a situation?

What if someone with a mental situation is on the roof? threatening to jump -- or shooting down like a sniper.

What kind of issue are you talking about. In one case police already try to talk a person down, why can't a mental health professional also be on scene to advise? In the other, that would be a full on LE response to end an active public safety situation. So the mental health advisor wouldn't even be an issue.

....as for swimming in a river......police/rescue personnel already respond to those and manage NOT to shoot people

[thedirtypirate]

“ Looters raided La'vanter Boutique in Philadelphia last night. The black owner claims she emptied her bank accounts and sold her house in order to open the business.”

https://www.reddit.com/r/ActualPubli..._philadelphia/

Looting is not justice. Nor do I think these people were out to protest. They were looking to take advantage of a situation.

[eliza61nyc]

Originally Posted by thedirtypirate

“ Looters raided La'vanter Boutique in Philadelphia last night. The black owner claims she emptied her bank accounts and sold her house in order to open the business.”

https://www.reddit.com/r/ActualPubli..._philadelphia/

Looting is not justice. Nor do I think these people were out to protest. They were looking to take advantage of a situation.

totally agree but not unexpected

[eliza61nyc]

Originally Posted by leoliu

When a deranged individual poses clear and imminent danger to other innocent individuals, not to mention the LE, I prefer him/her to be taken down whichever way quick and easy with minimal risk to the LE, before he/she has a chance to hurt others. Police brutality gets justified easily when the LE has to handle non-compliant and dangerous thugs.




If a police hurts/kills a compliant, non-dangerous man/woman, I will be the first to join the protests/riots.




I don't understand why people choose to support violent, dangerous, non-compliant thugs over and again who don't deserve to live with peace-/safety-loving citizens.


If you haven't learned to comply with LE after so many shooting accidents, you are responsible for your own death. I hope Philly doesn't have to pay a ridiculous amount of money for the thug's death again...

That is called the wild wild west mentality.

Police are not supposed to be Gestapo agents. Im glad the family lawyers up and I'm hoping they also sue the police union.
first of all, even if he was a supposedly "thug" where is the constitution that you are always screaming about.? I thought the policy was arrest, charge and have a trial. NOT shoot 14 bullets in you.

and when did the police become God that you cannot question them? I laugh how the right is always screaming about the right to not wear mask yet the gestapo agents get the right to do whatever they want and we have to "comply"....

[Mayvenne]

I was hoping that I wouldn't see more looting overnight when I turned the tv on this morning. Unfortunately that is not the case. I saw someone not sure if it was his father or an attorney, but saying the looting and violence is DISRESPECTING the family and where they live. Seriously- remember back in the 60's when stores left the black areas and they were without service? Why would stores (home depot- walmart- ross- and countless small independent stores that were trashed overnight) pay rent to be violated??