Deadly Force or Farce?

I don't know of anyone that doesn't get upset when a police officer guns down someone. It's more sensitive now with the Black Lives Matter movement. (It's a sad state of affairs that it took that many voices going that loud to get media attention on the issue.)

I am going to get all the information that I can about the shooting that happened in Cheektowaga before I post anything on it.

I do know that the suspect was armed. I thought I heard that the weapon in question had no bullets. I want to confirm that before I go flying off the handle.

I know nothing about the mental state of the individual.

I do know that the officer that was directly involved in the shooting had a partner with them.

I do know that he was at one time on a SWAT team.

I want to know – why wasn't non-lethal force (taser?) tried first?

If there were two police officers present, then there could have been an opportunity for non-lethal force.

I do find it interesting that in section B (Local News), page one is a story titled “Data shows gunfire in city every other day” as if to normalize the use of weapons. (Granted the story is about Buffalo and not Cheektowaga. Still, I find it strange.)

Police use of deadly force should always be investigated. This incident is and the officer is on paid administrative leave.

I will dig deeper and give an analysis when I am confident that I have a good handle on the “facts.”

Or whatever is released through the press.

I don't know of anyone that doesn't get upset when a police officer guns down someone. It's more sensitive now with the Black Lives Matter movement. (It's a sad state of affairs that it took that many voices going that loud to get media attention on the issue.)

I am going to get all the information that I can about the shooting that happened in Cheektowaga before I post anything on it.

I do know that the suspect was armed. I thought I heard that the weapon in question had no bullets. I want to confirm that before I go flying off the handle.

I know nothing about the mental state of the individual.

I do know that the officer that was directly involved in the shooting had a partner with them.

I do know that he was at one time on a SWAT team,

I want to know – why wasn't non-lethal force (taser?) tried first?

If there were two police officers present, then there could have been an opportunity for non-lethal force.

I do find it interesting that in section B (Local News), page one is a story titled “Data shows gunfire in city every other day” as if to normalize the use of weapons. (Granted the story is about Buffalo and not Cheektowaga. Still, I find it strange.)

Police use of deadly force should always be investigated. This incident is and the officer is on paid administrative leave.

I will dig deeper and give an analysis when I am confident that I have a good handle on the “facts.”

Or whatever is released through the press.

Update: March 8, 2016

Here's what I know now about this situation.

1. The man that was shot dead struggled with depression and alcoholism. He was potentially drunk when he was shot. (I've seen drunk people shoot, Some can't hit the broadside of a bullet with a barn.)

2. Police are trying to portray the situation as “suicide by cop” given the victim's mental health status. Question: What if he was black and not white? Then what would the explanation be?

3. There is some video of the victim's last moments. Much occurred outside of the range of the camera (can't those things be turned?) and audio is available. We have no access to the audio, and won't until the official investigation is over. A long time from now.

4. Common sense – If I don't like or feel comfortable with how a situation looks or feels, I get out and as fast as possible. Why wasn't this an option?

5. Why is lethal force always the first option and why wasn't a taser used?

6. Was the victim's mental health made known to the officers? They say that they tracked him via his cell phone (anyone feel safe having one of those on them right now?). Why was engagement pursued and not psychological help? Identify the individual, from a distance if possible, but do nor engage.

So many more questions and answers we will not know.

I'm going to have to dig more.

I am skeptical of the “suicide by cop” theory.

I think because the victim was white that the story will be played out differently than if the victim was black or Hispanic.

So many more questions.

Fewer answers.