I just watched the body-cam video released by the Illinois Police of the fatal shooting of a Black woman in her home, and I cannot find the words to express my horror. The video shows Sonya Massey in her kitchen, holding a pot of boiling water, which she refuses to drop when ordered to by the officer. The officer, Grayson, needlessly escalates the situation by drawing his gun and ultimately shooting her in the head. The officer’s callous attitude after the shooting, refusing to provide medical aid and stating he won’t waste his supplies on her, is utterly abhorrent.
The sheer brutality of this incident is sickening.… Continue reading
The news of murder charges being filed against a sheriff’s deputy is not only shocking but deeply troubling. The fact that someone entrusted with upholding the law has allegedly committed such a heinous act is beyond comprehension. The victim, a single mother of two, called the cops for help and ended up losing her life. The details of the incident are disturbing, with reports of a single shot to the head, essentially an execution.
It is concerning to think about the power dynamics at play in situations like these. Law enforcement officers should be held to a higher standard than the general population as they are tasked with maintaining order and ensuring the safety of the community.… Continue reading
This tragic incident in Illinois where a woman called the police over a possible intruder and ended up being killed by deputies is absolutely heart-wrenching. It is unfathomable to think that seeking help from law enforcement could result in such a devastating outcome. The passive voice used in the sheriff’s office statement, where they fail to mention who fired the shots that killed her, is deeply concerning.
The fact that the body camera footage and other information are being withheld to “protect the integrity of the legal process” is alarming. This lack of transparency only adds to the suspicion surrounding the actions of the deputies involved.… Continue reading
I recently came across a disturbing article about a woman who was trying to rescue her father from a house fire in Huntington Park and ended up getting punched by a cop. The whole situation is absolutely outrageous and highlights the abuse of power and lack of accountability within law enforcement.
The fact that this woman, Adriana, was not only physically assaulted but then arrested and charged with a felony is beyond comprehension. It’s clear that the officer’s actions were completely unwarranted and unjustified. Retired LAPD Detective Moses Castillo rightly pointed out that the arrest seemed like a feeble attempt to justify the officer’s disgusting behavior.… Continue reading
The recent incident in Milwaukee where a Black man was pinned to the ground by hotel security guards, ultimately leading to his death, has once again ignited a storm of emotions and comparisons to the tragic death of George Floyd. The video footage captured by a bystander showed the man, Joel Acevedo-Malpica, in a prone position on the ground with four security guards restraining him, one of whom knelt on his back, reminiscent of the position George Floyd was held in before his untimely death in Minneapolis.
The disturbing similarities between these two incidents bring to light the deep-rooted issues within our society when it comes to the use of excessive force against Black individuals.… Continue reading
The incident in Utica where police shot and killed a 13-year-old male has stirred up a range of emotions and raised many questions. The terminology used in headlines and reports, such as referring to the victim as a “13-year-old male,” seems deliberately clinical and detached. Why not simply say, “Utica police killed a 13-year-old boy”? The choice of language matters because it strips the humanity away from the victim and reduces him to a statistic.
The details of the incident paint a complex picture. The juvenile allegedly fled from the police and displayed what appeared to be a real handgun, which later turned out to be a pellet gun.… Continue reading
It’s disheartening to hear about the recent incident involving a police officer who hit an escaped cow not once, but twice, with his car on a suburban street. The Home Secretary rightfully expressed his shock and disdain for such “heavy-handed” actions, raising questions about the necessity and appropriateness of such force towards a defenseless animal. This incident paints a troubling image of law enforcement and begs the question of whether officers are adequately trained to handle situations involving non-human beings.
While it may be easy to joke about the absurdity of a police officer chasing and hitting a cow, the underlying issue is quite serious.… Continue reading
The tragic incident of a woman dying after being hit by a police truck on the beach is not just an unfortunate accident as authorities would like to label it. It is a clear case of negligence and abuse of power. The lack of details surrounding the incident is alarming, leaving many questions unanswered. How could a police officer drive a truck onto a crowded beach, running over a sunbather without any valid explanation provided?
The passive voice used in the news reports and the misattribution of blame to the truck instead of the police officer driving it is concerning. The truth is, the woman did not die because a truck hit her; she died because a police officer drove the truck over her.… Continue reading
I wish people were showing more outrage on base. It’s disheartening to see how muted the response has been in the aftermath of the tragic death of the airman at the hands of a Florida deputy. The fact that the officer was only fired, and not immediately prosecuted for murder, is appalling. As a civilian, if I were to take a life, I would undoubtedly face serious consequences. Why should law enforcement officers be held to a lower standard?
When reading the internal affairs report and seeing the justification provided by the former deputy for his actions, it becomes clear that something is fundamentally wrong with the system.… Continue reading
The news of a Florida sheriff’s office firing a deputy who fatally shot a Black airman at his home brings a mix of relief and frustration. The fact that the deputy’s actions were deemed unjustified is a step in the right direction, but it also highlights the systemic issues within law enforcement that allow such tragedies to occur in the first place.
The internal affairs investigation concluded that the airman, Mr. Fortson, did not make any hostile movements, and therefore, the deputy’s use of deadly force was not objectively reasonable. This statement alone should send shockwaves through the entire law enforcement community.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker