[T. P. Pole]

Here's my thoughts.

Don't police have the "right" to search a car without consent if they can see things in plain sight? If they close the door, there is less that they can see.

I would suspect that not allowing the doors to be closed is standard procedure. This way, even if the detained do not give consent for a search, they can do a quick check. Once the doors are closed, that "free" seach can't happen.


As for the cops, I have no problem originally with the cops that did the stop. As far as they knew, it was a legit felony stop. But their wanting the door kept open (probably so they could search the car, again, an automatic reaction) is what caused the rest of the problem.

So, can we fault the cops for the felony stop? No, not really (at least not the cops actually on the street doing it). Can we fault the cops for not allowing the door to be closed? Here's where the problem starts. It is the probable policy of leaving the door open for the search that causes the rest of the event.

Can we fault the cop for the shooting? I haven't seen the video, so I don't really know.

Bottom line, it was the policy of leaving the door open so that they could do an illegal search that caused the killing.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

The cops, as part of the government have NO rights. They have responsibilities.

If this was my family and my little dog, I'd come back for that peice of crap.

[johnny7]

... it was the policy of leaving the door open so that they could do an illegal search that caused the killing.

This is definitely part of it. Cops love docile citizens.

They cuff you and toss you in the back seat. Then they slide the frontseat all the way back and check out if you're in enough discomfort.

The cuffing of the family on their knees speaks volumes. The killing of the dog was the period.

Lousey friggin' hacks!

[Atlas Sneezed]

"Don't police have the "right" to search a car without consent if they can see things in plain sight? If they close the door, there is less that they can see. "

This why, whenver possible, when you are asked to exit your car, you lock it behind you.