POLICE SHOOTINGS - Questions of Force

COMMENT:  It has become much too easy for Law Enforcement Officers to claim 'fear for their lives' when confronting suspects.  The evidence is 'if the suspect is black' he/she is automatically a treat.  This even applies to children.

In the reported case the officer failed to knock at the door nor announce that he was law enforcement.  If he had done either the victim would be alive today.

Officers need to be trained that they are here to protect citizens, and not assume they are a treat no matter what race they are.

"How a ‘lens of fear’ can make officers more likely to use deadly force" PBS NewsHour 10/15/2019

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Atatianna Jefferson was playing video games with her nephew when police arrived to check on a door left ajar.  According to her nephew, Jefferson heard noises outside and pointed her gun at the window.  Officer Aaron Dean shouted and immediately fired, killing Jefferson.  Amna Nawaz discusses police training, race and the use of force with Seth Stoughton of the University of South Carolina.