“Any police department (or university faculty, or military unit, etc.) is only as good as the worst psycho they tolerate.” ~ H/T RedStateRocker
Posted on 10/16/2019 3:07:46 AM PDT by Navy Patriot
A Texas woman was shot dead by a Fort Worth police officer in her home after she heard noises outside, picked up a handgun and pointed it at a window, the officer's arrest warrant showed on Tuesday.
Atatiana Jefferson, 28, was playing video games with her 8-year-old nephew around 2:30 am on Saturday when she heard sounds in her backyard, according to the warrant for former Fort Worth Police Officer Aaron Dean's arrest for alleged murder.
The noises were Dean, 34, and his partner moving around the back of her home, without announcing their presence, after they were sent to investigate why her front door was open.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
Did he pass the REQUIRED psych eval?
If he FAILED the psych eval who hired him?
Charge that person as an accessory to murder before the fact.
It is no safer, and no less negligent, to hire a KNOWN sociopath, give them a badge a gun, and life-and-death power over any random citizen than it would be to throw an enraged rattlesnake into a kindergarten.
Make an example of this person, lest other hiring managers hire the mayor's psycho kid to pull over your daughter!
Yes, it does, in some people’s minds.
You've made that crystal clear.
While the usual groups are taking sides, largely based on race, take race out of the equation and look at the timeline of events.
A neighbor called the police for a welfare check because he saw his neighbors door open at 2:30 am.
They haven't released the 911 call so we don't know exactly what the cops were told. Did the 911 operator change 'welfare check' to 'suspicious activity', 'possible burglary in progress'?
The cops arrived. Instead of going to the open door, knocking, or ringing the doorbell, they instead walked around the house.
Apparently the woman was playing video games with her nephew, she heard a noise, and took out her gun. Based on the Castle Doctrine she had ever right to reach for her gun to protect herself, her nephew, and her property. Since the police didn't identify themselves, she had no way of knowing they were 'the good guys'.
The cop looks in the window, doesn't identify himself, shouts at her, and then shoots.
If it's 2:30am and you hear a noise outside, is your first thought, 'it must be the police'?
The woman acted in her own defense as anyone would.
I'm not calling the cop a murderer. However, protocol wasn't followed. The cops didn't knock or ring the door bell. The 911 call only asked for a welfare check. The cops never identified themselves and they shot within seconds of seeing a person; not even a 'suspect' (there was no reported suspect). There was no reported crime. This was simply a 'welfare check'.
The key may be in the 911 call and how the call was relayed to the cops investigating.
It matters very much in Texas see the post above yours...
It matters very much in Texas see the post above yours...
Right.
It says under color of law.
Pretty sure that the laws in Texas prescribe police identify themselves when making a health and welfare check before the moment they are shooting the resident.
Contrary to your assertion just now.
You see nully, as much as it may irk you.
And as much as it may shatter your Walking Tall fantasies...
Police are constrined in what they are allowed to do when wearing a uniform. Shoot first and ask questions never (as you just directly implied) do not fit the bill.
Point noted.
That's what I said.
Walking Tall fantasies? You do know I run the Jack-Booted Thugs ping list, right?
Why do you suppose I do that, hmmm?
Spktyr noted that
Manslaughter under color of law is murder in Texas, I believe - automatic upgrade as the peace officer is expected to know better. Texas also does not differentiate voluntary from involuntary manslaughter.Murder, murder most foul, plain and simple.
“Any police department (or university faculty, or military unit, etc.) is only as good as the worst psycho they tolerate.” ~ H/T RedStateRocker
Its difficult when you want to be thankful and respectful of the good cops out there and the hard/dangerous work they do, when something like this happens.
But cops have a higher responsibility when they are given the gun and badge. Holding people responsible, regardless of whether a resultant death was intentional or negligent or even accidental, is something we, as a society, have drifted away from in exchange for excusing such things because of ______(fill in your excuse here).
This cop, with a higher responsibility, used the poorest of judgement, deserves to be held responsible, and should never carry a gun and badge again.
There are right ways to handle situations, there are wrong ways to handle situations, and occasionally, there are no-win situations. This was not a no-win situation. It was handled wrong and someone is dead as a result.
I have respected soldiers in blue since my youth, but I will say as I have often said, for many reasons, many cops today are not motivated to "protect and serve". They are motivated to be the cowboy with a gun and badge, expecting to be excused if they screw up because, well they are shielded by the badge.
What was it Reagan said? The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government Police Department and I'm here to help.
So are they confirming that she was found with her firearm in her possession?
Dispatch audio has been released. Also, the two officers rolled up and spoke to the caller before performing the welfare check.
Not sure, there are several differently edited videos, maybe none showing her pointing the gun at the cop, maybe none showing the gun in her hand at all.
I've only seen the gun lying on the floor.
Situational Awareness.
Auntie had none. I am not blaming her for getting killed, but she made two major mistakes Saturday night.
1. Leaving her front door open for hours.
2. Not taking safety precautions when she heard noises outside the window.
It was not a burglar, but a cop. And if it was a burglar, pointing a gun out the window could well have gotten her shot dead just the same.
This is a tragic mistake. I hope we citizens can learn from this.
If I saw someone with a flashlight trying to peer through a window of my house at that hour I would have a gun out as well.
I guarantee it.
I do not have a doggie to feed it to, it was converted to carbon thoroughly enough by the toaster that I wouldn’t even try to feed it to a dog and the also-burning toaster was disposed of according to protocols for home appliances that betray me. :P
Ok, I tracked it down.
The neighbor sounds concerned and from the tone of his voice he makes it sound like the circumstances of the door open late into the night and seeing no one moving is suspicious.
It appears to me his description of circumstances and suspicions may have led the police officers to believe the situation was more dire than it was.
He may have meant well but the neighbors' concerns seem to have raised suspicions for the police that were unwarranted causing them to believe foul play or a crime may have been committed when it was as simple as the woman left or wanted her door open at 2:30 am.
Which is completely legal in TX.
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