Cop Shoots Unarmed Motorcyclist

[Mark]

This is tragic and despicable.

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=news/local&id=7433661

More info:

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100514/NEWS02/5140348

[guilhermepb]

damn.. that was insane.. i know cops dont wanna take any chances but thats just waaay too much

[GixxerGurl]

Wow, that's really disturbing. 

[BUBBACO]

wow he jumped the gun clearly

[bumblebee]

I rememeber back in the 80's when a Metro Cop shot a kid on a motorcycle and the locals nearly burned Liberty City and Overtown in Dade County to the ground

[Gixxer]

no chase law? even ignoring that, the kid stopped and was cooperating. hope that cop gets a full sentence.

[Mark]

I thought the no chase law was a local thing, and in fact, I thought it was just TPD. I thought every city had their own policy. I also thought LCSO would chase, if out of the city limits. I could be completely wrong, though. That's just what I thought.

[bumblebee]

My understanding is that unless they are pursuing a violent felon, no aggressive chase is the policy.  They might try to follow and keep you in sight

[BUBBACO]

it depends on the agency. TPD has a no chase policy. To my knowledge us (LCSO) and FHP will chase unless traffic is heavy. That is outside the city limits of course

[GreenGoblin]

smh..that just disgusts me obviously the kid on the bike couldn't hear what was said and was trying to understand what the cop was saying..i mean damn how could u shoot a cop with your back turn...plus he told me to get down..how the hell can you get off a bike without moving..but let me shut up before some cop sees this and the next time he gets a little adrenaline rush decides to put ine in my head..rediculous what they get away with!

[yzfr1guy]

That's terrible, that right there is the reason y I would make any cop earn his ticket if he chooses to put his lights on.  Doesn't georgia have a law that they can shoot you if you run?

[Mark]

For those that didn't read all the details, the cop was found guilty and faces up to 11 years in prison. Doesn't make the situation any less despicable, but it will keep him from shooting anyone else for at least a few years.

[GreenGoblin]

I don't that even 11 years is enough..i mean he tried to take this kid's life and the kid honestly posed no threat...if you want to be all trigger happy then join the military..honestly how many civilians are cop killers..I would say less than ten percent...yzfr1guy i don't blame you..i'd rather run and break my own neck than try to do the right thing and get gunned down in the street by an overzealous (sp) cop

[Mark]

I hear what you guys are saying, but I wholeheartedly disagree. I think running puts you in much greater risk of serious injury or death than stopping. Running, you are more likely to make a mistake and hurt yourself. Or, if you end up getting blocked or stopped in some other way without hurting yourself, you've just put that cop on edge and he's a lot more likely to accidentally (or unnecessarily) fire on you. If you simply pull over when the cop puts his lights on, shut off your bike, and put your hands where he can seem them, the cop will be much more calm and unlikely to do anything harmful to you.

This incident was rare, and it was a combination of mistakes on behalf of both parties that led to the outcome. I think the cop is DEFINITELY more at fault and deserves the punishment he's getting, but I don't think this cop's behavior is an accurate reflection of most cops.

If you are truly scared of cops and want to ensure you won't get hurt, do everything you can to assure that cop you're not a threat to him or her.

[GreenGoblin]

I understand what you mean but story's like this just really piss me off. Don't get me wrong I don't hate all cops or anything. I know a few cops that I used to ride with in a group back home. Hell my dad was in the force when he was young..But really when do you ever hear anything good about 'em?? The best a cop has done for me is reduce the speed on a ticket. Not scared of them I..Honestly bro I'd rather not have to deal with them in the first place..but that goes without saying