The signs are that Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson isn’t going to be indicted in the slaying of Michael Brown.
Gov. Jay Nixon and top law enforcement officers are mounting an all-hands-on-deck preparedness plan for when the St. Louis County grand jury returns its verdict, which could be in a matter of days.
It’s a damn shame that Ferguson and the St. Louis area will almost certainly be subjected to more rancor and possible violence. None of it had to happen, and wouldn’t have, if Officer Wilson had only approached Michael Brown and his friend Dorian Johnson in a professional manner on Aug. 9.
“Young men, for your own safety, please get out of the street.”
That’s what Wilson should have said, or something like it. But, no, he was part of Ferguson’s Caucasian Cowboy Patrol and undoubtedly used to barking commands and trying to intimidate young black men.
So, his admonition to Brown and Johnson was, “Get the fuck on the sidewalk!”
Nice start to a citizen-police encounter.
And it ended, as we know, with the cops leaving the young man’s body in a pool of blood for hours while they “investigated” the crime scene.
**
In Wilson’s defense, of course, a lot more information about the nature of the encounter has emerged. For example, Brown apparently reached inside the door of the patrol car and grabbed Wilson’s gun. We know from the video of the convenience store robbery minutes earlier that Brown was full of himself — and maybe under the influence — when he roughed up the convenience store owner and marched away triumphantly with a box of cigarillos that he had appropriated.
We can safely assume that Brown was cocky and feeling invincible when Wilson cut loose verbally on him and Johnson.
What ensued was a clash between a high-handed, arrogant young police officer and an agitated member of a racial group that had long been relegated to second-class status in a white-governed city.
Thankfully, because of what unfolded that August day and all that has occurred since, things are changing in Ferguson and maybe other suburban cities like it.
In my first post on this subject, I predicted that Wilson would be charged with voluntary manslaughter and that he would be convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Obviously, that’s not going to happen. I do hope, however, that as more of these “cop-shooting-unarmed-people cases” come under closer public scrutiny, political leaders and law enforcement agencies will start asking why law enforcement’s first reaction should be to shoot to kill at the first sign of possible bodily harm.
**
Years ago, when I was living on East 56th Street, the cops one day entered a house on the corner of 56th and Main and shot to death a very troubled young man who was standing in the family living room holding a knife. The cops told him to drop the knife; he didn’t; and they shot.
The young man’s mother, who had called police, was outside. The cops came out and, I guess, told her they had shot her son. Instead of getting help, she got a funeral for her son.
I have never gotten over that incident. It was crystal clear to me and the other neighbors that the cops easily could have defused the situation by backing out of the living room. The boy was not between them and the door, and the cops could have called for back-up and simply waited a few minutes. About the worst that could have happened was the kid would have knifed himself. If he’d come running out of the house, toward them, brandishing the knife, then they could have fired away.
But the mindset that day, as well as on Aug. 9 in Ferguson, was confrontation…
“He could hurt me!”
That’s where the thinking has to change…
Yes, he could hurt me, but if I present him with an alternative where no one has to die, maybe he will take it.
Let’s get to talking along those lines.
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
“…he roughed up the convenience store owner and marched away triumphantly with a box of cigarillos that he had appropriated.”
Why is the store owner less important than the crook? Had this been a white man, your statement would read “Brown committed a strong-arm robbery, assaulted a shopkeeper and made his escape down the middle of the street.”
You would have us ignore the fact that, minutes before, Brown was guilty of a crime.
You misunderstand…I think it’s abundantly clear that I wrote about Brown’s “triumph” in in a pejorative sense. His conquest of the store owner set the stage for his confrontation with Officer Wilson. He was full of himself when the officer challenged him, and sparks immediately flew. If Wilson had acted professionally and if Brown hadn’t been so defensive, it would have been a routine encounter and the nation’s focus would not have turned to Ferguson, MO.
Jim,
Mel’s misunderstanding may have come from the beginning of your next paragraph…an obvious typo.
“We can safely assume that Wilson was cocky and feeling invincible when Wilson cut loose verbally on him and Johnson.”
I want to propose a monumental social experiment.
If the Grand Jury “disappoints” the looters, community organizers, and other law breakers in Ferguson and around the country; the entire administration and police force, firefighters, and all public employees should immediately resign their positions and vacate their offices.
Let the residents under the direction of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson elect and appoint new leaders to run and serve the city in every respect down to dogcatcher and street sweepers. Bring in the national and local media to observe and report the results.
In less than one year, the entire area would be a vast Beirut-like wasteland of leveled buildings, abandoned businesses, liquor stores and braid/incense parlors. Evening entertainment would consist of random gunfire and sirens. Morning rumors would tout the new warlord in power for that week.
If you are having trouble picturing this, I suggest you take a drive out to the former Bannister Mall vicinity.
Jason — Good catch. Yes, that certainly could have left Mr. Stoeger and others with the wrong impression…I fixed it.
In answer to your question in the headline…
http://www.odmp.org/search/year/2014
As the number of officers who died in the line of duty this year stands at 99, we can easily approximate the percentages. The side bar breaks down cause of death, if you don’t feel like reading each case. With 40 killed by gunfire, 10 from vehicular assault, and two from assaults, it is easy to see that over 50% of police officers were killed in a physical confrontation of some sort. And do you not think that a police officer is far more aware of the statistics than a civilian?
That being said, Mr. Brown sealed his fate when he tried to relive Officer Wilson of his firearm.
Another thing to consider is the location. Do you really think that even a “Caucasian Cowboy Cop” is really wanting to put himself in this position with no back-up? In that neighborhood? There could have been quite a few armed individuals in the immediate area, and Wilson had already used up at least half of his magazine.
And why were no shots fired at Mr. Johnson? Officer Wilson had two targets/firsthand witnesses, if this was a hate crime. One might argue that Mr. Johnson posed no threat to Officer Wilson. Only Brown, (who mercilessly pounded on Wilson’s head and tried to take his weapon) was targeted. I opine that Mr. Johnson was not targeted because he was running and was not a threat.
When I first read this post I was thinking “Jim must have had a few cocktails and busted out the Buffalo Springfield albums”…
“Young men, for your own safety, please get out of the street.”
Try this tactic at 39th and Troost, and let me know how that worked out for you.
“Yes, he could hurt me, but if I present him with an alternative where no one has to die, maybe he will take it.”
If police officers had this mentality, both the number of policemen killed in the line of duty and the percentage of officers killed in a physical confrontation would go up exponentially. I don’t need a study to back that one up, it’s common sense.
I think you envision a world where cops have holsters full of wildflowers and “thank you” notes. Nice vision, but I just don’t see it happening. At least not in my lifetime.
This whole thing was trumped up by the media from the very beginning, because all the initial reports that came in said that…this was a upstanding teenager, with no history of trouble, unarmed, and gunned down by a white cop. Every media outlet took it hook line and sinker and ran with it despite the fact that no official word had ever been given about the case. Furthermore, the whole backlash revolves around the testimony of Mr. Johnson. I wonder what he has done in his life to gain the trust of the multitude of protesters. I, myself find him not credible as a witness. After all, he had just been with Mr. Brown in a strong arm robbery and didn’t really find that worthy of mention in his story.
‘In my first post on this subject, I predicted that Wilson would be charged with voluntary manslaughter and that he would be convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison.”
…and I countered with my own prediction. You bet me lunch that you were right. As I recall, FWALLACE says you like Subway, but I was thinking Manny’s.
How do you feel about Mexican food?
Your friend,
Jason
P.S. I was talking about “this” Lobsterfest, where you got away with wearing the plaid pants to a social event!
https://jimmycsays.com/2013/08/26/lobsterfest-2013/
Thanks for reminding me of my foolish bet, Jason…I always enjoy your company; no matter that I’m paying. Let’s make it Ponak’s!
Never been to Ponak’s, but I’m up for something new…so win or lose, it’s a deal!
I have noticed one thing about law enforcement. If you go places where they have little to no backup, they seem to find ways of getting along with the people they’re called to deal with, but when they go in in teams, they are far more agressive and authoritarian, with a violent outcome far more likely.
That said, that was not relevant in this situation, and the assumption that if the cop had just been a little more gracious this thug would have been more cooperative. Hogwash. How about the knock out game? People were never given the chance to communicate, they were simply blindsided by these cowards until the word got out and a few got shot trying to play the game.
Brown was a thug. We also know from her arrest the other day that his pig of a mother is a thug. Neither have any sense of social graces other than their own narcissistic desires. He brought his fists to a gunfight and lost. Tough shit. Pants up, don’t loot.
Pretty strong words, there, “pig” and “thug” for Lesley McSpadden. Yes, there was some kind of fight between family members over sale of commemorative merchandise, but McSpadden was not arrested and so far no one has been charged.
http://fox2now.com/2014/10/22/police-investigating-assault-and-theft-following-argument-between-brown-family-relatives/
“McSpadden was not arrested and so far no one has been charged.” Suggesting that the prosecutor no longer has the courage to do their job and the thugs now control the community.
During the riots of the 60’s mayor daily in Chicago issued an order to use lethal force on rioters. Local activists pledged to give up their lives to oppose such an oppressive regime, but no riots were forthcoming and peace was maintained. Pants up, don’t loot.
notes from the front..arm chair quarterbacking does nothing but cloud the issues again I will say “none of us was there to see what happened or how it all went down” at least no one who has come forward. Brown’s “buddy” has all but disappeared from view and has not been seen or heard from in weeks. calling people names just to make a point is the worst form of argument if you can’t make your point without name calling keep your mouth shut..it doesn’t help. when the verdict does come out “all hands on deck”..the city and county have stated that there will places to peacefully protest and that all those who wish to vent can do so in a peaceful manner but should it become violent in any way it will be dealt with quickly. mr. altevogt..it’s guys like you who make my job all the harder..you yell and scream from the sidelines but do nothing to help the situation..you are no better than the rioters who yell and scream and then run away..thanks for nothing…on a lighter note I hear the food at the stadiums in kc are not healthy and that the guy who runs the stands has told espn that it isn’t safe to eat there..yummy…
Mr. Buttice:
I got my information about Brown’s mother mugging other people in the community from published reports obtained from the police. Aren’t you folks telling the truth?
i also got much of my information about the shooting from what the police and prosecutors are leaking to the media. Again, aren’t your people telling the truth?
And, quite frankly if my post in this blog made your job harder for you to perform, you’re probably not terribly good at it anyway and you might consider retiring to something you can handle without trying to silence others from sharing their opinions and concerns. Perhaps a job at the stadium monitoring the food courts.