Three Months Later: Controversy Lingers over Police Shooting of Suspect in Shreveport

Shreveport, LA, Times ^ | 06-16-03 | Stingley, Alisa

[Theodore R.]

Police shooting fallout lingers Alisa Stingley / The Times Posted on June 15, 2003 A man, police and videotape.

Public release of the videotape, protest marches and "Back the Badge" rallies, volatile City Council meetings, a public forum, a visit by a national black leader, closed-door talks with the Justice Department, controversial state legislation, talk of boycotts, and just last week, yet another story about the shooting on the national evening news.

[Theodore R.]

The controversy prompted presidential candidate Rev. Al Sharpton to visit Shreveport earlier this month.

[MEG33]

A police officer was killed in a routine traffic stop in Ca.this week. The police must get the benefit of the doubt when pursuing a suspect.Mistakes were made in this volatile situation when statements about suicide were made early on.If Sharpton came down,I think it's going to be a bad situation.

[Atlas Sneezed]

"The police must get the benefit of the doubt when pursuing a suspect."

Scary!

[zeugma]

Just another example of why the police should not be able to fire until fired upon.

[Abe Froman]

Only if I get the "benefit of the doubt" when it comes to protecting my life too.