Posted on 05/05/2014 4:46:46 AM PDT by from occupied ga
The GBI and several of the metro area’s largest police agencies have seen the use of deadly force rise dramatically since 2009.
It’s a trend that isn’t just happening in metro Atlanta, but across the state.
“Why would there be an increase in shooting deaths by police when crime has gone down?” asks Atlanta attorney Brian Spears.
Spears is on the board of the National Police Accountability Project at the National Lawyers Guild. A WSB/AJC investigation of police shootings in the metro area show they’ve spiked in the past four years, from 37 in 2009 to 56 in 2013.
“This is indicative of the level of violence that is directed against law enforcement officers,” says GBI Director Vernon Keenan.
Keenan says part of the problem is an increase in the number of people in psychological crisis who use weapons to confront officers.
“We are losing the craft of being a good police officer,” says Marietta Police Chief Dan Flynn.
Flynn says officers are no longer as adept at using their psychological edge in dealing with suspects. He also says many are disgusted with a prison system that cuts sentences in half almost automatically.
“You know, it maybe makes them a little quicker on the trigger,” says Flynn.
But the biggest problem, he says is that suspects are more violent and less willing to heed the consequences of attacking a cop.
Spears also blames the courts, but for a different reason.
“The courts fail to hold officers accountable,” said Spears.
Spears says police need more training in how to deal with people in psychological crisis. But Keenan says officers are already trained better and as a result they’re doing a better job of protecting themselves.
“Spears is on the Board of the National Police Accountibility Project of the National Lawyers Guild...”
Consider the source.
You live in West Mogadishu (Atlanta)?
I have to commute to this sewer almost every day.
I agree with pretty much everything you wrote.
You remember the Erik Scott case in Nevada? The POS that pulled the trigger is now a two-time offender. Which is exactly what you’re talking about.
YIKES! Just got my CCL renewed, well they don’t renew
them you have to apply all over again, electro print
and all and now the price is $79.25. (Course now you get
your picture on it too.) How nice.
Last time it was 35.00. of course that was 5 years ago.
And they say there is no inflation...
Have carried now for 15 years and never had to draw it
but the license is worth the price.
Just got my DL renewed and now you have to have documentation of citizenship and several forms of ID.
A good thing I guess but at least here in Ga. you have
to have it to vote.
Gunned down at costco. Naturally it was considered a "good shoot." Aren't all of them.
Boy do I ever agree with you! Why not have the fox guard the henhouse, right???!!!!
I have even noticed this just watching COPS vs. Alaska State Troopers. On COPS the officers are ready to go Rambo if you ask a question or look the wrong way. On AST the troopers actually take time to talk and listen to the people they come in contact with, at least they have from every episode I have watched.
I had an older officer tell me that in many cases when his department is contacted the callers will ask for certain officers to respond if possible because they know they will listen to the parties involved rather than go into roger ram jet mode.
The "War on" - (problems du jour) mentality invites so called Peace Officers to respond in the most unpeaceful way available.
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