Trigger happy cop. The officer plainly panicked. 7 shots? Yanez should be removed from duty as a police officer, at the very least.
36
Will there be any analysis on why these trials are resulting in acquittals - what the determinations hinge on, what the requirements are for a guilty verdict?
This shouldn't be seen only as a matter of race - when the rights of any civilian are eroded, it erodes the rights of all citizens. Officers should only be using weapons when actually threatened and there are no other options, not at the perception of threat - they should have a very high bar for using a weapon or it puts us all at risk. That their bar has been set lower than the public's is chilling. I can think of no other government position - teachers, judges, military, clerks - where acting and behaving worse than the public is resoundingly accepted.
This shouldn't be seen only as a matter of race - when the rights of any civilian are eroded, it erodes the rights of all citizens. Officers should only be using weapons when actually threatened and there are no other options, not at the perception of threat - they should have a very high bar for using a weapon or it puts us all at risk. That their bar has been set lower than the public's is chilling. I can think of no other government position - teachers, judges, military, clerks - where acting and behaving worse than the public is resoundingly accepted.
30
Until we acknowledge the implicit bias ingrained in our culture, incidents like this will continue. Regardless of the verdict, a man is dead who didn't deserve to die. We can do better than this. My heart goes out to the Castile family.
22
We need to start labeling these wrongful shootings by cops what they are acts of terrorism.
17
“What we’re saying is that he did not follow orders. He was stoned.”
So, the penalty for being stoned in Minnesota is immediate death by gunshot.
So, the penalty for being stoned in Minnesota is immediate death by gunshot.
30
Perhaps the lesson for police would be to try harder to avoid shooting people. The lesson for everyone else -- don't carry guns! The gun is not a defensive tool. It only provides an offensive capability. If you prove able to out-shoot an aggressor, YOU are still an aggressor yourself. --And that means that you are part of the problem, seldom part of any lasting solution.
I have been in foreign combat but I will not carry a gun at home. When an officer asks me if I am armed, I answer: "No, that's what I'm paying YOU for."
I have been in foreign combat but I will not carry a gun at home. When an officer asks me if I am armed, I answer: "No, that's what I'm paying YOU for."
20
It was a tragedy for Mr. Castile, he definitely didn't deserve it. However, it was not Mr. Yane's fault. It is America's gun problem.
In countries with sane gun regulation, policemen are not so feared about that others would pull out a gun and kill them. Lot of policemen even don't have a gun with them most of the time.
To people that are protesting our justice system, let's face the face. If Mr. Yane is your son, do you really believe that he should be punished for his response in that situation? Let's fight together but take the right action, change the gun laws!
In countries with sane gun regulation, policemen are not so feared about that others would pull out a gun and kill them. Lot of policemen even don't have a gun with them most of the time.
To people that are protesting our justice system, let's face the face. If Mr. Yane is your son, do you really believe that he should be punished for his response in that situation? Let's fight together but take the right action, change the gun laws!
11
How is the decision to kill another human being the fault of the government and not the fault of the individual? Yanez had a choice and he chose to kill someone deliberately with 5 to 7 rounds of bullets. I guess Slavery isn't the fault of contemporary society either where you all still continue to benefits from all of the raping, stealing, and pillage that "your" ancestors committed against people and nations. Would you feel the same way if you were victims of these inhumanities?
11
In the video, you can hear that the cop is absolutely terrified at the thought of a black man with a gun. Never mind the incessant political posturing for "gun rights", never mind the bigoted police culture that gives rise to such terror, never mind that lack of accountability for the police, just keep arming Americans and shooting the black ones. Yeah freedom!
20
I am so sorry for the Castille family. This verdict was atrocious. Mr. Castille's life means more to me now more than ever.
15
Certainly tragic. Every police officer doesn't go to work every day looking to kill black men. The victim obviously presented a threat whether perceived correctly or not. Perhaps the officer is guilty of misconduct but not of criminal wrong doing. The hard left wants a pound of flesh for all these types of cases. A sad reality of our increasingly polarized and divided society.
7
So, based on your statement, if a police officer percieves all black people as being a threat - they should shoot them. How about not becoming a police officer.
10
You say "the victim obviously presented a threat," yet the article clearly points out that there is no evidence -- video or otherwise -- to prove that assertion. This is the kind of fuzzy thinking we liberals are so very concerned about.
8
I have not the slightest idea what it has to do with "left" when you think police officers should not shoot dead black motorists for trivialities. Is this really a socialist point of view? Ah, I see. The conclusion from all those trials is that a police officer in the U.S. can shoot any black guy for no reason at all (or for backtalk, trying to evade, being slow, being not polite) with no fears of being punished. That's proven now. All he has to do is saying that he "perceived a threat". And perception is subjective so that cannot be refuted. You can even shoot him in the back. Or empty your clip in him when he already lies on the floor. Because you as a police officer, after perceiving a threat, just "follow your training" which is obviously to pump the citizen so full of bullets that you can be pretty sure he must be dead. I never even heard of a case in Germany where a police officer fired seven bullets into some suspect. Yeah, German police officer also shoot sometimes. But seven bullets, that would be seen as excessive overkill which would end your career. Maybe we don't love death enough around here.
28
If Americans would stop acting like they are living in the gun-slinging west of Hollywood movies and TV, the police wouldn't have to be so afraid for their lives. Why does a cafeteria manage carry a hand gun?
12
Why is a Cafeteria Manager being pulled over for a crime he had absolutely nothing to do with.
16
I'm frustrated by the posts I see on here where people say something to the liking of "I was disturbed by the livestream where you see he was cooperating and doing nothing wrong and then the officer just decides to shoot him." That is NOT on the video. The video began AFTER he was shot. While that certainly could be the order of events leading up to this tragedy, you absolutely did NOT see it on the video. I'm tired of all the fake outrage posts just to appear 'woke' or get likes. Someone's loved one died here. If you are going to post a novel in the comment section about how much it bothered you, the least you could do is know those basic details that you would know if had actually seen the video or read this article instead of jumping straight to the comments section.....Fake emotional outrage keeps us from making the type of progress needed to prevent events like this from occurring.
13
The most sophisticated lab study of police shoot/don’t-shoot decisions to date, published this year in Criminology and Public Policy, undercuts the Black Lives Matter narrative about trigger-happy, racist cops. Washington State University researcher Lois James put 80 officers from the Spokane, Wash., police department in highly realistic video simulators of street scenarios. Officers were confronted with potentially armed suspects identical in all aspects, including body language and weapon, except for their race. The test subjects were not told the purpose of the research, which was conducted between August 2012 and November 2013, before the issue of race in policing reached the fever pitch of prominence that it possesses today.
The officers were three times less likely to shoot unarmed black suspects than unarmed white suspects and took significantly longer to decide to shoot armed black suspects than armed white suspects. James hypothesized that officers were second-guessing themselves when confronting black suspects, due to their awareness of the potential negative repercussions of shooting a black suspect. James’s finding that participants, in her words, “displayed significant bias favoring Black suspects” in their shooting decisions replicated the results of two previous studies she has run on shoot/don’t-shoot decisions. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2016/07/19/acad...
The officers were three times less likely to shoot unarmed black suspects than unarmed white suspects and took significantly longer to decide to shoot armed black suspects than armed white suspects. James hypothesized that officers were second-guessing themselves when confronting black suspects, due to their awareness of the potential negative repercussions of shooting a black suspect. James’s finding that participants, in her words, “displayed significant bias favoring Black suspects” in their shooting decisions replicated the results of two previous studies she has run on shoot/don’t-shoot decisions. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2016/07/19/acad...
11
Simple question: Where are all the dead white motorists with broken tail lights and such? Given there's this bias you relate and the fact that there are so much more white people present, it follows by logic that the shooting of innocent and unarmed white people by police officers must really be some huge problem in the U.S. Please elaborate.
14
Another article showed pictures of all the men who've murdered police officers.
Every single on was a white male.
But, cops consistently kill African American men, claiming we make them fear for their lives.
Every single on was a white male.
But, cops consistently kill African American men, claiming we make them fear for their lives.
8
Yet law enforcement officials have also said that use of fatal force on either armed or unarmed individuals is infrequent, despite the media coverage. “Cell phone videos [have] taken what is still a remarkably rare event, which is the police use of deadly force, and turned it into a nationwide moral crisis,” Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn told Newsweek last July.
Santa Barbara County Undersheriff Bernard Melekian agreed. “What’s gotten lost in the rhetoric is the millions, literally millions, of contacts every day that don’t result in any force being used for anything—let alone deadly force,” he told Newsweek. Many thousands of people die from medical error each year, he added, “but nobody is suggesting that we put body cameras on doctors.” http://www.newsweek.com/police-killings-unarmed-black-men-538542
Santa Barbara County Undersheriff Bernard Melekian agreed. “What’s gotten lost in the rhetoric is the millions, literally millions, of contacts every day that don’t result in any force being used for anything—let alone deadly force,” he told Newsweek. Many thousands of people die from medical error each year, he added, “but nobody is suggesting that we put body cameras on doctors.” http://www.newsweek.com/police-killings-unarmed-black-men-538542
9
Not true, Mr. Thornton. There were 511 officers killed in felonious incidents and 540 offenders from 2004 to 2013, according to FBI reports. Among the total offenders, 52 percent were white, and 43 percent were black. Considering that blacks make up only 13% of the population, which offender is more likely to kill the police? https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/01/09/are-black...
14
I cannot judge because I was not there, but blaming the presence of marijuana in Mr. Castile's car as a partial excuse for shooting him is pretty lame. The police officer's lawyers should be ashamed of themselves for using the "Marijuana Defense." If anything, marijuana makes people calmer and less violent, unlike the speed freaks I run into every day here in Sin City, most of whom DO act like Psychos and ARE dangerously unstable and violent. Like Sandra Bland's death, this was a petty violation and police stop which turned into a tragedy for everyone involved.
11
Jim Crow lives- in a police uniform.
7
And some people question the need for a "black lives matter" movement (thinking they have a snappy come-back when pointing out that "all lives matter"--as though we have not behaved as though white lives matter consistently for centuries).
Can you imagine if Castile had been a white, wealthy NY businessman? Or a Connecticut soccer mom?
Can you imagine if Castile had been a white, wealthy NY businessman? Or a Connecticut soccer mom?
26
I don't know about the wealthy businessman, but would a soccer mom be carrying a gun? What is the probability that a soccer mom is going to pull out a gun and shoot the policeman? 43% of offenders who murder police are black, yet they make up 13% of the population. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/01/09/are-black...
10
another day
another gut punch
am glad i was @ local animal shelter petting sick dog ...
doesn't make me "good"
just sick of being *slapped* every day
( I've been slapped
I've been punched
I know ... )
the police only see a 62 yr old white pretty grandma
not fair ... but who said life was "fair."
another gut punch
am glad i was @ local animal shelter petting sick dog ...
doesn't make me "good"
just sick of being *slapped* every day
( I've been slapped
I've been punched
I know ... )
the police only see a 62 yr old white pretty grandma
not fair ... but who said life was "fair."
3
Jeronimo Yanez, a cop, shoots with a gun and found not guilty of manslaughter. Michelle Carter sends a text and is guilty of manslaughter.
Sure the circumstances are different, but one must appreciate the comparison. I'm not sure justice was served in either case.
Sure the circumstances are different, but one must appreciate the comparison. I'm not sure justice was served in either case.
9
Yes justice was served to Officer Yanez. He was indicted and tried and found not guilty. So sorry if you don't like like the American justice system.
5
It is the word "American" that seems to be displaced in your sentence about the justice system !
and the texting manslaughter was premeditated over a period of months! Cold-blooded.
While it's a tragedy are we not wasting our time trying to evaluate the verdict without seeing the dash cam footage? How is anyone in this forum able to determine if the officer's actions were justified? Maybe I am missing something since I have not followed every detail of this case but I want to see the video the jurors saw first before judging the reasonableness of his actions.
4
The dash camera did NOT show the shooting itself. The vehicle blocked it. The video the jury saw was AFTER the shooting.
3
The main problem I have with the "I felt threatened" defense is that there seems to be no requirement for determining an officers level of threat resilience before s/he's given a badge and a gun. Everybody is different. Some people are scared of their own shadow, others have nerves of steel. Suppose just being black makes the officer feel threatened? Or hearing a noise puts them on edge? Can s/he still become an officer? There is no doubt that police are involved in lots of volatile and difficult situations, so you would think that testing to ensure an office can remaining calm under a reasonable amount of pressure would be a requirement for hiring them.
16
When you say you have a gun in the car and you make any sudden move without informing the officer prior to making said move, you most likely will be shot. Any color human who threatens a police officer has already committed a crime and deserves the outcome IF they do not follow what they are told. Not saying YES or NO about guilt (that is the job of the courts) but common sense says you will most likely lose when you confront the police with a weapon or threat of a weapon.
12
@cj,
You totally made that up. Stop spreading lies.
You totally made that up. Stop spreading lies.
7
Everyone here who has never faced someone with a gun is so sure that the officer shouldn't have feared anything.
Your anger would be more justified for situations where it turned out there was no gun present. Can't you pick your battles properly?
Your anger would be more justified for situations where it turned out there was no gun present. Can't you pick your battles properly?
7
So, you are saying that Black people have no right to have possession of s legal gun?
4
Only white people can have guns? It was a legally owned firearm, a fact he politely pointed out to the officer. The officer is employed as an official of the state. He was, or should have been, capable of distinguishing between real threats and imagined threats. He failed to do so and another black man is dead.
14
No, he clearly stated that facing a gun creates a dangerous situation. He did not make a distinction for color. You are purposely misconstruing the statement to bolster your feelings about race.
4
I was angry when I saw this verdict, but I was irate when I read this news story. It wasn't enough that this officer got off by saying he feared for his life--don't they all when they kill someone when they know they shouldn't have? But for his lawyer to blame the victim for his own death by saying he was stoned. By stopping him on a phony broken tail light infraction when he was hoping to score a possible robber further denigrates this officer and his highly questionable skills. Now he gets acquitted, a settlement, and a chance to start over, according to his lawyer. He took Chases' life and gets rewarded.
Every time this happens--the unnecessary killing of a person of color and the acquittal of the officer, I vow to keep myself and my family away from law enforcement involvement in our lives unless there is absolutely no other choice. You see, my family is white, black, and bi-racial. If I call 911, I'm afraid some over-zealous officer will shoot someone in my family assuming that person is a robber or an intruder in my affluent neighborhood. When I drive, especially with black or bi-racial members in my family in the car, I don't speed, I use my signal when I change lanes, and I make sure all my lights are working. i'm white, but I know that won't protect the people of color in my family from this type of "fear for my life" gun violence. America is in a sorry state--so are law enforcement and the criminal justice system that enables it.
Every time this happens--the unnecessary killing of a person of color and the acquittal of the officer, I vow to keep myself and my family away from law enforcement involvement in our lives unless there is absolutely no other choice. You see, my family is white, black, and bi-racial. If I call 911, I'm afraid some over-zealous officer will shoot someone in my family assuming that person is a robber or an intruder in my affluent neighborhood. When I drive, especially with black or bi-racial members in my family in the car, I don't speed, I use my signal when I change lanes, and I make sure all my lights are working. i'm white, but I know that won't protect the people of color in my family from this type of "fear for my life" gun violence. America is in a sorry state--so are law enforcement and the criminal justice system that enables it.
19
It looks like cop who had no control is fear pulled the trigger due to inexperience. The real crime is the traditional "circling of the wagons" that all police departments are guilty of. This man should never be allowed to carry a badge again.
6
There are unwritten rules on how to act when you are pulled over. Keep your hands on the wheel where the officer can see them. Don't reach for anything and be polite. Police are jumpy, several have been shot in the last month often by blacks. If you look at the FBI crime statistics you see much higher violent crime by blacks that any other racial group. It isn't racist to say that it's FBI statistics. Police are human they learn things that help keep them alive. Do those learned things make them racists? I don't think so, but they do make them more leary in certain situations. If an officer is more jumpy and worried he will react differently and perhaps more violently. I think the key is stay still, and be polite. It's really that simple. In this case the officer says don't reach for the gun but he keeps reaching and it cost him his life.
12
@buzz,
You totally made that up. Stop spreading lies.
You totally made that up. Stop spreading lies.
1
Buzz A buzz off with your lies. I'm going to cite the FBI link that proves you wrong. Take forcible rape for example according to the FBI whites commit 65%. Arson 73/6%. Arson and rapes are violent crimes. Most of the criminals who shoot cops are white. Just yesterday they captured two who murdered a black and white prison guards on the bus transporting them in Georgia. They were found in Tennessee. And I'm sure you remember how a white couple shot and killed some officers in Las Vegas while having breakfast at a diner. Also last year in Oregon I'm sure you remember a bunch of white men on trial for taking over federal property with guns trespassing and committing crimes yet the jury exonerated them all. They should be in prison. That was jury nullification. And there are still a bunch of them to be tried in Nevada for illegally trespassing on federal land. Yanez is a liar. Castile was following instructions to give him his ID. No criminal who wants to shoot a cop will first tell him he has a gun and a license to carry it. Every heard of Bonnie and Clyde?
https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2012/crime-in-the-u.s.-2012/tables/...
https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2012/crime-in-the-u.s.-2012/tables/...
10
Wayne my point was simple, you get pulled over behave in a very cautious way, your life can depend on it. Every death is a tragedy black or white. But police are conditioned by their own experiences and that makes it crucial for young black males to be extremely cautious when interacting with the police. FBI data says Blacks are more likely to kill cops than be killed by cops. This is according to FBI data, which also found that 40 percent of cop killers are black. According to Mac Donald, the police officer is 18.5 times more likely to be killed by a black than a cop killing an unarmed black person.
1
Too
many
guns
in
America
.
many
guns
in
America
.
10
This is wrong. Why must I support the police with my tax dollars if they are free to kill our citizens?
8
It is a risk to be carrying a gun in your car, but especially so if you have marijuana in the car. It is also an extreme risk to not keep your hands still on the steering wheel when you tell the cop you have a gun. These are just basic facts that would apply to anyone, and I'm sure all gun owners would agree, even white gun owners who talk to each other about this. If you avoid these risks, you have a one in a million chance of being shot. If you take on these risks, it shrinks to maybe one in a hundred.
The extreme risk established so far has nothing to do with anyone's race.
Yanez I'm sure had dealt with dozens of black people. He had even dealt with Castile (booking him once). No improper conduct ever noted.
I've done risky things, we all do. Sometimes you don't survive.
You just drag black people down by making this all about race.
(Here, read this NPR article that includes a story of a cop almost shooting someone after he wasn't motionless...
http://www.npr.org/2016/07/19/486453816/open-carry-concealed-carry-gun-p...
The extreme risk established so far has nothing to do with anyone's race.
Yanez I'm sure had dealt with dozens of black people. He had even dealt with Castile (booking him once). No improper conduct ever noted.
I've done risky things, we all do. Sometimes you don't survive.
You just drag black people down by making this all about race.
(Here, read this NPR article that includes a story of a cop almost shooting someone after he wasn't motionless...
http://www.npr.org/2016/07/19/486453816/open-carry-concealed-carry-gun-p...
6
For shame! This verdict is one of the most outrageous travesty of justice I've ever seen. IMHO, our judicial system must be overhauled, immediately! Justice, in this case, as in many other cases (OJ, etc.) has been denied. When you take a bunch of people off the streets, with little and or no legal academic experience, such will continue to occur. The video of the Castile killing makes it crystal clear, the officer was way too trigger happy. At close range this idiot shot seven shots into a car with a child in the back seat! thus, demonstrating why some cops should never be hired, in the first place. It all boils down to the intelligent level of some cops, whereby, they are simply incapable of making the right call when making a life & death decisions. Notwithstanding, lame jury members, police departments across the nation are hiring the lowest common denominators from society, thereby, putting at risk everyone of us! Mr. Castile was fully complying with this dumb cop. Even Castile's demeanor did not rise to the level of any disrespect to this dumb officer. In short, this was, yet again, a racially motivated killing of an innocent black man! I am sickened by how dangerous it must be for black men to move about. It's high time to clean house from top down in law enforcement! All Americans should be outraged by this clear-cut miscarriage of justice. Better vetting and training of police officers must be made. Nix the concept of simpletons deciding our fate in court, as well.
6
I thought police are trained to shoot to disable but not shoot to kill?? All in all, things will not change in this country until people of color especially blacks are treated equally and given equal opportunities to social, economic or political services. Because the system is designed to oppress them, many turn out miserable and hence they will continue being treated as suspects by everyone. Even hardworking blacks who have beaten all odds to success are stereotyped and always suspected of being criminals, drug addicts, lazy, dumb, semi educated, etc! I am a living testimony of a successful black woman and whites are always dumbfounded wondering at my "intelligence". It's a sad sad state of affairs!
9
There is no such thing as "shoot to disable"
American justice is black and white in it's injustice. It appears most cops are cowards hiding behind racism.
7
and you been out there protecting me against this horde? I don't think you have.
3
We can't have it both ways. In the years since 9/11, Americans have engaged in this lavish sentimentalization of "first-responders," as we now call them, missing no opportunity to extol the courage of people like the two Capitol police officers who risked their lives to engage the looney with an assault rifle at the Congressional baseball practice. I have no issue with celebrating the routine bravery of people who are charged with protecting the public, when they are indeed protecting the public. But if so, it's equally important to acknowledge––and punish––the homicidal cowardice of a police officer like Jeronimo Yanez, who murdered Philander Castile in cold blood because the mere prospect of a black man with dreadlocks in a car with his girlfriend made him "fear for his life."
7
The Yanez defense was that he acted reasonably given his training. Bet a good attorney could win quite a large verdict against the town that trained him to fire 7 times at an unarmed man for the crimes of driving with broken tail light, resembling a robbery suspect, reaching into glove compartment for ID at officer's request, and, the most serious offense, being black while driving. $10,000,000?
7
The killing was justified and the officer was using his best judgement as far as I, and apparently the jury, can see.
Happy to not see him go to jail......best of luck to him.
Happy to not see him go to jail......best of luck to him.
1
Yanez could have simply pulled his gun -- without firing -- and waited to see what Castile took out of his pocket.
2
You are marked for death if you're a Black person in this country, always presumed guilty and " less than" and treated that way due to 400 years of systemic racism. It is immoral, unconscionable and wrong. Yanez should have been convicted. The system failed Philsndo Castile. Shame on prosecutors and the jury.
9
Why did Yanez have his gun out when he approached the car if the stop was for a taillight infraction? I have been pulled over a couple times, but I don't ever recall the policeman having a drawn gun. It seems like the police man had determined in advance, based on the race of Mr. Castile, that he was potentially dangerous. A very tragic situation.
7
The officer thought he resembled a robbery suspect according to the article
4
In the article it clearly stated that the officer put his hand on his gun when he was informed by the driver that he had gun. The officer Drew and fired his gun when he thought that the driver was reaching for his gun. With that being said, the officer still did not follow protocol or correct procedure when he was informed of the gun in the car. He clearly overreacted. I am a white middle aged man, and I feel that this officer should have been found guilty.
3
Of course you did not hear all the testimony, but you are qualified to second guess the jury?
3
What a cruel irony of justice in this country.
A mentally ill juvenile is convicted of an intentional killing because she encouraged a man to commit suicide. Suicide. The intentional killing of oneself. She wasn't there. She didn't even speak to him. She texted. He would have ignored her texts. But he didn't. Her words mixed with his inclination. But she did not hook up the pipe to his car. She didn't open the car door and hold it closed when he tried to get out.
But a police officer -- an adult, considered fully sane, charged with protecting and serving -- is acquitted of murder, when he was the one that put a bullet inside an unarmed man, a beloved member of a community of children, and watched him bleed to death. Still pointing his weapon, indicating that he would shoot again. That he was ready, willing, and able to continue down a path by which his immediate action was THE cause of death.
I'm utterly confused. And deeply angry.
A mentally ill juvenile is convicted of an intentional killing because she encouraged a man to commit suicide. Suicide. The intentional killing of oneself. She wasn't there. She didn't even speak to him. She texted. He would have ignored her texts. But he didn't. Her words mixed with his inclination. But she did not hook up the pipe to his car. She didn't open the car door and hold it closed when he tried to get out.
But a police officer -- an adult, considered fully sane, charged with protecting and serving -- is acquitted of murder, when he was the one that put a bullet inside an unarmed man, a beloved member of a community of children, and watched him bleed to death. Still pointing his weapon, indicating that he would shoot again. That he was ready, willing, and able to continue down a path by which his immediate action was THE cause of death.
I'm utterly confused. And deeply angry.
13
Yanez mishandled the situation very badly. He was already nervous because he was following up on someone he thought might have committed an armed robbery. Then when Castile told him he had a gun, he flipped out and didn't do anything sensible to defuse the situation, like telling Castile to put his hands on the steering wheel.
Castile was apparently just getting out his wallet to get his driver's license, which Yanez had asked for. I don't believe he was pulling out his gun as the defense claims. That seems very out of character for him.
But it doesn't seem like Yanez did anything actually criminal. It would be criminal if he shot Philando Castile because he wanted to murder someone.
He had a dangerous, demanding job to do. Lots of people in his shoes would eventually freak out and shoot someone.
Some people are so dangerous they have to be kept locked up, but Yanez doesn't seem like that. He should just never police the streets again - maybe make him a desk officer. And he should never have a gun again.
If we want to prevent this from happening again, the answer is not to put yet another person in prison. Gun control would be a good start. This wouldn't have happened in Germany, say, which has good gun control.
Castile was apparently just getting out his wallet to get his driver's license, which Yanez had asked for. I don't believe he was pulling out his gun as the defense claims. That seems very out of character for him.
But it doesn't seem like Yanez did anything actually criminal. It would be criminal if he shot Philando Castile because he wanted to murder someone.
He had a dangerous, demanding job to do. Lots of people in his shoes would eventually freak out and shoot someone.
Some people are so dangerous they have to be kept locked up, but Yanez doesn't seem like that. He should just never police the streets again - maybe make him a desk officer. And he should never have a gun again.
If we want to prevent this from happening again, the answer is not to put yet another person in prison. Gun control would be a good start. This wouldn't have happened in Germany, say, which has good gun control.
6
Gun control! No matter an individual's right to bear arms. If the NRA weren't as (financially) powerful as it is, would this topic still be so toxic? I'll never understand America's obsession with guns. Does it really provide the freedom the individual gun owner is using in his/her defense? Or is it merely the animalistic side in human beings wanting to kill and defend? There are far too many people unable to control this very innate attribute. Therefore, it's my deepest wish that the ability to carry guns, now even by severely mentally ill persons, would be laid to rest. Finally and for good by prohibiting the right to carry a gun. For all. See how many killings this would prevent. If you don't have a gun, you can't shoot another dead. Your child won't find the gun and thus can't take a playmates life or his own. Cops wouldn't "have to" shoot anyone they pull over. I know this is simplistic in its terms but I think you'll get the picture. And in my defense I urge anyone to look at life to countries where this issue is not an issue. Gun deaths aren't part of life, simply because no one has a gun in his or her possession. It's as easy as it sounds.
1
"Mr. Gray, the defense lawyer, said Officer Yanez had to react quickly to what he believed was an imminent threat…"
This isn't good enough. Not anymore. Not in Minnesota, not in Missouri, not in Cleveland – not in America.
Yanez may have "believed" there was an imminent threat, but he was wrong. His terrible mistake cost a man his life, and he deserves to go to jail.
This isn't good enough. Not anymore. Not in Minnesota, not in Missouri, not in Cleveland – not in America.
Yanez may have "believed" there was an imminent threat, but he was wrong. His terrible mistake cost a man his life, and he deserves to go to jail.
7
According to testimonies and from the start, the driver did obtemperate with the police officer's routine round of questioning nonetheless, seconds later his body ends up riddled with bullets, life being taken from him.
The gun-toting officer, despite not having seen the muzzle of the weapon directed at him, on a snap decision shoots the driver multiple times...
-all charges are being dropped-. Another case where the police officer gets a pass...
How does one is supposed to make sense of that, except considering this a parody of justice?
I guess this sets off valid reasons for protest.
The gun-toting officer, despite not having seen the muzzle of the weapon directed at him, on a snap decision shoots the driver multiple times...
-all charges are being dropped-. Another case where the police officer gets a pass...
How does one is supposed to make sense of that, except considering this a parody of justice?
I guess this sets off valid reasons for protest.
5
I I am surprised that nobody is commenting about he potential contribution of the judge to the verdict, versus say a hung jury. The jury requested to see the police cam video and to be able to read the transcript of the police officer's testimony. Both requests were denied. It seems that judges are going out of their way to deny jurors the ability to do their jobs well.
7
I don't know the law in Minnesota, but I hold a concealed weapons permit, and in SC the very first thing you are required to say to any law enforcement officer if you have a weapon in your vehicle is "I have a CWP and there is a weapon in my vehicle". The smart thing to do is to have both DL and CWP in hand and out the window, but there's not always time for that, and it also sort of requires some advance internal role playing. Mr. Castile was murdered, maybe not plain and simple, but murdered nonetheless. This verdict is wrong. Those jurors should be ashamed.
5
Do you tell the officer about the gun while you are reaching for something? Castile did. Don't you make sure your hands are on the wheel when you say it? Castile didn't. What do you think of someone like Castile who didn't seem to get all this right?
2
When I worked as a substitute school teacher I was required to have over two years of college education under my belt. I had that and more so was able to hand out the teacher's worksheets. Cops are given guns and the number of years of college they need in most places is exactly zero. One study on police and college education said that the performance of a rookie cop with a college education (bachelor of arts as opposed to science interestingly enough) is on par with the performance of an eleven year veteran. They were found to use force much less often than non-educated officers and yet still get the job done. This officer's thought processes were no match for the situation and, unfortunately, it killed Philando Castile.
5
"He might be the robber." Hmmm, when I was meeting a business colleague in Tokyo I described myself as "short, dark-haired, with glasses." "Ha! You just described every man in Japan," she laughed. Scan any police radio frequency, and you here similar broad-brush comments: Remember "African-American male youth, hoodie"?
I wasn't surprised at the verdict. Even considering the demographic consist of the jury. Part of me even has a smidgen of empathy for Officer Yanez. As so many others have commented, he was trained to operate on a basis of an oppositional stance as his default. Yanez's inherent racial bias (we all have it--welcome to the American Curse) upped his adrenaline even more. There is no room for engagement in this type of training. Change officer's inputs to get better outputs.
I wasn't surprised at the verdict. Even considering the demographic consist of the jury. Part of me even has a smidgen of empathy for Officer Yanez. As so many others have commented, he was trained to operate on a basis of an oppositional stance as his default. Yanez's inherent racial bias (we all have it--welcome to the American Curse) upped his adrenaline even more. There is no room for engagement in this type of training. Change officer's inputs to get better outputs.
4
I am disgusted by this. I watched the tapes carefully (as I'm sure the jurors did). Even if PC had been "reaching for his gun" -- which would have been incredibly stupid -- there was time to see if he indeed had a gun in his hand before unloading on him. Police don't have enough training, it's that simple. They're kids who are given a gun, a uniform and badge without proper training.
7
So you can be just going about your life, and if a cop just happens to decide he's frightened by something you did, he can shoot you? And get away with it? At least, he can if you're black? I - just - don't - understand - it.
American police need to be trained (as they are in so many other places!) to DE-escalate situations, not to escalate them. And we need to change our laws to create standards. The question should not be: Did the cop, in his individual subjectivity, feel frightened? But: Was there any OBJECTIVE reason for the cop to feel frightened? If not - if it's just his "feeling" - then no defense, no justification.
A person cannot control another individual's subjective feelings. People feel all sorts of things, for good reasons and for bad. Those feelings are that person's problem, not the problem of the rest of us. What we can control is our own behavior - which is exactly what Mr. Castille did (and the cop did not). I mean, what more could Mr. Castille have done? The fact that he did nothing to justify his shooting should mean that the shooting is, by definition, unjustified - no matter WHAT the cop was "feeling".
American police need to be trained (as they are in so many other places!) to DE-escalate situations, not to escalate them. And we need to change our laws to create standards. The question should not be: Did the cop, in his individual subjectivity, feel frightened? But: Was there any OBJECTIVE reason for the cop to feel frightened? If not - if it's just his "feeling" - then no defense, no justification.
A person cannot control another individual's subjective feelings. People feel all sorts of things, for good reasons and for bad. Those feelings are that person's problem, not the problem of the rest of us. What we can control is our own behavior - which is exactly what Mr. Castille did (and the cop did not). I mean, what more could Mr. Castille have done? The fact that he did nothing to justify his shooting should mean that the shooting is, by definition, unjustified - no matter WHAT the cop was "feeling".
3
The cop didn't have a reasonable fear, he panicked and gunned the guy down. Once Philando announced that he had a gun it was over for him due to the hysterical state of mind of this disturbed cop. The people won't accept this verdict.
4
Why do so many blacks fail to comprehend that the "good boys" who are killed by police have one thing in common They have all broken the law in ways large and small, often carry guns (mostly illegal), and continue the behavior that got them into trouble in the first place, e.g. Michael Brown. What matters, or turns the split second decision to fire, is the actual reality of what occurs in the moment and is shared with the jury. Many blacks don't care one way other another what these deceased men actually have done (criminal activity comes to mind) to draw the attention of officers. They simply don't care or wait until the facts are known before rising up to burn cities. They simply don't care they themselves are ruining lives and businesses (including black-owned businesses(
10
It is sad how black men are perceived as dangerous and thugs and these killings continue to be justified. Remember this country was never established in favor of black people these are daughters and sons of those same racists who were there before. The jury will always back the police no matter what unless it's a white man who was gunned down. There is a video on YouTube of a white man running around with a machete and none of the white cops shot this man, they chased him in the highway and surrounded him then handcuffed him. They never kill their own but if that was a black man a bazooka would have been used on him
3
Police culture is racists to the core and stacked against the poor. To them, the public, that is the poor public, is their enemy because their primary role is to protect the wealth of the elite. That's why they will shoot a kid for "stealing" a box of cigars; or a young man for driving while Black. But when it comes to the billionaires stealing from the poor, well, that's just business as usual to the cops. It is no wonder that five men own and control as much wealth as half the population of the planet. This is the root of the matter. Economic injustice; mass poverty and a police and military force that is under the command of the wealthy.
2
Again, a black man is made the cause of his own death. The offenses -- broken tail lights, failure to signal a lane change, walking in a gated neighborhood after sundown with an iced tea and a bag of skittles, a 12 year-old boy playing with a toy gun in a public park, selling tapes of shows outside a convenience store, selling loose cigarettes, simply being a big guy walking toward his car in the middle of the road, or being under the influence of something or other and walking in the middle of a Chicago street with a knife -- then riddled with 17 bullets at point-blank range. We could take each of these caeses and pull them apart analytically. But the bottom line is that each of these is a stitch in the pattern of history that is the killing of black men because they are feared. And the fear is that blackness will overtake a sense of safety. This is the same fear for which black men and women were lynched in times past. Today Michael Brown, Tamar Rice, Trayvon Martin, Freddie Gray, Philando Castille and their dead brothers are the latter-day lynching victims, whose bodies -- the strange fruit of struggle and pain -- lay on the pavement for all to see -- like "hanging from the poplar tree."
6
Black Lives Matter had and has a point about officers not being indicted in some police shootings, but when there is an indictment and the jury has acquitted,that's the end of the story.
2
Only an immoral, cold-blooded person would kill in this circumstance. When you endow such a person with the immense and privileged power only police enjoy to have, things will go uncontrollable. My practical understanding of police's job responsibility is mainly to provide evidence in an incident. But when the police himself is the suspect in the incident, he surely will alter his account of evidence in whatever way just to acquit himself. Then 90% of the times police will succeed in this, because who else have better evidence than the police? As the main possessor of evidence in any incident, police always enjoys a great advantage against citizens.
2
I read somewhere that until the third or fourth decade of the last century some states had laws forbidding black people from having or owing weapons.
I think that many cops are afraid of black men. Maybe it is fear, genetically imprinted ,of black salve rebellion. And Yanez could have Hispanic roots.
Hearing Yanez's voice clearly showed some real fear and anxiety.
Did he really have to pull him over for a tail light issue?
I understand that cops have a lot of discretion. To enforce or not enforce.
It can also be abused.
I think that many cops are afraid of black men. Maybe it is fear, genetically imprinted ,of black salve rebellion. And Yanez could have Hispanic roots.
Hearing Yanez's voice clearly showed some real fear and anxiety.
Did he really have to pull him over for a tail light issue?
I understand that cops have a lot of discretion. To enforce or not enforce.
It can also be abused.
Our legal system is flawed. If you are someone who works in this system, you have a moral imperative to work on fixing it. This must be your life's work if you choose to work in the field. One major issue is that there are a disproportionate number of minorities that are killed by our police officers. You must work on reducing/eliminating this imbalance.
1
I want to sit and cry, but what good would it do? We live in a violent gun culture where prejudice is alive and well. Why do the police have to shoot to kill? How are they trained? Would the man be dead if he were white? I've got to ask. How could the officer have felt threatened? Are the feds looking at this and asking is this a hate crime? I'm still crying for Trayvon Martin who was killed only 25 miles from me. Another sad day for America.
3
What is new?
As former Dallas Police Chief David O. Brown has said, nothing will change until the system is changed and that only happens when people vote. We live in the country we have literally elected to live in, and nothing changes until we change it ourselves. We need elected district attorneys that will bring charges against these officers, and elected legislators that will change the laws governing their actions, and see them through; that means we need to pay attention and vote in local elections. Protest, organize, vote.
9
I don't know what the problem is with juries. Every time a police officer does finally stand trial for murdering an unarmed citizen, juries don't convict! Are they afraid of future police actions, or just ok with cops killing citizens?
Charges were brought against the officer and the jury acquitted him. You don't get to vote in the justice system. The dead guy should not have been reaching for his gun.
1
He was not reaching for his gun he was getting the identification the officer ordered him to produce, J. Edgar. Should he have not moved and ignored what the officer said?
1
Federal prosecutors? Violation of civil rights? When does the investigation start.
2
The OJ prosecution? If you don't get a verdict you want in one court, try another one? Of course, it isn't double-jeopardy, but the man was already acquitted.
Why, in a hi-tech age AND an age of gun proliferation, are motorists required to fetch their wallet or documents during a "stop" - action that would unnerve any rational person, including a trained police officer, who knows how awash America is with guns and how insanely violent it is.
The police officer should have this info BEFORE he or she steps out of the patrol car, and approaching the vehicle should be for mere confirmation of the information already in hand.
The police officer should have this info BEFORE he or she steps out of the patrol car, and approaching the vehicle should be for mere confirmation of the information already in hand.
9
That information is only available on the vehicle,....and the person who was shot was in the passenger seat, not driving the vehicle.
Not to mention the officer should follow procedure, not make assumptions.
I know that people have a right to bear arms, but as empirical data have shown, having a gun increases your probability of victimization, not reduces it. Everyone can make their own choice on this matter, but I myself would rather be unarmed. Add a gun to a potential conflict and this can escalate the conflict exponentially. To me, guns make sense to hunt in the wilderness, not as an accessory in the inter city. Many NYT readers favour gun control, but they fail to see that in this case, absent the driver's gun, there most probably would not have been a fatality. Mistakes were made on both sides, but the liberals will only focus their furry on the police. If liberals as so anti-gun, they can start by trying to encourage the disarmament of the intercity, starting with Chicago. But it is easier to start protests than to do some self reflecting, and try to see where the intercity residents can reduce their chances of becoming a statistic, by the police or at the hands of fellow citizens. This is much less popular to advocate and is much harder work than protesting, but would be much more beneficial to the intercity community.
5
How many white people who get pulled over for a broken tail light (speaking very theoretically here) end having the cop reach for his gun instead of his citation book? How many white kids playing with plastic guns in parks have the cops called on them and then end up shot dead in one second flat when the cops arrive? Cops who are afraid of, and suspicious of, black people should not be police officers in black communities. Period.
White America has an ingrained fear, a historical consciousness - if you will - of black people.
That is why these killer cops get acquitted, because they testify in their own defense and they are able to convey to the jury the fear they felt at the moment of the interaction. They were genuinely afraid. And it almost doesn't matter whether the fear was reasonable under all of the circumstances, because the defendant is a cop, the jury rigorously applies the burden of proof- beyond a reasonable doubt -and will more likely than not, acquit.
Prosecutors will never get convictions in these cases until they figure out how to address the issue of the officer's fear of black people. The elephant in the room.
White America has an ingrained fear, a historical consciousness - if you will - of black people.
That is why these killer cops get acquitted, because they testify in their own defense and they are able to convey to the jury the fear they felt at the moment of the interaction. They were genuinely afraid. And it almost doesn't matter whether the fear was reasonable under all of the circumstances, because the defendant is a cop, the jury rigorously applies the burden of proof- beyond a reasonable doubt -and will more likely than not, acquit.
Prosecutors will never get convictions in these cases until they figure out how to address the issue of the officer's fear of black people. The elephant in the room.
19
White people who get shot by the police don't matter to the media. Nothing to fan the flames of hysteria over.
6
The officer claims fear of being shot by the victim, and that is found to be reasonable. Quite honestly, this shows that it is the driver who would have had a reasonable reason to fear for his life! No matter what this driver did, it seems that he was to be shot. If I were on a jury in a reverse case - where a driver shot the police officer in the same situation and claimed he (the driver) had reason to fear for HIS life, I would have to acquit the driver. I would be afraid to stop if a black man - but if i did not stop, i would also be shot - for not stopping! What is a black man to do?
9
Trying to find a racial bias in every thing is very unfortunate. When you talk in your home talk good about police and the work they do to protect you, while placing themselves at random harm. This will make you interact with more respect and more openness with the cop if you get pulled over. That may just save your life.
5
Who says this man didn't respect the police? He behaved like a model citizen and was shot within two minutes of being pulled over. He did nothing wrong. Your comment makes no sense.
2
I worked as a child and family/child protective services worker for 20 +/- yrs making home visits to many neighborhoods and homes that cops also frequented. I know that some of my co-workers were too scared to make home visits. Many, but not all, moved on to other jobs. Those that didn't, sometimes made shortcuts that were not beneficial to the kids and families they worked with.
As a child protective services worker, reports were screened for risk and I've been out on calls with scores of cops. I learned some of the cops were too terrified to be out in the public. I don't know that you can train terror out of people, cops or caseworkers. So, there has to be a way to do better pre-employment screenings and/or to supervise better in order to learn which cops have the problems and redirect them, help them get into different kinds of work.
This case is one of the most horrendous cases we've seen over the past few years for so many reasons.
I don't understand why so many cops and the organizations that represent/defend them don't seem to want to do better. If they just double down and refuse to admit there is a problem with some cops and some agencies, it won't get any better. And, I don't understand people not wanting to do better.
As a child protective services worker, reports were screened for risk and I've been out on calls with scores of cops. I learned some of the cops were too terrified to be out in the public. I don't know that you can train terror out of people, cops or caseworkers. So, there has to be a way to do better pre-employment screenings and/or to supervise better in order to learn which cops have the problems and redirect them, help them get into different kinds of work.
This case is one of the most horrendous cases we've seen over the past few years for so many reasons.
I don't understand why so many cops and the organizations that represent/defend them don't seem to want to do better. If they just double down and refuse to admit there is a problem with some cops and some agencies, it won't get any better. And, I don't understand people not wanting to do better.
4
You might not be able to appreciate the situation as well as an active uniformed police officer does. Cops see the world differently while doing their job, just as you see the world through your world view. They know violence. You, apparently do not.
3
A tragedy but not criminal. Police work is dangerous and stopping a vehicle's driver, matching a description of an armed robber, heightens the level of danger. The car stop was justified as the officer detected a broken tail light. Approaching the vehicle, the officer detected a strong odor of marijuana. Based on training and experience, an officer infers where there are drugs there are guns; resulting in his suspicion level to rise. The driver announced to the officer he was armed with a licensed firearm. Coupled with the scent of marijuana, driver matching the desciption of the armed robber and his announcement of possessing a firearm, the officer had reasonable suspicion to believe this person was the suspect. The chain of events spiraled out of control when the vehicle's operator attempted to produce his permit; as the operator was slowly moving his hand, the officer shouted " Don't Move"; the operator calmly stating I am only going for my wallet hands continuing toward his pocket; the officer commanding, "don't move"; the officer reasonable believing the driver was reaching for his gun shot the victim. It is incumbent of all licensed gun owners to inform police officers they possess a firearm, to sit still and follow the officer's instructions. There have been court rulings stating an officer need not see a glean of steel to draw his weapon if he reasonable believes his life is threatened. Based on the evidence, the officer committed no criminal act.
13
Seriously? A broken taillight? When was the last time you actually saw a car with a broken taillight? The 'looks like a suspect' is another way of saying 'a black male'. This whole stop and ensuing shooting was a disgrace.
2
That sounds logical enough. Now, I'm sure it wouldn't be a tragedy either if instead of Philando Castile, it was your son shot dead and your 4-year-old granddaughter sitting in the back seat witnessing it all.
2
The standard of, "did the officer feel threatened," has proven to be inadequate. This is the Midwest- there are a lot of white to guys driving around with guns in their cars who are not in any danger from the police., Who the police do not perceive as threats. This man was shot, because he was a black and said he had a gun. Incorrect risk evaluation followed by a series of wall excuses.
But they insist that I can't can't judge, I wasn't there. Exactly. If I was there and had felt threatened, I would have been just as incorrect in my evaluation. If an officer can't correctly evaluate risk, they can no longer serve.
But they insist that I can't can't judge, I wasn't there. Exactly. If I was there and had felt threatened, I would have been just as incorrect in my evaluation. If an officer can't correctly evaluate risk, they can no longer serve.
7
We are heartbroken for Philandro Castile's family and our community. This is the tragic confluence of the proliferation of guns in our homes and cars with police officers who are trained to shoot instead of de-escalate situations. In this case, a traffic stop went from 0 to 60 in the mind of the officer and the victim didn't have a chance.
The June 5th episode of NPR's Hidden Brain is illuminating. http://www.npr.org/podcasts/510308/hidden-brain
The June 5th episode of NPR's Hidden Brain is illuminating. http://www.npr.org/podcasts/510308/hidden-brain
6
The sad thing about not holding cops accountable for their actions is, if folks especially black men and boys feel they are going to shot anyways, they just might end up shooting a bunch of cops just because with a 'well since I'm probably going to killed anyways by a cop, I might as well take a few with me'.
That's not a pretty scenario, but at some point, a family suing and possible getting paid a settlement just ain't going feel the void of not having their loved one with them.
We need to start holding these Barney Fife type cops accountable, or at least getting them off the street, just as we want to get lawbreakers off the street.
And I would love to know, why do these cops, especially the white ones, seemingly have a great fear of the black man?
Where did this attitude originate from?
Correct this before it's too late.
That's not a pretty scenario, but at some point, a family suing and possible getting paid a settlement just ain't going feel the void of not having their loved one with them.
We need to start holding these Barney Fife type cops accountable, or at least getting them off the street, just as we want to get lawbreakers off the street.
And I would love to know, why do these cops, especially the white ones, seemingly have a great fear of the black man?
Where did this attitude originate from?
Correct this before it's too late.
4
I'll correct you.
This officer was charged and prosecuted and acquitted by a jury. What part of justice do you not understand? That the verdict you wanted was not afforded to you?
This officer was charged and prosecuted and acquitted by a jury. What part of justice do you not understand? That the verdict you wanted was not afforded to you?
4
Where did the attitude originate from, you ask? To find the answer you can start with "Democracy Matters... Winning the Fight Against Imperialism" by Cornel West. In addition, the Netflix documentary "13th" by Ave Duverney, will also provide you with excellent insght.
2
They were not on-scene, they are academics. No insight to this.
1
Why don't we accept the fact BLM has turned juries into racial political battle grounds!!! Sadly I've served on enough juries to know the media never sees all the evidence presented to a jury. For those judging police, why aren't the Obama, Clinton or Trump children in the military or serving as police. ..EXACTLY WHY I TOLD MY CHILDREN PROFESSIONS OFF LIMITS!!!!!
3
It is very sad to see as 'some other country Americans' (Latino, Chinese, etc) become policemen/policewomen they have the same attitude toward America's Black Citizens as White policemen and White policewomen: "It is in the line of duty to shoot American Black Citizens.
1
If you're going to be afraid for your life every time you go to work, then don't be a cop. Period.
13
It's time to start taking the excuses away from poorly-trained police departments. If there is allegedly an armed robbery suspect running around, there should be NO tail-light stops by solo officers especially. Further, the over-policing of minority communities leads to too many interactions that can go wrong. Why not take a picture of the license plate of a car with a minor infraction and send a warning or notification to the owner? I realize that would cut back on the income a city makes from using its poor residents as cash machines, but they would save money on the justified demonstrations, property damage, and lawsuits that take place after their nitwit cops kill innocent people.
Lastly, my good friend who is a retired NYPD detective did hundreds upon hundreds of car stops and never had to pull a gun. He says this cop should have taken cover if he had a worry. Police can now see the videotapes of these events, and not all are saying 'I wasn't there so I can't say.' They are outraged when cops kill like this. Btw, there are no rough rides in NYC, and an officer is required to be in the back with the arrested individual.
Lastly, my good friend who is a retired NYPD detective did hundreds upon hundreds of car stops and never had to pull a gun. He says this cop should have taken cover if he had a worry. Police can now see the videotapes of these events, and not all are saying 'I wasn't there so I can't say.' They are outraged when cops kill like this. Btw, there are no rough rides in NYC, and an officer is required to be in the back with the arrested individual.
3
If you click on the text below the "Blue Lives Matter" Twitter entry, there is a story there by Officer Blue that reads in the third paragraph: "Castile’s long previous criminal history does not show a tendency toward violence, although he had been stopped 52 times in the past few years for traffic-related issues."
Philando Castile was stopped 52 times for traffic-related issues. That's unbelievable.
It sounds to me like he was being targeted by police. And, what exactly was Mr. Castile's "long criminal history?"
And, finally, how does this clown, Officer Blue, get access to this police information?
Philando Castile was stopped 52 times for traffic-related issues. That's unbelievable.
It sounds to me like he was being targeted by police. And, what exactly was Mr. Castile's "long criminal history?"
And, finally, how does this clown, Officer Blue, get access to this police information?
7
I read the same information in numerous feature stories published on-line by major news organizations in the aftermath of the shooting. And the articles also discussed the reasons Mr. Castile was stopped so often.
1
Another poorly trained police officer is acquitted of a crime.
The district attorney said it all when he originally filed charges against Officer Yanez: "No reasonable officer, knowing, seeing and hearing what Officer Yanez did at the time, would have used deadly force under these circumstances."
No man---regardless of his color---should fear for his life when he gets into a car. No man should have to fear that his life may be in danger when confronted by a police officer.
I grieve for Philando Castile and his family. I grieve for all of the families that have suffered needlessly when police officers have used deadly force when it wasn't clearly warranted.
The district attorney said it all when he originally filed charges against Officer Yanez: "No reasonable officer, knowing, seeing and hearing what Officer Yanez did at the time, would have used deadly force under these circumstances."
No man---regardless of his color---should fear for his life when he gets into a car. No man should have to fear that his life may be in danger when confronted by a police officer.
I grieve for Philando Castile and his family. I grieve for all of the families that have suffered needlessly when police officers have used deadly force when it wasn't clearly warranted.
1
To all the Monday morning quarterbacks here: This was a trial by jury. This decision was wrenching for this jury. It deliberated for almost a week, and it was nearly deadlocked. Two of the jurors were African-American. They had to sift through a lot of evidence and the interpret the legal language in the charges. You weren't there. You didn't hear all of the evidence presented. You didn't have to make this difficult decision. Stop oversimplifying this as racism. Admit to yourself honestly that you don't know how you would have voted if you'd been on this jury.
11
Hold on to that reasoning Charlie when the next victim is your son, your daughter, your loved one.
3
Here in Chicago, I was called in for jury duty to serve in a case where a black man killed his white girlfriend.
Many blacks were called in for jury duty also.
One of the questions for jury selection was: "Was one of your family members murdered or did you know anyone who was murdered or killed somebody?"
If one answered "yes", they were not selected.
Most blacks answered "yes". So there were only two blacks on that jury. Now maybe many answered "no" because the suspect was a member of one of the most violent gangs and they just didn't want to face potential threats. It's Chicago, you know.
The suspect was found guilty.
Many BLM advocates would say it was a racist verdict. But the evidence was overwhelming. Some are just incapable of accepting the truth.
Many blacks were called in for jury duty also.
One of the questions for jury selection was: "Was one of your family members murdered or did you know anyone who was murdered or killed somebody?"
If one answered "yes", they were not selected.
Most blacks answered "yes". So there were only two blacks on that jury. Now maybe many answered "no" because the suspect was a member of one of the most violent gangs and they just didn't want to face potential threats. It's Chicago, you know.
The suspect was found guilty.
Many BLM advocates would say it was a racist verdict. But the evidence was overwhelming. Some are just incapable of accepting the truth.
10
Let's not forget that the U.S. Supreme Court (including RBG) has given the police a get-out-of-jail card when they use deadly force against citizens. All cop has to say is "I feared for my life" and no matter how unreasonable that claim may be. And because everyone knows black people, especially black men, are scary, drugged and dangerous any cop can kill any black person with impunity. That's justice, American style.
1
I think it safe to say, this is criminal miss justice and it's seems to be getting worse all the time.
Another bad day for the Black community.
Another bad day for the Black community.
3
He has been pulled over 49 times. So he knows the protocol. He should have kept his hands where they could be seen when he told the officer he had a gun. And then wait for the officer tell him the next step to take. Plus he was stoned and slow.
Wearing a uniform makes cops targets by police haters. It's a tough job. And this one almost got the cop killed.
Wearing a uniform makes cops targets by police haters. It's a tough job. And this one almost got the cop killed.
5
My take away from this disaster only adds to my already very low opinion of law enforcement in this country...at all levels. From my local cop driving around, always in a car driving around, all the way to the FBI. In all honesty, only the Trump Administration is at a lower level. Of course I do not know the particulars of this, but in my opinion, it speaks volumes about our exceptionalism.
3
Just watched the "video showing philando castile was innocent" - where do people get off with this nonsense. The video was filmed "after" he was shot - doesn't show what happened when the officer decided to shoot. How exactly does it prove philando was innocent? All we know as objective facts at this point are the policeman is not white and philando was pulled over 55 times for traffic violations (and convicted most of the time). Can any one of the righteous commenters here even think about being pulled over that many times? lie to me once shame on you, lie to me twice shame on me. The man was no saint - had it coming all through his life. It's not a crime deserving of death, but when you decide to repeatedly (55, let that statistic sink in) come in contact with gun wielding officers, what exactly do you expect to happen over time? You'll get shot one time or the other. I am so sorry that it had to upend the life of this particular officer.
5
When gun-wielding officers make it a point to harass and demean African American citizens, and the harassment is a condoned procedure of the department, then yes it is normal for black men to be unnecessarily stopped 55 times. The City of Ferguson's police department practices is a perfect example, and where Philando lived, I'm sure similar police harassment practices were in place. But, I think you already knew this. The question is whether you'll know this when the next time an officer murders a citizen in cold blood, that that person will be your son, daughter, wife, brother. Let's see if you'll be sorry that the incident had to "upend the life" of the officer.
1
In the same week, a 20 year old girl is convicted of manslaughter for encouraging her boyfriend via text to kill himself, while a police officer is acquitted of all charges after shooting a man 7 times.
My heart hurts for the Castile family.
What is the matter with our country?
My heart hurts for the Castile family.
What is the matter with our country?
2
This verdict was pure nonsense! Although I have respect for the job our policemen have to do, shooting a pistol SEVEN times at an innocent victim is not one of them. I can not imagine what it would feel like to be black and out in public. The constant fear of being falsely accused and executed must always be foremost on their minds. This is disgraceful!
1
This trial and its outcome remind me of the lynchings in the past.
Was ever a white participant of a lynch mob killing black people convicted?
It seems that nothing has changed since then.
Was ever a white participant of a lynch mob killing black people convicted?
It seems that nothing has changed since then.
3
In case you missed the fact, Yanez is not white. Whether he was right or wrong (a jury just acquitted him, fully,) it is NOT an issue of white cops hunting down innocent blacks.
That was deliberately false narrative being push by the media.
That part is Fake News.
That was deliberately false narrative being push by the media.
That part is Fake News.
9
When you encounter a police officer, the last thing you want to say is "I have a gun." You can show him your carry permit along with your license and say nothing. You can wait until he asks if you have a firearm in the car, and then answer calmly and tell him you will comply with whatever he wants you to do next.
This by no means implies that Mr. Castile is responsible for his own death, just that he made an unfortunate choice of words.
This by no means implies that Mr. Castile is responsible for his own death, just that he made an unfortunate choice of words.
5
BTW, when did it become the "law" that it is OK to shoot people because they smoke marijuana? Is that what they call "Minnesota nice"? Sounds like the Philippines.
I am sickened every day with this country's lack of justice for everyone.
Every time you call the cops, you justify their empire. Stop calling the cops and never talk to one when face to face.
I simply do not believe the officer when he says he feared for his life. Having seen the video evidence, and heard the arguments his defender offered, I don´t believe it. Period. Claiming fear for life is a default sanctioned weasel phrase to allow officers to shirk responsibility. It is dishonorable and cowardly.
1
Nobody really cares about the story. Well a handful of misguided progressive liberals.
3
And his family.
Between the gun rights advocates and the courts, we now have state sanctioned genocide of the black population. This driver did nothing wrong other than driving black. The state of our “democracy” has me in tears. We aren’t a democracy so much as a collusion of corporate- and lobby- sponsored interests.
We might as pull the red, white, and blue down and hoist the NRA and swastika colors, because the average American sure isn’t being served by the flag right now.
We might as pull the red, white, and blue down and hoist the NRA and swastika colors, because the average American sure isn’t being served by the flag right now.
1
Seven bullets?? You are trained in the use of weapons, trained to handle threat... And got so spooked by someone you claim is "stoned" enough to be reacting slowly... And you pump seven bullets... Really "credible"
1
Still awaiting the editorial from the New York Times blaming the murder on the "loss of civility in public discourse" brought about by Bernie Sanders and his violent socialistic theories...
2
More injustice!
It didn't take 7 shots!
This was murder!
It didn't take 7 shots!
This was murder!
2
How really frightening for us all if police are just weaponized nervous nellies to whom any gesture seems threatening, especially if it's a black person making it. I thought they were supposed to be highly trained professionals who were brave and went into their jobs understanding there was an element of danger in protecting the public. If police unions defend these kind of events as procedurally justified, I guess we have to understand them and treat them as frightened children with guns at best.
27
This is another example of media and social media building a story around a limited set of data (the video shot by the girlfriend) and convicting the officer in a court of public opinion. Everyone then believes the officer is guilty and shocked he gets off once all the facts are shown.
Perhaps The NY Times would benefit from looking at these controversial shootings from the perspective of why police are often forced to make these types of split section decisions and why they are within their legal rights.
These cases remind me of the movie Sully. Being critical after the fact when you have perfect information is different then making a split decision where a second guess could leave you dead.
Ultimately the officer had a suspect who was high and with a loaded gun and wasn't following directions while reaching for a gun he wasn't told not too. Would you really role the dice only knowing that the suspect may have just committed a robbery?
Perhaps The NY Times would benefit from looking at these controversial shootings from the perspective of why police are often forced to make these types of split section decisions and why they are within their legal rights.
These cases remind me of the movie Sully. Being critical after the fact when you have perfect information is different then making a split decision where a second guess could leave you dead.
Ultimately the officer had a suspect who was high and with a loaded gun and wasn't following directions while reaching for a gun he wasn't told not too. Would you really role the dice only knowing that the suspect may have just committed a robbery?
16
You weren't there. You don't know what he was reaching for. He may have been reaching for his driver's license. He may have been reaching for his permit. People like you with such opinions and lack of compassion deserve what it is defend.
1
Police procedure is the root cause of this tragedy. It justifies violence to certain citizens because of suspicion of alleged misconduct. Police are taught to shoot and see danger where there is none.
This is the same official acceptance of racism that flourished in the Jim Crow era. Lynching and racial violence did not occur in a vacuum or without tacit approval of law enforcement.
The Birmingham Baptist Church bombing in 1963 shocked a portion of Americans in awareness of racial hatred. I am not sure that any event can shock the consciousness of our country today.
This is the same official acceptance of racism that flourished in the Jim Crow era. Lynching and racial violence did not occur in a vacuum or without tacit approval of law enforcement.
The Birmingham Baptist Church bombing in 1963 shocked a portion of Americans in awareness of racial hatred. I am not sure that any event can shock the consciousness of our country today.
7
The jury, which contained two African Americans, acquitted him. It would be extremely insightful to know what they heard in the courtroom that swayed them towards acquittal.
17
So what there were AA jurors - doesn't matter. They got it WRONG too. It's about police incompetence - not the fact that black jurors acquitted a guy who shot another black guy. Sir/ma'am, it's not that complicated. Then again, maybe it is for a simple mind.
Seems to me a combination of various factors came together to cause this tragedy. A broken tail light, a driver meeting the description of a robbery suspect, a person under the influence of an illegal drug, an officer smelling the drug and wondering if this guy is also the robber, a gun in the vehicle and the victim moving in a manner where the officer could not see what he was doing with his hands. Add to that what seems to be a lack of proper training and the result is death. The officer acted out of fear not malice.
10
Right. But that's what training is about. A thoroughly trained police officer has techniques at his/her disposal that eliminate or greatly reduce "fear" as a decision-making component.
Do they ever drug test these cops when they kill people? drug or not the man was sober enough to tell this pig he had a gun and a legal right to have it. protocol : sir wheres the location of the weapon? Sir can you please step out of the car for both our safety ? lol nah he shot a man that had a seatbelt on
quite a system of justice. Police forces in the US are militarized and militant, with the mind set of soldiers at war--profile and kill, not defend and serve. It's no wonder when crimes like this go occur/recur and remain unpunished. There's not a shred of evidence the cop was endangered--he behaved erratically as a function of poor training, but critically also of prejudgment and likely an element of racism which invariably catalyzes these incidents, hence their occurring so disproportionately towards blacks. Once again, as so many times before, being black seems a crime punishable by death, with a single armed "officer" serving as judge, jury, and executioner. Philandro's family must be pleased to know his taxes payed the salary of his killer
i am so sorry to this family that the American legal system is so incapable of common sense justice for victims of police violence.
6
He and she looked guilty while with a baby in the car? So he gets shot dead. Lord people take medication which causes different reactions and NOT KNOWING as a cop youre going to shoot them dead? We dont need ANY cops this fearful walking or driving the streets! A broken taillight automatically gets a citation! Or a ticket to appear before a Judge. How did it go from writing a ticket to this officer shooting someone's boyfriend? If this IS fear take him off the street. Hired b/c hes big in size to intimidate? A mouse maybe...
And this was all over a broken brake light? I think we all know that when certain classes of people are pulled over for minor violations like this the real intent is to find something more serious. Perhaps authority should be removed which allows police to stop people for nickle and dime violations like this; thus, fewer traffic stops and dangerous encounters.
10
couldn't help myself but needed to respond to one of the commentators below:
"lots of words, sir, but "objective" was not what that officer was nor was he "reasonable".... also, you didn't have to identify yourself by your skin color, sir... the problem is the "blue wall" mentality which you appear to embrace"
"lots of words, sir, but "objective" was not what that officer was nor was he "reasonable".... also, you didn't have to identify yourself by your skin color, sir... the problem is the "blue wall" mentality which you appear to embrace"
3
Can you imagine a country where "reasonable" fear is a justification for murder?
8
And teenagers can be charged for manslaughter for things they say in the next headline...
1
How about a state? Florida.
While you point out that the victim of the police shooting is black, you failed to mention that the policeman is Hispanic. Why is it important? Because race seems to be a dominant factor on how people judge police shootings.
11
The verdict today in Minnesota with Geronimo Yanez, as a few weeks ago with Betty Shelby in Oklahoma say loudly and clearly that in this country, if you are stopped by the cops and you are Black or Latino, chances are if you comply with their directive, you will be shot, if you do not comply with their directive, you will be shot. What kinds of choices are those and how is that reality going to play itself out? What else is there? This is supposed to be the "land of the free and home of the brave", but the only brave souls are Blacks and Latinos who continue to try to live their lives even though the people whose salaries their tax dollars pay are not "protecting or serving” them. The world sees us as hypocrites, and the criminal "justice" system validates this every time a cop walks free after executing a person of color. Video and cell phone cameras now expose what these communities have always known, that cops shoot first and ask questions later, that now they use the phrase of “being in fear for their lives” when coming into contact with Black and Latino people. Ironically, when coming into contact with whites, they are not shot, but if arrested, they are handcuffed and taken into custody to live another day. We must have better training and screening for this important job. Juries, prosecutors, and judges must do right by the citizens and quit protecting bad cops. Black and Latino lives matter. America deserves better.
7
What I find ironic is your statement that Blacks and Latinos are the only brave souls, since the officer in this case was Latino, and he was afraid for his own life. He acted in self-defense. I would have been scared too. There was a gun in the car, the driver was not obeying police commands, and he was high. Why was he driving around high with a small child in the back seat? Why was he armed? Everyone in that situation was in danger. For a balanced perspective, it's important to remember that there are plenty of Black and Latino officers in our police forces, putting their lives on the line to protect us every day, same as the white guys.
7
1. In this country, if you are stopped by the cops and you are Black or Latino, chances are if you comply with their directive, you will be shot, if you do not comply with their directive, you will be shot. Thanks for reinforcing this. Didn't need DT to tell me this!
2. Video and cell phone cameras now expose what these communities have always known, that cops shoot first and ask questions later, that now they use the phrase of “being in fear for their lives” when coming into contact with Black and Latino people. In this case, it was HIS word against 2 one with a cell phone camera! He panicked, no fear.
3. When coming into contact with Whites, yes, they are not shot, but if arrested, they are handcuffed and taken into custody to live another day! We MUST HAVE BETTER training/screening for this TYPE OF job. Juries, prosecutors, and judges MUST DO RIGHT STOP ASSUMING all blacks are the same!! Citizen's deserve to be held SAFE and able to tell what happened. STOP protecting bad cops.
2. Video and cell phone cameras now expose what these communities have always known, that cops shoot first and ask questions later, that now they use the phrase of “being in fear for their lives” when coming into contact with Black and Latino people. In this case, it was HIS word against 2 one with a cell phone camera! He panicked, no fear.
3. When coming into contact with Whites, yes, they are not shot, but if arrested, they are handcuffed and taken into custody to live another day! We MUST HAVE BETTER training/screening for this TYPE OF job. Juries, prosecutors, and judges MUST DO RIGHT STOP ASSUMING all blacks are the same!! Citizen's deserve to be held SAFE and able to tell what happened. STOP protecting bad cops.
I believe the officer in this tragedy is Hispanic or Native American. A man of color.
1
Not only did the jurors not care about the killing of a black man, they had no regard for the safety of the child in the back seat and the woman next to him. It seems that it is OK to use lethal force in an enclosed area such as a car when it involves Black people.
Not even children are deemed worth protecting when a cop yells "I feared for my life".....Shoot at will around Black children.......we will acquit you for that also!!
sorry justice system.
Not even children are deemed worth protecting when a cop yells "I feared for my life".....Shoot at will around Black children.......we will acquit you for that also!!
sorry justice system.
10
This whole case proved to me that the 2nd amendment has always been and will only be for white people. Police officers are not here to help or save anyone but the state and federal government. They murder black people, rape sex workers, assault LGBTQ people, torment detained illegal immigrants and steal from citizens through "property seizure". People always want to say "good cops" and all that nonsense. Well why aren't they speaking out? if more "good cops"spoke out and condemned the horrifying atrocities that so many officers commit maybe people from marginalized communities would trust them a little more. And let me also say that if a cop "is scared for his life" then you need to find a new job. You aren't born a police officer and no one wants you to be one if your first thought is to fire SEVEN bullets into a human being because you're "scared".
10
Take the Los Angeles Police Department...TOTAL BLUE LINE thinking of were always right.
Why is this not headlining this newspaper? Surely if this involved the murder of a European-American woman or if African-Americans burned down Minneapolis it would be the lead story for every news organization in America.
7
Because, Linda, it is no longer "news" in America.
1
Outrageous. Criminally negligent homicide at the least. Fire the nervous coward; try him for Federal civil rights violations. (retired lawyer and former US Army MP Officer).
20
On the same day as a policeman is acquitted of a murder with the use of a gun, a 20 year old woman is convicted of murder with the use of words.
Crazy nation.
Crazy nation.
31
Michelle Carter was convicted of involuntary manslaughter not murder, there is a significant difference, and she has yet to be sentenced, and the case most probably will be appealed.
3
She was not convicted of murder. She was convicted of invvoluntary manslaughter for staying on the phone with a disturbed young man and encouraging him to kill himself.
She got exactly what she deserved.
She got exactly what she deserved.
This case led to many upstanding black writers to voice their concern for their sons being stopped and killed by police. But as we now see, this case was all about the gun, and confusion over the gun. It wasn't police just shooting a black man for being black.
So does an upstanding black man have to worry about his upstanding black son, who doesn't carry a gun? We're still waiting for some names on the list of upstanding black men without guns killed by police during traffic stops.
They might feel hassled and harassed, but where are the killings of these men occurring? There is an overall hysteria happening that is making blacks who don't carry guns afraid. I find this unfortunate. I stand with my black friends in easing their fears by seeing through the hysteria.
So does an upstanding black man have to worry about his upstanding black son, who doesn't carry a gun? We're still waiting for some names on the list of upstanding black men without guns killed by police during traffic stops.
They might feel hassled and harassed, but where are the killings of these men occurring? There is an overall hysteria happening that is making blacks who don't carry guns afraid. I find this unfortunate. I stand with my black friends in easing their fears by seeing through the hysteria.
10
He had a permit to carry which means he had no criminal record and was subjected to a background check. https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca/bca-divisions/administrative/pages/perm...
Why do you think this individual was not "upstanding"?
Why do you think this individual was not "upstanding"?
6
"This case is all about the gun?" THERE WAS NO GUN! It was all about race based fear!
Mr Castile wasn't threatening the officer and informed the officer that he had a gun. Are you saying that the police are justified in killing anyone who has, or might possibly have a gun, for the singular reason that there is a gun present? The NRA pretends to be for gun rights but they don't say a thing when a person of color is murdered by the authorities simply because he exercised what the NRA claims are his Second Amendment rights.
7
This court decision is so disturbing. It's hard for me not to think that the cops are sick, the juries are sick, and this country is sick. Is this Justice? Apparently Black Lives Do Matter. This country just does not get it.
16
Yanez is a murderer. I do not see how anyone, particularly those in law enforcement celebrating Yanez's verdict, can claim "no crime was committed." An armed officer murdered an unarmed man. Crime. Guilty.
12
I thought the man was armed but never brandished his weapon. I believe he did state that he had a concealed weapon to the officer with a licence to have it. But he never made a verbal threat or sudden move that justifies the shooting.
2
And you know this how? The Times states in this article that there was not a good film or other portrayal of what the man was actually reaching for--his hands were not visible to the officer who had instructed the deceased man to keep his hands in sight at all times. Maybe that's why the two African Americans on the jury declared the officer innocent.
3
Thank you!
Training, training, training....that is almost never the cause. It is simple lack of reasoning, and self control, that causes these fatal shooting of unarmed black males. Many of our police officers around the country encounter black males on a daily basis and hardly any shootings occur.
It is almost always the officer who examples lack of self control that causes these deaths. It has very little to do with training.
It is almost always the officer who examples lack of self control that causes these deaths. It has very little to do with training.
11
The outpouring of public grief over this terrible decision in the Twin Cities is enormous. It seems that police murderers can never be convicted in the United States. And with Jeff Sessions as AG and For such on the SCOTUS justice will never happen in our lifetime. We are well on our way to a jackbooted police state.
Be afraid. Be very afraid, especially if you are black. These police murders are the modern equivalent of Jim Crow lynchings
Be afraid. Be very afraid, especially if you are black. These police murders are the modern equivalent of Jim Crow lynchings
22
Let's put things in their proper context. While I disagree with the verdict of the jury in Minnesota, there was a jury trial.
In the Jim Crow South, a black person could be lynched just because of hearsay. No judge; no jury; no trial.
I'm just as disappointed in the verdict as you are. But we disgrace the memory of all the blacks that suffered horrendously under the weight of the Jim Crow laws.
IMO Castile was shot and killed by a nervous policeman---probably a poorly trained policeman as other comments have suggested---but that's not even close to what happened to many blacks in the Deep South where lynchings were common. Have you not seen the photos of black men strung up and burned---their bodies horribly mutilated in some cases---by an angry mob?
Words have meaning. That's all I'm trying to say. Officer Yanez wasn't charged with murder; he was charged with second-degree manslaughter. He got a trial by jury, with a judge presiding, and a verdict was rendered. And while you and I may not agree with it, the rule of law was at least followed here, in stark contrast to what often happened in the Deep South during the Jim Crow era.
In the Jim Crow South, a black person could be lynched just because of hearsay. No judge; no jury; no trial.
I'm just as disappointed in the verdict as you are. But we disgrace the memory of all the blacks that suffered horrendously under the weight of the Jim Crow laws.
IMO Castile was shot and killed by a nervous policeman---probably a poorly trained policeman as other comments have suggested---but that's not even close to what happened to many blacks in the Deep South where lynchings were common. Have you not seen the photos of black men strung up and burned---their bodies horribly mutilated in some cases---by an angry mob?
Words have meaning. That's all I'm trying to say. Officer Yanez wasn't charged with murder; he was charged with second-degree manslaughter. He got a trial by jury, with a judge presiding, and a verdict was rendered. And while you and I may not agree with it, the rule of law was at least followed here, in stark contrast to what often happened in the Deep South during the Jim Crow era.
1
So how does shooting someone 6 times as they are sitting down get tried for murder?
3
It was a clear case of self-defense. Baby in the back seat may have been packing. We don't know, we weren't there.
I don't recognize this country as anymore.
7
Me neither. I remember a time when the wouldn't have even been charged
This is the America that I have known for 50 years. It just that we have video phones and Youtube now.
Driving while stoned. How does the officer know what he is reaching for? He failed to follow commands. If I had a gun on my hip I would put both hands on the steering wheel and let the officer open the car door and take the gun.
High, smells like pot, fits suspect in robbery description and has kid in car, no seatbelt and probably had a contact high. But the officer should just wait and see if the stoned guy is getting his id out?
High, smells like pot, fits suspect in robbery description and has kid in car, no seatbelt and probably had a contact high. But the officer should just wait and see if the stoned guy is getting his id out?
15
How do we know he was "stoned?"
There was a child in the backseat.
The officer slaughtered this man in cold blood, with no justification.
There was a child in the backseat.
The officer slaughtered this man in cold blood, with no justification.
Yes. The properly screened and trained professional would do exactly that: wait for (a White) drunk/stoned young man (or suburban country-club lush, or Tesla-driving freeway speed-demon) to get their ID out. It happens every day. I see it every day. No one dies.
2
Yes, they should not shot to kill for no reason. They should wait for the person to get their id out. Duh...
There is also no indication that he was actually high, but that's of course beside the point.
There is also no indication that he was actually high, but that's of course beside the point.
Story does not mention that Castile had been pulled over going to his school cafeteria job over 50 times in this suburb. Where is the NRA decrying the murder of an armed person with a permit which he disclosed to the cop? We are so post racial.
12
Under the influence and no valid license. The NRA doesn't get involved where laws are violated.
2
Today broke my back. From now on, I will do every legal and right thing I can think of to destroy the American police Empire. They use the law to kill us. I will use the law to destroy them.
Start with the Television industry that taught America to worship cops with many decades of numerous cop shows. Boycott TV.
Don't call the police unless there is an imminent threat to someone's life. The more you call, the more they justify their empire.
Demand a breakdown of their secret budgets.
Vote against any politician like Trump who wants to enlarge the police empire.
Watch carefully who in Congress votes for the new anti-drug legislation requested by the Attorney General Sessions. If they vote yea to take freedom from us, vote them out.
Vote against Trump and his followers in the future who want to expand the police empire.
Learn to defend yourselves so you don't have to call the police.
Tell the press, not TV, what you know about police corruption.
Your's truly, Shake Spear.
Start with the Television industry that taught America to worship cops with many decades of numerous cop shows. Boycott TV.
Don't call the police unless there is an imminent threat to someone's life. The more you call, the more they justify their empire.
Demand a breakdown of their secret budgets.
Vote against any politician like Trump who wants to enlarge the police empire.
Watch carefully who in Congress votes for the new anti-drug legislation requested by the Attorney General Sessions. If they vote yea to take freedom from us, vote them out.
Vote against Trump and his followers in the future who want to expand the police empire.
Learn to defend yourselves so you don't have to call the police.
Tell the press, not TV, what you know about police corruption.
Your's truly, Shake Spear.
5
Are police officers the trend makers for the general killing spree in the United States?
As a foreigner you are almost forced to believe this.
As a foreigner you are almost forced to believe this.
3
“He wants to get on with his life,” Mr. Gray said. At least he has a life to get on with; maybe Mr. Castile's family would like to be saying the same thing about Philando.
10
Racism plus cowardice all around. The jurors should be ashamed of themselves.
5
The arc of Justice is long... and we can only imagine that one day, a random act of violence will deliver Jeronimo Yanez to Justice.
3
My comment is simple: I REALLY REALLY wish the entire situation was reversed! Also; it seems white cops nation wide are being given a FREE CARD TO shoot and jump to conclusions " I feared for my life/ he was reaching for a gun/ was CARRYING WHAT SEEMED like a gun [ turns out to be a TOY gun,]" THIS IS COMPLETE INSANiTY. what happened to "Shoot to wound"??
1
Although It makes little difference in performance based on hatred, but the policeman is Latino.
1
Shoot to wound is from the movie westerns. It's not a real-life option as handguns are not that accurate.
This is so wrong! He killed an innocent, good man from all accounts. He shot into that car and murdered Mr. Castile even with a 4 year old child in the car. How can Officer Yanez just walk free from this? What country are we living in?
4
Yanez' attorney continued:
Officer Yanez smelled "Taboo" and suspected the driver of being involved in the Lindbergh kidnapping.........
Let's get this right:
You have a weapon?
(stepping behind the driver by the back window of the vehicle).
Put your hands on the steering wheel.....
(wait for compliance)
Sir....where is the weapon at this time?
(wait for a response)
(back up call)
(Wait for second officer to arrive as driver sits with hands on the steering wheel, passengers hands on the dash)
(train weapon on the unsupervised minor in the booster seat in the rear of the window).
Just sayin' (based upon my experience working with and participating in training of police officers)
Officer Yanez smelled "Taboo" and suspected the driver of being involved in the Lindbergh kidnapping.........
Let's get this right:
You have a weapon?
(stepping behind the driver by the back window of the vehicle).
Put your hands on the steering wheel.....
(wait for compliance)
Sir....where is the weapon at this time?
(wait for a response)
(back up call)
(Wait for second officer to arrive as driver sits with hands on the steering wheel, passengers hands on the dash)
(train weapon on the unsupervised minor in the booster seat in the rear of the window).
Just sayin' (based upon my experience working with and participating in training of police officers)
The nyt shouldn't criticize foreign countries that operate under a police state anymore when America clearly is a police state.
Tax paid government officials can take your life and suffer no real consequences because of a legal framework that sets a unique and unreasonable standard. There are clear racists overtones as well.
So stop bashing Cuba or Russia when we have our own dirt. talk about America and its inequality.
Stop spreading this false narrative of home of the free and such... those words only applied to white men and women. It's evolving and improving but clearly not truly equal yet
Tax paid government officials can take your life and suffer no real consequences because of a legal framework that sets a unique and unreasonable standard. There are clear racists overtones as well.
So stop bashing Cuba or Russia when we have our own dirt. talk about America and its inequality.
Stop spreading this false narrative of home of the free and such... those words only applied to white men and women. It's evolving and improving but clearly not truly equal yet
8
I have been on this earth for 50 years and I do not see a USA that is evolving and improving. The births of the video phone and Youtube are showing a nation that is still fighting the Civil War. The police are the angry racists in the south trying to rise again. They will not allow the African-American to be free. If they can't put them in jail they will murder them.
Murder is alive, well, and legal in the US. Disgusting.
5
So a teenage girl gets convicted of manslaughter for her texts, but a police officer who shoots a citizen is found not-guilty?
14
The officer should have been found guilty.
The girl was not found guilty because of her text messages. She stayed on the phone with a young man, encouraging him to commit suicide, instead of calling for help. She talked him into his own death.
She got what she deserved. Too bad the officer did not.
The girl was not found guilty because of her text messages. She stayed on the phone with a young man, encouraging him to commit suicide, instead of calling for help. She talked him into his own death.
She got what she deserved. Too bad the officer did not.
Not "guilty," but no longer serving as a police officer. Perhaps a kind of civil justice.
4
Don't worry! He will show up in another police force.
This has been the pattern of law enforcement departments since the 19th century. And they will punish the communities that fund them for not affirming their virtue without question.
It is a progressive notion that human rights are Black rights. They still intone Falwell's Civil Wrongs.
It is a progressive notion that human rights are Black rights. They still intone Falwell's Civil Wrongs.
1
Unfortunately, many officers have preconceived notions of criminal intent when they stop a black male. My warning to my son has been to have his driver's license and auto registration in his hand, placed on the steering wheel when the officer approaches the car.
If he perceives that it is an unlawful stop then it is better to subsequently file a complaint and live another day.
If he perceives that it is an unlawful stop then it is better to subsequently file a complaint and live another day.
7
If the police is so afraid of guns they shouldn't stop people , assume a gun and then shoot the one who obeyed their orders to stop. What this policeman in panic created by his own imagination did was atrocious and criminal. His acquittal has wounded the conscience of humanity the world over and would fester for ever on the body polity of American justice system, perhaps even leading to amputations of one race from the main stream american system nullifying Lincoln's dream and achievements in abolishing slavery. Americans along with their justice system need to move on and grow up from their medieval mind-set and progress forward to catch up with the rest of the world.
Otherwise all their military and commercial might would not save them from the wrath of humanity .
Otherwise all their military and commercial might would not save them from the wrath of humanity .
2
Better that a thousand guilty men go free than that one innocent man is shot to death in front of his wife and young child by an officer of the law. This is a sick country we live in.
3
You're free to leave, the jury was correct.
3
Crossing Overhead,
Don't think that the thought hasn't crossed my mind. America has a lot of problems, and it seems like more and more people are unwilling to even recognize that they exist every year.
Still, I am too old to start over in some new country, but, if we keep this up, we will start hemorrhaging population, and it will be the best people that leave. It happens in many countries, and is devastating.
I sure hope there are people left to pay for your retirement when the time comes.
Don't think that the thought hasn't crossed my mind. America has a lot of problems, and it seems like more and more people are unwilling to even recognize that they exist every year.
Still, I am too old to start over in some new country, but, if we keep this up, we will start hemorrhaging population, and it will be the best people that leave. It happens in many countries, and is devastating.
I sure hope there are people left to pay for your retirement when the time comes.
If there were a national police training manual, it must advise police officers who kill a black man to claim that they "believed" that he was reaching for a gun and that they feared from their lives. It is a winning defense in every case.
But it is hard to square paeans of praise for their bravery with the reality of bullying escalations of encounters and their belated claims of fear. In court, they come across as bedwetters. More training as usual is not the answer; profiling in recruiting seems more appropriate, with rigorous psychological analyses of character, including prejudices regarding race and gender.
But it is hard to square paeans of praise for their bravery with the reality of bullying escalations of encounters and their belated claims of fear. In court, they come across as bedwetters. More training as usual is not the answer; profiling in recruiting seems more appropriate, with rigorous psychological analyses of character, including prejudices regarding race and gender.
5
In any society justice is as justice seems. Our society has been collecting prominent examples of perceived injustices for decades now. Cynicism is the resulting cancer that threatens to kill us.
1
Yanez's story doesn't make sense. If he really suspected Castile to be involved in an armed robbery he should have told him so, asked him to quit the car and put his hands on the hood.
5
Yet another tragedy and still no solutions. Guns are indeed the death of us.
2
Is the Justice Department going to investigate the violation of Mr Castile civil rights?
3
You know why other countries don't have big racial problems? They don't have guns so they don't fear each other.
Guns are the problem, these stories are the symptom.
The US must rank really, really high on unintentional homicides....
Guns are the problem, these stories are the symptom.
The US must rank really, really high on unintentional homicides....
7
I agree with you that guns should be very restricted, but it is not true that other countries don't have major race problems. Signed, a Roma woman from Eastern Europe (where guns are hardly a problem but there are still mob attacks and neo-Nazi violence against Roma).
3
No need to arm police officers in a society where guns are outlawed.
2
All the more reason for prosecutors to pick the right jury. Having served on a murder case, I was amazed at how difficult it was for some people to make the decision to convict when the evidence is overwhelming. I threatened to have a hung jury then let the young thugs go. On the third day we all agreed to convict. The video was clear, the officer was told of the weapon which was not in site and the cop still feared for his life. It's a low bar for killing when that's all an officer has to say. Paranoid people should not be cops.
7
What seems to be lost in the discussion is why the options available to police officers are so limited and, in many cases, entirely inappropriate to the circumstances.
It’s not hard to imagine the fear police officers must try to control as they daily engage with unknown circumstances, a small percentage of them likely to be life-threatening.
What’s troubling is that an officer who perceives danger, rightly or wrongly, seems to have few options between asking for ID and using deadly force - no wonder there continue to be incidents like this.
Why, in this age of technical wizardry, are police still using technology hundreds of years old — technology that allows so little room for mistakes in it’s application?
Clearly there is a need to develop updated police protocols to consider the issues officers face on a day-to-day basis and determine how best to apply a more nuanced strategy using 21st-century technology.
What should really be on trial is a method of policing that’s changed little since the days of Jesse James.
It’s not hard to imagine the fear police officers must try to control as they daily engage with unknown circumstances, a small percentage of them likely to be life-threatening.
What’s troubling is that an officer who perceives danger, rightly or wrongly, seems to have few options between asking for ID and using deadly force - no wonder there continue to be incidents like this.
Why, in this age of technical wizardry, are police still using technology hundreds of years old — technology that allows so little room for mistakes in it’s application?
Clearly there is a need to develop updated police protocols to consider the issues officers face on a day-to-day basis and determine how best to apply a more nuanced strategy using 21st-century technology.
What should really be on trial is a method of policing that’s changed little since the days of Jesse James.
1
The statement of the mother of Mr.Castile touches one's heart,"He loved this city,and this city killed him" . He was about to show his identification papers,but the police officer thought that he was taking out the gun. This is the point of argument,for the charge of manslaughter. The case can go one way or the other. The anguish of the deceased's family can be understood. Even in those nations,where one requires a licence to possess a gun,such things happen. Black vs white in the US,and in other nations - high caste vs low-caste. We need a software for human brains ,where it can make you think that all are equal. No black or white or no high caste ,and low-caste.
1
I read a previous comment about a loophole that allows a policeman or woman to shoot an individual if they justify their action regardless of the intent of the individuals intention. All they have to do is to say "I feared for my life" You are one of the few people to acknowledge this fact. Police officers that are that scared of a perceived threat or scare of people in general should not apply for that job for the simple fact they have to interact with the public This clearly was manslaughter. The constant injustice and frustration anger and disheartens and actually makes me scare to interact with police even if I have information about a crime and arrested or shot for doing something that could help them in their investigation of a crime. Guns are very dangerous to possess as an African-American even if you are legally registered to carry one. I rarely get upset by much but enough is enough with police officer getting away with this obvious crime. Shooting 7 time is excessive. I see he over-reacted plain and simple.
3
We afford the police that right and understand that their job is a serious and difficult one. We need them to have that. "Loophole" so criminals like this don't wind up putting THEM in jail.
How far up are you? Obviously you are out of sight range.
Another example of how the justice system has failed to produce a just and fair outcome. It is clear tilted in favor of law enforcement and doesn't adequately protect the citizens that it is supposed to. I guess justice is not color blind.
1
This is so wrong. The laws are clearly skewed against citizens in favor of police officers. Because there is no objective standard of reasonable fear, all the police have to do is say they feared for their lives and they can get off scot-free.
3
I am heartbroken for this innocent life lost, by all accounts a gentle soul, for his loved ones and community. America has never reckoned with its violent, racist past. I've come to believe that until we have that reckoning, this sickness underpinning much of our society will continue to self-perpetuate.
2
I share the outrage of other commenters here who are clearly stating that Officer Yanez "got away with murder". And this will continue to happen to black motorists with impunity until police are held to some minimum standards of accountability in the use of lethal force.
But (almost as an aside), what strikes me here is the number of shots fired. Officer Yanez was not more than two feet from Mr. Castile when he rapidly pumped seven bullets into him. At that range, isn't one or two shots enough to at least incapacitate - if not outright kill "the suspect"?
And virtually all the other recent shootings of black "suspects" by police are characterized by the officer "emptying his clip" at the suspect. Recall, for instance, the 2014 case of Laquan McDonald in Chicago, where a single officer unloaded his entire 17-round clip into the unarmed Mr. McDonald from perhaps fifteen feet away, continuing to fire into his body even after he toppled over like he was pole-axed after the first few shots struck him.
What are they teaching at the police academies these days? I understand that they're taught to use "deadly force" (i.e. not to try to just "wing" the suspect), but seven rounds from two feet away - or 17 rounds from fifteen feet?
These are not the actions of "self-defense" - these are cold-blooded executions.
Apparently the motto taught at the police academies is, "Put 'em down and make sure they stay down".
Even 19-year old soldiers in combat are more disciplined than this.
But (almost as an aside), what strikes me here is the number of shots fired. Officer Yanez was not more than two feet from Mr. Castile when he rapidly pumped seven bullets into him. At that range, isn't one or two shots enough to at least incapacitate - if not outright kill "the suspect"?
And virtually all the other recent shootings of black "suspects" by police are characterized by the officer "emptying his clip" at the suspect. Recall, for instance, the 2014 case of Laquan McDonald in Chicago, where a single officer unloaded his entire 17-round clip into the unarmed Mr. McDonald from perhaps fifteen feet away, continuing to fire into his body even after he toppled over like he was pole-axed after the first few shots struck him.
What are they teaching at the police academies these days? I understand that they're taught to use "deadly force" (i.e. not to try to just "wing" the suspect), but seven rounds from two feet away - or 17 rounds from fifteen feet?
These are not the actions of "self-defense" - these are cold-blooded executions.
Apparently the motto taught at the police academies is, "Put 'em down and make sure they stay down".
Even 19-year old soldiers in combat are more disciplined than this.
9
I wasn't in the jury box listening to the evidence, so I hesitate to second-guess the jury's decision. But nothing I read about this case, and I mean NOTHING, led me to think for a minute that this jury was going to return a not guilty verdict.
This appears to be another case of a police officer who had no business being in that line of work. I can't imagine anything that Philando Castile could have done differently to still be alive today. The St. Paul police should have had a police officer with better training and temperament for the job out on patrol that day.
This appears to be another case of a police officer who had no business being in that line of work. I can't imagine anything that Philando Castile could have done differently to still be alive today. The St. Paul police should have had a police officer with better training and temperament for the job out on patrol that day.
1
Officer Yanez was employed by a small suburb of St. Paul called St. Anthony with a small police force
1
RON: "...nothing I read about this case...."
Nothing I read about this case led me to believe that the jury would convict Officer Yanez.
Nothing I read about this case led me to believe that the jury would convict Officer Yanez.
1
The presumption in all such cases is to give the benefit of the doubt to the officer. It is not a bad policy in a perfect world. However, it does not take into account the prejudices, biases, irrational fears, unprofessional behaviors to which we are all prone and which have never been eradicated from our personalities. Without any knowledge of the officer at all, I make the presumption that one of the personality flaws that I described prompted the murder of Mr. Castile. The law makes no presumptions and he is found not guilty.
Guilty, however, are our police departments and civil agencies which do nothing to screen candidates for governmental positions for the flaws that I described. Which therefore makes us all guilty, because we do not demand such from our elected leaders!
Guilty, however, are our police departments and civil agencies which do nothing to screen candidates for governmental positions for the flaws that I described. Which therefore makes us all guilty, because we do not demand such from our elected leaders!
2
With all the guns permitted for concealed or open carry, what's missing in all the reporting I've seen on this tradegy is what are the police rules, how are they trained to deal with armed citizens they stop. It sounds to me as though Mr Castile was in a no win situation where anything he did could be misinterpreted as an aggressive move
1
Mitch: Not if he kept his hands on the steering wheel and waited for instructions after the office told him to stop reaching.
1
Tragedies such as this one are a direct consequence of too many citizens being armed for absolutely no good reason. The fear of being shot is very real for police officers. It happens to their brothers and sisters in law enforcement daily.
4
I gave up expecting equal treatment when I was a child. Reading slave narratives, James Baldwin's essays, and being as a specialist on the Harlem Renaissance led me to take my son out of the US as often as possible. I am not willing to risk his life on the hope that someone will see him as the kind and thoughtful young man that he is. He once asked me if he could going running with his friend. I lost it. A young African American man cannot go running or sit in a car, drive, sell cigarettes on the street, walk our dog , or even breathe in the US without fear of bring shot or at the very least ,being questioned by the cops. I just dread returning to the US because of the constant fear that comes with being the parent of an African-American man. To quote our President, So sad!
1
The police have a dangerous, difficult job. They deserve our gratitude and respect but they do not deserve total impunity. To protect and serve has too often become to harass and intimidate.
1
The complexity of US laws is limitless and justice being done varies with how one perceives a verdict. While I am all for law and order and support their valiant effort to protect human life, I would hope that such unwarranted killing at the hands of law enforcement do not occur and that police are provided the tools and the training to preserve all innocent lives. I have a condition called "killophobia" the fear of killing or hurting anyone either while driving or while being driven. Naturally I don't have any use for guns for whatever reason. The assumption by law enforcement (who justifiably have guns) that every person is armed (which is true in certain states) and likely to use their fire arm on them is what gives rise to serious misunderstanding and tragic events like this to occur. It is sad. My deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Philando Castle on their loss of a loved one. I hope that they find strength that they are not alone in their grief and that the lessons learned will make the world a better place.
1
We need reform in how police are trained. They need to get an education that includes psychology and sociology, not just weapon tactics. This situation is tragic and impacted my extended family in Louisiana last summer, when three police officers were killed. I pray for the children of Mr. Castillo as well as those of police killed in Dallas and Baton Rouge, to inherit a more loving, peaceful America.
1
The most disheartening thing about these cases is the lack of empathy for the shooting victims and their families by some folks in the "he should have obeyed the law/followed instructions" group. Some of these people really place little value in the lives of some members of our society and seem to have little issue with a human ending up dead in the course of traffic stop for essentially an equipment violation.
1
There is a fix. Sadly, not for Philando Castile or this injustice, but moving forward, we can substantially decrease the risk of this and similar incidents.
The problem involves the following factors:
1- there are more guns than people in America so it is reasonable to assume that everyone is packing. This problem is not going away.
2- traffic stops generally require stoppees to produce documents from compartments in the vehicle or pockets on the person without it being possible for the officer to fully observe the process due to positioning, opaque objects like dashboards, etc.
3- It is not uncommon to have multiple occupants in a vehicle, thus further increasing the difficulty of full supervision.
Add these up and you have a moment of built in tension and uncertainty for the stopping cop. Tension and uncertainty creates fear.This plus the gun in the cop's hand equals significant risk of dead motorist.
An easy fix. Technology. For example, drivers swipe license to start car which now has info for current driver stored electronically along with registration. If stopped, info transmitted to the officer. No more glove or gun compartments opened at gunpoint. Simple.
The problem involves the following factors:
1- there are more guns than people in America so it is reasonable to assume that everyone is packing. This problem is not going away.
2- traffic stops generally require stoppees to produce documents from compartments in the vehicle or pockets on the person without it being possible for the officer to fully observe the process due to positioning, opaque objects like dashboards, etc.
3- It is not uncommon to have multiple occupants in a vehicle, thus further increasing the difficulty of full supervision.
Add these up and you have a moment of built in tension and uncertainty for the stopping cop. Tension and uncertainty creates fear.This plus the gun in the cop's hand equals significant risk of dead motorist.
An easy fix. Technology. For example, drivers swipe license to start car which now has info for current driver stored electronically along with registration. If stopped, info transmitted to the officer. No more glove or gun compartments opened at gunpoint. Simple.
1
" there was no video clearly revealing the crucial moments in the front seat of Mr. Castile’s car — and how precisely he had moved his hands before the officer fired."
This is a very sad story all around. The problem is that people want to equate it with the other somewhat similar front page news stories that are chosen for our viewing, but there is a crucial piece of information missing in this story.
We need to know more about the full story--what is really going on out there? Reporters need to get out in the streets and report the full story. What is it like to be a policeman? What are the issues for black people? What are that stats on police shootings and crime with regard to race?
This is a very sad story all around. The problem is that people want to equate it with the other somewhat similar front page news stories that are chosen for our viewing, but there is a crucial piece of information missing in this story.
We need to know more about the full story--what is really going on out there? Reporters need to get out in the streets and report the full story. What is it like to be a policeman? What are the issues for black people? What are that stats on police shootings and crime with regard to race?
Yanez is a murderer and a coward. Just another example of injustice caused by the license given to cops to murder purple of color.
15
There are too many guns in the country. The police know it and that's why they are terrified every stop they make. In their mind, every subject they're dealing with could be armed. Fewer guns, less fear all around.
45
As they say in theater, if you see a gun in the first act, it will be used...
2
There are too many criminals.
1
The police are never wrong. Even when they are they are protected with immunity from prosecution. Even if they are prosecuted, they will be acquitted because they have the defense that is part of the dangers of being a police officer, and have to make a snap judgement in a second. A wrong one, might cost the officer his life. There will always be reasonable doubt. because the police officer is doing this in the line of duty.
This entire episode has been disheartening, but there are a few facts that are being ignored. The incident might have been avoided if the deceased (1) did not smoke marijuana before driving, (2) did not drive with a broken tail light, (3) did not carry a concealed handgun in his pants pocket, and (4) did not ignore the directions of the police after he announced that he had a gun. The police officer has reportedly been fired, and the government and the police officer are likely to be sued in a civil action. The criminal justice system requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt and the jurors heard conflicting evidence. Putting people in jail is not going to bring anyone back from death and is not going to help the family of the deceased and is not going to change the system of police training or our gun-crazy society. When we have so many guns and so many people who are not law-abiding with guns, what do we expect?
25
Putting people in jail isn't about bringing people back. It's about punishing people who murder others. How could you possibly miss that?
11
Or, you know, the entire episode could have been avoided if 1) Officer Yanez wasn't so jumpy or trigger happy, 2) had been better trained, and 3) had listened to what Castile told him. Putting police officers like Yanez in jail will not bring people back from the dead, obviously, but it may lead to improvements in police training and make police officers less likely to reach for their gun as a first response. Yes, policing is a dangerous business, but no one is forcing you to be a police officer. If you can't handle the risk, then the job is not for you.
1
There is obviously a need for reform on how police are trained, particularly how they manage implicit bias. The entire thought process of Yanez put forth by the defense indicated that he was ill-prepared to even be handling a traffic light pull-over. He handled the situation as badly as it could be handled, and his incompetence made him more of a danger than anyone else in that situation. This was a horrible, murderously negligent example of policing. There is nothing remotely political in that assessment. When an officer's thinking and performance becomes comparable to that of a criminal, simply excusing him without punishing him for taking a whole human life in the way he did is itself unjust. Yanez did not just make a mistake. He killed a person, so, no, elmo, the list you provided and the "gun-crazy society" premise you offer as rationalization of what was streamed on Facebook, as Yanez was almost prepared to end the life of the woman watching her husband die, is just about as close as one can get to spitting on an innocent man's grave without actually doing it.
I am afraid that the jury verdict is one more confirmation that average people have become so fixated on looking the other way.The general conversation today seems to be that the status quo must be preserved and justice has nothing to do with it.
19
The pain, the pain. The anger and feelings of hopelessness. The reminder that what used to be called murder by lynching has been "reincarnated" as the justifiable use of lethal force by the police. Now the mourning starts all over again. The pain, the pain.
33
Lol, get a grip. Police have always had the right to defend themselves. Everyone has the right to defend themselves.
1
Between this and Trump I really am not sure why I stay in this country. It's badly messed up.
32
If cops are so badly trained that they don't know how to conduct a traffic stop without killing somebody the situation is hopeless. Put a weapon in the hands of an officer whose fear overcomes his common sense and you have a recipe for disaster.
69
also, if juries (i.e., regular people) have been trained to think that the policeman is always right, no matter what the evidence shows.... There are people on this thread now who are blaming the victim. It's basically a given that no policeman will ever be held accountable for shooting a civilian, esp. if the civilian is black. What do we do about that? Where do we start?
1
A young daughter watches a police officer shoot her father, and is almost hit herself. And the "very shaken up" person mentioned is the guy who did the shooting. Perhaps we really are living in a computer simulation gone awry. These days I sometime hope we are.
29
Not that it matters, but the young passenger was the daughter of Castile's girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds. At the trial, Earl Gray, a lawyer for Officer Yanez, questioned Ms. Reynolds at length about her marijuana use. Ms. Reynolds said she and Mr. Castile smoked marijuana daily, and had done so for years. She admitted that there was marijuana in the car at the time Officer Yanez pulled them over, but she said they had not been smoking.
Mr. Gray also pointed out what he said were inconsistent details in Ms. Reynolds’s past statements about the case. Ms. Reynolds said she was being honest. Lawyers did not mention felony assault charges Ms. Reynolds is facing in connection with an alleged hammer attack this year. That case is still pending.
Mr. Gray also pointed out what he said were inconsistent details in Ms. Reynolds’s past statements about the case. Ms. Reynolds said she was being honest. Lawyers did not mention felony assault charges Ms. Reynolds is facing in connection with an alleged hammer attack this year. That case is still pending.
1
Many comments mention the need for better police training, but I suggest that what is needed even more is better screening of applicants before they are accepted for training and the job, and periodic mental health evaluations through out their career.
27
Officer Yanez may not be guilty, but he isn't fit to wear the uniform, the badge, nor the gun.
26
No surprise, we live in a country where even a 12 year old can be murdered in cold blood by police, and no criminal charges are brought against the officers. What did we expect? Justice for the victim. What did we get? Another self pitying cop story. " Afraid for his life" is the motto of the cowardly. Sickening.
47
Nobody wants to see a young person go to jail for a mistake. A mistake we all know is racist and supported by police culture. Police need to be extraordinary people able to suspend fear to understand if there is a threat or not. Why would a person shoot anyone?
6
there are plenty of people who'd have no problem seeing any other young black person going to jail for less.
I dare you to maintain with a straight face that if the victim of his "mistake" had be white, he would have been acquitted.
I am 61 year old Grandfather with two grandsons. As a lawyer I worked in the criminal justice system defending black men that were being prosecuted with such veracity, I told a judge in a closing argument that 100 years from now, we will be seen as actively participating in a system as barbaric as slavery.
I have fought my whole professional life to leave the world better for my grandchildren. Tonight I will go to bed with my two grandsons on my mind. I will not sleep
I have fought my whole professional life to leave the world better for my grandchildren. Tonight I will go to bed with my two grandsons on my mind. I will not sleep
Does Mr. Earl Gray consider it "reasonable" to assume that you are actually NOT being pulled over for what the officer just told you but that really you are an unannounced suspect for any number of crimes that the officer is pursuing and that if the officer then starts generalizing all the facts onto you that you then get to forfeit your life in America?
This is insane. The officer made Mr. Castile a representative of his fear and paranoia about something else and killed an innocent man. If they really believed their narrative he would not have been removed from his job.
This is insane. The officer made Mr. Castile a representative of his fear and paranoia about something else and killed an innocent man. If they really believed their narrative he would not have been removed from his job.
27
This story has been repeated over and over too many times. I suppose I should consider myself fortunate to be a white person and to be exempt from racial profiling, but my heart aches for the people of color and for their families who have been the victims of trigger-happy police officers. Can't these "officers of the law" be better trained or can't the racist ones somehow be weeded out?
19
A great injustice. Mr. Castile was murdered.
21
As someone who regularly carries a concealed weapon with a license this case hits close to home. Since the burden of proving that an officer is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt lies with the state the lack of video showing what the officer sees is often decisive. Cameras worn on police glasses or some other way for juries to see what an officer sees can not come soon enough. Without this footage acquittal can be expected in the vast majority of cases regardless of the victim's skin color.
33
In this instance the murder of Mr. Castile is available on the video taken by Mr. Castile's girlfriend. His little daughter was in the car as well. She also witnessed this tragic event. She and her Mom will live with this daily for the rest of their lives. Nothing will bring him back. The pain will linger. Nothing will bring back the other innocent Black people murdered in this way either.
The problem with that is, they just turn the recorder off or remove the camera when they decide to bully and harass people and when asked to provide the recording they say it fell off or malfunctioned. That's what they are doing with the body cameras and they have been doing it for years with dash cams. There are no repercussions for failing to record an event and their superiors almost always cover for them. No matter how egregious the wrong. It's a disgusting fraternity culture where they all cover for each other.
You say, "Without this footage acquittal can be expected in the vast majority of cases regardless of the victim's skin color." Although this may be true logically and dispassionately, the truth in this country and around the world is that the officer most likely would not have pulled his gun or shot a white person under the same circumstances. This is the background upon which this case was set. There is absolutely no excuse for Officer Yanez' not following police procedures and for losing control. Philando Castile was shot for the mere fact that he was a black man carrying a licensed gun. Had he not told the officer that fact, as he was compelled to do, and simply produced his driver's license, he would be alive. This was a wrongful death.
As a local, Castile seems like a good guy who made a mistake. He reached for his pocket after disclosing he had a gun in his pocket. This gave Yanez only 1 second to figure out whether it was a gun (in which case he could get incoming gunfire) or wasn't.
That is a tough situation. I think Yanez is likely a decent person too. He, too, made mistakes - he should have directed each move more safely to avoid the flashpoint. Given the above, there was a possibility that Yanez reasonably feared that Castile would shoot him within 1 second. Hence, Yanez could not be convicted for this. That is not to say he did a good job - he did a terrible job and deserves to never be a cop again. Both men behaved amateurishly with guns. That is not a benign situation, it's a situation in which men die.
That is a tough situation. I think Yanez is likely a decent person too. He, too, made mistakes - he should have directed each move more safely to avoid the flashpoint. Given the above, there was a possibility that Yanez reasonably feared that Castile would shoot him within 1 second. Hence, Yanez could not be convicted for this. That is not to say he did a good job - he did a terrible job and deserves to never be a cop again. Both men behaved amateurishly with guns. That is not a benign situation, it's a situation in which men die.
22
rjs7777 you think Bonnie and Clyde would have waited for the cop to reach their car? I think most reasonable people would think that if someone is a criminal who want to shoot a cop the person will be prepared to shoot to kill by the time the cop reaches the driver's window. For the life of me I can't understand why someone who wants to shoot a cop would give him a chance by informing him he got a gun an a license to carry it. There was a case in Las Vegas a few years ago where a couple, a man and his wife, just walked up to a couple of cops having breakfast and shot them dead. And some incidents last year of men who walked up to the cop's car and shot them. Yanez obviously has mental problems where he's scared of his own shadow and imagines things that don't exist. Real criminals don't give cops a heads up and a fair chance to retaliate.
On a strictly logical basis, why does this news media outlet give outsized coverage to instances of police officers shooting black men?
I live in Chicago. Based on stats from years past, there have likely been so far approximately 2,000 people shot this year by citizens, the overwhelming majority by and toward black people, and maybe 30 police shootings, the overwhelming majority of them justified.
At what point does your focus itself become an act of dishonesty? At what point do you admit to simply advancing a comfortable narrative rather than dealing with an ugly, complicated truth with no easy answer?
I live in Chicago. Based on stats from years past, there have likely been so far approximately 2,000 people shot this year by citizens, the overwhelming majority by and toward black people, and maybe 30 police shootings, the overwhelming majority of them justified.
At what point does your focus itself become an act of dishonesty? At what point do you admit to simply advancing a comfortable narrative rather than dealing with an ugly, complicated truth with no easy answer?
59
If you read the Times regularly you would know that they have done many articles on gun violence in Chicago.
Americans of every color have the right to be protected and served by the police, not murdered by them.
Americans of every color have the right to be protected and served by the police, not murdered by them.
1
The fact that many problems exist does not make one particular problem less important. This incident would not have happened if it was a white man behaving the same way to this cop, and you absolutely know that. That is a significant problem.
1
YES. THIS.
We keep hearing how it is unfair that police treat black men differently. Gee, I wonder why on earth they would have adopted this bias?
When you are a police officer on the street, you do not have the luxury of political correctness. You have reality and statistical probability, and a split second to make a judgement.
I'm glad Yanez was acquitted and not scapegoated like Officer Peter Liang (who, ridiculously, was found guilty of manslaughter for accidentally firing into the wall of a dark stairwell). We don't need to be sacrificing one minority to placate the anger of another, more vocal minority.
We keep hearing how it is unfair that police treat black men differently. Gee, I wonder why on earth they would have adopted this bias?
When you are a police officer on the street, you do not have the luxury of political correctness. You have reality and statistical probability, and a split second to make a judgement.
I'm glad Yanez was acquitted and not scapegoated like Officer Peter Liang (who, ridiculously, was found guilty of manslaughter for accidentally firing into the wall of a dark stairwell). We don't need to be sacrificing one minority to placate the anger of another, more vocal minority.
1
I'm surprised the NRA didn't speak out to defend Castile. Oh, wait, Castile is black and therefore guilty of being black while living.
The more I see of these stories and others where law enforcement officials at all levels railroad defendants into confessions about crimes they didn't commit, shoot them for being black while living, shoot them for being emotionally disturbed, shoot them for not behaving properly while being arrested, rough family members and bystanders up for either being witnesses or asking to see badge numbers, the more I realize that we are probably selecting the wrong sort of people to be police officers and prosecutors.
Yes, being a cop or a fireman is a dangerous job. But if you carry a gun as part of your job you have a responsibility to be careful. As a police officer you are supposed to uphold the law, not break it, not provoke a situation so you can kill or arrest someone. Bullies should not be cops. And cops should not be getting away with murder or assault.
The more I see of these stories and others where law enforcement officials at all levels railroad defendants into confessions about crimes they didn't commit, shoot them for being black while living, shoot them for being emotionally disturbed, shoot them for not behaving properly while being arrested, rough family members and bystanders up for either being witnesses or asking to see badge numbers, the more I realize that we are probably selecting the wrong sort of people to be police officers and prosecutors.
Yes, being a cop or a fireman is a dangerous job. But if you carry a gun as part of your job you have a responsibility to be careful. As a police officer you are supposed to uphold the law, not break it, not provoke a situation so you can kill or arrest someone. Bullies should not be cops. And cops should not be getting away with murder or assault.
55
Actually being a cop is not a top ten most dangerous job having only 13 deaths per 100K (most in vehicle accidents.) More cops commit suicide than are killed by criminals.
The 10 Deadliest Jobs: Deaths per 100,000:
1. Logging workers: 128.8
2. Fishers and related fishing workers: 117
3. Aircraft pilot and flight engineers: 53.4
4. Roofers: 40.5
5. Structural iron and steel workers: 37
6. Refuse and recyclable material collectors: 27.1
7. Electrical power-line installers and repairers: 23
8. Drivers/sales workers and truck drivers: 22.1
9. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers: 21.3
10. Construction laborers: 17.4
The 10 Deadliest Jobs: Deaths per 100,000:
1. Logging workers: 128.8
2. Fishers and related fishing workers: 117
3. Aircraft pilot and flight engineers: 53.4
4. Roofers: 40.5
5. Structural iron and steel workers: 37
6. Refuse and recyclable material collectors: 27.1
7. Electrical power-line installers and repairers: 23
8. Drivers/sales workers and truck drivers: 22.1
9. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers: 21.3
10. Construction laborers: 17.4
21
These are private, not public, sector jobs. Working for the public in a dangerous job is a different thing.
2
This is America and all of those jobs contribute to the public (some far more than any cop) good whether or not you want to acknowledge it. And for the record more the #1 cause of death of a cop is auto accidents ie reckless driving.
Two white guys are killed for every black guy in America by police. I'm sure the white families in most cases feel it was unjustified. They never "get justice" either. It's not just a black thing, folks.
And... I was watching the show Cops the other day. You should, too, so you can see how harshly many police treat.... white people. A white guy, probably drunk, wouldn't take his hands out of his pockets. After three requests, the black cop advanced and quickly grabbed the guy's throat and threw him to the ground, face scraping on pavement. If the races had been reversed, this would have gone viral.
It's not just a black thing, folks. You only hurt black people even more (psychologically) by only highlighting black cases.
Cops are harsh to everyone when serious threats are present.
And... I was watching the show Cops the other day. You should, too, so you can see how harshly many police treat.... white people. A white guy, probably drunk, wouldn't take his hands out of his pockets. After three requests, the black cop advanced and quickly grabbed the guy's throat and threw him to the ground, face scraping on pavement. If the races had been reversed, this would have gone viral.
It's not just a black thing, folks. You only hurt black people even more (psychologically) by only highlighting black cases.
Cops are harsh to everyone when serious threats are present.
33
I'm not sure that referencing Cops strengthens an argument. Yes police brutality as a whole is out of control and unacceptable. I'm not sure where your statistics are from but there are more white people in this country than black and white men have not historically been discriminated against or victims of police brutality.
16
Cite your study on police killings statistics.
There is not a single accurate system of compiling stats in existence.
Even if we buy your convenient 2 to 1 ratio, that still means a third of all killed are black, which is more than twice the percentage of black Americans.
Yes, deaths happen in law enforcement.
No, unjustifiable killings of minorities by LE are still not at a rate that matches up "fairly" with those of whites.
There is not a single accurate system of compiling stats in existence.
Even if we buy your convenient 2 to 1 ratio, that still means a third of all killed are black, which is more than twice the percentage of black Americans.
Yes, deaths happen in law enforcement.
No, unjustifiable killings of minorities by LE are still not at a rate that matches up "fairly" with those of whites.
I don't disagree that the police treats everyone harshly...I just think they treat some MORE HARSHLY. Tom, in your Cops scenario, if the guy who refused to take his hands out of his pockets were black and the cop were white, the refuser probably would have been shot, with the cop claiming he feared for his life. Look Blacks are NOT claiming they are the ONLY group being killed, IT'S JUST NOT PROPORTIONAL. This system is stacked against blacks, almost any objective measure shows it. I remember reading a study that found that people who were caught with crack cocaine were likely to receive a much harsher sentence than someone caught with an equal amount of powder cocaine. The only real difference is that crack was preferred among minorities whereas powder was preferred among whites. Same crime but different sentences..there are other examples too.
Was this Police Officer Drug Tested?
I really doubt it
I really doubt it
18
He should also have been psychologically pre-tested and not allowed on the force. He was hysterical in the moment where he needed a level head. There were many choices that he could have made to de-escalate. Like go back to his police vehicle.
Another case of justice not being served. Yanez has to be the biggest chicken.... of all time. Untrained and unprofessional. Now he gets away with murder. Where do they find these people then give them a license to kill. Another miscarriage. Another dead black man. When will our society wake up and realize that killing someone is not what policing is about.
31
Well it is kinda about that.
You do realize 2 jurors were black, and they voted not guilty? Apparently they know more than you as they heard every fact, and unanimously voted that way. Not even a hung jury. Did you see the Louisiana case where the cops fought the guy over the gun, and SHOCKINGLY, they were also found not guilty. The Tulsa cop was acquitted for killing the PCP addict who went back to his vehicle and reached inside. Eventhough the false narrative that the windows were up, as if she could see that anyway, is still perpetutated. I have 12 people hear everything, and decide unananimously on guilt, I respect that. Only time I knew something was up was the OJ trial. Those jurors now admit they were “settling the score”.
3
Yanez was hysterical and should have been pre-screened out of the police force. Police officers need to recognize when retreating is the best option. This situation was not one that was life threatening, other than due to the hysterical Yanez.
In 2 minutes of watching a video you see the policeman is guilty without a doubt. Then the system spend millions of dollars and time in order to find way to acquit him. They should have just released a message to the media after the shooting : "He was black. He moved. 7 bullets." bunch of racists. Who knows how many black man killed or sitting in jail for nothing.
44
If they're in jail, they're there for a reason.
2
Upon these serene lakes in Minnesota, the land of the Lakota, we see once again that the water is tainted.
No white man died this way.
No white man died this way.
29
Unbelievable.....a travesty of justice...
22
The Jury members were the worst kind of cowards like the witnesses in the Kitty Genovese murder.
17
Once upon a time, there was a Latino man who made his Mexican parents proud by becoming a police officer in America. He served admirably for many years. Then one day, he got into a tense situation with someone who had a gun. It was a chaotic seven seconds, and it all happened so fast, but he tragically shot and killed the man he thought might shoot him.
Then he went to trial, and the jury, who heard more testimony and saw more evidence than any of us, found him not guilty of any crime. NOT GUILTY.
He was relieved. But he had been saddened and shocked that so many people in America had made him out to be an evil monster. They judged him so harshly without knowing all the relevant details.
Not guilty. Even then, so many refused that decision, and continued their outrage.
And so tonight throughout the United States, our fine Mexican-American neighbors and friends are everywhere asking: why do those liberal-minded people hate us so much?
Then he went to trial, and the jury, who heard more testimony and saw more evidence than any of us, found him not guilty of any crime. NOT GUILTY.
He was relieved. But he had been saddened and shocked that so many people in America had made him out to be an evil monster. They judged him so harshly without knowing all the relevant details.
Not guilty. Even then, so many refused that decision, and continued their outrage.
And so tonight throughout the United States, our fine Mexican-American neighbors and friends are everywhere asking: why do those liberal-minded people hate us so much?
17
What? How does being Mexican American play into this? Castile told him he had a gun and wasn't reaching for the gun. Yanez shot him anyway. What does being a Mexican American have to do with any of this?
41
You think being Mexican-American has nothing to do with it? So then you must agree Castile being black also has nothing to do with it. Thanks, Henry.
Either you are in my trap, or you agree race and ethnicity has nothing to do with this case, and the racial aspects should be dropped from the discussion. In which case, good night people, nothing to see here.
Either you are in my trap, or you agree race and ethnicity has nothing to do with this case, and the racial aspects should be dropped from the discussion. In which case, good night people, nothing to see here.
1
A cop's foolproof defense against a murder or manslaughter charge: "Ooh, ooh, I was afraid for my life!"
30
The Dept should be sued for employing such Grossly Incompetent officers.
3
"Objective reasonableness" comes down to that basically.. The Supreme Court says if a cop in a certain set of circumstances believes he is facing a deadly threat, he can shoot, no need to consider anything else. The Tamir Rice shooting is an even better example of how dangerous this standard is for the public.
6
This acquittal and the recent one in Oklahoma or the the grand jury that refused to indict the killer of Gardner in Staten Island should also be an indictment of majority white jurors in these cases. They look at the presented evidence,they look at the victims race they look at the white cop then they acquit. All a white cop has to say is " I feared for my life" then these white jurors consistently vote to acquit the killer cops. The defense lawyers eliminate any black males from the jury pool, if there are 12 jurors 9 will be white the rest if any will be Chinese or Hispanic maybe 1 will be a easily manipulated black female. That is why the results are always the same.
7
Should someone shoot Yanez I hope they say they feared for their life in the presence of a murderer.
18
"This city killed my son." Pretty much.
Big cities with paranoid cops are dangerous places for young black men.
Big cities with paranoid cops are dangerous places for young black men.
33
If Mr. Castile were white and the same sequence of events happened, Castile would have still been shot.
When an officer tells you to do or refrain from doing something, you do as told. You don't question, argue, or do otherwise. If you feel entitled to argue or not follow requests, you face consequences.
When Castile's own girlfriend was more interested in recording the whole episode including after Castile was shot, instead of calling 911 she was still recording away, it was pretty weird. No thought to calling 911, it was "gotta get it on a recording, to hell with 911".
The BLM crowd will again shut down streets, call for the death of cops, and yet never give the time of day to the thousands of black on black homicides that occur each year. They just cannot be bothered with those. But supposedly they "care". I don't think they care one bit.
I'm sorry Castile was shot. And died. I wish he'd followed orders. But he didn't.
When an officer tells you to do or refrain from doing something, you do as told. You don't question, argue, or do otherwise. If you feel entitled to argue or not follow requests, you face consequences.
When Castile's own girlfriend was more interested in recording the whole episode including after Castile was shot, instead of calling 911 she was still recording away, it was pretty weird. No thought to calling 911, it was "gotta get it on a recording, to hell with 911".
The BLM crowd will again shut down streets, call for the death of cops, and yet never give the time of day to the thousands of black on black homicides that occur each year. They just cannot be bothered with those. But supposedly they "care". I don't think they care one bit.
I'm sorry Castile was shot. And died. I wish he'd followed orders. But he didn't.
19
Police don't have the right to tell people to do whatever they choose. They aren't dictators. They need probable cause and aren't allowed to racially profile. What Yanez did was evil and inhumane. How a jury could get this so wrong is stupefying. The judge is no less culpable for allowing speculation as to marijuana use.
6
Mr Castile did not argue. He alerted the officer to the fact that he had a weapon. That was it. And that statement was apparently cause enough for him to be shot. Try to familiarize yourself with the specifics.
12
Yes, America, where you are killed for not following orders. What a country this has become. Even as a middle-class, middle-aged white woman, my skin crawls every time I see a police officer. His gf was supposed to call 911? With a police officer standing right in front of her pumping her bf with seven - yes, SEVEN bullets because of some imaginary threat?? And she is going to call 911 so they can send backup to shoot her and her daughter as well?
Proving anything beyond a reasonable doubt is difficult. Twelve jurors couldn't be convinced in this case. Rightly or wrongly police officers are given the benefit of the doubt.
16
Minnesota is a tyrannical police state. I was arrested, thrown in jail and criminally charged for loud-mouthing a UPS agent. The incident had been precipitated by three weeks of evasion and incompetence by UPS in managing a damaged package claim. In New York, my provoked reaction would not have registered as anything more than rude, abrasive or aggressive. In the authoritarian police state of Minnesota, animated conduct is a crime.
9
This is appalling. Guy in a car with his girlfriend and a child and he's going to pull a gun? Really? That's what this cop was thinking? After telling the cop he had a gun...?
If a cop cant react calmly without shooting when a person is moving inside, or in most of these cases outside, a vehicle...what exactly are they being trained to do? Its becoming increasingly clear that the manner in which we train patrol officers is woefully lacking in something critical.
Or is it, as many of us civilians believe - the cop...? Is it that the vetting systems for the candidates is not stringent enough? Are the psych evals doing the right job? Are the training officers trained enough, experienced enough, care enough, to spot those candidates who simply should not graduate? Is it that the needs to hire and put cops out on the streets outweigh the evaluation and training processes?
We all get it that cops are stressed, we get it...we really do. We get it that they can often go from being sleepy one minute to having far too much adrenaline being dumped into their system. BUT - thats what the training is supposed help them control. We hear it all the time, from professional soldiers and much better trained LEO's - rely on the training, not your feelings, not your fears - but the training.
So? Whats the problem, and where is it originating? Lack of training in high stress situations? Or poor candidates pushed thru and onto the street?
A combo of both? I'm thinking its too often both.
If a cop cant react calmly without shooting when a person is moving inside, or in most of these cases outside, a vehicle...what exactly are they being trained to do? Its becoming increasingly clear that the manner in which we train patrol officers is woefully lacking in something critical.
Or is it, as many of us civilians believe - the cop...? Is it that the vetting systems for the candidates is not stringent enough? Are the psych evals doing the right job? Are the training officers trained enough, experienced enough, care enough, to spot those candidates who simply should not graduate? Is it that the needs to hire and put cops out on the streets outweigh the evaluation and training processes?
We all get it that cops are stressed, we get it...we really do. We get it that they can often go from being sleepy one minute to having far too much adrenaline being dumped into their system. BUT - thats what the training is supposed help them control. We hear it all the time, from professional soldiers and much better trained LEO's - rely on the training, not your feelings, not your fears - but the training.
So? Whats the problem, and where is it originating? Lack of training in high stress situations? Or poor candidates pushed thru and onto the street?
A combo of both? I'm thinking its too often both.
33
The UK had this sorted over 100 years ago. The police should not carry firearms. No guns, no escalations. The police cannot be trusted with guns. Neither can anyone else. A gun free America.
36
We (the U.S.) are not the UK. You may remember us as the branch of Englishmen who kicked you out of our country--twice; and then we had to come over to Africa and Europe to rescue you from the Germans--twice.
There were 30 years of violence in the last "troubles" which started in 1968. There were about 3,500 intentional homicides in and about Northern Ireland, Ireland, and Britain in that period from the fighting and bombings and assassinations. In the U.S. we have about 13,000 intentional homicides a year, over 1,000 per month.
We have at least 400 million guns, as many guns as televisions. Our gun shops and indoor shooting ranges are as nice as upscale grocery stores. In recent years, 25 million guns per year have been sold to the general public. Millions legally carry guns. In my state I can carry a concealed pistol with no license or permit. Switchblades are legal in a majority of states.
People here go out and shoot another person for dissing them on social media. Cops here get murdered in cold blood sitting in a coffee shop on break, or parked in their patrol car. Regular patrol cops here now carry assault rifles in their trunks to match firepower with criminals.
Tell you what, you send your cops over here to the U.S. to patrol without guns and show us how it is done. We'll make a reality TV show of it. But they should put their affairs in order first.
There were 30 years of violence in the last "troubles" which started in 1968. There were about 3,500 intentional homicides in and about Northern Ireland, Ireland, and Britain in that period from the fighting and bombings and assassinations. In the U.S. we have about 13,000 intentional homicides a year, over 1,000 per month.
We have at least 400 million guns, as many guns as televisions. Our gun shops and indoor shooting ranges are as nice as upscale grocery stores. In recent years, 25 million guns per year have been sold to the general public. Millions legally carry guns. In my state I can carry a concealed pistol with no license or permit. Switchblades are legal in a majority of states.
People here go out and shoot another person for dissing them on social media. Cops here get murdered in cold blood sitting in a coffee shop on break, or parked in their patrol car. Regular patrol cops here now carry assault rifles in their trunks to match firepower with criminals.
Tell you what, you send your cops over here to the U.S. to patrol without guns and show us how it is done. We'll make a reality TV show of it. But they should put their affairs in order first.
4
Really? London police seem pretty adept at shooting terrorists within minutes of an attack. Let's stop the unarmed London Bobby myth.
It would take 2,000 years to collect every fun and a new Constitution. You lot had muskets in our Yankee faces remember and mind your own imploding nation please.
"as well as the governor of Minnesota, Mark Dayton, who asked aloud: 'Would this have happened if the driver were white, if the passengers were white?' "
Neither Obama nor Dayton were successful in obstructing justice.
However they should both be charged for the attempt.
Neither Obama nor Dayton were successful in obstructing justice.
However they should both be charged for the attempt.
4
Yanez is lucky he's wasn't a soldier in a war zone when killed Philando Castile, because then he'd be war criminal. Does law enforcement have no concept of rules of engagement? Are they not trained ad nauseam in escalation of force procedures? The greatest tragedy here isn't the fault of this man (though he is most certainly at fault), but rather it's the criminal negligence of a system that declared this man fit to be armed to the gills, called him a civil servant, and then failed to hold him accountable when he betrayed our trust. We made our bed, and we continue to sleep in it.
25
There is something deeply wrong in this country when a traffic stop results in death sentence. No trial or jury for the victim. Just an on-the-spot death sentence. This isn't a black or white issue--more white people are shot by the police than black people. This is a civil rights issue that everybody in this country ought to be up in arms about! How is it that we maintain a system in which police officers are judge jury and executioner? Things have got to change. The status quo can no longer be tolerated.
26
In a society where every traffic stop could resukt in a police officer being shot because every citizen has the so-called "right to bear arms" then it is no wonder that many people get shot dead each year. The vast majority are shop by other civilians. Some are shot by Police who are acutely aware that it would only take a split second to be shot dead. It doesn't take a genius to work out what the problem is. Yet apparently many Americans just can't see it, so brainwashed are they into beliveing that it is their inalienable "right to bear arms" no matter what the consequences. It's all too obvious to those of us in other countries where guns are extremely difficult to come by that it is the American obsession with guns that is the root cause of these tragedies. But you keep on blaming it in police training or racism (the cop was hispanic in this incident I believe- am emember of a racial minority himself). Just keep refusing to see the truth staring you right in the face. In a society awash with lethal weapons innocent people will end up being killed either by armed offenders or by Police who with quite some justification fear for their lives.
Lots of pathos here, and little logos.
Why, oh why, didn't Mr. Castile just roll down the car window, put his hands on the steering wheel, and await the police officer to approach--then follow his instructions? That's what we were always taught.
Why, oh why, didn't Mr. Castile just roll down the car window, put his hands on the steering wheel, and await the police officer to approach--then follow his instructions? That's what we were always taught.
15
He was told to produce ID. He told the cop he was licensed to carry a gun and had a gun on him. He was reaching for ID. And he was killed for it.
10
He WAS following instructions. He was told to produce his license and was reaching for his wallet in an attempt to comply with the officer when he was senselessly shot to death. DON'T blame the victim.
2
The officer told him not to reach for the gun and he perceived that Mr. Castile was going for his gun anyways. He did not follow the officer's instructions.
1
This is plain and simple a miscarriage of justice. How can you justify the discharge of a weapon in these circumstances let alone the officer's firing seven times.
This is an officer who should have known better unless he never received the training that would have equipped him to handle the circumstances of the traffic stop.
Another sad day for each and everyone of us. Policing like this fails each of us irrespective of color. why do jurors not understand this.
This is an officer who should have known better unless he never received the training that would have equipped him to handle the circumstances of the traffic stop.
Another sad day for each and everyone of us. Policing like this fails each of us irrespective of color. why do jurors not understand this.
17
The public gets to know very little about how cops are trained, it's as obscure as mafia initiation rites. Training that teaches a cop to kill because he thinks he sees a weapon, as though every person is Wyatt Earp ready to blast away at him, is negligent training.
The whole of police training should be held under the observation of a civilian board of overseers who would have the right to challenge methodologies. The idea that you have to dump multiple rounds into a person the moment you get an inkling of possible danger is completely given to homicide of innocent people via poor judgement. What is wrong with our people that there is no immediate public condemnation of what is obviously paranoia and rationalization training?
The whole of police training should be held under the observation of a civilian board of overseers who would have the right to challenge methodologies. The idea that you have to dump multiple rounds into a person the moment you get an inkling of possible danger is completely given to homicide of innocent people via poor judgement. What is wrong with our people that there is no immediate public condemnation of what is obviously paranoia and rationalization training?
15
It's actually pretty reasonable to assume any citizen may be armed in a nation in which every citizen has the "right to bear arms." The problem is not with Police training but with US society being awash with lethal firearms in the 21st century. The US constitution was written in the days of thr "Wild West" when it may have been appropriate for citizens to have the right to carry a hand gun. In a modern society this is a recipe forndisaster and too many people - police and civilians alike - are dying because of it.
Jeronimo Yanez has gotten away with murder (technically, manslaughter...but the corpse is just as cold and the family of the innocent man just as bereaved).
The defense did a better job than the prosecution, the judge instructed the jury just right to get this outcome. So, shouldn't we conclude (as several commenters here have) that the system worked? That justice was done?
Actually, no. We can only concluded that the system worked as it was supposed to...to protect the establishment and thei protectors from the consequences of their actions and to blame everything on the victims on whose corpses the establishment has raised its temples.
I have law enforcement and justice system members in my own family. I have great confidence in them. But, as a combat veteran, I have to say that, as military, we have mo stringent, better enforced, and more restrictive rules of engagement than the police departments of this country.
Jeronimo Yanez got away with murder...because that's what the system was meant to permit.
The defense did a better job than the prosecution, the judge instructed the jury just right to get this outcome. So, shouldn't we conclude (as several commenters here have) that the system worked? That justice was done?
Actually, no. We can only concluded that the system worked as it was supposed to...to protect the establishment and thei protectors from the consequences of their actions and to blame everything on the victims on whose corpses the establishment has raised its temples.
I have law enforcement and justice system members in my own family. I have great confidence in them. But, as a combat veteran, I have to say that, as military, we have mo stringent, better enforced, and more restrictive rules of engagement than the police departments of this country.
Jeronimo Yanez got away with murder...because that's what the system was meant to permit.
26
Let us suppose that the jury's verdict is fair and that Officer Yanez is not *legally culpable* for Mr Castile's death. Nonetheless, interactions with the police in a nation as heavily armed and thus as deeply paranoid as the US are accidents waiting to happen. How many white readers of the NY Times have been subjected to 49 traffic stops over the past 13 years, as Mr Castile was? One's odds of getting killed by the police are proportional to one's interactions with the police and racial profiling in traffic stops (aka 'driving while black') increases those interactions.
21
Castile had only recently obtained his legal gun. So most if not all of those 48 stops occurred when he had no gun. No reports of any problems or violence from those.
Then he had the gun for this stop. A few unfortunate things happened, including that he didn't stay still as he announced the gun. So it is really all about having a gun, not how many stops, or what race you are.
Then he had the gun for this stop. A few unfortunate things happened, including that he didn't stay still as he announced the gun. So it is really all about having a gun, not how many stops, or what race you are.
5
I am so disgusted. I thought surely this officer would be convicted. I thought Minnesota was better than this. An officer swears to protect and serve not wimp out.
16
I'm stunned, outraged, reading this and the similarly outraged comments. Why did the cop feel so threaened he had to shoot? Same pattern over and over.
We never see a cop convicted and jailed, no matter what they do. A self reinforcing pattern of distortion of reality---by cops, prosecutors, jurors, politicians.
Other democracies don't have a problem with cops shooting civilians. Why isn't this crucial difference discussed in our media, so Americans will know how abnormal this country is.
You have to wonder what kind of people become cops in our society? Maybe that's the place to start a long process of reform. Give applicants psychological tests.
I wonder how these jurors were picked? What kind of pressure do they feel from other jurors?
So what time is the next cop shooting? Then how long before he's acquitted?
Every black family has to constantly train their kids on what to say, and do if ever stopped, to avoid being murdered in cold blood. America, 2017.
We never see a cop convicted and jailed, no matter what they do. A self reinforcing pattern of distortion of reality---by cops, prosecutors, jurors, politicians.
Other democracies don't have a problem with cops shooting civilians. Why isn't this crucial difference discussed in our media, so Americans will know how abnormal this country is.
You have to wonder what kind of people become cops in our society? Maybe that's the place to start a long process of reform. Give applicants psychological tests.
I wonder how these jurors were picked? What kind of pressure do they feel from other jurors?
So what time is the next cop shooting? Then how long before he's acquitted?
Every black family has to constantly train their kids on what to say, and do if ever stopped, to avoid being murdered in cold blood. America, 2017.
14
"Other democracies don't have a problem with cops shooting civilians..." True fact. Wrong inference. This fact does not imply that your Police are homicidal and to blame. Other democracies do not allow civilians to easily get access to firearms, so Police in these other democracies do not need to be so fearful of being shot dead during routine vehicle stops etc. Simple for those of us in "other democracies" to understand this link between easy access to fireaems and shootings. (Police shootings and thr far more numerous civilian-on-civilian shootings which strangely elicit far less outrage.) Strangely this link eludes many Americans.
Good point...a crucial factor---our guns for all credo means cops fear getting shot so they are more quick to shoot, especially those of dark skin. So it's a spiral of fear and violence.
The whites don't get stopped as much in the 1st place, so if they carry a gun it won't even be known.
In this atmosphere the cops need to be more aware, and be specially trained to deal with situation without killing people.
This chain of causation in gun violence special to America the Beautiful can't be faced realistically until we see the context of other nations. But we get rare glimpes into this from our media.
The whites don't get stopped as much in the 1st place, so if they carry a gun it won't even be known.
In this atmosphere the cops need to be more aware, and be specially trained to deal with situation without killing people.
This chain of causation in gun violence special to America the Beautiful can't be faced realistically until we see the context of other nations. But we get rare glimpes into this from our media.
I hope jurors will let themselves be interviewed to explain this hard-to-understand verdict.
I found Ms. Reynolds's video about as upsetting as the famous Zapruder film of President Kennedy's assassination. It haunts me to this day. I think it belongs in the Smithsonian or another prominent museum.
Nevertheless, she filmed only the aftermath, and it isn't conclusive about Officer Jerónimo Yáñez's gruesome act. If anyone sat through the trial, as a juror, reporter, court employee, or spectator, I'm interested in your take. All other comments in this blog—there will be hundreds—that draw a conclusion about the verdict are inevitably speculative, despite the horrific video.
I found Ms. Reynolds's video about as upsetting as the famous Zapruder film of President Kennedy's assassination. It haunts me to this day. I think it belongs in the Smithsonian or another prominent museum.
Nevertheless, she filmed only the aftermath, and it isn't conclusive about Officer Jerónimo Yáñez's gruesome act. If anyone sat through the trial, as a juror, reporter, court employee, or spectator, I'm interested in your take. All other comments in this blog—there will be hundreds—that draw a conclusion about the verdict are inevitably speculative, despite the horrific video.
5
The reason the jurors reached the outcome they did is because of MN statute 609.066 which states that, "the use of deadly force by a peace officer in the line of duty is justified only when necessary to protect the peace officer... from apparent death or great bodily harm." The key word is "apparent." The word is not defined in the statute but it has been interpreted to mean that when the police officer believes he is in danger, he can kill the person posing the "apparent" danger. The statute does not require that the police officer's assessment of the danger be reasonable, or even rational. It only requires that the officer claim that he, himself, believed he was in danger.
Don't blame the jurors. Blame the statute. As long as that word "apparent" stands, we will see more killings and more acquittals.
Don't blame the jurors. Blame the statute. As long as that word "apparent" stands, we will see more killings and more acquittals.
15
When we watch the video, then see the cop acquitted, how can we haven any respect for the justice system or the police in this country?
7
This officer had every reason to take action and a jury which included two African-Americans agreed. Those who now hysterically condemn the verdict, the jury and America only further the divisions in this country. It is also quite sad the officer was fired. What a message to law enforcemen: do nothing to enforce the law because you will be prosecuted and if acquitted, fired. The Ferguson effect reinforced. Violent crime is up in Chicago and some other large urban centers. The officer was fired ( with a severance) so maybe there will not be riots, but the consequences of that termination will more police not taking appropriate action and a further escalation of crime. We will all reap the whirlwind.
5
This officer was emotionally panicked, issued commands, after being notified about the weapon, which caused the victims death. Period. Don't defend that pathetic example of police incompetence, regardless of criminal culpability.
I'm sorry, but exactly what law was he enforcing?
the tail light was broken, which is a safety violation
1
Juries just won't convict cops, regardless of the facts.
14
Today a teenager who urged a friend through texts to kill himself is found guilty but the cop who shot Philando Castile seven times is found not guilty. The justice system in The States is a Byzantine labyrinth beyond my comprehension.
22
Recently two white men who entered a local police station armed with rifle and handguns. There was a standoff in which insults were exchanged before the men agreed to submit to arrest. But here's the thing. THEY WEREN'T SHOT. Cops always shoot black men just if they suspect black men are armed. But with whites, cops somehow manage to keep their murderous instincts in check.
http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2017/03/20/dearborn...
http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2017/03/20/dearborn...
14
Not that anyone will read this, as it is buried by inane comments by many readers who freely admit they did not follow the case or the trial and only saw the FB video;
He was acquitted by 12 people, 8 men, 4 women, 10 white, 2 black. They saw all the evidence the prosecution decided to present. They did not declare a deadlock, resulting in a mistrial and possible retrial. They declared him not guilty by reasonable doubt based on the law and the evidence presented. Why? Because he had a reasonable fear for his safety when the driver reached for a gun after being told not to move.
I hope that I am never in that situation, on either end. If I am, I hope to be able to follow orders as stated, or have a jury of my peers review the law and facts if/when prosecuted, and not by public opinion.
Scott Adams — 'You can never underestimate the stupidity of the general public'
He was acquitted by 12 people, 8 men, 4 women, 10 white, 2 black. They saw all the evidence the prosecution decided to present. They did not declare a deadlock, resulting in a mistrial and possible retrial. They declared him not guilty by reasonable doubt based on the law and the evidence presented. Why? Because he had a reasonable fear for his safety when the driver reached for a gun after being told not to move.
I hope that I am never in that situation, on either end. If I am, I hope to be able to follow orders as stated, or have a jury of my peers review the law and facts if/when prosecuted, and not by public opinion.
Scott Adams — 'You can never underestimate the stupidity of the general public'
14
Castile was TOLD to show ID, which REQUIRES him to move. As part of being a responsible gun owner licensed to carry, he told the officer he had a gun while trying to obey the order. He was shot because the officer heard the word gun and forgot the order he'd just given. The officer is unfit for that job.
This is what I mean. Someone has intentionally or unintentionally confused the facts to try to make some sort of point.
The dash cam audio does have the office ask for ID. The officer then says "don't pull it out" and "don't move" before the shots are fired.
As to responsible, he was had THC in his system, per the examiner's report and did not record a change of address with the "license". Both of those violate the law around LTC in MN.
The dash cam audio does have the office ask for ID. The officer then says "don't pull it out" and "don't move" before the shots are fired.
As to responsible, he was had THC in his system, per the examiner's report and did not record a change of address with the "license". Both of those violate the law around LTC in MN.
A few observations:
If he had been stoned, he'd have been LESS likely to shoot somebody.
Is this an up-to-date photo of the police officer? He looks too young to be trusted with a gun.
How likely is it that Philandro Castile had just committed a robbery with his girlfriend and her daughter in the car? Did he actually resemble a robber or were they just both black and male? This sounds like an excuse trumped up after the fact.
If he had been stoned, he'd have been LESS likely to shoot somebody.
Is this an up-to-date photo of the police officer? He looks too young to be trusted with a gun.
How likely is it that Philandro Castile had just committed a robbery with his girlfriend and her daughter in the car? Did he actually resemble a robber or were they just both black and male? This sounds like an excuse trumped up after the fact.
11
So sad that Mr. Castile was driving while black! This is just too much. I am a huge cop-lover, but this man was doing NOTHING wrong and there was a baby in the car for goodness' sake. I am sad for his family and for all people of color who have to fear the very people who are sworn to protect them. Can't imagine what it must feel like.
8
I'm not American... I thought in the US carrying a gun was a sacrosanct right, not to be denied or infringed upon for fear of the slippery slope to tyranny... but it seems like a black American with a gun is automatically assumed to be a threat that needs to be neutralized. As your president would say: sad.
14
Since when is "shoot to kill" standard operating procedure? I thought that was limited to the Jack the Rippers and Jesse James's of the world?
The US is a very sick society. It sure isn't pro-life.
The US is a very sick society. It sure isn't pro-life.
8
I've served on so many B more juries I keep saying jury of your peers brings too many folks with emotional baggage and agendas. Only legal minds should serve on juries to stay focused on the law. I love how the media and social media journalists cherry pick facts when juries see way more evidence! Let's be honest if they did rob store her video would start for a BLM win not conviction!!!! I would never be police in this poverty excuse climate!
2
What the NRA will never admit is that innocent black drivers are killed by police because of the crazy gun culture the NRA promotes. If the United States was like England, with strict gun control and very few guns, cops wouldn't be afraid of getting killed when they stopped a black driver. They wouldn't be on edge. They wouldn't mistake the slightest movement as a sign of danger.
The NRA says having a gun makes you safer. Well Philando Castile had a gun, and that's why he was killed.
The NRA says having a gun makes you safer. Well Philando Castile had a gun, and that's why he was killed.
18
Another crime
Without s criminal
Another message
None too subliminal
Without s criminal
Another message
None too subliminal
6
If you have a loaded gun in your shorts you should be ready to get shot, if you weren't ready to get shot why would you have the gun? Don't care who or where you are. No one needs a gun in their pants, especially if they are stoned and driving, unless they are just a bad actor. We need to give cops the benefit of doubt. Its a really tough job.
7
Right John, only white people are allowed, indeed admonished by the NRA, to drive around with guns to protect themselves, obviously. Really good point there.
Do you know how many people are driving around with loaded guns in their cars and their "shorts" right now? Millions. It's not illegal. Heck, here in Texas open-carry is common now. That's the entire problem with the gun culture in this country. Philando's "crime" apparently was being a black male. When was the last time we heard of a white person being shot by police in a similar scenario?
As an elderly ‘white’ New Yorker, I find this verdict utterly disgusting.
Individuals as cowardly, anxiety-ridden, and vicious as this Officer Yanez should never be hired as police officers, and any department that hires them should be held criminally liable.
For any semblance of justice to exist in USA, our federal government must now bring civil rights charges against this vicious Officer Yanez.
Individuals as cowardly, anxiety-ridden, and vicious as this Officer Yanez should never be hired as police officers, and any department that hires them should be held criminally liable.
For any semblance of justice to exist in USA, our federal government must now bring civil rights charges against this vicious Officer Yanez.
7
Jeronimo Yanez shoots a man in cold blood and goes free just because he is a policeman yet Michelle Carter gets 20 years because she texted her ex-boyfriend to "get back in the car" when he is attempting suicide. Makes no sense. If Yanez was so afraid, why was he a policeman? He should never have put on a uniform if he was so paranoid of being shot. This business of acquittal of police persons who kill unarmed people in cold blood with NO PUNISHMENT WHATSOEVER has to stop. What kind of country are we, anyway? Where are these guys being trained? Sounds like the Gestapo. Is this country training their police forces to target Black people? This cruelty needs to stop. This is not a civil society, it is a police state. We all live in fear. I am not Black, but I live in fear. If I see a police person I feel apprehension in my throat. I can't imagine what a Black person must feel.
9
Michelle Carter has not yet been sentenced. She will be sentenced Aug. 3 and faces up to 20 years in prison. . Who knows what the actual sentence will be.
Professor Eric Dyson writes in his book, “Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America,” in the chapter “Coptopia,”-- “an ideal state of affairs where police can display ghastly inventiveness in traumatizing or disappearing black and brown bodies...,”-- "...to be black in America is to live in terror. That terror is fast. It is glimpsed in cops giving chase to black men and shooting them in their backs without cause….We endure the terror of being stopped and frisked and sent to jail for possessing less than an ounce of weed….We think of the police who kill us for no good reason as ISIS. Cops rain down terror on our heads with relentless fire and make us afraid to walk the streets. At any moment…a blue-clad monster will swoop down on us to snatch our lives from us and say it was because we were selling cigarettes, or compact discs, or breathing too much for his comfort, or speaking too abrasively for his taste. Or running, or standing still, to talking back, or being silent, or doing as you say, or not doing as you say fast enough. Like all terrorist they hate us for who we are.”
“Until the killing of black men, black mothers’ sons, becomes as important to the rest of the country as the killing of white mothers’ sons, we who believe in freedom cannot rest until this happens.” Legendary civil rights organizer, Ella Baker, 1964
“Until the killing of black men, black mothers’ sons, becomes as important to the rest of the country as the killing of white mothers’ sons, we who believe in freedom cannot rest until this happens.” Legendary civil rights organizer, Ella Baker, 1964
6
We live in the St. Paul area, just 30 minutes from where this tragic event happened. Several years ago, our son was stopped by police for rolling a right turn on a red light on his way home from a high school football game. Our son was pulled over, and the officer asked to see his license (which our son kept in the car's glove compartment). Our son reached to open the glove compartment to find his license, and the officer pulled a gun on him. Thankfully, the episode didn't escalate any further, although our son came home from that football game still shaking. But he was white, Philando Castile was black. Sadly, race remains a complicating factor.
93
I can understand Yanez overreacting and shooting Philando. After that, though, he should have called for an ambulance, not handcuffed the one person in the car who could have slowed the bleeding. That was murder.
3
Apart from all the outrageousness already commented on, why are cops shooting to kill? If you are a peace officer and believe you're threatened by someone reaching for a gun, why isn't the training to shoot at the arm or shoulder or even the knee, any of which would disable the "attacker" (whether your perception is accurate or not) without ending his/her life? I cannot grasp ending someone's life on suspicion of reaching for a weapon. Injury should be the very worst result, never death.
107
I'm as appalled by the verdict as everyone else here, but to answer your question about why police aren't trained to shoot for the arm/leg/etc. instead of "to kill", it's because shooting into a human body, no matter where, has a high potential to be lethal. They aren't technically shooting to kill, but are shooting to stop a threat - but (should be) *only* one that fully justifies the use of deadly force. Actual gunshots are nothing like the movies and TV, and a bullet in the arm or leg can easily (and often does) sever arteries or major vessels, causing death just a quickly as a shot to the chest. Any shot has the potential to kill. To shoot someone at all means one must already acknowledge the possibility that they will die as a result, so it can only be lawfully done in situations where the use of deadly force is justified...which, going back to the case at hand here, I absolutely do not believe that it was, in any way and by any reasonable standard.
2
They aim for the chest because that's an easier, bigger target than the arm or shoulder or knee.
Also someone who's shot in the arm/shoulder/knee, may keep on shooting anyway.
A taser seems like a better option than shooting, to make the person incapable of shooting. They require specialized training that not all officers have, but maybe they should be used more.
Shots in the arms or legs are much less likely to kill a person than shots in the chest or belly, though.
Also someone who's shot in the arm/shoulder/knee, may keep on shooting anyway.
A taser seems like a better option than shooting, to make the person incapable of shooting. They require specialized training that not all officers have, but maybe they should be used more.
Shots in the arms or legs are much less likely to kill a person than shots in the chest or belly, though.
The answer is one Google search or YouTube video away. Failing that a simple question of a police officer will clear up your confusion. It always amazes me how people will get so upset about an issue and then spend zero effort to find an answer.
This was a tragedy all the way around. The oficer was looking for a robbery suspect so he was already on edge. Mr. Castille should not have been driving while smoking weed with a child in the car, with a gun on him, with a tail light out, all simple common sense things that could have been avoided.
34
Mr. Castile had every right to have a firearm. He was a U.S. citizen, of legal age, with no disqualifying criminal record. There was not a shred of evidence that he used the firearm in an unlawful manner. So is it the marijuana or the broken taillight that justified his killing?
2
He wasn't necessarily stoned at the time he was stopped. He might have been.
But yes, Ive wondered about his driving record. He was stopped many, many times. He paid about $6000 in traffic tickets! The tickets were for many different things, including not wearing a seatbelt and having marijuana in the car. This wasn't all about "driving while black", although a white person might have been stopped less. And maybe, he was a bad driver.
So much avoidable trouble and expense. Why did he do this to himself?
None of that excuses Yanez shooting him, though. Yanez should have told him to put his hands on the steering wheel, once he said he had a gun. The next question is "where is the gun?"
But yes, Ive wondered about his driving record. He was stopped many, many times. He paid about $6000 in traffic tickets! The tickets were for many different things, including not wearing a seatbelt and having marijuana in the car. This wasn't all about "driving while black", although a white person might have been stopped less. And maybe, he was a bad driver.
So much avoidable trouble and expense. Why did he do this to himself?
None of that excuses Yanez shooting him, though. Yanez should have told him to put his hands on the steering wheel, once he said he had a gun. The next question is "where is the gun?"
1
What's your excuse for the SEVEN gunshots?
2
I have concluded that a police officer in this country cannot be convicted of any crime for shooting another citizen regardless of circumstances. The US Supreme Court has made police officers almost immune from prosecution for excessive force, and the police defense bar has one or two experts who testify in every case about how the officer has only a split second to decide what to do believing he or she will be killed. That's enough for a jury or a deadlock juror. Outside of most big cities and some state police, officers are not well trained or disciplined, aren't psychologically fit to serve and shouldn't have a gun at all. In the meantime the republicans and the NRA want to further arm every citizen but don't carry that Second Amendment gun around a police officer IF YOU ARE A PERSON OF COLOR.
19
My wife and I have decided to stop vacationing anywhere in USA. No more winter months trips to Ft. Myers, Phoenix, etc., until we see a dramatic reversal in "aggressive" policing, facial profiling and general disrespect for life for the 'wrong kind' of people. We're fortunate to be prosperous enough to choose to go to other places in the world and see no reason to support America's police-state mentality with our dollars. Sure, few will notice one couple's decision; our friends and family will, though and we will not feel ashamed to have contributed in any way to this absurd brutality.
45
You make it sound like Canadians are free of gun violence and brutality and that is just not the case, please look at your own backyard before indicting an entire country with your myopic opinion that the US is awash in police brutality.
3
Thank you, sincerely. The only thing these " people" understand, and respond to, is money. Hope you'll be back, someday.
5
As a dual citizen of the United States and Canada, I would like to apologize to my fellow Americans for posts like this, with its uninformed reference to "America's police-state mentality."
There is a slice of the Canadian populace that thinks this way, but only to reveal its parochialism. I cringe, as I'm sure many Canadians do, every time I see a fellow Canadian look down his/her nose at America's perceived social conditions.
Both countries have advantages and disadvantages. Self-righteous reproaches by citizens of the one toward the other run the risk of sounding preachy and ignorant. I could lecture about conditions on certain Canadian First Nations reserves (i.e., Indian reservations), but recognize such a harangue will only offend and not change anything.
There is a slice of the Canadian populace that thinks this way, but only to reveal its parochialism. I cringe, as I'm sure many Canadians do, every time I see a fellow Canadian look down his/her nose at America's perceived social conditions.
Both countries have advantages and disadvantages. Self-righteous reproaches by citizens of the one toward the other run the risk of sounding preachy and ignorant. I could lecture about conditions on certain Canadian First Nations reserves (i.e., Indian reservations), but recognize such a harangue will only offend and not change anything.
5
We have a problem with the police in this country and a lot of it has to do with not having obtained a proper education for the job they are supposed to do. They need to take psychology, sociology, classes in situational awareness, economics, and classes that will teach them empathy and ways to connect to people on a more human level, not just as an enforcer of the law.
17
In most areas of the U.S., police departments prefer applicants to have at least a high school diploma; however, many towns, especially small towns with meager budgets, don't even require that. For decades, the falling crime rate hasn't justified employing large numbers of police officers; nevertheless, policing is being used as Keynesian government employment due to the dearth of good-paying jobs in the private sector. Politicians have chosen to reduce the size of most government employment, but not law enforcement.
8
The officer involved here has a college degree.
5
Oregon requires that all police officers have a diploma or GED. All police agencies in the Portland metropolitan area require a 2 year degree or equal number of college level course hours. They generally don't discriminate based on the type of coursework.
1
This happened in the Twin Cities area where I live. And for those that didn't follow the whole story, it's not for you to judge whether or not the verdict was correct or not. We were not in the courtroom or on the jury. I can tell you that this is a tragedy for everyone involved. And I honestly don't know how I would have decided. Just heartbreaking for everyone!
10
I hear many people complain about the quality of the police. I don't hear anyone complain about the people who run police departments badly , or voters who won't pay the taxes required to provide a quality government. And I have never met a progressive who advocated that liberals and progressives with college degree and compassionate hearts to enlist in the police departments. In my opinion those who ask more of others than they ask of themselves are the problem.
9
Better training needed. These 8 questions begin one foreign prep book:
1. What is a danger in a police sense? A danger in a police sense is a situation where if nothing is done, injury to a protected interest of public safety is reasonably certain to occur.
2. What do you understand by the term degree of danger? The degree of danger relates the probability and the time factor until the expected occurrence of the injurious event .
3. What is a putative danger? A putative danger is a situation where there is neither a danger nor a suspicion of danger. Police intervention measures in the case of a putative danger are unlawful.
4. What is a suspicion of danger? A suspicion of danger exists if the police have evidence of the existence of facts which if present indeed, would constitute a danger. At this time the police may only … clarify the facts. …
5. What is an abstract danger ? An abstract danger describes the possibility of an injury independent of a specific event. Details … are not yet recognizable.
6. What is a concrete danger? A concrete danger is a danger existing in a particular case. … there is a reasonably certain probability of occurrence of injury. …
7. What is a current danger? In the case of a current danger the injurious event has already begun and is continuing, or is about to occur imminently or in the very near future
8. What is a current substantial danger? A current substantial danger exists if the danger is to life or limb or a thing of significant value
1. What is a danger in a police sense? A danger in a police sense is a situation where if nothing is done, injury to a protected interest of public safety is reasonably certain to occur.
2. What do you understand by the term degree of danger? The degree of danger relates the probability and the time factor until the expected occurrence of the injurious event .
3. What is a putative danger? A putative danger is a situation where there is neither a danger nor a suspicion of danger. Police intervention measures in the case of a putative danger are unlawful.
4. What is a suspicion of danger? A suspicion of danger exists if the police have evidence of the existence of facts which if present indeed, would constitute a danger. At this time the police may only … clarify the facts. …
5. What is an abstract danger ? An abstract danger describes the possibility of an injury independent of a specific event. Details … are not yet recognizable.
6. What is a concrete danger? A concrete danger is a danger existing in a particular case. … there is a reasonably certain probability of occurrence of injury. …
7. What is a current danger? In the case of a current danger the injurious event has already begun and is continuing, or is about to occur imminently or in the very near future
8. What is a current substantial danger? A current substantial danger exists if the danger is to life or limb or a thing of significant value
1
I didn't see the tape and I'm not going to 2nd guess the jury. I think this is in part the result of living in a country that has inadequate control of it's guns. I don't have the courage that it takes to pull over a random car in the best of circumstances much less in this one where the officer was actually looking for a criminal. Most of the people that the police interact with are mentally unstable due to drugs or simple genetics. The officer in this case made a tragic mistake and like surgeons, nurses and military personnel death often accompanies their mistakes. I don't think these tragedies occur in countries with decent gun control laws or if they do, not at the rate that they do here in the United States.
9
A young woman is convicted for sending text messages -- text messages! -- that may have contributed to the suicide of a young (white) man on the same day an officer is acquitted for firing seven bullets into a seemingly calm young (black) motorist pulled over for a taillight issue. That is tough to take, especially for many folks who have seen the Facebook Live video pertaining to the latter. The 12 jurors in the shooting case were not asked for their opinions of said video. They were asked to weigh all of the evidence in relation to the specific charges being brought. Still, frustration is understandable.
11
This is most unsettling. The letter of the law has failed us because it failed to take essential matters into proper context. Would Yanez felt threatened if the driver and passengers had been white instead of black? Would he even have stopped the car? Was any black male fair game because of the reported robbery? If so, was the broken taillight just a pretext to stop this black driver? Why did the fact that there was a woman and a child in the car not factor into Yanez's assessment? Both St. Paul MN and Officer Yanez are now subject to civil damages in the wrongful death of Mr. Castile, but no amount of money will restore his life. How will Yanez make amends to Mr. Castile's parents, loved ones and friends for his lawful but mistaken killing, or is there no accountability at all? How will the police and law enforcement system work to heal the wounds of this tragedy? Or is this just how we treat members of the black community? Where are the mayor and chief of police and the chaplains and the grief counselors and the support services that would certainly be provided to if this happened to a white family.
4
The answer to your first question is yes. But you would never hear of this incident because it's not news.
1
"Officer Yanez did not tell Mr. Castile about the robbery suspicions, only that his brake light was out."
Police are using the most minor violations to confront drivers, especially blacks. Last Sunday in Milwaukee, police shot two blacks, the driver and passenger in a car, as a result of a traffic sign violation. In another typical incident, a June 15 NYT article, "Jury Sees Body Camera Footage of Fatal Shooting by Police Officer", reports that police in Milwaukee shot a black driver as a consequence of the victim's car being parked more than twelve inches from the curb. At least one alternative media article reports that Milwaukee's police chief is a far right-winger and law-and-order zealot, suggesting that there is a police-instigated reign of terror in Milwaukee.
Police are using the most minor violations to confront drivers, especially blacks. Last Sunday in Milwaukee, police shot two blacks, the driver and passenger in a car, as a result of a traffic sign violation. In another typical incident, a June 15 NYT article, "Jury Sees Body Camera Footage of Fatal Shooting by Police Officer", reports that police in Milwaukee shot a black driver as a consequence of the victim's car being parked more than twelve inches from the curb. At least one alternative media article reports that Milwaukee's police chief is a far right-winger and law-and-order zealot, suggesting that there is a police-instigated reign of terror in Milwaukee.
9
A violation is a violation. Should certain segments of our population have a free pass not to get a ticket? Oh yeah, they already do in Chicago.
1
If police department's aren't going to train police officers better, or screen out psychopaths, and if courts aren't going to convict police when they shoot unarmed civilians, perhaps we ought to change police rules so that they don't carry around guns in routine police checks like traffic stops or beat patrols. A lot of high-profile police shootings appear to be needless escalations by the police. Maybe this would finally force police to use de-escalation tactics in situations like normal traffic stops. Police in the UK don't carry around guns, and it's not like they have a spate of killings of police officers. It seems to me that there should be more to law enforcement than barking out orders and threatening people with deadly force if they don't comply.
106
We must also, as a nation, come to grips with the history of policing in regards to minorities and those in the less desirable neighborhoods. The very foundations (tents, beliefs and rules of engagement, etc) of our police forces come from the slave days. Much of that mentality is still ingrained...
America must come to grips with that past...and PD's need to be flushed of any remnants.
America must come to grips with that past...and PD's need to be flushed of any remnants.
4
Strong advice, train em better. Why aren't you in office?? You've got my vote
3
in this case and so many others, why didn't the officer move out of easy shooting area to the back of the car and then continue the issue from there. Seems like nobody does a simple move to get out of harm's way rather than stand there like some John Wayne and shoot the bejesus out of someone. There is nothing un-manly about pulling back from a scene and continuing from a safe area. It's not rocket science, just safer and not as costly in lives.
38
I get that we live in a society that likes to latch on to drama and play it up. I get that there's a lot of fake news going around. I get it. THIS ISN'T THAT. If you think so, check your head. This case comes down to a police officer acting on suspicions and a gross over reaction and use of force that ultimately took a man's life. Because he was black. Please, pay attention to what's happening in this country and see that this happens at a rate that doesn't equal this population's share of this country. If those points are lost on you and you feel like coming here to litigate how a jury of 12 came to a conclusion, and yada, yada, yada - well, you've got your head somewhere, and it's time you got it out of that place. People of color are dying and it isn't some happenstance you can explain with any other fact than Person of Color = Suspicious. Why do they need to continue to suffer? I am raising a young man of color and this is my greatest fear. It's why I call him every hour when he's in transit from school to after school program to home. It's why I won't let him go by himself to the park. It's why I fear for his life! And he is 13 years old! This country is sick.
57
I am white and I could not agree more. There was a study recently that showed the anxiety level of young blacks was on a rapid rise-I wonder why? They are being hunted.
1
May i ask Alexis, what is your greater fear.....him being shot by police?....or by another young black male? Because according to factual stats, your answer should be easy.
disgusting. to hinge the argument that Yanez was only acting according to his training... sickly convenient and catchall. He was trained to participate in a lynch mob.
I can't believe the jury did that. There is no way that young man deserve to die. Acquittal you got to be kidding me.
We need retraining for these cops. Some of them appear to have twitchy fingers...shoot first and ask questions later. If they are so jumpy every time they pull someone over then they should find a new career.
22
No offense but cops do not seem to need retraining in order not to shoot white people.
1
when you get pulled over, keep your hands on the wheel in plain sight until the officer indicates he wants you to roll down your window. do not reach for anything until he asks for your identification, then tell him where it is and tell him you are reaching for it. never let your hands out of his/her sight. if you want to live. and don't go to Minnesota.
22
There are lots of places in the U.S. where traveling is dangerous due to police presence, dangerous not only to your life but also for your pocketbook due to police use of traffic laws to generate revenue. Traffic law enforcement also provides police with the opportunity to confront drivers personally, where they can see up close what you look like and judge your comportment. In the U.S., statistics show that you're far more likely to be killed by a police officer than by a terrorist. And, importantly, police kill more whites (mostly white males) than members of any other ethnic group, but they kill far more blacks in proportion to blacks' small 13 percent of the population.
13
The problem is, he did all of that (what you suggested) and he still got shot and killed, even despite the incident being live-streamed on facebook. Cops in this country are out of control and we need to hold them accountable.
3
Philando remembered: http://insideschoolfood.com/episode/remembering-philando-castile/
8
To Laura Stanley. Thank you so much for posting this. Everyone should see it.
1
It is true "People generally don't become cops because they want to hurt people." Those of us who have dealt with them professionally and personally know that is only one reason, as numerous videos of beatings, strangulations and kickings have demonstrated. Many become cops also because 1. they are on a "mission," giving them an air of righteousness and 2. they are slow, inadequate and insecure and being a cop affords smug superiority impunity. And a few are saints.
28
Many studies have been done that conclude, far too many cops profile like criminals.
I know way too many cops who look at the job as a pension with good benefits. They got in to have a not so challenging job, or its what the men in their family do (despite that most of them are/were alcoholics and divorced at least once) that has a pay-off at the end of 2 decades of work. 20 years! Thats it! Anyone can do 20 years if you're in your 20's when you join.
I wasn't for a calling, not to serve and protect, not to make a difference...
Those are cliches they learn and parrot. ("Blue Bloods" is pure fairy-tale Hollywood! And doesnt deal with any of the personal issues each of those characters exhibit. Anger, alcohol, lack of intimate relationships, etc...)
Oh, they also join because they're generally lazy. And being a fireman is too much physical work.
I know way too many cops who look at the job as a pension with good benefits. They got in to have a not so challenging job, or its what the men in their family do (despite that most of them are/were alcoholics and divorced at least once) that has a pay-off at the end of 2 decades of work. 20 years! Thats it! Anyone can do 20 years if you're in your 20's when you join.
I wasn't for a calling, not to serve and protect, not to make a difference...
Those are cliches they learn and parrot. ("Blue Bloods" is pure fairy-tale Hollywood! And doesnt deal with any of the personal issues each of those characters exhibit. Anger, alcohol, lack of intimate relationships, etc...)
Oh, they also join because they're generally lazy. And being a fireman is too much physical work.
1
This is, once again, so disgusting!
Any murder is supposed to be severely punished; that is, unless it's committed by a police wannabe coward who can't do his job without washing off 100% of risk to his own life with the innocent blood of a black man!
America is disgusting!
Any murder is supposed to be severely punished; that is, unless it's committed by a police wannabe coward who can't do his job without washing off 100% of risk to his own life with the innocent blood of a black man!
America is disgusting!
30
It is a dangerous era when citizens no longer believe law enforcement is held accountable, whether by government or by jury. These police benefit of doubt verdicts have become all too uncommon and more damning is the fact that the victims are amost always non-white. Today a guily of manslaughter verdict was returned for a text that encouraged someone to take their own life but not for a policeman that killed a man that did nothing more than declare he was lawfully excersing his 2nd amendment right to bear arms.
In this day and age when even what were once considered "an act of God" brings a lawsuit so that someone is held accountable, how is law enforcement not held liable? This is shameful.
In this day and age when even what were once considered "an act of God" brings a lawsuit so that someone is held accountable, how is law enforcement not held liable? This is shameful.
Once again, this has confirmed my honest and realistic opinion that the
" average" American is just stupid. I'm sorry to say this is absolute, video confirmed proof. What more evidence could anyone have?? Are people that cowed and swayed by police?? I could understand having a holdout or two, thus a " hung" jury. To the Family: I am deeply sorry for the loss of your loved one. And I am ashamed at this travesty of Justice. I am begging you to pursue this, however long it takes, in Civil Court. The ONLY thing the monsters and their collaborators understand is money. Large, bankruptcy level money. That's what it will take, to get decent leadership in these police departments. Peace.
" average" American is just stupid. I'm sorry to say this is absolute, video confirmed proof. What more evidence could anyone have?? Are people that cowed and swayed by police?? I could understand having a holdout or two, thus a " hung" jury. To the Family: I am deeply sorry for the loss of your loved one. And I am ashamed at this travesty of Justice. I am begging you to pursue this, however long it takes, in Civil Court. The ONLY thing the monsters and their collaborators understand is money. Large, bankruptcy level money. That's what it will take, to get decent leadership in these police departments. Peace.
38
Since the murder...er...shooting was ruled justified, the city will not have to pay damages in a civil suit.
I'm not saying the cop isn't guilty, but your statement is false. Her video is the "aftermath" of the shooting. So saying "this is video proof" is misleading.
3
I agree with most of your comment, except for the "average American" being stupid. I don't think that's true as much as it's a problem of our legal system - lawyers from both sides can manipulate jury selection to such an extent that the legal outcome is almost a certainty with the right jury selection. In this case, I'm guessing that the defense was able to pack the jury with enough "law and order citizens" that they were going to find for the defendant without a doubt, despite the facts and because those people always believe the police. Until the citizens of this country wake up and realize the police are just as corrupt as our politicians, we won't be able to realize true justice for the most downtrodden of our society.
Outrageous. Infuriating. These acquittals just keep coming, one after another. Yanez is found innocent and walks scot-free, but as usual taxpayers will most likely have to pay out millions in compensation - what an absurd system!
42
Let's face it. There are many citizens among us that will not convict a police officer, no matter what the evidence. It makes them feel safer if the police are armed and dangerous. Of course, that is until it is they are stopped for a broken tail light. Then be careful what you wish for.
33
having a badge is a license to kill
29
This is not justice. Our police officers are not God and they don't get a pass when they shoot someone without cause. At this point the only thing citizens can do is keep their hands on the dash and refuse to move them for any reason because you just don't know if the cop is going to decide you're a threat and shoot you. Absolutely shameful.
19
This verdict seems wrong to me but at least there were two black people on the jury to agree to it. At the very least, this incompetent man should never be a police officer again.
6
If any person is THAT afraid, they have NO business working in any police department. Become a mall cop.
58
To Phyliss Dalmatian--These paranoid guys who become cops and then shoot unarmed people should not have guns at all. They should never be allowed to be cops or in any kind of position which gives them authority over others. Retrain them to be plumbers, refrigerator repairmen, mechanics, coders, whatever, but never, never give them power and a gun.
4
This is a classic example of institutional, systemic, structural...oh, wait the cop was Latino? Uh, well, it's still racism because the guy who got shot was an unarmed black m...wait, he was armed? Ok, fine, but still, that's not a crime and as we all saw in the video, the cop shot him for no good reas...hold on, the video didn't show the crucial part when the shooting took place? Well, whatever, it's still not right that the all white jury acquitted the...wait, there were two black jurors who voted unanimously to acquit? Huh. I guess it's possible this could just be a tragedy. But saying that will definitely upset a lot of black people and as a liberal, I don't want that kind of blowback. So I'm just going to play it safe and say this was all about racism and white supremacy. Ah, that felt so much better!
20
This post shows that even liberals misunderstand what systemic racism really is. I too would love to never speak that 6-letter word again. I take no delight in watching tragedy like this in our country. It is a *system* the views black men as inherently dangerous, suspicious, and malicious. A black man can believe these things even about himself, that is how insidious it is! Imagine someone else in that situation, what exactly happened there that the appropriate response was to discharge 7 rounds from your weapon at a distance of less than three feet. Excecutioners do not even waste as many rounds. This man, regardless of his race, had internalized this racist view of black men so completely, that he was absolutely terrified. Even when the innocent man was cooperative, compliant, and attempted to communicate clearly in the presence of his partner and a child. Were it a white woman or man can you imagine the events taking place in an identical fashion? Shouldn't we then examine race as the unique ingredient? Even as study after scientific study demonstrate that in situations of this nature police officers are more likely respond in this exact fashion precisely due to differences in race?
5
Cute. Wrong, misguided, irrelevant, but yeah... Cute.
The other person being armed is not a reason to shoot someone. If it were, Texas would have about 100 people left.
Add pot as a justification and northern California would be dotted with mass graves.
Latinos, like any other race, are not immune to racism. Meet some and get back to us with any other irrelevant conclusions you might harbor.
Jurors are on a jury because one of the parties wanted them there and the other was willing to live with it. In no dictionary is that the definition of "fair" or "impartial". Try serving on a jury and you will see what it's like to go through that process.
The result of this case is a claim that it was decided, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the officer knew Castile's intentions and saw a gun and had no other way of dealing with this stop. That claim demands a level of certainty that is not in evidence.
Yanez's claims and histrionics that are in evidence in the audio indicate that he should never work as a law enforcement officer again. When your job is to serve and protect and you slaughter another person in the line of duty, you need to find another calling.
TL;DR? You make blanket assertions that justify bad cops doing bad things.
The other person being armed is not a reason to shoot someone. If it were, Texas would have about 100 people left.
Add pot as a justification and northern California would be dotted with mass graves.
Latinos, like any other race, are not immune to racism. Meet some and get back to us with any other irrelevant conclusions you might harbor.
Jurors are on a jury because one of the parties wanted them there and the other was willing to live with it. In no dictionary is that the definition of "fair" or "impartial". Try serving on a jury and you will see what it's like to go through that process.
The result of this case is a claim that it was decided, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the officer knew Castile's intentions and saw a gun and had no other way of dealing with this stop. That claim demands a level of certainty that is not in evidence.
Yanez's claims and histrionics that are in evidence in the audio indicate that he should never work as a law enforcement officer again. When your job is to serve and protect and you slaughter another person in the line of duty, you need to find another calling.
TL;DR? You make blanket assertions that justify bad cops doing bad things.
A police officer is aquitted of manslaughter for shooting an apparently nonthreatening man, while a teenage girl is convicted for texting/urging a man to comitt suicide. Is anybody surprised that Americans are loosing confidence in our governmental institutions.
31
Former Officer Yanez was acquitted because the prosecution did not bring a convincing case before the jury. The defense was also represented by several highly qualified defense attorneys. However, Officer Yanez'sl conduct while an officer (including a bout of excitable and high-strung blathering and acting out during the arrest) was not befitting of a police officer in the jurisdiction where he took Mr. Castile's life. He was let go from the St. Anthony, MN Police Department the same day as he was acquitted of Mr. Castile's murder. In Minnesota's Ramsey County, open meetings to process, discuss, and find a way forward for all citizens are being held. Co-workers of Mr. Castile remember him as a warm, well-liked and respected member of the Montessori school staff where he worked. May he rest in peace and untroubled in the light of God for eternity.
20
No. Castile wasn't killed because he was black. This is Not a case of an officer getting away with murder. Yanez went out to do his job like any other person. Not only that, the audio clearly vindicates him.
7
This guy pulled the trigger, and was caught on tape, and he was found "not guilty" by a jury.
The teenage girl who texted her boyfriend to kill himself by carbon monoxide poisoning in his truck was convicted by the judge of "involuntary manslaughter."
How can that be justice?
The teenage girl who texted her boyfriend to kill himself by carbon monoxide poisoning in his truck was convicted by the judge of "involuntary manslaughter."
How can that be justice?
And people wonder why we "just can't get along". The travesty that is the white american justice system needs a change in branding. The name should become "the american system" where our 400 year old caste system has 2 sets of books when there's justice to be delivered.
Police unions have waaaaay too much sway in this whole fiasco, leaning on cowardly DA's and rigging this mess.
Disgusting !!
Police unions have waaaaay too much sway in this whole fiasco, leaning on cowardly DA's and rigging this mess.
Disgusting !!
11
Jeronimo Yanez is unfit to continue to wear the badge of a police officer.
16
People posting in here need to settle down about the supposed "racism." It seems to me that is kind of a knee-jerk reaction because, for one thing, there were black folks on the jury who acquitted him, too, and for another officer Jeronimo Yanez is not someone who is not exactly pearly white, either. The very idea that he did what he did because some black person had skin a shade or two darker than his own is absurd. Whatever else there was going on here - and all these Monday night quarterbacks in here are sure to tell you all about it - it had nothing to do with racism, and those saying it did are merely discrediting themselves. And many of those are claiming to be representatives of BLM. You are bringing discredit on your own movement. Shame on you!
14
To RichD in Grand Rapids, Much of the media, radio commentators, Fox News, and police officer training in general teach people to be afraid of Black people. No doubt about it. Statistics bear out that police officers have a pre-conceived negative attitude toward Black people. Aas for Jeronimo Yanez, he may or may not consider himself Black. If he is of Mexican heritage he probably does not as Mexican people either consider themselves "white" or "mestizo". The Black jurors may have been pressured by the jury foreman to come to a verdict. Or they were afraid to dissent against a police officer. After all, they live in a police state.
2
Just because the officer was not white does not mean that he has not internalized racism against others different from himself. Why is it absurd to ask-What happened here? How can we prevent the senseless of yet another Black Man by the police? Is this really justice?
3
Defense argument was all about the fact that Castillo was high on marijuana. guess what...if you smoke pot every day, it's in your system. Earl gray, defense attorney , tell us about your drinking habits ?!!! It takes three days to rid the body of alcohol ....FF
8
This just proves that if you are a black man in America, you are literally living in a police state and at the mercy of the police.
13
Living only a few miles from where this incident happened, this literally hits close to home. The constitution gives me the right to 'life, liberty and pursuit of happiness'. How can I be happy when there are police with superhero complexes around who are ready to shoot and kill at the movement of a blade of grass? These are the very people who are supposed to protect us. Shame!
10
Another killer cop gets off. Clearly, a badge is license to kill without consequence.
19
state sanctioned murder
13
i'm just glad i'm not black in America.
8
I read a partial transcript of what Yanez said. He essentially confessed that his actions were not reasonable by stating he thought he was going to die. He did not state that he was a responding to a threat. Because he did not state what made him fear for his life, we can only infer his fear was not reasonable. I was not in the courtroom, so I will defer to the jury, but I recall what a couple of jurors said during the aftermath of the George Zimmerman trial: they believed he was guilty, and they felt horrible letting him go, but they just could not exclude reasonable doubt.
Hopefully no police force will ever hire Mr. Yanez again. I hope he makes the most of the gift of freedom he has been given after his likely criminal actions in taking the life of another human being.
Hopefully no police force will ever hire Mr. Yanez again. I hope he makes the most of the gift of freedom he has been given after his likely criminal actions in taking the life of another human being.
9
If you're a black male in the United States you're guaranteed one thing: the police will shoot you first and care not a whit of the consequences, there aren't any.
20
These black people who get shot by cops seemingly always have broken tail lights or missing tags or plates or downed headlights. GET YOUR CARS FIXED PEOPLE!!!
6
So if you are black and have a broken tail light or headlight, the penalty is death?
2
Okay, got it - death penalty for broken taillight, without benefit of a trial.
1
I wonder if Mr. Castile would be alive today if he would have broken MN law, and just not revealed that he had a legal concealed weapon (for which he had a permit) in the car? What message is this acquittal sending all others? Never comply with State law that says you must reveal presence of your legal gun -- you might freak out the officer and get shot.
10
I served as an Army Officer during the Vietnam war (two tours) and was awarded two bronze stars. One for valor. We had many encounters with what initially appeared to be hostile threats. At some risk, we would "check the threat" before taking action. In some cases it turned out to be "friendlys". And the lost of innocent life was avoided. We were trained and believed our mission was to get the "bad guy" that was never in uniform and could be anyone capable of holding a weapon. It was our job/mission in the military to put our lives on the line every day. I cannot understand how a trained police officer can so easily claim "fear for his/her life" as a reason for killing. I reluctantly call such officers COWARDS.
43
The same Vietnam where war crimes were allegedly committed by US soldiers? The same things you're saying about cops or worse, are said about the US soldiers, especially during the Vietnam war
1
You're generalizing, while the other poster is speaking very specifically of himself and Yanez. Do you agree that a trained police officer shouldn't escalate situations like Yanez?
What are you talking about, M? Some Americans certainly did commit war crimes in Vietnam. And some police officers use excessive deadly force. Thankfully, most police officers and most soldiers don't do these things aren't bad people. This is not to say, though, that policing, any more than military training in Vietnam, doesn't have serious problems that encourage unjustified violence. The public should regard skeptically claims by police officers that they need the power to use deadly force when they're fearful for their lives without trying to de-escalate the situation and without any oversight.
I'm a Wall Street psychopath. So, take when I say with a grain of salt.
When I saw this video originally, I thought r. Castile was acting in a threatening way in that he did not obey police directive and was reaching for something (after stating he was in possession of a gun). If I were the cop, I might have just run back to my car. But when I saw the video, I did think Mr. Castile's behavior was sketchy. Does that warrant shooting? No. But I can't agree with people who claim that Mr. Castile was responding in an exemplary fashion. But I'm a white guy who doesn't smoke, drink (not much), or own a gun. I'm basically like one of the guys in The Big Bang Theory. If I were pulled over, I'd probably bow at the officer's feet and call him "oh mighty one." What I saw Mr. Castile do in the car absolutely flabbergasts me. Flabbergasts. I would never move a single muscle, if a cop told me not to move.
What I sense from a lot of the videos is that black people tend to mouth off to police and to fail to stop moving when told not to move. In every video, the black victim seems to keep talking and moving (often toward the officer). I need someone to explain that behavior to me, because if a cop told me to not move, I'd become a human statue and not utter a sound.
When I saw this video originally, I thought r. Castile was acting in a threatening way in that he did not obey police directive and was reaching for something (after stating he was in possession of a gun). If I were the cop, I might have just run back to my car. But when I saw the video, I did think Mr. Castile's behavior was sketchy. Does that warrant shooting? No. But I can't agree with people who claim that Mr. Castile was responding in an exemplary fashion. But I'm a white guy who doesn't smoke, drink (not much), or own a gun. I'm basically like one of the guys in The Big Bang Theory. If I were pulled over, I'd probably bow at the officer's feet and call him "oh mighty one." What I saw Mr. Castile do in the car absolutely flabbergasts me. Flabbergasts. I would never move a single muscle, if a cop told me not to move.
What I sense from a lot of the videos is that black people tend to mouth off to police and to fail to stop moving when told not to move. In every video, the black victim seems to keep talking and moving (often toward the officer). I need someone to explain that behavior to me, because if a cop told me to not move, I'd become a human statue and not utter a sound.
11
As my friend and I listened to early reports of the Congressional baseball shooting, we heard the first recording of the police office shouting "Drop the gun!" I said Well, we know the shooter isn't black ...
My comment was serious and was taken seriously.
My comment was serious and was taken seriously.
22
What's your point? The baseball field shooter didn't drop the gun and they shot him dead. Office Yanez shouted his instruction as well.
2
This makes me feel sick.
10
I remember watching this video. It was terribly sad. Our society has gotten so violent and gun crazy.
What I heard and saw was a police officer who was terrified. How often had he been told to shoot first as part of his training?
If he is a man of conscious, which most people are, this will haunt him all of his life. That is punishment enough.
I hope, wish..... that he can meet with the victim's family and find reconciliation and redemption.
This tragic incident shouldn't be another left/right proxy war. What would Martin Luther King Jr. say? What would Jesus say?
What I heard and saw was a police officer who was terrified. How often had he been told to shoot first as part of his training?
If he is a man of conscious, which most people are, this will haunt him all of his life. That is punishment enough.
I hope, wish..... that he can meet with the victim's family and find reconciliation and redemption.
This tragic incident shouldn't be another left/right proxy war. What would Martin Luther King Jr. say? What would Jesus say?
2
If he is in fact guilty, then no, that is def not punishment enough.
1
Lock him up!
6
That Justice is a blind goddess
Is a thing to which we black are wise:
Her bandage hides two festering sores
That once perhaps were eyes.
by Langston Hughes (1932)
Is a thing to which we black are wise:
Her bandage hides two festering sores
That once perhaps were eyes.
by Langston Hughes (1932)
15
I've got a suggestion for everyone who talks about "police lives matter" and how they put their lives on the line "for us": how about we just cut to the chase and every time one of these cowards needs to confront a civilian they just shoot them? We'll never have another "hero cop" killed and all the Republicans will be happy.
7
“What we’re saying is that he did not follow orders. He was stoned.”
…this will be a first time that weed made someone combative, or out of mind….it's such a false narrative. Such an untruth.
…this will be a first time that weed made someone combative, or out of mind….it's such a false narrative. Such an untruth.
18
the prosecution didn't say he was combative. the prosecution said he wasn't obeying orders. You could not obey orders by acting like Robin Williams pretending to be Mary Poppins. You;d still not be obeying police orders. If you do that after admitting you have a concealed weapon, the cops will throw you to the ground, regardless of your color.
It's always teh rich and powerful who are to blame. never anybody else.
It's always teh rich and powerful who are to blame. never anybody else.
2
After OJ and Blake, no jury surprises me. Is Cosby next?
3
Because because of course he was. This is legalized lynching.
10
This is a travesty of justice!
5
The power of the cop to kill is given freely to incompetent people. If they are afraid to do their job, why do they pick a fight with the people they are hired to protect?
6
Police do not go to jail for killing Black guys. The family usually gets a pile of money and things continue pretty much the same way. For some reason, they are the target of choice for the police.
2
Why does anyone doubt that driving while black carries a potential sentence of death by gunshot? Or walking while black? I guess selling cigarettes while black is just death by asphyxiation.
3
This is the US after all. So, there’s no surprise that the murderer of an innocent black man was not found guilty. This goes triple if the murdered is a cop.
7
Increasingly, police have no responsibility for logic, reason or restraint. Simply utter one of several magic phrases and you're guaranteed to walk free.
I feared for my life
He lunged at me
He held something in his hand
He didn't follow my command
I thought he might be in drugs
Pick one, they all work.
I feared for my life
He lunged at me
He held something in his hand
He didn't follow my command
I thought he might be in drugs
Pick one, they all work.
Mr Castile fit the description of a robbery suspect, brown skin. Very telling of our current social condition. Black Lives really don't matter. Very sad.
7
According to the article Mr. Castile failed to follow Officer Yanez's commands.
The young officers of today yell unintelligible commands at confused suspects and open fire if the orders are not acted on in a trice.
Cops used to all be "tougher" guys. So many officers now, obviously unsuited to the job, just start yelling at suspects right away rather than starting a dialog.
They are inclined to quickly pull their weapons.
This was a tail light violation with the smell of marijuana in the air and a woman and child in the car and Mr. Castile died quickly at the hands of an inexperienced law enforcement officer, who failed to take the time to truly assess the situation.
Peace officer candidates need to be screened much more carefully before they receive a badge and a gun.
The young officers of today yell unintelligible commands at confused suspects and open fire if the orders are not acted on in a trice.
Cops used to all be "tougher" guys. So many officers now, obviously unsuited to the job, just start yelling at suspects right away rather than starting a dialog.
They are inclined to quickly pull their weapons.
This was a tail light violation with the smell of marijuana in the air and a woman and child in the car and Mr. Castile died quickly at the hands of an inexperienced law enforcement officer, who failed to take the time to truly assess the situation.
Peace officer candidates need to be screened much more carefully before they receive a badge and a gun.
11
Unless you were at the trial and read all of the testimony you are not able to comment on the verdict. Let's here all of the facts before burning the city down.
7
In fact nobody is safe. Black or white. In the US, the police, in the name of protecting us, can shoot anyone dead. All they have to say is," I thought he was reaching for a weapon".
8
What will it take for a police officer to be found guilty of shooting an innocent black man? I mourn for my country and the state from which I came.
Americans serving on juries know full well that if they convict a cop they will be harassed by police officers. Consequently it almost impossible to find 12 courageous Americans to deliver justice.
5
i have no idea of the truth, but I wish the protestors would focus as much on black on black crime as on blue on black. The vast majority of death by police are those who are armed or resisting arrest. The vast majority of deaths overall of people of color in this country are due to black on black violence.
We all know that but have trouble admitting it. Compassion without intellectual honesty is merely hypocrisy.
We all know that but have trouble admitting it. Compassion without intellectual honesty is merely hypocrisy.
6
This is irrelevant. The police officers are meant to prevent crime and you say we should not be talking about blue on black crime? Does that make sense to you?
1
I wish you would focus your attention more on white-on-white crime as that is statistically the vast majority of crimes. This country is infamous for its trigger-happy cops that nearly never are held responsible for killing the citizens they are sworn to protect. With all the video evidence we now have of unprovoked killings by police a century-old pattern of racial oppression is now out in the open. Let's end this injustice and not blame the victims.
3
the statistics are clear
To clarify the existence of video evidence other than that taken by the mother, there was a police dashcam video presented at the trial. According to Minnesota Star Tribune:
"Dashcam footage from officer Jeronimo Yanez’s fatal encounter with Philando Castile was played publicly for the first time Monday, showing him fire seven shots about a minute into the traffic stop. Officer Joseph Kauser, Yanez’s backup, was so startled by the shots he leapt backward. “Oh my God!” screamed Castile’s girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, who was almost hit by a bullet that lodged in an armrest between her and Castile."
"Dashcam footage from officer Jeronimo Yanez’s fatal encounter with Philando Castile was played publicly for the first time Monday, showing him fire seven shots about a minute into the traffic stop. Officer Joseph Kauser, Yanez’s backup, was so startled by the shots he leapt backward. “Oh my God!” screamed Castile’s girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, who was almost hit by a bullet that lodged in an armrest between her and Castile."
Hey everybody, guess what? This case doesn't have any implications for you if you don't carry a gun. From the new evidence at the trial, we can see it was all about the gun. It's nothing about how white cops are callously shooting black men for just being black. That's the hysterical narrative that grew from that video. It's just a tragic situation that can happen if you carry a gun, and you keep moving your arms after you tell a cop you have a gun, and the cop isn't having a great day. Both sides can be questioned, but really the tragic part is no one's fault. Seven seconds of panic from the gun announcement until the firing of the cop's gun. I feel sorry for everyone involved.
But all the rash pre-judgment obscured this simple story. It's still obscuring it.
People are so hysterical that they believe they saw the cop shoot. And then by making this all about race, and insisting cops shoot black men "for no reason," they contribute to the psychological wreckage of millions of blacks who don't carry guns, but who then have unnecessary anxiety because of this. Will you calm down?
But all the rash pre-judgment obscured this simple story. It's still obscuring it.
People are so hysterical that they believe they saw the cop shoot. And then by making this all about race, and insisting cops shoot black men "for no reason," they contribute to the psychological wreckage of millions of blacks who don't carry guns, but who then have unnecessary anxiety because of this. Will you calm down?
3
The verdict, even though expected, encourages other cops to kill black people at will, since there are no adverse consequences for the killings.
If a cop has an “encounter” with an innocent black person, all he has to do is claim that he felt his life was in danger. What cop doesn’t know that? BTW, it’s also well known that it helps to shout, “He has a gun!” This little trick even works when the unarmed black man is handcuffed.
If a cop has an “encounter” with an innocent black person, all he has to do is claim that he felt his life was in danger. What cop doesn’t know that? BTW, it’s also well known that it helps to shout, “He has a gun!” This little trick even works when the unarmed black man is handcuffed.
9
This blatantly wrong and videotaped killing wasn't enough to convict an officer. Sandy Hook wasn't enough to change the gun laws in this country. We're going down a very disturbing path in this country, especially when the "good guys with guns" are not held accountable.
An African American male colleague of mine clued me into the situation of profiling. He's an educated, well-paid family man, but he was pulled over frequently because of the color of his skin. The cops don't see an upstanding citizen - from their vehicles they just saw a black guy. I'm not the target of such profiling, but it is a real problem which Mr Castille faced frequently - the best I can do is have empathy and vote.
An African American male colleague of mine clued me into the situation of profiling. He's an educated, well-paid family man, but he was pulled over frequently because of the color of his skin. The cops don't see an upstanding citizen - from their vehicles they just saw a black guy. I'm not the target of such profiling, but it is a real problem which Mr Castille faced frequently - the best I can do is have empathy and vote.
7
This verdict is reported on the same day a young woman is convicted of involuntary manslaughter for "causing" the suicide of a boyfriend using texts!
4
Did you read the texts? Involuntary manslaughter seemed a just verdict, unlike this travesty.
1
I hope this gentleman is not reinstated. Anyone who has seen that video can tell he lacks the judgment and fortitude to be an officer of the law.
4
That verdict is totally outrageous. What would it take to find a cop guilty? The cop shot a man for nothing, and walks free. There is something seriously wrong with a system that allows this.
10
Americans prove daily that they can't be trusted with their guns, both civilians as we saw at the baseball field this week and municipal police as we see weekly cases of unarmed citizens being shot like this.
It looks like two kinds of people gravitate towards guns and use them, perhaps three kinds of people- the mean spirited, the cowardly, and those heroes brainwashed in the unjust ways of our gunslinger history- shoot first and ask questions later or at least provide a phony excuse for the shooting later.
Another example of gross US human rights violation and a whitewashing of the travesty by the system that perpetrates them. May God somehow find a way to bring peace of mind to the victims relatives and loved ones.
To be blind is to not see racism is often a factor in these civil rights violations, to be safe in ones unarmed person in any country including the USA regardless of our politics.
A peaceful and subsequently calmer society is best achieved in gun free spaces regardless of what those who fantasize the bringing of martial law to America say, less guns in public is better than more, and would avoid sad and grotesque incidents like these happening over and over in American communities.
It looks like two kinds of people gravitate towards guns and use them, perhaps three kinds of people- the mean spirited, the cowardly, and those heroes brainwashed in the unjust ways of our gunslinger history- shoot first and ask questions later or at least provide a phony excuse for the shooting later.
Another example of gross US human rights violation and a whitewashing of the travesty by the system that perpetrates them. May God somehow find a way to bring peace of mind to the victims relatives and loved ones.
To be blind is to not see racism is often a factor in these civil rights violations, to be safe in ones unarmed person in any country including the USA regardless of our politics.
A peaceful and subsequently calmer society is best achieved in gun free spaces regardless of what those who fantasize the bringing of martial law to America say, less guns in public is better than more, and would avoid sad and grotesque incidents like these happening over and over in American communities.
3
Doesn't matter what year or incident.
Same event, different state.
Even the comments are the same. NRA, police, etc. ...
We all know what happened here.
Why are we feigning this exercise of concern and remorse.e
Nothing will change.
Same event, different state.
Even the comments are the same. NRA, police, etc. ...
We all know what happened here.
Why are we feigning this exercise of concern and remorse.e
Nothing will change.
So Mr. Castile was committing a felony - possession of a firearm while under the influence of illegal drugs is a felony - regardless of him having a concealed carry permit.
When are we going to stop wasting the courts' time by bringing these bogus charges against police officers who shoot felons during a legitimate stop?
When are we going to stop wasting the courts' time by bringing these bogus charges against police officers who shoot felons during a legitimate stop?
3
I don't get it, just because someone has a felony conviction (time served released from probation but is still classified as a felon for life) they can be shot during a legal stop for any reason? and no questions asked? I'm wordless that someone could say or think this, just "wow".
6
I will agree with you the first day a white male is killed for just being drunk and having a gun in his car. That's just another day in [insert your home state]. Until then I'll call you willfully ignorant of what has been going on in this country for centuries.
1
All I can think of is the number of white guys driving around in their pickup trucks, an open beer in their cup holder and a shot gun on the rack behind their heads. How many of them get shot or even cited at a routine stop?
1
Unbelievable.
And yet, not a single word, not a peep from the NRA or gun owners, about how outraged they are that Mr. Castile, a licensed gun owner, was perceived and treated like an imminent threat.
Why could that be?
And yet, not a single word, not a peep from the NRA or gun owners, about how outraged they are that Mr. Castile, a licensed gun owner, was perceived and treated like an imminent threat.
Why could that be?
25
A few years ago while traveling abroad i met a couple who were both danish police offers and over dinner they told us how appalled they were over the low standards of training of police in the US. I didn't think about it at the time but how prescient. Robust training could solve most of these problems.
10
Juries in upscale communities always favor Police over people of color. That's why Rodney King's attorneys moved the Police Brutality trial to the predominantly white suburb of Similar Valley.
3
I'm sorry sir, but your comment contradicts itself. It makes no sense that Rodney King would WANT to be in an area that is known for favoring police over people of color when his case was AGAINST the police department to begin with.
2
The fifth most popular comment on this article concludes that the "ENTIRE thing" was captured on video. The comment warranted the approval of over 100 NYT readers. The problem with the comment is that it's entirely false. There's simply no video footage that covers the shooting.
4
My heart is pounding and I feel sickened reading of this verdict.
It is so sad that marijuana is mentioned so many times, as if that provides some kind of implicit basis for presuming Mr. Castile was more likely to be guilty. There are innumerable studies showing that by and large people are more calm and more peaceful under the mild influence of marijuana, especially if they are accustomed to it.
The jury was likely given very stringent guidelines that made it difficult to find the officer guilty. I imagine some of them felt horrible about having to make that decision.
It is so sad that marijuana is mentioned so many times, as if that provides some kind of implicit basis for presuming Mr. Castile was more likely to be guilty. There are innumerable studies showing that by and large people are more calm and more peaceful under the mild influence of marijuana, especially if they are accustomed to it.
The jury was likely given very stringent guidelines that made it difficult to find the officer guilty. I imagine some of them felt horrible about having to make that decision.
19
So, this and the acquittal of Betty Shelby for shooting Terence Crutcher (and the others I am not mentioning) pretty much mean that there are no circumstances compelling enough for conviction of a police officer for an unjustified shooting. Increasingly, I feel like a stranger in a strange land, except I think I have a lot of company at least. Not completely comforting, however, when you begin to feel as if some things will never change for the better no matter how many of us wish upon that same star.
45
Except for the felony conviction of an Asian NYPD officer whose gun went off by accident while doing a vertical patrol in an unlit stairwell in a Brooklyn public housing high rise --a possible miscarriage of justice going in the other direction.
The standard officers are held to is reasonableness of their actions, given the circumstances, as explained in another comment. That is probably what this verdict hinged on. Now was this officer really exercising reasonableness? Seems the jury thought so. Maybe another jury would not. Also, whether the reasonableness standard itself is correct/should be changed is another question altogether--something that should be looked at.
Substituting judgement in officer use of force is problematic. Understanding how implicit bias might work in officers' judgements is hard to gauge. In reality, Mr. Castile posed no threat. But if the ex-officer is telling the truth, saw a gun, reasonably thought it was being pulled, there might have been enough reasonable doubt in the jurors' minds, given the law governing officer use of force.
As in the Eric Garner chokehold--which would be more definitively addressed by modification of NYS statute--not just administrative regulation of the NYPD, this situation might be more definitively addressed by change in statute or bringing another case to the SCOTUS. Wishing on a star won't help.
The standard officers are held to is reasonableness of their actions, given the circumstances, as explained in another comment. That is probably what this verdict hinged on. Now was this officer really exercising reasonableness? Seems the jury thought so. Maybe another jury would not. Also, whether the reasonableness standard itself is correct/should be changed is another question altogether--something that should be looked at.
Substituting judgement in officer use of force is problematic. Understanding how implicit bias might work in officers' judgements is hard to gauge. In reality, Mr. Castile posed no threat. But if the ex-officer is telling the truth, saw a gun, reasonably thought it was being pulled, there might have been enough reasonable doubt in the jurors' minds, given the law governing officer use of force.
As in the Eric Garner chokehold--which would be more definitively addressed by modification of NYS statute--not just administrative regulation of the NYPD, this situation might be more definitively addressed by change in statute or bringing another case to the SCOTUS. Wishing on a star won't help.
1
It's clear that victims of police incompetence cannot find justice in the legal system. I've always wondered though, why can't treat the practice of law enforcement the same we approach the practice of medicine? Perhaps we should consider requiring police officers to carry malpractice insurance?
After all, that's what we're talking about here-- malpractice. People generally don't become cops because they want to hurt people. The same is true for doctors. So, if we can hold doctors accountable for their work performance (which is significantly more complicated, full of unknowns, and requires split-second decision making), we should also be able to hold police officers accountable as they practice law enforcement.
By requiring police officers to carry malpractice insurance, it would put significant pressure on police departments to weed out high-risk officers and provide more consistent training and oversight since the department's premiums would skyrocket after events of obvious police misconduct and incompetence, as was the case here. This would also prevent the ubiquitous practice of high-risk officers simply moving to another city or state to practice law enforcement since no insurance company would cover them.
Perhaps the very behaviors we vilify insurance companies for could actually become an asset in the rehabilitation of law enforcement in this country.
After all, that's what we're talking about here-- malpractice. People generally don't become cops because they want to hurt people. The same is true for doctors. So, if we can hold doctors accountable for their work performance (which is significantly more complicated, full of unknowns, and requires split-second decision making), we should also be able to hold police officers accountable as they practice law enforcement.
By requiring police officers to carry malpractice insurance, it would put significant pressure on police departments to weed out high-risk officers and provide more consistent training and oversight since the department's premiums would skyrocket after events of obvious police misconduct and incompetence, as was the case here. This would also prevent the ubiquitous practice of high-risk officers simply moving to another city or state to practice law enforcement since no insurance company would cover them.
Perhaps the very behaviors we vilify insurance companies for could actually become an asset in the rehabilitation of law enforcement in this country.
19
When I watch Cop Shows I see an "us vs. them" mentality and supervisory admonishments that "your job is to come back safe". I wonder if this sets us up for a certain, and dangerous, perception of what police work actually is.
9
Earlier today a 17 year old was convicted of manslaughter because of the words she used, but this cop is found innocent for unloading into an innocent man.
What this decision tells everyone in society is that it makes no difference if an officer isn't actually being threatened. If he "feels" or "thinks" or "senses" he's being threatened that enough to slaughter a black man.
What a gross miscarriage of justice.
My thoughts and empathy go out to the Castile family.
What this decision tells everyone in society is that it makes no difference if an officer isn't actually being threatened. If he "feels" or "thinks" or "senses" he's being threatened that enough to slaughter a black man.
What a gross miscarriage of justice.
My thoughts and empathy go out to the Castile family.
49
Police prosecutions are harder than anyone not involved in criminal law can imagine. Unlike civilians, police do not have the option of walking away from a situation, and they have to make decisions in a split second— that's how long it takes someone to pull out a gun and kill them. Jurors know that by the end of a trial, and it factors into their decisions, as well as into prosecutors' decisions whether to bring charges. No one who does sit not in a courtroom watching a trial can judge the jurors who decide the verdict in any given case.
The issue here is our cultural gun sickness, suffered by all, the policeman, the person killed and all people in between in America, both left and right....
The right doesn't see the problem or blames it all on crime. The left clamors for gun regs as the sole answer and doesn't realize that is not the answer only a small part of it...and blames the gun and the right as the culprit...
If we were like all our peer countries, the worst outcome here would have been a fight and the person killed might have been injured but not killed.
In America it is different, a never ending war where the gun is the method of first resort instead of the last resort as with our peer countries.
The right doesn't see the problem or blames it all on crime. The left clamors for gun regs as the sole answer and doesn't realize that is not the answer only a small part of it...and blames the gun and the right as the culprit...
If we were like all our peer countries, the worst outcome here would have been a fight and the person killed might have been injured but not killed.
In America it is different, a never ending war where the gun is the method of first resort instead of the last resort as with our peer countries.
16
Another armed trigger happy cop gets a pass on executing an unarmed citizen.
If law enforcement is not accountable to the citizens and the law, exactly what kind of country do we live in?
The day it is known that if an armed cop executes an unarmed citizen - don't call me a civilian unless you are a Military Policeman- you go to jail and maybe get the death penalty, this nonsense will stop.
If a cop is afraid to do their job they need to find another line of work. It is not open season on citizens.
I want the police to all come home safe- I have family and friends in law enforcement- but should not have to fear for my life from some trigger happy cop.
If law enforcement is not accountable to the citizens and the law, exactly what kind of country do we live in?
The day it is known that if an armed cop executes an unarmed citizen - don't call me a civilian unless you are a Military Policeman- you go to jail and maybe get the death penalty, this nonsense will stop.
If a cop is afraid to do their job they need to find another line of work. It is not open season on citizens.
I want the police to all come home safe- I have family and friends in law enforcement- but should not have to fear for my life from some trigger happy cop.
14
When anybody could be carrying a firearm everybody is a little more scared, especially the police. The second amendment doesn't come cheap.
15
I did not attend the trial. I did not hear the testimony of the witnesses. I did not hear the closing arguments of the prosecution and the defense. But I do know from personal experience, and from the observation of dozens if not hundreds of friends and acquaintances, marijuana does not make you feel nine feet tall and bullet proof. Quite the opposite, as a matter of fact. Alcohol, on the other hand...
It may be irrelevant, but a question just occurred to me. Are the police officers involved in these shootings subject to immediate drug testing?
It may be irrelevant, but a question just occurred to me. Are the police officers involved in these shootings subject to immediate drug testing?
5
I am a white woman who has always has always felt great respect for the police officers and thankful to them for their service. How can I continue to feel that way? It is becoming clearer with each shooting, that I have had a very narrow understanding: As a white woman, I've obviously had a radically different experience of police than those in the black community. I am NOT okay with this difference. BLACK LIVES MATTER. If my fellow Americans are not kept safe by the police, and are not safe from the police, then the police are not doing their job. If police officers who wrongly shoot and kill African Americans are not brought to justice, then there is no justice. To have a system of justice, we all must have justice for all, not just some of us. Without that, who cares that we say we're "all American." If we all enjoyed the rights we are guaranteed as Americans, this wouldn't keep happening. This must not keep happening!
Another really, really sad day--to all my African American sisters and brothers, I am so sorry.
Another really, really sad day--to all my African American sisters and brothers, I am so sorry.
24
There must be a way to save the public and the victims the pain and suffering of waiting for these outrageously unjust verdicts! Our country is broken. We are witnessing the demise of democracy. This summer will be an inferno of protests unless the Department of Justice steps in and demands fairness in these verdicts. Of course our Attorney General is a man of high principals and impeccable morals. NO JUSTICE! NO PEACE!
5
Where in our laws does it say that "..ignoring commands" is a capital crime with police as judge and jury? Of course if there weren't draconian sentences for petty crimes and NRA supported guns everywhere cops wouldn't have to worry about violent responses to traffic stops, wouldn't have to bark out "commands." And maybe every officer should have to speak with families whose loved ones were killed by police before they get out of the academy.
13
This is a legal travesty, a travesty of injustice.
No person should be able to commit any kind of murder without legal consequences.
Until we as a Country get straight with our medicine, and cure the reckless and dangerous quick to kill mentality of all our law enforcement contracted or as government employees, deputy sheriffs, armed security guards, and police, no woman or man is safe from them.
No person should be able to commit any kind of murder without legal consequences.
Until we as a Country get straight with our medicine, and cure the reckless and dangerous quick to kill mentality of all our law enforcement contracted or as government employees, deputy sheriffs, armed security guards, and police, no woman or man is safe from them.
4
Even if he was high, even if he had a registered gun in the car -- he did not deserve to be killed needlessly. Full stop. The police forces in our country need to be demilitarized. These officer-related shootings need to stop.
20
I was pulled over for a pink taillight. It would never have crossed my mind to tell the officer I have a concealed weapons permit. That data is in their system. He knew I had a permit just by looking up my license, which I handed to hm when he asked for it. I was detained, arrested and grilled about what I was doing in the bad neighborhood and why did I have a gun? (I live here. Self defense.)
I followed every direction and was let go. Who in the world ever told this poor man to let the officer know he had a gun on him? I was trained by police on how to use a handgun, and they certainly never told us that.
I followed every direction and was let go. Who in the world ever told this poor man to let the officer know he had a gun on him? I was trained by police on how to use a handgun, and they certainly never told us that.
2
All a police officer has to do is say they were in fear for their life, and they get acquitted. This is the millionth time it's happened - innocent black men get shot and killed, even when they weren't posing a threat or even armed. But the officer was fearful, so the shooting is justified. Maybe the officer wasn't up for the job? Maybe there's a problem with training? Why aren't these issues addressed?
9
What does this teach us? If you are stopped by a cop and the cop draws his weapon on you, do not follow his commands. Just raise your hands and put them on top of your head or on top of the steering wheel or dashboard and do nothing else except demand that the officer summon his watch commander immediately. Otherwise just stay motionless. Do not reach for your wallet to retrieve your license, do not reach for the glove compartment to retrieve your registration, do not reach for the door handle to exit the vehicle, even if commanded to do so, because any movement you make whatsoever will be used by the cop of say that he shot you because your motions made him fear for his life.
313
Sad but true but you forgot one huge caveat: those instructions only apply to African-Americans and other minorities.
If you're white, you don't have to run down that checklist.
We were pulled over by the police, we had no idea why were pulled over but the officer politely explained to us that we had a tail light that had stopped working.
We weren't grilled with a fifty questions about where we were going and where we had been and what we planned to do; didn't yell at us to not move and didn't have his hand on his gun; the officer didn't look suspiciously in the back seat as if we were hiding something.
We received a polite warning, not a ticket, the office wished us a pleasant weekend and we drove away.
We're white.
If you're white, you don't have to run down that checklist.
We were pulled over by the police, we had no idea why were pulled over but the officer politely explained to us that we had a tail light that had stopped working.
We weren't grilled with a fifty questions about where we were going and where we had been and what we planned to do; didn't yell at us to not move and didn't have his hand on his gun; the officer didn't look suspiciously in the back seat as if we were hiding something.
We received a polite warning, not a ticket, the office wished us a pleasant weekend and we drove away.
We're white.
8
But you didn't inform him that you had a concealed weapon in your car. maybe that would have changed the complexion of the encounter. People keep overlooking that Mr. Castile said he had a gun in the car. A gun, people. Not a ham sandwich. A gun.
Sometimes when you don't move, you are dragged out of your car and shot.
1
This sad story reminds me of Malcolm Gladwell's book called Blink. He describes a scenario where a Senegalese called Diallo who lived in the Bronx and was stuttering was fatally killed by the police who mistaken him for pulling out a gun when he was actually pulling out his wallet and trying to say he was unarmed and not dangerous. The situation is hard for both the police and the victim. However, one would have thought society would have learned out of these sticky situations and respond better thus saving lives.
17
Makes you wonder what it would take to convict.
Is there some law that the public is unaware of?
1. Under no circumstances can a policeman be found guilty of murder.
Is there some law that the public is unaware of?
1. Under no circumstances can a policeman be found guilty of murder.
38
terribly upsetting watching the video. it really does make you wonder what it would take to convict. Shame on the Minnesota justice system
10
Cops are the best liars because everyone believes cops.
Another cop who expressed 15 minutes worth of logical thought that he thought in those few seconds of shooting.
The cop fired 7 shots. That wasn't just a shooting. That was an execution, extrajudicial I might add.
Another cop who expressed 15 minutes worth of logical thought that he thought in those few seconds of shooting.
The cop fired 7 shots. That wasn't just a shooting. That was an execution, extrajudicial I might add.
Jeronimo Yanez might be getting away with murder but he's still a terrible cop. Can the police officer's union really say they are fine with a trigger-happy coward like this patrolling the streets? The police should set themselves higher standards. Yanez was clearly not up to the job and not fit to be carrying a weapon. Police officers like him give others a bad name and make our streets more dangerous, not safer.
56
The police AND communities should demand higher standards and better training.
He'll be fine. If you've read "Between the World and Me", you'll know he'll be fine, he'll find another law enforcement job soon enough.
To paraphrase that great author: when they shoot African-Americans, they rarely get found guilty, mostly they get pensions.
No truer words spoken.
To paraphrase that great author: when they shoot African-Americans, they rarely get found guilty, mostly they get pensions.
No truer words spoken.
4
I hear that that Yanez has been fired. He should never work in law enforcement again.
27
I agree...but the damage has already been done to the person of Philando Castile, his family and friends. I doubt that they will find much solace in the possibility that Yanez won't be hired, armed and fielded as a police officer again.
1
I beleive that more and more of us are watching "live PD" Friday and Saturday nights for 6 hrs a week from 6 different police Departments through out the country. I can relate when they show Walton County and Santa Rosa County, Fl, as I used to own Vacation Condos in Bay County next door. I sometimes stay in those counties and I often shop and dine in them when I am on vacation. I have also driven through Calvert County, Md on the way to the Beach when I was in College. Then both Greenville and Columbia County South Carolina are only a couple of hours away.
I also have a cousin in law enforcement. My cousin tells me that they always have probable cause because the people that they end up pulling over always have ill maintained cars. Tail lights out, broken windshields, tag lights, not working, they run lights or are speeding, then when they pull them over if they stop, the immediate overwhelming smell of marijuana. Followed by the lies about not having any or not having smoked it.
One thing that was not pointed out in this article, even though he had a gun permit, his girl friend was a convicted felon on probation. She was not allowed in a car with someone with a gun. They could have charged her with that and violated her probation.
I also have a cousin in law enforcement. My cousin tells me that they always have probable cause because the people that they end up pulling over always have ill maintained cars. Tail lights out, broken windshields, tag lights, not working, they run lights or are speeding, then when they pull them over if they stop, the immediate overwhelming smell of marijuana. Followed by the lies about not having any or not having smoked it.
One thing that was not pointed out in this article, even though he had a gun permit, his girl friend was a convicted felon on probation. She was not allowed in a car with someone with a gun. They could have charged her with that and violated her probation.
6
Exactly none of your comment is relevant to the case at hand. The officer shot first and asked questions later. This has become standard operating procedure, and this jury just sent a signal that we will see more unjustified killings by cops.
15
He shot him SEVEN times.
6
None of this constitutes a loss of life. He wasn't the robber. He complied. Politely. He was shot because of ifs and maybes. He was not a felon. He was pulled over because he was black and apparently had a wide nose. I have a cousin in law enforcement. He hates what these cops are getting away with. Gives him a bad name. If u have a fear of the area you're paid to protect. Then don't work there. A white teen shoots 9 blacks in a church. He lives and they take him to burger King. Why? Because even though he's a mass murderer. He didn't seem a threat to law enforcement. Period. They weren't scared of a actual murder. But they were scared of a fictional perception of a man based on race. Nose size, and smell of weed. For anyone to defend that murderer is apart of the problem. They have same fear of us as that cop. Making ignorant racial generalizations based on the way someone looks cost a man his life.
1
This case underscores the probelm with conservatives' unfailing belief that an armed citizenry prevents crime and keeps people safe. Even professionally trained police can't tell the "good guy with a gun" from the criminals. If the person in question fits a pre-formed stereotype about what a "bad guy" looks like, the situation easily turns lethal.
39
Wow! I got nothing but a sense of fear on this - and I am a White Man. Citizens are told that they should inform an Officer during a traffic stop if there is a weapon, even a perfectly legal weapon, in a stopped vehicle. The citizen did that. He was calm, he was slow, he explained his actions, and he had his loved ones with him. In any reasonable universe, those are the textbook ingredients of a "reasonable man not about to do something stupid" - but the citizen ended up dead seconds later!
I also have to ask what so many Americans are asking: Why does a TRAINED Cop get to freak out in fear, when nobody else in such a situation could get away with this, as even an improbable excuse?
Why are the trained professionals, who supposedly know better, allowed to truly get away with an excuse that no citizen will ever be able to use?
Some say, "Cops do a dangerous job. They deserve our support. They deserve the benefit of the doubt!" This is NOT a valid excuse in most of the cases that Cops and Courts both - in the unholy alliance they have created between themselves, have made it out to be! If this is how this cop got off - because the "law" was written this way - then the Law Is Wrong!
Cops do deserve our support... but not in cases where poor judgement and training, and poor control of emotions, cause cops to pull and rashly empty their guns due to their unrestrained fear! Citizens more than deserve Cops in control of themselves!
Can't do the job - don't do it!
I also have to ask what so many Americans are asking: Why does a TRAINED Cop get to freak out in fear, when nobody else in such a situation could get away with this, as even an improbable excuse?
Why are the trained professionals, who supposedly know better, allowed to truly get away with an excuse that no citizen will ever be able to use?
Some say, "Cops do a dangerous job. They deserve our support. They deserve the benefit of the doubt!" This is NOT a valid excuse in most of the cases that Cops and Courts both - in the unholy alliance they have created between themselves, have made it out to be! If this is how this cop got off - because the "law" was written this way - then the Law Is Wrong!
Cops do deserve our support... but not in cases where poor judgement and training, and poor control of emotions, cause cops to pull and rashly empty their guns due to their unrestrained fear! Citizens more than deserve Cops in control of themselves!
Can't do the job - don't do it!
180
And where is the ACLU? We have a RIGHT to bear arms. This man's civil rights were violated. But... oh... jeez... he was black.... nevermind...
1
Officer Yanez is coward and anyone in fear of their lives just because they encounter someone who tells them they have a gun should not be working in law enforcement.
23
'Fearing for one's life' is constant these days of extremist rhetoric and the idea of the public carrying weapons is constantly promoted by elected officials.
22
They want it both ways. Promote weapons for everyone and yet have officers that are afraid every time they encounter a black person with a legal firearm. Scared enough that the citizen with a legal weapon often pays with his life.
1
Many of us in MN followed this case closely and we should all recognize that this was a fair trial. The jury deliberated for 5 days, which is an extraordinary amount of time. The jury didn't deliver a knee-jerk reaction. Rather, they considered all of the evidence, including the dash-cam recording that showed the officer telling the victim three times not to reach for the gun. Unfortunately, the victim continued to reach for something. This was also a mixed race trial - the victim was black but the officer/defendant was Latino and the jury was mixed race. We should all now hope for peace and dissuade anyone from reacting violently.
This is like reading Chandler or other 30s noir. Are we still laboring under the false apprehension that stoned people are more likely to be actively aggressive (rather than eat a bag of Cheetos and go to sleep)? People who are tired from work, hopped up on caffeine or under the influence of alcohol are all more likely to be aggressive.
18
So, police officers shooting people are innocent, but texting teens are guilty -- of murder. What has happened in this country?
26
Surprised? Maybe EVERYONE should understand that NO police officer should pull ANYONE over because a police officer might "fear for his life." The officer said he feared for his life. that's what he said; couldn't ANY police officer say that? Do we expect ALL police officers to shoot ANYONE they stop? WE don't want to believe that, do we? So why did this officer believe that? Is it because Mr. Castile was black? And if not, why? And I'm not constructing ANY "false reality" here. ANY officer could shoot ANYONE when they approach a car; it doesn't happen because we trust a driver and a police officer to be civil. But if a police officer says they were afraid, maybe they ARE always afraid! There is NO SOLUTION to situations using arguments such as these! If I was a gun owner and I announced to an officer that I have a gun in my car and I am legally licensed to have it, would the officer become afraid and shoot me? Go ahead....ask me the FIRST question that comes to mind!
13
You are so right. I am one of the palest people you will ever meet, from a family of blondes, and everyone in my family, including my mother, has had problems with police, but these involved being left on the street at 1 am for overdue reg, bro being harassed for long hair, given tickets for riding bike on wrong side of road. But my bro in law, Hispanic, got thrown forcibly onto hood of car for similar offence. And, these black people, minding their own business, are getting killed. Why didn't this policeman do time just for endangering the child's life? This needs to stop.
The gun was in his pocket, not the glove compartment.
5
Why would anyone tell a cop he has a gun and then try to shoot him. Second what parent in their right mind would try to shoot two police officers (yes his partner was in the other window) in a blaze of glory with his g/f and child in the car. The situation wasn't threatening if the cop had of used common sense. What he'd shot the child. Would he be just in that too. The whole thought of threat in that situation is ridiculous.
2
This verdict is egregious enough as it is, but I can't help but compare this story to the trial story immediately below it. You are telling me that, in MA, a teenager was convicted of manslaughter and could be sentenced up to 20 years for encouraging, via text message, her suicidal boyfriend to commit suicide. Meanwhile, in MN, a man whose entire job is to protect the public fired seven rounds into an innocent man right in front of his girlfriend and a small child is acquitted of manslaughter. Conrad Roy was 18 years old and wanted to die, and meanwhile Philando Castille was an irreplaceable, deeply loved member of his community who made the world- especially the elementary school he worked at- a better place. And yet Michelle Carter is guilty in a way that Yeronimo is not? Apparently the only difference in these contrasting cases that matters is that the one body was white, and the other was not. This Must Stop.
35
If I'm not mistaken, the Supreme Court recently issued a ruling that the police have no obligation to "protect the public".
When George Zimmerman, vigilante extraordinaire, faced no consequences for the murder of Travon Martin, it became clear to me our justice system no longer works. If, according to Stand Your Ground laws that are rapidly spreading in red state America, I can kill someone with impunity because they frighten me, the rule of law becomes subjective, therefore there is no rule. Taking that a step further, apparently if you're black, with no evidence whatsoever, presumption of threat is an acceptable excuse for taking your life.
Just when I think my ability to feel outrage is no longer sustainable, this.
Just when I think my ability to feel outrage is no longer sustainable, this.
31
The prosecution failed to introduce the BCA's interview with the murderer (Yanez) and the Judge failed to allow the jury to read the transcript of testimony during deliberation.
Yanez was afraid for his life as you can see in the videos, but he was pitifully trained and perhaps not of the character to be a police officer. The St Anthony Police Department is responsible to inadequate training and mentoring. Why were those officials sitting next to Yanez charged with murder.
Don't forget about the baby in the backseat. The jury found that Yanez did NOT endanger the child.
Yanez was afraid for his life as you can see in the videos, but he was pitifully trained and perhaps not of the character to be a police officer. The St Anthony Police Department is responsible to inadequate training and mentoring. Why were those officials sitting next to Yanez charged with murder.
Don't forget about the baby in the backseat. The jury found that Yanez did NOT endanger the child.
22
Its hard to imagine that if Mr. Castile were white he would have been shot. This police officer was clearly incompetent, over reacting to a routine traffic stop. The verdict is a clear indication that our criminal justice system is biased and unfair.
22
pure speculation. if the guy had been duck dynasty white, he would have been shot. if he was clean cut and wearing a 4500 brioni suit driving 911, maybe not.
life is more about class than about race.
life is more about class than about race.
Cops should not be judge, jury and executor. The police are paid to put their lives at risk - not to put the general public at risk. The rule should be - "only shoot if shot at first'. Not shoot because you think the person has a weapon. Better for the officer to die than an innocent civilian.
He could have simply used a Taser at that close distance - a person in a car sitting don is not going to quick draw. Shooting him seven times is more than over kill - and shows an police officer whose self-level of fear should disqualify him from police work.
He could have simply used a Taser at that close distance - a person in a car sitting don is not going to quick draw. Shooting him seven times is more than over kill - and shows an police officer whose self-level of fear should disqualify him from police work.
12
Everything about this case reeks of corruption and injustice. Besides the Slager case, I can't think of a more clear-cut example of wanton excessive force. I am ashamed of my country and the justice system, and those jurors should be ashamed also.
This is such a tragedy, it seems the officer was emotionally out of control, alas, with gun in hand but not a license to kill. Truly tragic.
8
I've been listening to the Podcast regarding this this event, ":74 Seconds". What struck me the most is the training that this officer went through (and presumably the training that other officers go through). Out of 300 hours of training, only 2 of those hours were about the de-escalation of a situation. How can this be? Perhaps this, in part, leads to these horrific deaths. It certainly isn't helping to avoid them.
18
This situation wasn't even escalated. The cop escalated it all on his own.
1
The problem with the "Fear for my life" excuse that officers invoke often in deadly shooting confrontations such as this one is that it does not require a shred of proof!!!
Any citizen that calmly tells a police officer he has a firearm and a permit should make the officer more at ease as opposed to somebody trying to hide one.
Any citizen that calmly tells a police officer he has a firearm and a permit should make the officer more at ease as opposed to somebody trying to hide one.
Is the next cop going to claim in his mind he thought he had a gun or was reaching for it. Guns are out of control and as we see so are some police officers. So for some reason the cop stops this guy (because he is black?) thinks he smells marijuana and eventually kills him. I wonder what kind of training this officer received. We keep seeing police killing innocent people (often of color) after what appears to be innocuous traffic stops and the police go on with their lives. The longer we tolerate this behavior the more it will become normalized. In the aftermath of the shooting of congressmen in the capitol area the Republicans think that the gun rules (hardly any) should be relaxed so everyone can have one to protect against this kind of behavior. The wild west of the 1800's is coming back folks.
9
And don't forget now the mentally ill can all have guns and everyone can have a silencer so no one can hear the shots until everyone is dead. How civilized.
It is a sad reality that black people never get justice in spite of overwhelming evidence. Unfortunately it is happening everywhere in our country.
This is happening too many times and I am afraid they will not take this anymore unless justice is served.
There wont be any bullets if the driver was a white man - that is a fact that we have seen again and again.
This is happening too many times and I am afraid they will not take this anymore unless justice is served.
There wont be any bullets if the driver was a white man - that is a fact that we have seen again and again.
6
Terrible. I have read of at least three other cases over the past week where each time, the police officers have been acquitted of shooting unarmed people for things as ludicrous as this shooting - over a TAIL LIGHT.
We have seen over and over again where certain police officers say anything, including lies, in order to justify horrendous violent action and abuse of power over unarmed citizens in the name of preventing harm to themselves as police officers. This wide open for all the world to see corruption, and NOTHING is being done about it.
There was no justice in this verdict today. This man was executed by police with a CHILD in the back seat the car and his girlfriend RIGHT NEXT TO HIM.
This is NOT MY AMERICA anymore, from the White House right on down to the streets.
We have seen over and over again where certain police officers say anything, including lies, in order to justify horrendous violent action and abuse of power over unarmed citizens in the name of preventing harm to themselves as police officers. This wide open for all the world to see corruption, and NOTHING is being done about it.
There was no justice in this verdict today. This man was executed by police with a CHILD in the back seat the car and his girlfriend RIGHT NEXT TO HIM.
This is NOT MY AMERICA anymore, from the White House right on down to the streets.
15
There is nothing I can tell my beautiful black son that will insure his safety if he has a police encounter. And he is eight.
He can't buy Skittles from a store without being followed.
He can't play in a park with a toy gun - even though his classmates can go hunting with their fathers and "practice" in their front yard.
When, and if, he gets older, his grandfather can't buy him a bb gun without considering that he may be shot by police responding to a malicious call in the store.
When, and if, he decides to marry, having a bachelor party may cost him his life.
When he is an adult, he could complete requirements to have a concealed carry permit. Informing an officer of that permit can cost him his life.
Disparate and corrupt policing, coupled with discretional prosecution, could make him a legal slave pursuant to the 13th Amd.
And America "wants their country back?" This has got to stop.
He can't buy Skittles from a store without being followed.
He can't play in a park with a toy gun - even though his classmates can go hunting with their fathers and "practice" in their front yard.
When, and if, he gets older, his grandfather can't buy him a bb gun without considering that he may be shot by police responding to a malicious call in the store.
When, and if, he decides to marry, having a bachelor party may cost him his life.
When he is an adult, he could complete requirements to have a concealed carry permit. Informing an officer of that permit can cost him his life.
Disparate and corrupt policing, coupled with discretional prosecution, could make him a legal slave pursuant to the 13th Amd.
And America "wants their country back?" This has got to stop.
The victim did what he was supposed to do ... calmly told the cop he had a firearm.
Yes the court has spoken, as some here insist. Now perhaps a civil court will speak, and bankrupt this town for the next century.
Yes the court has spoken, as some here insist. Now perhaps a civil court will speak, and bankrupt this town for the next century.
3
Another sad day for our Nation. Once again our police are above the law and can murder with impunity this should terrify everyone.
4
The jury, which included two black people, did its best. It was a close call. If Yanez had been found guilty, those criticizing today's acquittal would be saying "Justice was done - thank God for a jury." Castile had over 60 driving offenses and in spite of these, was driving again with a tail light out - an invitation to be pulled over while on Larpenteur, well known to him and others for intense traffic patrolling. To make it worse, he was driving under the influence of marijuana, and he did not do what he should have done - wait for the police officer to give him instructions. The lesson: don't drive after using drugs, and don't drive with a gun in your pants pocket, white or black.
7
Wait so traffic violations are just for you losing your life. Wow a broken taillight means u deserve death. And don't give me this black or white stuff. A white kid shoots 9 black people in a church. They take him to burger King. A black legally owns his gun. Tells the cop he has a permit. Then loses his life.
Outrageous. Will there never be justice in this country? I'm sick with rage.
3
I have followed this tragedy from the beginning and am shocked and saddened by the verdict. At least Yanez was fired.
But that will never bring back Philando Castile, who by all accounts, was an upright citizen. Death for driving while black.
Lately, I've become more and more ashamed for being an American. We are going in the wrong direction.
But that will never bring back Philando Castile, who by all accounts, was an upright citizen. Death for driving while black.
Lately, I've become more and more ashamed for being an American. We are going in the wrong direction.
5
I'm afraid for my life, too--in a country full of cowards with guns.
14
The officer was acquitted because he "feared for his life"?
If I were a black male (luckily for me I'm not) I think I'd have a good case to be in "fear of my life" every time I interacted with a police officer.
If I were a black male (luckily for me I'm not) I think I'd have a good case to be in "fear of my life" every time I interacted with a police officer.
7
Wow unbelievable, when will this stupidity end? Our justice system needs a complete overhaul. This verdict is outrageous!
7
I am shocked and stunned at Officer Yanez being acquitted on all counts. Though it was a tense moment, how does a policeman get a pass for his sudden decision to shoot 7 times when the victim showed no threatening behavior? "Suspicions" do not justify this act. This is a travesty of our justice system. I am embarrassed by the outcome after following this local trial. I am saddened for the Castile family's loss of a peaeful and loving member of their family.
224
Defense attorneys have a trick for defending cops. They expand what happened in a second into a long drawn out story that conveyed a situation in which the cop that killed the victim thought about 15 minutes worth of thoughts all in that one second.
Remember; Cops are the best liars because everyone believes cops.
Remember; Cops are the best liars because everyone believes cops.
11
Saying you were in fear for your life seem to be the magic words. I'll try to remember that.
19
And the NRA's solution to this would be? Oh yes, more of us should carry guns.
The end game here is obviously that more people will be shot. Whether it's drawing your gun in a shooter situation, a traffic stop, a domestic violence call, a bar fight, all will end in disaster if everybody other than the cops are armed.
This is not what the founding fathers had in mind. Read the Federalist Papers. The second amendment was put in to comfort the states who feared that the federals would overreach. They wanted to be able to maintain their own "well regulated militia" to guard agains the Feds. They did not anticipate that our later interpretation would lead to mass arming of citizens with assault rifles.
The end game here is obviously that more people will be shot. Whether it's drawing your gun in a shooter situation, a traffic stop, a domestic violence call, a bar fight, all will end in disaster if everybody other than the cops are armed.
This is not what the founding fathers had in mind. Read the Federalist Papers. The second amendment was put in to comfort the states who feared that the federals would overreach. They wanted to be able to maintain their own "well regulated militia" to guard agains the Feds. They did not anticipate that our later interpretation would lead to mass arming of citizens with assault rifles.
12
What has happened to our humanity, to any sense that people not exactly like us don't count? We can talk about the wedge Donald Trump has driven and continues to drive between various segments of our society, but this horrible situation was set in play before Trump had really begun his campaign of evil. We must acknowledge that some of the people sworn to protect us, ie the police, are not only racists. They are sociopaths. I suspect many police officers are as appalled by this outcome as the rest of us. I can only hope we will begin paying our police well enough that sociopaths can be weeded out out of a large applicant pool before ever being hired.
6
No way justice was served here.
15
Courage is cops speaking up about the few among them who are not fit for the job. Where are the courageous cops?
8
First; There is NO video of the shooting. None. The video was taken AFTER the shooting, not before or during. Second, the police officer did NOT shoot him because a tail light was broken. He shot him because he thought he was a person who committed a robbery and told the victim NOT to reach for the gun. Facts seems to get blurred for some reason. Get the facts correct and you will be more than half way there to find the truth.
5
john meenaghan, on what basis did the officer think he was someone who committed a robbery? Because he was black? And you are wrong in saying that the video was taken only after the shooting--the dashboard camera video recorded what happened before. Mr. Castile calmly told the officer that he had a gun and that he was not reaching for it. You are the one who is blurring the facts in order to make excuses for the police.
10
So he stopped him for a broken taillight and then decided he was a wanted robber?
Beth,...no. The sequence was; he received a radio message describing a black male who had committed a robbery nearby and the person in the passenger seat matched the description aired. He stopped the vehicle only to ascertain if it was the person they were looking for. Police don't approach a vehicle when they believe a person just robbed a store and say "I'm looking for an armed robber" That gives up the cops true intention. Once the person said he had a gun (said he also had a license) the entire situation changed. He seemed to be reaching for a gun and the cop believed he was going to shoot him. The shooting was bad, no doubt, but he had no intention of shooting him until he reached for ____fill in the blank.
1
It is not responsible to conclude that a police officer is guilty unless you know the law. Under the law, the officer is not guilty if the killing is justifiable. And the killing is justifiable if:
1, The officer was doing a lawful act (i.e., was not doing anything illegal) when the victim was killed,
2. The officer was acting with normal caution when the death occurred, AND
3. The officer didn't intend to do anything illegal.
Officer Yanez legally stopped Mr. Castile because his brake light was out. And it is virtually impossible to prove that he intended to commit crime.. So the key issue is whether he acted with "normal caution." Clearly, the jurors thought so. You may disagree, but remember that the standard of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt. So you must be virtually certain that the officer lacked normal caution. This is an extremely difficult burden of proof to meet.
Bottom line, the police are always entitled to a justifiable homicide defense and they will be acquitted unless it is virtually certain that the homicide was unjustifiable. These cases have repeatedly been blamed on racial prejudice. But I believe they are more about the justifiable homicide defense and how it
virtually assures that no police officer will ever be convicted of killing a suspect.
1, The officer was doing a lawful act (i.e., was not doing anything illegal) when the victim was killed,
2. The officer was acting with normal caution when the death occurred, AND
3. The officer didn't intend to do anything illegal.
Officer Yanez legally stopped Mr. Castile because his brake light was out. And it is virtually impossible to prove that he intended to commit crime.. So the key issue is whether he acted with "normal caution." Clearly, the jurors thought so. You may disagree, but remember that the standard of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt. So you must be virtually certain that the officer lacked normal caution. This is an extremely difficult burden of proof to meet.
Bottom line, the police are always entitled to a justifiable homicide defense and they will be acquitted unless it is virtually certain that the homicide was unjustifiable. These cases have repeatedly been blamed on racial prejudice. But I believe they are more about the justifiable homicide defense and how it
virtually assures that no police officer will ever be convicted of killing a suspect.
4
Untrue. First, the United States and its individual States, have no model penal code. The best template for all of the States for a model penal code, is that of NY State's penal code, because it was the first in U.S. History.
But beyond that, since I have performed a comprehensive study of each state's penal codes for assault and separately battery, I can tell you if just those two penal codes differ in each and every state by meaning and force, and effect, then so does the liability of a Police Officer when he or she uses deadly force.
Individual Police Officers are not held to any different set of codes for criminality than ordinary citizens, just because he or she is acting as an officer when committing a crime.
You would have to see the criminal charges to determine the County and State's allegations against the officer who in my opinion absolutely murdered a human being, who was innocent of any wrong. Then with those exact codes, you can perform a legal analysis of whether or not the DA of the County who charged the officer with a type of murder was erroneous.
But beyond that, since I have performed a comprehensive study of each state's penal codes for assault and separately battery, I can tell you if just those two penal codes differ in each and every state by meaning and force, and effect, then so does the liability of a Police Officer when he or she uses deadly force.
Individual Police Officers are not held to any different set of codes for criminality than ordinary citizens, just because he or she is acting as an officer when committing a crime.
You would have to see the criminal charges to determine the County and State's allegations against the officer who in my opinion absolutely murdered a human being, who was innocent of any wrong. Then with those exact codes, you can perform a legal analysis of whether or not the DA of the County who charged the officer with a type of murder was erroneous.
1
The caution for fear is based on race. The problem is that society agrees with that fear of blacks. That's why cops can shoot certain people of color without repremand. Because the fear is societal.
1
Our world and particularly our United Stated is broken.
8
Seems like the police are too afraid to do their jobs without using "fear" as a way to justify racism.
Either we dial back the rhetoric and racism that is spewed starting at the very top of government, or we remove guns from this country. Continuing to stoke fear is simply not acceptable.
"Living" in a police state could be seen as preferable to dying in the wild west
Either we dial back the rhetoric and racism that is spewed starting at the very top of government, or we remove guns from this country. Continuing to stoke fear is simply not acceptable.
"Living" in a police state could be seen as preferable to dying in the wild west
6
My 32-year-old African American son keeps his license locked in his glove compartment for easy access if -- no WHEN -- the cops decide to pull him over. I have nightmares of him reaching over to present his documents to an officer that is "fearful for his life" whenever there's any type of contact with a black male.
15
Don't have nightmares. Purchase a dashboard camera, always have a sign near it stating it is ON. Ask the Officer if he or she would be more comfortable asking for the license and registration from the passenger side.
I am Caucasian but I have witnessed Police pull over cars with African American well dressed and behaved youth. They were all scared. I have to say that the best protection is buddy protection. Never drive alone, and never be alone with a Police Officer.
I am Caucasian but I have witnessed Police pull over cars with African American well dressed and behaved youth. They were all scared. I have to say that the best protection is buddy protection. Never drive alone, and never be alone with a Police Officer.
Thank you. I sincerely appreciate this advise and I will take it into consideration. However as a mom of an African American son, I fear the nightmares will continue.
It breaks my heart to hear a mother say this.
My heart breaks again for a police officer being acquitted for shooting a black man because he had to make a split second decision and was afraid. We clearly need to use different and more stringent criteria for screening and hiring officers, and those who are hired need better training because many clearly are not prepared for situations in which black men are not presenting a threat, or not a serious one, and yet are killed.
Mr. Castile did everything he was asked to do and did so calmly and cooperatively. That he was shot at all, let alone 7 times, was absolutely not justified.
How many times do we have to see this scene played over and over again before someone is held accountable.
I am sick.
Mr. Castile did everything he was asked to do and did so calmly and cooperatively. That he was shot at all, let alone 7 times, was absolutely not justified.
How many times do we have to see this scene played over and over again before someone is held accountable.
I am sick.
14
As usual, almost everyone finds the officer guilty despite not witnessing the event and not being present to hear all the evidence (at trial). Perhaps these same people would prefer a system where we all vote via the Internet. We could use Facebook and if a defendant receives more "dislikes" than "likes" he's guilty. Unless of course it's you who's on trial, then that's different.
8
Gee, Here's the thing. Reputable news organizations including the Associated Press distributed and checked the video you mention for authenticity. Journalism relies upon the completeness of reporting. Journalists have more restraint than this single Police Officer did.
You are discounting the fact that because we all rely upon the American Police, in our different communities, that complaining about the Police such as voting Guilty, in a jury, where your vote is going to be known to the Prosecutor, and to the Defense attorney, is dangerous.
I don't think this jury wasn't unduly influenced. No one wants to go against the Police.
You are discounting the fact that because we all rely upon the American Police, in our different communities, that complaining about the Police such as voting Guilty, in a jury, where your vote is going to be known to the Prosecutor, and to the Defense attorney, is dangerous.
I don't think this jury wasn't unduly influenced. No one wants to go against the Police.
1
Sure, dude. They're innocent in every case, even the ones that are on video,
1
The defense, in this case put Philando Castile on trial and got him convicted by a majority white jury. After all, why would a cop lie?
2
I am a black man who worked in the criminal justice system for almost 40 years. There is a very dangerous narrative being unnecessarily fueled by the media in the aftermath of this acquittal . The misleading narrative is that the jury findings in this and other cases are nfluenced by the race of either the police officer or the person who is shot. In fact what drives these findings is the controlling law ( the legal standards officers must meet when ever the employ force , including lethal force, U.S. Supreme Ct. Graham v Connor 1989) , and the jury's interpretation of the evidence . In short that standard is the "objective reasonableness " of the actions the officer took. Importantly, that reasonableness is viewed from the perspective of the officer who used the force, not the millions of people who may have viewed a dash cam or participant video. The videos only show part of the incident. They NEVER tell the whole story. They also don't tell what the officer knew, was seeing, feeling, interpreting , and reacting to when a decision was made to use force. All of those things, according to the law, go into determining whether the officers actions were reasonable. The law DOES NOT require an officer to be right in the use of force, it does require him/her to be "objectively reasonable". An officer may make mistakes in terms of whether a person has a gun, intended to harm the officer , or posed a threat to the officer , but that doesn't me a crime was committed.
123
Well, then the laws are unreasonable.
1
With respect to your experience of 40 years, Sir, A man died which is FOREVER. A child and a woman were terrified. That woman has to live with this for the rest of her life.
Whatever the "whole" story may be, the outcome is unjust, inhumane, and cannot be mitigated by any excuse. "Marijuana" - oh for heaven's sake! The man Philando Castile was doing all he could but he couldn't REASSURE Yanez . Yanez was not and is not fit to be a police officer but even if he is dismissed the miscarriage of justice can NEVER be undone.
Whatever the "whole" story may be, the outcome is unjust, inhumane, and cannot be mitigated by any excuse. "Marijuana" - oh for heaven's sake! The man Philando Castile was doing all he could but he couldn't REASSURE Yanez . Yanez was not and is not fit to be a police officer but even if he is dismissed the miscarriage of justice can NEVER be undone.
4
If what a police officer is "feeling" about a civilian who is no actual threat to them allows the police officer to murder the civilian and go unpunished, then there is something very wrong in our laws.
5
We predicted this when it first happened here in Minneapolis...I hoped justice would occur but once again, our predictions were correct: if the victim were white, the officer would have been convicted. And actually, if the motorist was white, he never would have been shot at all.
8
Adding the embroidered word Immunity under the word Police on the back of the uniform will if not clarify, make it a fete complete for the Law. What are lawyers and judges going to do without anyone left living to prosecute?
1
I don't understand how this can happen. Tragic. Unjust.
2
I don't understand how fearing for one's life can be an acceptable standard, and the only standard, used when judging if a police officer killed someone unjustifiably. We as civilians are not judged solely by this standard; if we were, there would never be another homicide conviction in this country. What about the fact that police officers are armed, and most of the people in these cases are not? Or that Mr. Castile, who did have a gun, left it in the glove compartment? Or the fact that fear is a very easy justification to claim retroactively? Given their training and the fact that the police are armed, they should be held to a higher standard than civilians when shooting people. As it stands now, "I was afraid" appears to be a "get out of jail free" card in almost every police shooting. Most of us writing these comments think we would vote to convict, but what if we were presented with excessively high standards for conviction, or we had to base our decision solely on the officer's fear level? We'd be stuck voting for acquittal because the case had been stacked against the prosecution. Police officers need to be judged by the same standards under the law as the rest of us, or these homicides will continue.
75
They are. It is just that what puts them into a scene where they can kill was a police action, with attending law surrounding the procedure.
All Police conduct is guided by criminal procedure codes and statutes.
All Police conduct is guided by criminal procedure codes and statutes.
And the fear is a deeply felt, and imprinted in the DNA of white people; it is a fear of black men.
This is absolutely stunning: The details of the scenario would have been presented to the jury - but - what on earth could they have been thinking?
St. Paul Minnesota is an upscale neighbourhood so you would think the jury could discuss and analyze the situation. The murdered driver was stopped for a cracked taillight in the daylight and ends up dead sitting in his car with his seat belt still strapped beside his significant and their child in the back seat. What's threatening about this besides the officer who behaved totally inappropriately with his gun drawn while shouting multiple conflicting orders while his voice is escalating with fear and anger while he looked out of control of his own emotions. The gun drawn almost immediately! Surely the acquittal can be appealed.
St. Paul Minnesota is an upscale neighbourhood so you would think the jury could discuss and analyze the situation. The murdered driver was stopped for a cracked taillight in the daylight and ends up dead sitting in his car with his seat belt still strapped beside his significant and their child in the back seat. What's threatening about this besides the officer who behaved totally inappropriately with his gun drawn while shouting multiple conflicting orders while his voice is escalating with fear and anger while he looked out of control of his own emotions. The gun drawn almost immediately! Surely the acquittal can be appealed.
130
The double jeopardy clause bars an appeal from a verdict of not guilty.
Well maybe with public outrage it could be. Clearly the Prosecution was out done by the Defense.
1
Juries from 'Upscale' communities always favor Police.
It's very interesting to me that quite a few of the people commenting here claim that they saw the video of Mr. Castille being shot. I may not be the only person noting this, but there is no video of him being shot. Personally, I think the shooting was unjustified, and I wish there had been a guilty verdict, based on the facts we do know. But it's fascinating how even presumably careful readers of the NYT can create a false reality. It's worth paying attention to. Again, this seems to be an unjustified shooting based on fear of a black man, so I'm on the side of those who wanted a guilty verdict.
32
False reality is created all the time these days. In this incident, in the trial, in our government . . . . .
3
Sorry, let me clarify - there is dashcam footage of the shooting, but it doesn't show what Castille was doing in the car. There is no clear video of what Mr. Castille was doing, how he moved, etc. Still seems highly unjustified.
3
I'm black, I've heard this story before. Whenever I speak of racism or racial profiling, the question is always, "What were you doing?" or "What were you wearing?" At the end of the day, a police officer shot seven times into a car with a child, even without the video footage, we're being told that it's feasible that the victim of this senseless act of violence may have been culpable because the officer claimed he feared for his life. This madness has got to stop.
6
The reference to pot was prejudicial, the judge should not have let it in. Not sure if a new trial is possible because of double jeopardy. At least they brought the case, in King County, Washington prosecutors wouldn't have even done that.
16
What an egregious verdict.
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune this afternoon, Yanez was fired today by the city of St. Anthony, MN. Too little, too late.
And so it goes under the Trump regime.
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune this afternoon, Yanez was fired today by the city of St. Anthony, MN. Too little, too late.
And so it goes under the Trump regime.
35
This had nothing to do with Trump. There is no "Trump regime". (And I say this as one who loathes Trump.)
4
I have concerns about this verdict, too, but I wish people would not be so quick to say racism is the driving factor in the verdict. Two jurors were black, and the verdict was unanimous.
14
I agree. It's not necessarily blatant racism - but rather some deadly form of societal bias.
11
So two jurors where black, so that makes it a good verdict, Right!
It was a white cop who shot an unarmed and belted black man in a car.
If he was a white man, he would be alive today.
Double standard. There is the racism !
It's open season on black men in America.
A drawn gun is their first reaction plus they empty their whole clip of ammunition.
What are they so afraid ??
I have an older brother and his son who both served as NJ State Troopers for 25 years each. My nephew was on their squat team and later in charge of it.
Neither ever killed or even shot anyone.
They are trained well on how to react and handle situations like this one. Plus are taught how to physically handle suspects.
A gun is the last resort.
If he was a white man, he would be alive today.
Double standard. There is the racism !
It's open season on black men in America.
A drawn gun is their first reaction plus they empty their whole clip of ammunition.
What are they so afraid ??
I have an older brother and his son who both served as NJ State Troopers for 25 years each. My nephew was on their squat team and later in charge of it.
Neither ever killed or even shot anyone.
They are trained well on how to react and handle situations like this one. Plus are taught how to physically handle suspects.
A gun is the last resort.
2
St. Paul is not a city beset by murder, so the officer. The most recent crime statistics available are from 2015. They show that there were 16 murders in a city of over 300K. Marijuana is known to make people relax, not shoot first and think later. Using that as an excuse is only useful if you don't know anything about the effects of marijuana.
As a local police officer recently stated "I've never been called to a domestic abuse situation that was caused by marijuana". The officer panicked and shot seven times without good reason. He should have been found guilty. Philando's family is going to be grieving for their whole lives and probably for another generation or so. It is infuriating that people give the benefit of the doubt to the police, but not to the victim.
As a local police officer recently stated "I've never been called to a domestic abuse situation that was caused by marijuana". The officer panicked and shot seven times without good reason. He should have been found guilty. Philando's family is going to be grieving for their whole lives and probably for another generation or so. It is infuriating that people give the benefit of the doubt to the police, but not to the victim.
51
This man got killed because he may have been smoking marijuana?
Give me a break.
He was killed because he was a Black man in America. People are still afraid of Black people.
Give me a break.
He was killed because he was a Black man in America. People are still afraid of Black people.
194
The article said he was pulled over because his brake light was out. I was pulled over one time because I had a broken tail light. I was given a warning and was sent on my way......I'm a white woman.
3
I am a 66 year old white man and I think the officer should have been found guilty. He was shot because he was black. What a shame. Like everyone else I watched the video.
There you go.
What would it take to find a police officer guilty of killing a black man in America?
284
It would take the death of racism and white supremacy.
1
The same as finding a police officer guilty of killing a white man in America. Please stop making this a black thing. You only hurt black people with that nonsense.
2
There are many videos of the comedian David Chappell performing an entire repitoire of biographical jokes in the year 2000. You can find them on YouTube.
One which is more than two hours in length, goes into detail as to why he is afraid of the Police. It is hilarious but true. He jokes about cops pulling over Black men and popping them. He takes the microphone and hits the stand before him to make a noise. He then immitates the speech of a white cop and states "Oh, just sprinkle a little crack over him."
This was before the iPhone and perhaps other cell phones and all the videos their users create to give us the privilege to see and understand what Police do to Black men in America, and some Black women too.
One which is more than two hours in length, goes into detail as to why he is afraid of the Police. It is hilarious but true. He jokes about cops pulling over Black men and popping them. He takes the microphone and hits the stand before him to make a noise. He then immitates the speech of a white cop and states "Oh, just sprinkle a little crack over him."
This was before the iPhone and perhaps other cell phones and all the videos their users create to give us the privilege to see and understand what Police do to Black men in America, and some Black women too.
Only in America is death considered an appropriate punishment for having a broken tail light -- a broken tail light AND dark skin, that is.
This is what we are talking about when we talk about institutionalized racism. This is how it feels to live in a police state (to not know if you will survive a routine traffic stop). THIS MUST CHANGE.
This is what we are talking about when we talk about institutionalized racism. This is how it feels to live in a police state (to not know if you will survive a routine traffic stop). THIS MUST CHANGE.
733
One of the problems is that the Supreme Court has legalized the use of "pretext stops" by the police.
2
Difficult to have faith in some of our fellow human beings or our system of justice. The jury was incompetent.
39
A white man accompanied by a white girlfriend and a white child, under the same circumstances, would be alive today. This I know in my heart to be true.
I do not vilify police officers, and I can only imagine the risks they face on the job. But maybe we can start by not stopping our black citizens for trivial violations, and engage in community outreach activities instead if they have enough time on their hands to stop people with broken taillights, expired tags, spitting on the proverbial sidewalk.
I do not vilify police officers, and I can only imagine the risks they face on the job. But maybe we can start by not stopping our black citizens for trivial violations, and engage in community outreach activities instead if they have enough time on their hands to stop people with broken taillights, expired tags, spitting on the proverbial sidewalk.
147
The responses on here are galling. People shouldn't jump to conclusions. Twelve of your fellow citizens who were presented with all the relevant evidence unanimously concluded that Officer Yanez was innocent. Isn't that enough? Why do you have to keep calling someone a killer when the evidence has been put to the test and found lacking?
72
25 million voted for trump- it shows there are many folks who are detached from reality who affect ALL OF US!
34
After protracted deliberations, the jury found Officer Yates "not guilty," not necessarily "innocent." Important distinction. By definition, Yanez is the killer. All we say for certain is that jurors concluded the prosecution failed to prove all the elements of the criminal charges beyond a reasonable doubt. Their lengthy deliberation suggests that one or more jurors found the killing troubling if not criminal. Hard to imagine anyone concluding that the killing was necessary or represented good policing.
17
They did not find Yanez innocent. That's not how the courts work in this country. They voted that there was insufficient evidence to convict Yanez, and that is a far different conclusion.
4
truly disgusting outcome... if these cops are so afraid then they should not be cops... last thing I would want is a scared cop coming to help me... I'd end up dead because he was "afraid"
64
If a video on Facebook Live can't convince 12 people of guilt, what can? A particle accelerator? A time machine? A portal? Seriously... At what point is there enough evidence? And even more, what point is there enough political will to keep things like this from happening?
42
There was no video of the shooting.
Stop saying the system is broken. The system is doing *exactly* what it was designed to do.
14
That's the scary part
1
if you mean keep black people in fear and subjection, then kill them when they rise above that and seem scary, I guess you are right.
1
Yeah - kill innocent black people.
This is unconscionable. I watched the video; everyone saw the video. Mr. Castile cooperated in every way. He remained calm, complying with the officer's instructions. He disclosed, as he had been trained to do when obtaining a gun license, that he was carrying a licensed weapon. He was never asked to raise his hands or leave the vehicle or warned that his behavior appeared threatening.
So the officer decided, because he smelled marijuana,and did not know for what Mr. Castile was reaching, that his life was in danger? So he shot Mr. Castile seven times? Say what? Because he'd heard there was a robbery nearby? Isn't there always a robbery somewhere nearby, if you're a cop? Does that mean you can shoot a citizen who hasn't displayed a weapon or threatened you verbally?
I am a middle-aged white woman. Last year, while traveling through a small town in a neighboring state, I became caught up in a line of fire engines responding to a fire alarm. Breaking away, I continued down the road. Only after making a turn did I realize that one of the sirens I'd heard had come from a police officer; I was being pursued for alleged speeding. The cop said he'd been chasing me for 1/4 mile. I'd had no idea; I'd thought that his siren Iwas coming from the fire trucks.
The speeding ticket was later dismissed. Had I been black, would the officer have assumed, without evidence, that I was an escaping felon, and come out shooting?
I am so sorry, Castile family. This is horrible.
So the officer decided, because he smelled marijuana,and did not know for what Mr. Castile was reaching, that his life was in danger? So he shot Mr. Castile seven times? Say what? Because he'd heard there was a robbery nearby? Isn't there always a robbery somewhere nearby, if you're a cop? Does that mean you can shoot a citizen who hasn't displayed a weapon or threatened you verbally?
I am a middle-aged white woman. Last year, while traveling through a small town in a neighboring state, I became caught up in a line of fire engines responding to a fire alarm. Breaking away, I continued down the road. Only after making a turn did I realize that one of the sirens I'd heard had come from a police officer; I was being pursued for alleged speeding. The cop said he'd been chasing me for 1/4 mile. I'd had no idea; I'd thought that his siren Iwas coming from the fire trucks.
The speeding ticket was later dismissed. Had I been black, would the officer have assumed, without evidence, that I was an escaping felon, and come out shooting?
I am so sorry, Castile family. This is horrible.
263
Uh, not sure what video you watched then--because the video only started rolling after the altercation.
11
RCT, thank you for that perfect summary--may I quote you when I share this article on my Facebook page? I am also a white woman (older than middle-aged), and I believe that the real criminal in this case is the police officer. The unending string of police killings of people of color makes me sick, and the lack of consequences and the unwillingness of police or anyone in power to admit that police can ever be wrong make me sicker.
2
The officer's dash cam was running. Doesn't show the shooting but you can hear most the conversation leading up to it. Nothing the victim says sounds threatening; in fact, other officers have commented that such a well spoken, concealed carry holder with a kid is a low risk situation. The concealed carry itself means that the guy had passed a background check.
I don't think the officer is a murderer so much as he is an idiot and a coward. I blame his bosses more than him. He should never have been let out on the streets.
I don't think the officer is a murderer so much as he is an idiot and a coward. I blame his bosses more than him. He should never have been let out on the streets.
2
There's a lesson to be learned : Don't exercise your right to bear arms, if you are Black. We is powerful scary to White folks. What a sad outcome.
30
The black Panthers learned that the hard way...
We must look at instructions to the jury. Perhaps it's not the jury but the criteria for second degree murder.
8
So what are we supposed to believe, the evidence of the video that recorded this atrocity, an atrocity which stinks of traditional American racism, or the word of a cop who all but admitted to his own profound cowardice, thereby annulling any authority that he had to shoot anyone?
And SEVEN shots? That number suggests both a faintheartedness caused by panic and gross incompetence caused by the lack of any compelling qualifications to work on our streets and highways in law enforcement.
Once again we have shattered both human and legal dignity by making the cop judge, jury, and executioner. And that's okay with the court? Then why bother having courts at all?
Our 'justice' system smells to high heaven and has helped the US build an implacable reputation for privilege and untrustworthiness right round the globe.
And SEVEN shots? That number suggests both a faintheartedness caused by panic and gross incompetence caused by the lack of any compelling qualifications to work on our streets and highways in law enforcement.
Once again we have shattered both human and legal dignity by making the cop judge, jury, and executioner. And that's okay with the court? Then why bother having courts at all?
Our 'justice' system smells to high heaven and has helped the US build an implacable reputation for privilege and untrustworthiness right round the globe.
117
"the evidence of the video that recorded this atrocity,"
The video wasn't started until after the shooting.
The video wasn't started until after the shooting.
1
There is no video of the shooting though.
Unbelievable. This officer fired not one but seven shots at a man licensed to carry a gun who was trying his best to cooperate. This is not a case for better training. We are way past that. Until juries start convicting police with common sense and judges put them away with long prison sentences, this is not going to stop. There is simply no commensurate incentive for cops not to shoot first and ask questions later. Sorry, there is no such thing as good-cops-bad-cops where our justice system frees them all to kill with impunity.
44
If Yanez can reasonably assume with 100% certainty he can kill Castile and go free, then Yanez has no incentive not to kill any motorist he stops, provided he can convince himself there's any finite probability of danger.
Indeed, we could all make this assumption - if we could all be exonerated on the basis that we felt fear, we have every incentive to walk down the street mowing down every human being we come across, since this would optimize our own individual life expectancy
Well, only if we're the only human adopting this policy, actually. If everyone else also adopts this policy, our individual expectancies all vanish. Life would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.
Per Hobbes, society and the rule of law exists, precisely to avoid that state of nature. When courts don't give officers of the law an incentive to rise above our simple brutish nature, what then?
Unfortunately, it seems we are doomed to find out.
Indeed, we could all make this assumption - if we could all be exonerated on the basis that we felt fear, we have every incentive to walk down the street mowing down every human being we come across, since this would optimize our own individual life expectancy
Well, only if we're the only human adopting this policy, actually. If everyone else also adopts this policy, our individual expectancies all vanish. Life would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.
Per Hobbes, society and the rule of law exists, precisely to avoid that state of nature. When courts don't give officers of the law an incentive to rise above our simple brutish nature, what then?
Unfortunately, it seems we are doomed to find out.
194
Do not drive under the influence if you have a gun on you and if you have passengers, especially children. You are just setting yourself up for tragedy. Remember black lives, the lives of your loved ones in the car with you matter.
6
IG-88, so you think that the punishment for driving under the influence should be instant execution, without drug test, arrest, or trial? Lots of people make the bad decision to drive after drinking alcohol--should they also be executed on the spot when stopped by police? Would you give the benefit of the doubt to a white driver under the influence, but not to a black driver? As for driving while having a gun, he had every right to carry the gun and he calmly explained to the officer that he had one in the car and was not reaching for the weapon--and this is shown in the video. If he were white, there is no question in my mind that the officer--and you and all of the officer's defenders--would have given the driver the benefit of the doubt rather than assuming that he was a criminal and a danger. Stop blaming the victims of racism for what the racists do.
6
There was no evidence he was under the influence. There was a small amount of weed in the car but no evidence that he had smoked it before driving. Nice attempt to blame the victim. The guy could have been the Pope and you'd find some way to make this his fault.
6
The officer asked them if they were smoking, and they said yes.
I've never had a negative encounter with a police officer when pulled over. When I tell an officer that I'm reaching for my identification, he doesn't open fire, but, then again, I'm a white female. The one time I was arrested (suspended license, a big offense), it was after I'd been warned on countless occasions, and the officer felt bad for taking me in. But then, I was a crying, white girl.
The horrible truth is that my life experience is not equal to that of many of my fellow Americans. When pulled over while being black, they stand a real chance of being shot and killed, even if obeying the officer's commands, like Philando Castile. And their killer will probably go free, because at least one person on the jury can sympathize with feeling unnatural fear when approaching a black person. It's criminal.
I fully support our police officers and believe the vast majority of them are wonderful men and women, who put their lives on the line to serve others every day. This is why we should all be outraged and demand justice when the bad ones, like Officer Yanez and the countless others, who've killed unarmed, black civilians despite better options. These bad cops increase the danger on the lives of the good cops and deteriorate community trust in the officers. They must be held accountable, if they can't be weeded out beforehand.
The horrible truth is that my life experience is not equal to that of many of my fellow Americans. When pulled over while being black, they stand a real chance of being shot and killed, even if obeying the officer's commands, like Philando Castile. And their killer will probably go free, because at least one person on the jury can sympathize with feeling unnatural fear when approaching a black person. It's criminal.
I fully support our police officers and believe the vast majority of them are wonderful men and women, who put their lives on the line to serve others every day. This is why we should all be outraged and demand justice when the bad ones, like Officer Yanez and the countless others, who've killed unarmed, black civilians despite better options. These bad cops increase the danger on the lives of the good cops and deteriorate community trust in the officers. They must be held accountable, if they can't be weeded out beforehand.
25
If all cops fear for their lives, why do they become cops?
31
Officers have to make split second decisions in highly emotional circumstances or they may be dead. The court has spoken and arm chair quarterbacks and reporters who seek to convict people based on snippets of videos should accept their decision.
8
Accepting a decision doesn't mean you have to like it. Not at all.
1
I bet if that happened to a member of your family you would not be so nonchalant. If a police officer shoots a person for no apparent reason he is not qualified to be a police officer. No gun was drawn.
4
If the shooting cops are that fragile, they're in the wrong jobs. There are levels of fear, along with judgment and common sense that should bo on board before getting a gun and badge.
The video of the incident by shot be his girlfriend clearly shows that Phianlldo Castile was cooperating with the police, and posed no threat to them. Another case of racial profiling and the murder of a person of color by a white police officer. Of course there was no crime committed, and hence the officer was not guilty.
8
Which video did you see? The FB Live video picks up after the shots were fired and Mr. Castille was losing consciousness and mortally wounded. Is there another video that shows him complying with Yanez' requests?
3
The officer is Hispanic. You do realize that means POC right.
2
...
They're lining up the prisoners
And the guards are taking aim
I struggled with some demons
They were middle class and tame
I didn't know I had permission to murder and to maim
You want it darker
...
Leonard Cohen
They're lining up the prisoners
And the guards are taking aim
I struggled with some demons
They were middle class and tame
I didn't know I had permission to murder and to maim
You want it darker
...
Leonard Cohen
21
Once again, we see how driving while black is an offense punishable by execution on the spot. From what I saw in the video Mr. Castile did everything he could to comply with Yanez's request, yet somehow he did not survive the traffic stop. Either Castile somehow threatened Yanez, which the video certainly provides no evidence of any such activity, or Yanez simply got spooked on his own accord and panicked. Without solid evidence of a threat to Yanez, this is manslaughter beyond any reasonable doubt.
17
There is no video of the shooting so please stop spreading a falsity.
4
Do they? Do black lives matter? Cause it sure seems like every American institution is screaming a resounding "No!" This is a national shame and a humanitarian crisis.
49
I wish I had said this. SO true!
4
This is SO totally outrageous!! I thought for sure there will be a conviction in this case because it seemed so cut and dry that the officer killed the man when he was not threatening the officer. Come on America! What is going on?!
11
Unbeliveable ! This cop did everything wrong and he still gets away it ?
23
The lack of justice should upset people. The police union and membership supporting the shooter should upset people.
This man is a coward. A defense that he was concerned for his safety when no imminent danger existed is the sign of a cowardly person. He sees no gun but open-fires anyway. Not once, but seven times into the slumping body, into a car with a woman and child. He is too afraid to wait to see if a gun appears. He open fires on an unarmed man.
This is an outrage. Surely this man will not be given back his gun and sent back onto the streets? Surely not?
This man is a coward. A defense that he was concerned for his safety when no imminent danger existed is the sign of a cowardly person. He sees no gun but open-fires anyway. Not once, but seven times into the slumping body, into a car with a woman and child. He is too afraid to wait to see if a gun appears. He open fires on an unarmed man.
This is an outrage. Surely this man will not be given back his gun and sent back onto the streets? Surely not?
55
As the article said, he won't be returning to active duty.
Hopefully he doesn't get a job as a police officer somewhere else.
Hopefully he doesn't get a job as a police officer somewhere else.
Without doubt, the majority of police officers are well trained and professional in carrying out their often difficult duties. However, it seems as if there are a minority of officers who either aren't getting proper and/or adequate training for their jobs or don't fully follow their training while on duty. Local and state governments need to look closely at this issue so that fewer innocents lose their lives in interactions with the police.
8
This is shameful. Why should any black person believe there is justice in this country, or that wrongs will be made right?
37
This wasn't a case of a white officer shooting an African American citizen. Yanez is a person of color, too. It illustrates a problem regarding police violence that has not been discussed much, and that is the possibility that the nature of police work, the demands it places on its officers and the stress they are constantly under, can result in poor decision-making in crises. That poor decision making disproportionately harms Black civilians, but that is not necessarily due to white cops being racist. If there was an entirely African American police force, the same disproportionate treatment of Black civilians would likely still occur: Black cops would disproportionately shoot Black civilians. It is a problem of pervasive institutionalized racism in this country that is expressed by ANY person, white, Black, Latino, Native American, who is stressed beyond imagination and dealing with a diverse public. The stress of police work results in the expression of violence towards American society's most maligned populations, regardless of the race of the cop. The nature of police work needs to change, with less stress, more pay, and more training and preparation regarding the impact of institutionalized racism on any person's mind.
172
It is not stress per se, it is the militarisation of police
15
And the proliferation of weaponry among the civilian population.
2
It is police culture, it has been at the core of police work for millennia. Put simply the cops see it as us against them and an opportunity to brutalize the defenseless.
I don't understand how intelligent educated people don't get the police. Or did you just skip the history of civilization, how the powerful dealt with the people?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_brutality
I don't understand how intelligent educated people don't get the police. Or did you just skip the history of civilization, how the powerful dealt with the people?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_brutality
3
The law is supposed to operate on the presumption of innocence. Why did the officer fire seven times? One shot may have been sufficient but seven? This whole thing reminds me of the battle lost for a horseshoe nail. A faulty brake light ends up in death and we are all the sadder for it including officer Yanez.
10
Where is the NRA's outrage at this? Where are the Republican politicians' expressing outrage? A law-abiding gun-toter shot by the government for having a gun. Or does it not matter because he was black?
625
Find me one single instance where the NRA has stood up for the rights of any black person legally bearing arms.
2
From reading gun websites, the advice is that when you announce to a cop that you have a gun, you should be still with your hands on the steering wheel. Why? So nothing tragic happens. Guns, just by their presence, can escalate things.
Even the girlfriend says Castile was still moving around after the announcement. Something tragic was within the realm of possibility, and this time it happened.
So much more was happening than him simply having a gun. I don't think those groups need to address hysterical reactions to this incident. And America would be better off if people didn't read race into things all the time, and in the process crush millions of black psyches by making them think someone is out to get them.
Even the girlfriend says Castile was still moving around after the announcement. Something tragic was within the realm of possibility, and this time it happened.
So much more was happening than him simply having a gun. I don't think those groups need to address hysterical reactions to this incident. And America would be better off if people didn't read race into things all the time, and in the process crush millions of black psyches by making them think someone is out to get them.
Not a single peep from the NRA, not a single word of defense for the legally licensed Mr. Castile.
There can be only one reason.
There can be only one reason.
3
All Lives Don't Matter because Black Lives Don't Matter.
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An absolute travesty of justice! I'm utterly disgusted with this verdict. This man was murdered in cold blood. We all saw the ENTIRE thing go down on camera. If this poor guy had been white this never EVER would have happened. I'm furious. There is no justice for all in this country.
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Nobody saw the "entire thing go down on camera" as the shooting occurred before the video began filming.
9
As long as police are armed, then people of color will be killed with impunity.
8
I don't understand the verdict. We all saw the footage.
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No. We all saw the footage of the aftermath. Not the shooting.
5
I haven't read the details of this case since it was first reported, but it seemed clear then and is clear now that the officer's response was not warranted. Justice was not done here. A badge is not a license to kill.
26
Another police officer is acquitted of killing a black man who was no threat to him. Why is no one surprised? Gee, what a mystery.
I think most of us are tired of this narrative. And a person doesn't have to be black to feel that way. I'm so white I'm darn near albino, but I'm sick to death of this and too old to think anything is going to change in my lifetime.
I grew up in the Deep South, and though people in other parts of the country seem to think they are so superior, my distinct impression is that the whole country is the Deep South these days. These deaths and these acquittals are absolutely shameful.
I think most of us are tired of this narrative. And a person doesn't have to be black to feel that way. I'm so white I'm darn near albino, but I'm sick to death of this and too old to think anything is going to change in my lifetime.
I grew up in the Deep South, and though people in other parts of the country seem to think they are so superior, my distinct impression is that the whole country is the Deep South these days. These deaths and these acquittals are absolutely shameful.
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Agree. I am ashamed of this jury in the state where I was born and raised. The police must be accountable for shooting without cause.
4
I suppose congratulations to the lawless police are in order. Go forth freely and murder innocent people, as long as their skin color pre-determines their guilt.
18
I saw news of this horrible verdict while reading the chapter on police brutality in Michael Eric Tyson's latest book Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America. We are a country deep in need of waking up to state sanctioned racial violence.
10
From the way this has been recounted it seems to me the officer was guilty of negligence.
If I may, let me recount a little incident that occurred to me. I was going through airport security. Like everyone is instructed, they tell you to empty your pockets. So, I thought I did. So I go into the scanning imachine. "Sir, have you emptied your pockets?" Then out comes the wand. "What do you have in your pocket?" "I don't know." It turns out I have 2 quarters in my pocket. So, now we start the pat down. He starts to tell me how the pat down is going to work. Now I'm starting to get flustered. I don't care if he grabs my genitals, just get going. "Sir, I have to tell you what I'm going to do (apparently it's the law). Of course after this, you get the "check your hands for explosives routine".
This little incident taught me how anyone can become flustered, upset, and behave in an irrational manner, etc.
If I may, let me recount a little incident that occurred to me. I was going through airport security. Like everyone is instructed, they tell you to empty your pockets. So, I thought I did. So I go into the scanning imachine. "Sir, have you emptied your pockets?" Then out comes the wand. "What do you have in your pocket?" "I don't know." It turns out I have 2 quarters in my pocket. So, now we start the pat down. He starts to tell me how the pat down is going to work. Now I'm starting to get flustered. I don't care if he grabs my genitals, just get going. "Sir, I have to tell you what I'm going to do (apparently it's the law). Of course after this, you get the "check your hands for explosives routine".
This little incident taught me how anyone can become flustered, upset, and behave in an irrational manner, etc.
3
So, who are you suggesting was flustered in the situation this article is about?
3
Airport security controlling traffic outside SF Airport scared me one time needlessly. I had pulled in toward the curb to look for my friend who was somewhere along the curbside waiting for me to pick her up with her luggage. It was nighttime and I was having trouble seeing her. Then the officers blinded me with their flashlights while ordering me to move. I couldn't see anything at that point, and was being told I was going to be arrested if I didn't get going. My friend was standing outside with her luggage a few feet down the sidewalk. I was completely unnerved and didn't even see her. I had to drive back around the terminal in order to come back to pick her up. The whole time I imagined how black drivers must feel all the time, and I was and continue to be furious that law enforcement has become so discourteous and paranoid that these incidents are every day occurrences.
No person in whatever capacity they work has the right to treat others so disrespectfully. And I believe these officers are largely to blame for the danger they have created for themselves and for all of us. Violence breeds violence. Hate breeds hate. Their attitudes must be confronted for what they are: cowardice and fear. They are also the result of hiring practices that go not get to the underlying emotional instability of these men and women. In my opinion, no person returning with PTSD from our wars should be given a badge, a car and a gun.
No person in whatever capacity they work has the right to treat others so disrespectfully. And I believe these officers are largely to blame for the danger they have created for themselves and for all of us. Violence breeds violence. Hate breeds hate. Their attitudes must be confronted for what they are: cowardice and fear. They are also the result of hiring practices that go not get to the underlying emotional instability of these men and women. In my opinion, no person returning with PTSD from our wars should be given a badge, a car and a gun.
Watching the online stream from Diamond Reynolds was horrifying. There just did not appear to be any threat or noncooperation from Mr. Castile. In addition Officer Yanez appeared to show a complete disregard for the safety of Ms. Diamond and her young daughter in the back seat when, shaking, he pumped 7 bullets into that car.
What in the world were the jurors thinking? My lawyer once said to me "You never know what crazy thing juries will decide to do."
Why do we keep seeing these cops being acquitted?
What in the world were the jurors thinking? My lawyer once said to me "You never know what crazy thing juries will decide to do."
Why do we keep seeing these cops being acquitted?
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The vetting process for those that sit on a jury is counter to what would provide for a reasonable verdict, in more ways than one. . .
It is quite apparent that these juries who give out free passes to those who openly murder innocent blacks, especially, but not necessarily only under the authority of law, are also haters.
If this miscreant Jeronomo Yanez truthfully feared for his life, he could have easily retreated to the rear of the car. He was not naild to the spot.
It is painfully obvious that the only reason he murdered this young man was not because he felt he had to... It was simply because he knew he could!
Killers such as he do not even have a clue about the Karmic price his worthless soul will pay when the music stops.
That jury who aided him to escape punishment, will not be able to help him escape the true justice that awaits him. In fact, each one of them will face the same.
If this miscreant Jeronomo Yanez truthfully feared for his life, he could have easily retreated to the rear of the car. He was not naild to the spot.
It is painfully obvious that the only reason he murdered this young man was not because he felt he had to... It was simply because he knew he could!
Killers such as he do not even have a clue about the Karmic price his worthless soul will pay when the music stops.
That jury who aided him to escape punishment, will not be able to help him escape the true justice that awaits him. In fact, each one of them will face the same.
3
Minnesota is basically a police state. The cops do whatever they want here.
2
I think the mother said it all.
25
Default excuses: "I feared for my life!" and "To the best of my recollection."
23
Here we have something that walks like a duck, talks like a duck, but, of course, isn't anything like a duck. So, there's an acquittal.
Police need to be trained better - "Officer Y. acted reasonably given his training" - "and [given] what he knew that night".
What Yuniz did, actually, was act on a set of assumptions and valuations and did not handle the situation with anything resembling good judgment of concern for the grave responsibility of "legally" being able to take a life.
Police need to be trained better - "Officer Y. acted reasonably given his training" - "and [given] what he knew that night".
What Yuniz did, actually, was act on a set of assumptions and valuations and did not handle the situation with anything resembling good judgment of concern for the grave responsibility of "legally" being able to take a life.
26
This verdict is astounding. Millions of us viewed Diamond Reynolds video, shot within seconds of the traffic stop by the officer. According to the description here, the dashcam corroborated her version of the "calm" demeanor of Phillando Castile, as he tried to reassure the officer that he had no intention of reaching for a gun. The officer did not ask Mr. Castile to put his hands over his head or to freeze. How is that not the appropriate procedure? Apparently, the procedure of firing seven times into a "suspect" is what is always appropriate, as long as the officer says he "felt fear." That feeling (or the claiming of that feeling after getting advice from one's union), despite video evidence of the calmness and cooperation of Mr. Castille, is what carried the acquittal.
540
The video only shows the aftermath of the shooting, not what precipitated it.
11
The dashcam video shows more.
2
Did you miss the part where @trudy said that "...the dash cam corroborated her version of the "calm" demeanor..." ?
2
Another police officer gets away with murder.
93
Yet another Jury that let go a murderer.
America is a nation of cowardly cop show worshipers.
I will boycott all things Minnesota including Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, better known as 3M corporation.
More importantly, I am boycotting broadcast Television except PBS for their part in enslaving Americans.
America is a nation of cowardly cop show worshipers.
I will boycott all things Minnesota including Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, better known as 3M corporation.
More importantly, I am boycotting broadcast Television except PBS for their part in enslaving Americans.
16
Like OJ?
I'm disgusted. Mr. Castille's only "crime" was being black. If he had been a white man, this would never have happened. (And I'm a white woman saying this.) This is just wrong, wrong, wrong.
217
No end to the tragedy abusive police authority and racism can do.
29
This is very surprising to me after that horrific FB video. I know we have a reasonable doubt standard, but wasn't there a lesser charge that was proven when you shoot an entirely un-armed man, in front of his girlfriend with a young child in the back seat? Wasn't this victim an upstanding system with a stable employment history? Why would anyone think he was reaching for a gun?
Very confusing.
Very confusing.
23
This is unbelievable. WHY are police not being held to a higher standard? I'm not at all suggesting the being a police officer is an easy job, but I am saying that they are given a LOT of power in the course of their jobs, and need to be held accountable for how they use that power.
U.S. soldiers deployed to Iraq were held to stricter Rules of Engagement than the police back home.
U.S. soldiers deployed to Iraq were held to stricter Rules of Engagement than the police back home.
397
Lessons from the recent verdicts, including this one: The way the law is written, the benefit of the doubt will always go to law enforcement. It is very difficult to get a conviction, because they can always claim they felt in danger, and this gives them a lot of leeway. 2nd lesson to all who carry a weapon-if a police officer thinks you may be reaching for it, even if you are not and you are legally within your rights to have the weapon, you are at risk. I think this is an incredibly sad case, and likely the officer over reacted. An innocent man is dead as a result.
79
Where's the NRA when a man is murdered by the state simply because he legally owned a weapon? Isn't this what they breathlessly warn their membership about every day? Like every other ' rights' in this country, they are only protected for white people.
All our institutions are rotten to the core. The police departments, the DAs, the courts , the 'good people' of the twin cities who refused to condemn a murderer.
All our institutions are rotten to the core. The police departments, the DAs, the courts , the 'good people' of the twin cities who refused to condemn a murderer.
14
today a young woman is guilty of talking a young man in to killing himself, while an agent of our government, a policeman is not going to jail for murdering a person who was driving his car.
WWJD? or any of the other prophets who have graced the human race with their wisdom?
WWJD? or any of the other prophets who have graced the human race with their wisdom?
23
“We’re not saying that Philando Castile was going to shoot Officer Yanez... What we’re saying is that he did not follow orders. He was stoned.”
That statement is utterly indefensible as an explanation for the death of a good man. It is that much more indefensible considering the extreme danger Yanez put Ms. Diamond and her child in. There is no greater perversion of justice than blaming the victim.
That statement is utterly indefensible as an explanation for the death of a good man. It is that much more indefensible considering the extreme danger Yanez put Ms. Diamond and her child in. There is no greater perversion of justice than blaming the victim.
401
There have been cases where the police shot or seriously injured somebody for not obeying orders, and the victim turned out to be deaf, or not able to speak English.
For example, there was the case in Madison, Alabama, of officer Eric Parker, who threw Sureshbhai Patel, a 57-year-old grandfather, to the ground, giving Patel a spinal injury which left him paralyzed. Patel didn't speak English, and didn't give a satisfactory response to Parker's commands. Parker was responding to a complaint about a "skinny black guy" who was walking suspiciously. Parker was acquitted by a federal judge.
For example, there was the case in Madison, Alabama, of officer Eric Parker, who threw Sureshbhai Patel, a 57-year-old grandfather, to the ground, giving Patel a spinal injury which left him paralyzed. Patel didn't speak English, and didn't give a satisfactory response to Parker's commands. Parker was responding to a complaint about a "skinny black guy" who was walking suspiciously. Parker was acquitted by a federal judge.
7
"I feared for my life!" are the magic words that let you get away with murder (but only if you're a cop, obviously)
177
Also true for anyone else if your state has "Stand Your Ground" laws, but only if there is no pre-meditation.
1
It's a variation on the "gay panic" defense: You could assault or kill a gay man, then tell the jury it was just a defensive reaction, because you felt threatened by his gayness. A common and successful defense strategy well into the 1980s. A strategy of cowards who know the weight of power is on their side.
2
A young woman gets convicted of manslaughter for texting her boyfriend to kill himself but yet another police officer gets away with point blank murder and gets off scot-free. I don't think what the girl did was right, she clearly has some major issues of her own that need some major mental health counseling. But the continued slaughter of people of color in our country, where African American parents have to have "The Talk" with their sons, where people of color have to be on guard every time they see a cop, is truly astounding to me and I'm a white woman. I thought with the advent of video recordings that this kind of stuff would gradually stop, but it's only gotten worse since Rodney King's infamous beating in 1991 and the acquittal of the four cops in that case. It seems like no matter how many statistics prove that police training needs to be revised to respect people of all colors, genders, sexes, etc., and more "beat" cops would reduce these types of things from happening, we keep staying the same. So much for "law and order" support from those in power.
113
Training does not change people deeply. There needs to be a change of heart and all the training in the world does not touch the heart of anything or anyone.
“My son loved this city, and this city killed my son."
Remember how many times he had been pulled over -- dozens of times in ten years. We have so much work to do.
Remember how many times he had been pulled over -- dozens of times in ten years. We have so much work to do.
166
It is truly a sad day in America once again. We are no longer liberty and justice for all. We are now justice it you are rich. We are leaving our kids in bad shape for the future. We need to have accountability in America.
33
We never were.
2
I hope he carries his guilt to the grave.
It was MURDER.
It was MURDER.
190
He'll carry it to his grave, along with his pension and retiree health insurance benefits.
7