Posted on 02/18/2014 5:14:01 PM PST by MeshugeMikey
Jonathan Meister was retrieving some stuff he was storing at an ex-roommate’s home when he looked up to find several members of the Hawthorne Police Department approaching. The South Bay man claims officers didn’t give him a chance to explain what he was doing before placing him in handcuffs, beating him and using a stun gun to shock him into submission. The problem began when police reportedly misunderstood Meister’s attempts to speak in sign language as threatening gestures.
(Excerpt) Read more at losangeles.cbslocal.com ...
“A lot less common sense”. this seems to be the case across the board from choosing “leadership” to driving.
as we become more rudderless...we seem to be sinking in a sea of profound senselessness
noting a problem and looking for workable solutions sure beats endless complaint about it and then looking the other way.
Thank you.
I sense a bottom up PLAN is required to deal with any possible vagaries in communication with the deaf.
a serious matter demands a sensible serious solution that anyone can follow.
overkill from the get go?
How about a secret hand shake?
Or two winks of the left eye while standing on their right foot?
How about they put their your right foot in and take their right foot out, and shake it all about?
Government employees should understand that acting like Common Ceiminals will result in being treated like Common Criminals.
“Have a sign printed up (very slowly as public servants read slowly) for use in emergency situations. Example: I’m deaf, don’t shoot.”
Funny - but not really. It might come to that.
The cool thing about technology, electronics and computer science/programming, engineering, etc., is that you don't need a lot of face to face interaction to do your work, to be employable and be valuable.
There are many other possibilities, but skill and competence in these areas are always in need and valued, and, just as we do here on FR, computers can bridge the communications gap of relying solely on the spoken word.
Plus, using the computer as a communications tool opens up even more possibilities, such as all sorts of writing, for one example.
“There just isn’t anything to “figure out here,” except how long the former officers spend in jail and how many millions the “good people of Hawthore” get to shell out.”
I’m a real believer in very large, painful punitive damages. Citizens won’t turn their backs to this kind of behavior when they have to pay for it. For smaller cities, one bad hit might make the city uninsurable; in big, self-insured cities, court settlements for this sort of thing is ALREADY a eight-approaching-nine-figure yearly line item. Taxpayers will notice this.
Did he smell ozone?
Finally?
Crap outlook on life and a bad attitude in general.
“Most employers don’t won’t or don’t care enough to take on a liability in this job market.”
Given the litigation issues, hiring a minority or disabled person is just too risky. If they do not work out, firing one of those ProtectedPersons too often leads to either litigation or extortion via a Snivel Rights lawyer or an ADA lawyer.
Unless ones business is so large that Big Gubment requires such a hire, who would take the chance?
In my post 71, first line should be:
“Most employers don’t want . . . . instead of “Most employers don’t won’t . . .
Sorry.
They point to their ear and shake their head. It’s been used for centuries, if not longer and across all cultures.
“Have a sign printed up (very slowly as public servants read slowly) for use in emergency situations. Example: I’m deaf, don’t shoot.”
And how do you avoid being shot while reaching into your pocket to receive said card? Maybe just walk around with it pinned to your shirt just in case the police might need to read it some day?
Yeah... a while ago. Even managed to set some kink of record by getting zotted twice on the same thread... (well technically, suspended for a week, and almost as soon as he came back, managed to get on the wrong side of a Mod and bought the lightening permanent like.)
We were all deeply saddened, of course. He still rates ‘courtesy’ pings to threads such as this. We know it’s his favorite topic... and to be unable to reply is just desert(s).
Cops aren’t good at dealing with people, at all, fixed it for you.
WHY should I have to accommodate the shortcomings of the police, who are agents of the state? The citizens rights come first, not the states.
“How was work today, honey?”
“Oh, it was really rough. This kid made threatening gestures at me with BOTH hands! I was never so scared in my life! I thought they were gang signs.”
“Did he have a gun or a knife?”
“No. He had 8 fingers and 2 thumbs and they were all MOVING! It was horrible.”
“Oh, you poor guy! Maybe you should look for a less stressful job.”
“Yeah, I think you’re right.”
How about disabled people wear a badge around their necks that’s clear and visible - just like plain clothes police officers do? I know they wear med-alert bracelets, but that’s too often covered with a sleeve.
How about the badges be yellow stars?
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