I went to bed last night knowing that I would need to comment on this today. Over the weekend there were a number of post basically putting the blame for the murder of Rayshard Brooks on Rayshard. I found it disturbing. I found it even more disturbing that some of these comments came from black people.
Most police departments have some variation of Protect and Serve on their squad cars. Summary execution is not part of protect and serve. There are very specific procedures that all departments have regarding what officers are expected to do when they come into contact with a citizen during an investigation. The first of these is to identify the subject. I have no doubt that these two officers had run a LEIN check for wants and warrants on Mr. Brooks within minutes of their contact. Mr. Brooks was also patted down if proper procedure was followed. A pat down would have revealed that he was not armed and not in possession of any deadly weapons. At this point he would have probably have been cuffed and placed in the back of the officers cruiser. Situation completely under control and deescalated. Nobody leaves the scene in a body bag.
If those officers had felt they needed assistance with Rayshard Brooks they could have radioed for backup before proceeding to arrest him.
Every police department in this country has a written use of force policy. That policy clearly outlines the circumstances that allow for deadly force to be used. Snatching a taser from an officer and attempting to flee on foot is not a situation where you use deadly force. Every officer that graduates from a police academy receives self defense training. That training does not guarantee that you are going to always prevail in a fight. Losing doesn’t give you the right to shoot a fleeing assailant.
I implore you to stop making excuses for rogue cops. The officer who shot Rayshard Brooks is the problem, not Mr. Brooks. Everytime someone says that Rayshard Brooks is responsible for his own death you make a mockery of to “Protect and Serve”. Just Stop.
THINK!!
EYES WIDE OPEN!!!