Posted on 06/29/2020 7:15:47 PM PDT by ChildOfThe60s
"They were asked — or told with the threat of suspension if they didn't do it — to go in the park area without protective gear, especially their ballistic helmets ... which is an insane request ... considering circumstances they've been facing the last month," Kentucky FOP President Berl Perdue said.
Perdue said officers had already removed several individuals with long guns from elevated positions Saturday night before the shooting in Jefferson Square. He said Louisville officers may file a grievance over the order regarding protective gear.
LMPD responded, saying in part that the department decided to have officers go in regular uniform because officers in heavy gear can elevate the tension among protesters. LMPD also said special response officers in heavier gear were nearby and ready to respond if necessary:
"Just before 11 p.m., two men with long guns were spotted by the air unit on top of a hotel parking garage downtown. SWAT team members went to investigate and found two men on top of the garage with long guns. The guns were taken by the officers and checked into the property room and the men were asked to leave the garage, which they did.
Also, cognizant that the presence of officers in heavy gear can elevate the tension among protesters, we opted to enter the park at closing time on Sunday night, 11 p.m., with officers in regular uniform. Because guns had been observed in the park, we also had special response officers in heavier gear nearby, ready to respond if necessary. Some officers expressed concerns about the approach, but no one was sent home and no one is being disciplined for raising concerns."
Copyright 2020 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
"They were asked — or told with the threat of suspension if they didn't do it — to go in the park area without protective gear, especially their ballistic helmets ... which is an insane request ... considering circumstances they've been facing the last month," Kentucky FOP President Berl Perdue said.
Perdue said officers had already removed several individuals with long guns from elevated positions Saturday night before the shooting in Jefferson Square.
And they had cops in heavy gear waiting in the wings if the unprotected cops got gunned down. Wow! That's some kinda leadership. The chief of police should be required to join the unprotected officers to see if anyone shoots them.
And yet, no one refused to follow these orders. Keep that in mind when cops are ordered to fire on us sometime in the future. They will follow orders and profess their lack of responsibility afterwards. "We were just following orders"
I saw this movie.
Mad Max.
Mel Gibson was great in it.
Yep. They will not risk their jobs, but they might be risking their very lives.
When seconds count, the special response officers in heavier gear are only minutes away.
This is seriously bad stuff.
There was a 1950s or early 60s Jonathon Winters LP and he grimly described deadly fighting in WWII. The commanding officer ordered the men into danger and said " I will be watching you in the distance through high powered lens binoculars." Like these police.
‘told with the threat of suspension ‘
“I was just following orders.”
Louisville Mayor Greg Fisher is scared of everything. His masterful plan would have Police officers laying in the streets begging protesters not to be mean and unfair to others. He doesn’t have the balls to allow Police to do their jobs.
He always craves in to community organizers and race baiters. He is always the first one in Louisville to take the side of repeat felon drug addicted criminals over highly skilled and trained police.
A perfect example the Breonna Taylor case which is still bring investigated there are many details of this case which are not yet known. Yet Fischer has jumped over to the victims side as if it’s an open and shut case.
Fat lot of good that will do them after getting shot.
I am dumbfounded that these officers were willing to put their lives in jeopardy rather than refuse to obey an obviously ludicrous and risky order.
The job is dangerous enough without being deliberately put into a situation that called for more precautions.
I am surprised that the superiors didn’t send them in armed, you know, to put the peaceful protestors more at ease and not feel threatened by them.
armed = unarmed
“I’d hoped to be able to go with you...but they need me here. Please rest assured I will be watching you in the distance through high powered lens binoculars as you make your way ashore through withering fire.”
If I have told this story once I have told it a thousand times over my years in the service and after. I love it was Jonathon Winters who did it because he was no slouch when it came to combat.
The police should’ve refused, en masse.
If those are the orders of the “leader” then a “leader” would walk into the park at the head of the phalanx.
That pussy Fischer ought to go do it himself.
Extremely well said. I hate seeing what this idiot is doing to my hometown.
Wow. Imagine being told by any other employer NOT to wear your safety gear.
“The guns were taken by the officers and the men were asked to leave”?! Are you shi—ing me?!
Sounds like a set-up. They were sitting ducks. Then the media fires everyone up. Chaos + divide and conquer!
“Perdue said officers had already removed several individuals with long guns from elevated positions Saturday night before the shooting in Jefferson Square.”
Doesn’t that just scare the crap out of you? Who were these guys? Antifa/BLM, Proud Boys or solid citizens there to protect the cops? Burning cop cars, smashing windows and looting is one thing. Snipers on the roof is a whole different level.
I’d REALLY like to know more about these guys.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.