About American police officers...

[peacetraveler22]

Over the weekend, my local community experienced horror and shock after three police officers were gunned down when they responded to a domestic violence call. An active Army Sergeant named Ronald Hamilton decided to slap his wife around yet again, with their young son in the home. The boy fled when the violence started, and escaped the bloody scene that followed. As soon as the three police officers arrived at the scene, Sergeant Hamilton began spraying bullets at them. Two remain in the hospital and one was fatally wounded. It's a tragic tale, and every officers worst nightmare. The victim was one of several female officers who had just graduated from the Prince William County Police Academy on Friday. She was killed on her very first night on the job. Only 28 years old. No, this was not a response call to some ghetto area, but to a nice, suburban neighborhood, where the average house costs around $500,000. The wife was already dead on the floor when police officers arrived.

The young police officer had a bright future, and previously worked in forensics. She's pictured here with the killer beside her. The local prosecutor promises to seek the death penalty in this case.



The other officers remain hospitalized.



My community rallied together last night  to hold a vigil for the fallen police officer, but I couldn't attend. The photos were pulled from various news sources.





I see a lot of idiotic comments about U.S. police officers here on LiveJournal, with the assumption that they are all running around shooting ordinary citizens. Yet people fail to remember that America is the most heavily armed civilian population on the planet, so of course the response by American officers is different and more reactive. Statistics vary depending on the site you visit, but in 2015 American police fatally shot around 1,000 people. About 564 of the people shot were armed with a gun, 281 had some other type of weapon, and 90 were unarmed. This Chart attempts to summarize the police killings based on gender, race and other factors.



I'm very liberal on most social issues, but I don't like the anti-cop agenda that is now prevalent in some cross-sections of America, and I especially hate the slogan that accompanies this movement - "Black Lives Matter." Please tell me your impressions of the American police, based on what you know and have read. Perhaps it's time to write a report on this topic, as I have friends who serve on the local police force in Arlington, Virginia. Have you had any positive or negative experiences with police officers in Russia or the USA?

Meanwhile, I hope the scum who murdered his wife and this female police officer is executed, and quickly...

Comments

[juan-gandhi.livejournal.com]

Oh, so sad. A similar case happened in Washington, a guy killed his whole family.

Something in the air these days.

[10-4.livejournal.com]

The problem with Wash is the hoplophobes will start beating their drums again. Because it fit the agenda and they can score some fat political points over it. While no ine ever mentioned a murder in the development next to mine, 10 years ago, when in the exact same situation victims were beaten to deathwit baseball bat :(

[redheadrat.livejournal.com]

Mostly good things about american police. Be nice to them, they will be nice to you.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

This has been my experience thus far. :)

[south-of-broad.livejournal.com]

This guy doesn't deserve to live.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I agree. I've written before that I support the death penalty in certain cases. This is definitely one of them. Have you had any interactions with U.S. police?

[10-4.livejournal.com]

Being police officer and all, I can't help not noticing the fact, that our guys and gals are seriously undertrained. Especially, given the fact, that any single day in any single DD they can walk into a deadly standoff.

However, did you really have to mention the "most heavily armed population"? Really? Criminals here are armed as heavily as criminals in russia or germany, and law abiding gun owners are definitely not the ones, that I worry about.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

You're a police officer in the USA, or in Russia? Yes, I think it makes a difference that the American population is so heavily armed. This warrants more aggressive self-defense action from a police officer's standpoint. The threshold of when to use deadly force should be lower here. And, in general, if you do not want to be shot be a police officer in the U.S., obey their orders and commands, and don't behave as a thug or punk. This will spare your life in almost all instances.

[letberg.livejournal.com]

What do you think - if having legal guns provokes such violations or prevents them? Should guns be prohibited in ordinary life (except police and some special services) or not?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

No, guns should not be prohibited. I'm pro Second Amendment, and my family has always owned guns. About whether the prohibition would lessen crime and murder rates, I'm not sure. There are many statistical studies about this, but I've never taken the time to read them. I think criminals will always find a way to obtain illegal firearms, regardless of the laws and statutory measures in place to prevent this.

[dkfl.livejournal.com]

That's very sad. Only 28 y.o. :( Clearly they did not have much chances against the trained sergeant.
My impression is that US police might be cruel as well - http://venspace.blogspot.ru/2009/12/shutting-down-demonstration-in-american.html

I don't trust local Russian police. Negative: drunk police officer in uniform at work.. on the street.
Positive: they might let you go without fines.

[10-4.livejournal.com]

American cops can also let you go off with a warning on occassion. It just depends on their mood. Same as in russia :)

[aborigen72.livejournal.com]

Печально ..смерть это всегда плохо ...когда узнаёшь о смерти молодых , хороших людей ,слёзы на глазах

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Very sad! And also grief for the young son, who now will grow up without his mother.

[fesma94.livejournal.com]

I respect US police,and I want whem in my country ,with same rights to shoot

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I have no problems with U.S. police officers. They've only helped me, never hurt.

[irisha8787.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear...

Btw, what are those things they put near her picture, the white and green, are those umbrellas of some sort?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

The white things are just paper candle holders. If you look closely, you can see the white candles placed in them. Yes, it's very sad. I don't know why anyone picks this profession honestly. You deal with the most vile humans, and often place your life at risk. However, I guess there is also a lot of opportunity to help others when you're a police officer. So maybe this is a motivating factor.

[kichiro-sora.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear.
Automatic weapons freely sold to population. What can go wrong?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Your profile says you live in the USA. Do you own guns?

[j1980.livejournal.com]

На днях ещё одного негра застрелили. С метлой в руках. Опять наверное весь магазин выпустили, чтоб уж наверняка одним темнокожим стало меньше.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Please provide a link to the new source, or story.

[leo-sosnine.livejournal.com]

I almost always support American police. I approve death penalty for the scumbag. Hate BLM and FTP ideology.

I wouldn't say that I'm liberal because for some weird twist liberal in America means socialist. I'm pretty liberal ACTUALLY on majority of issues but don't want to be identified as 'liberal'.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

What is "FTP"? Fuck the police?

[letberg.livejournal.com]

Is it correct to ask an American whether he (she) has a gun?
Sorry for the questions - this is quite exotic theme for me.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Sure, I don't think it's a problem to ask. Although it might lead to some heated political or social debate if the person favors stricter gun laws. Just be prepared. :) In general, Americans are pretty open people and discuss a lot of things which may seem too personal to Russians. I've learned this many times when people are shocked by some of the topics I write about in my blog.

[inescher.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry. RIP to this beautiful lady.
I have had good experience with American police. All officers were nice and very professional.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's very sad for her family. I don't know why anyone wants this job really. It's so dangerous.

[agathpher.livejournal.com]

I respect the US Police, they do a nice job keeping good neighborhoods good and secure, indeed, if you behave with them, they are usually respectful and friendly. I even once got away with a warning when I was stopped and the test has shown .08% alcohol in my blood.

But I detest their "shoot first, ask questions later" behavior in cases where there is even a slightest reason to suspect anything threatening - killing kids with wooden rifle replicas comes to mind.

It is also disgusting that they are told to shoot to kill - they don't just try to incapacitate the suspect, if they shoot - they empty their gun magazines, two or three cops at once.

[peterkaymd.livejournal.com]

I think in most of these cases I end up siding with the police once all the evidence comes to life. I remember there was a big story of a young black child who was killed on a playground by trigger happy police force. A story like this can certainly bring a bout of rage in the heart of the people reading the headline. However, turns out to be that the young child in question was a teenager of nearly adult height. The toy he was wielding was one of these airsoft pistols that with the yellow marker cut-off, like in this case, look indistinguishable from a Colt 1911 pistol. The police were reacting to the multiple calls who described an armed maniac who was pointing a gun at the passersby. Upon arrival the suspect did not obey the police and instead started pointing the gun at them. All things considered I don't think police would be doing their job if they didn't open fire on him. Sad case all around but again, I see nothing that could have been done differently as far as the police actions went.

[kremlin-curant.livejournal.com]

So complicated topic. I read recently about opinion of some Trumps voters there is invert racism in the US.
I remember what happened last year on Brighton Beach here in Brooklyn police officer shot down the Ukrainian immigrant.
The guy attacked the officer with the knife, but missed him and run down the street trying to escape. Obviously he wasn't dangerous while running. The crook was 57 and officer was 25 and it was probably the matter of couple minutes to subdue him. However the officer chose to shoot in the crowded street for running man. Fortunately nobody was killed except the crook.
Nobody questioned the officer decision. I think this would be big scandal and may be the riot if the killed person was the African-American but not the Ukrainian American as he was.

[seadevil001.livejournal.com]

Few years before one guy killed two police officers on Brighton Beach. One of the officers was originally from Ukraine (another Chinese). That may explain lack of demonstrations.

Человек рождён для счастья

[andrey-kaminsky.livejournal.com]

Obviously, this unfortunate woman had made a mistake and paid for that mistake very high price. Man is born into this world to be happy and the work in the police can not bring happiness to man for certain .

Re: Человек рождён для счастья

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Oh where oh where have you been, my wise philosopher? Nice to see you again. :)

[seadevil001.livejournal.com]

I wonder what tripped that Army sergeant over the edge. Still, there is no excuse for his behavior.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I'm constantly tipped over the edge with emotion, but don't murder people. Of course, nothing justifies his actions. It's like saying a woman deserves to be raped if she wears a short skirt or shows too much cleavage. We can't understand the minds of these violent criminals, even though I sometimes try. :)

[pinkjackal.livejournal.com]

Sad.
Never experienced with US police. But have very negative experience with Ukrainian and Russian police - definitely, they are bastards.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

What type of experience did you have with the Russian and Ukrainian police?

[kuskus-kuskus.livejournal.com]

something like this:
Hadar Cohen, 19, a combatant in training, was fatally wounded when three terrorists armed with guns, knives and explosive charges attacked a Border Patrol detail. She died soon after being taken to Hadassah Hospital at Mount Scopus.
read more: http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.701245

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Horrible! So sad. :(

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

"
Yet people fail to remember that America is the most heavily armed civilian population on the planet, so of course the response by American officers is different and more reactive.
"
Exactly!
And this is the root cause of this nightmare.
Civilians should NOT be armed so the police will look less dangerous and will not be so jumpy.

My solution (radical) is in two steps:

1. Send all blacks back to Arfican jungle where they belong.
2. Disarm whites.

[south-of-broad.livejournal.com]

LOL!

[immaniac.livejournal.com]

Жалко девченку. В Вашингтоне есть смерная казнь?

[glavsnab.livejournal.com]

Замучили в русский ЖЖ пихать посты на вашем языке и с вашими новостями.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

If you do not like it, leave and never visit my blog again. You will not be missed.

[aavenger.livejournal.com]

Sad story - and even more sad is to live in the world of violence. I have seen many videos on youtube about American police - both good and bad ones - therefore, all o'em just prove the simple fact police reflects the society in general: good guys and assholes. However, from things seen and the very case I would state American police lacks training and working methods - significantly. Like sending a newbie to a high risk missions, or general behaviour during various situations: mostly officers are too loud and demanding, quite often kicking even innocent people into panic and programming incorrect reactions.

What about my local police... well, most of them are definately any but not professionals. During the days I had a chance to meet two of them guarding money deliveries... caught them "in the line" five times within a couple of minutes...

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Do you really think YouTube is reflective of ordinary life? People put mostly sensational videos on there to attract attention and discussion. Domestic violence calls are sadly routine. My friend who works on the police force deals with them consistently. What do you mean caught them "in the line?" Here again we have an example of our pending discussion about the human condition - what triggered this man to shoot his wife and the cops? Or, was he simply born evil? Hmm...:))

[mybathroom.livejournal.com]

My impression of the American police is very good, maybe it's because of the movies but any way.
Like average Russian citizen I tremble of the Russian police. All Russian people know that it's better be far away from them.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Hi Denis! :) I have not had any encounters with Russian police officers, or the traffic place. I guess I'm a good girl. :)