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The police officer who shot and killed Cuevas used police tactics that are reminiscent of a scene out of the movie Police Academy. These officers are making too many fatal mistakes, which are costing a lot of people their lives (especially young minorities). This may have been avoided if these officer's know the community in which, they are policing. The officer who did the shooting was a 7 year veteran, how come he didn't know who Cuevas was, because they don't visit these bodegas and talk to the owners and workers, and develop relationships. Community policing is extinct in NYC; the police are too busy stopping and frisking, as a way of getting to know the people in the community. They also have police officers who live in Long Island, but are assigned to the Bronx and Brooklyn. Know the community in which, you are policing.
The case of Ramarley Graham comes to mind, when I think of stop and frisk and police tactics. Graham ran into his home from the police, after they tried to stop, and question him, thinking he had a gun. The police entered his home (without a warrant) and confronted Graham in the bathroom. The officer thought he had a gun and shot him in the chest in front of his 6 year brother and grandmother. There was no gun found at the scene and marijuana was inside the toilet. In other words, this young Black man was killed for a bag of weed. NYPD officer Richard Haste was indicted for manslaughter. What also came to light is that Haste should not have been in that unit - he only had 4 years experience as a police officer. This is what takes place when you have inexperience police officers and a culture that falls in love with the stop-and-frisk - again it boils down to leadership.
Don’t think for one moment the NYPD is not having a field day with women, as well. If they aren’t indicted for rape, they are harassing women and also shooting them. Take the case of Shantel Davis who had a rap sheet, but was killed however, by the NYPD after being caught in a stolen vehicle.
As cops approached Davis-- who had an extensive
criminal history , including 8 arrests, according to police -- she attempted to open the passenger side door. A cop was hit by the door and pushed backwards. Davis then reportedly went back to the driver's side and put the car in reverse, hitting the gas.
At the same time, another cop, Detective Phil Atkins, entered the
vehicle through the driver's side door, attempting to put the car in park. In one hand, he was carrying a gun.
"He’s attempting with the other hand to shift the gear into park,” Browne said. “When she’s hitting the gas, a single round was discharged from his firearm, striking the woman in the chest.”
Here is a little tidbit,
Detective Phil Atkins also has numerous civilian complaints levied against him, and law suits – a total of six. The neighborhood in which the fatal shooting occurred, know him as a hot head. My question is, why wasn’t his obvious volatile behavior, corrected? It all boils down to leadership, or lack thereof.
Let’s look at the case of
15-year-old Alexis Sumpter of Harlem who was handcuffed and detained by police. The NYPD claim, that they thought she was too old, to be using a student Metrocard.
Alexis Sumpter
told the News of the July 26 incident. “Then they grabbed me by my arms and flung me up the stairs. I kept saying, 'I’m only 15—why are you guys doing this?' They said they didn’t owe me an explanation.”
The cops demanded to know how old she was, but didn't believe her when she said she was 15—she told them she didn't have ID because she had recently been mugged for her iPhone and wallet. She says a third cop joined them, and pressed her face to a wall while the other two cuffed her. Cops called her father, who vouched that she was 15; still not believing her, they called her mother, who rushed over with her daughter's
birth certificate . Alexis was held in custody for 90 minutes altogether, and wasn't arrested or given a summons; but she did go to the hospital because the handcuffs caused swelling on her wrists.
Their tactics are beyond bizarre, just look at what occurred at the Empire State building, when a man bent on revenge, shot his former co-worker in cold blood. Once the cops corner the suspect, only five feet away they shot and killed him,
not before shooting and wounding 9 innocent bystanders . Of course, when Mayor Bloomberg was pressed on why so many innocent people were shot, he had an attitude and his answer was full of arrogance. If all 9 victims were killed, would he continue to be that arrogant?
Hypothetically say you work as a bank teller, and the customer wants to take out $100, you make a mistake and give him $1,000 what do you think will happen to your job? The words, "you are fired", will cascade across your bosses lips. The union is protecting these officers. If you discharge your weapon accidentally and shoot someone, whether they die or not that police officer should be fired.
Here, is one last case of the NYPD and their officers calling themselves, serving and protecting.
A 25-year-old man was kidnapped , and a ransom of $75,000 was demanded by his kidnappers. Police were called, and the initial phone call for ransom money, was traced back to NYPD 17-year-veteran Gang-Unit Detective, Ondre Johnson's home. When police arrived, Johnson identified himself as a police officer, and they found the victim in his basement. Three people were charged with kidnapping, related to Johnson. The NYPD decided to question and release Johnson after he claim he had no idea what took place, in is own damn home. Now, if I were the one to answer the door and claim I didn't know I had a kidnapping victim in my basement, I would surely be in Rikers Island awaiting trial. Again, what message is the NYPD sending, by not charging this detective, but charge everyone else in the house? Let a jury of Johnson's peers, decide his fate.
Not to take away from the good cops, those that do serve, and protect honorably. It is too bad the bad seeds get all the press – and overshadow their success.
A lot of these officers are placed on administrative leave or suspended with or without pay, when they have an "accident", or get caught doing something wrong. They are also moved to another station house until the smoke clears. The NYPD is promoting an environment that is in no way conducive to minority men and women in this city. Too many unarmed minorities are being harassed, shot, and killed by police. Everything starts from the top and Commissioner Kelly’s reign over the NYPD must end. All of these cases show lack of leadership, inadequate training, lack of community policing and corruption. Mayor Bloomberg needs to bring in someone with fresh, new, ideas to combat the distrust the community has toward the police, and change the overall culture. They also need some federal oversight, because who is watching them – as they continue to torment our young men and women in this city. Time to send Raymond Kelly his walking papers, he has officially lost control.
-Ms Scripter
Just blogging for the masses, ya dig?
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