Police Attempted Murder...All Over A Chick

[ProSouth]

Perfect Example of the Misuse of Deadly Force by Newark Police

http://nj.com/news/ledger/essex/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1107929674199410.xml

Anthony Fusco, Lamarr's attorney, said Godley was menacing the officer, who feared the larger man was armed and about to threaten his life."

"There are times when officers don't have to wait and see the barrel of a gun being pointed at them," Fusco said. "Because if they do, they will be dead."

No doubt, Anthony Fusco is a good attorney but he is definately reaching for straws. Now police can shoot unarmed individuals for fear of size and for what they think you are about to do? Can someone tell me how a simple argument with a 350 lb. woman in the cookie isle of any supermarket not be the exact same thing?

[5Reasons]

Over the last 5 or so years, how many civilians have been shot by NPD? (justifiable or otherwise)

And, is the NPD "shoot 'em" rate higher or lower than other similar departments?

I would be interested to know if anyone was keeping that statistic.

[jazzyken]

The answer will be - no one is keeping that statistic right now but in the future we would look in to that, if the budget allows :(

[ProSouth]

I believe the Attorney General's Office may collects these stats but I'm not sure. I'll look into it.

[NHASoldier]

The AG keeps those stats. In addition, NPD keeps a log of each and every police shooting.

[ProSouth]

Paul Bradley is one of the stars at the Prosecutor's Office. He handles/prosecutes the county's cases against law enforcement. A very good prosecutor. I hope the jury sees through this corrupt, punk ass cop's BS.

http://nj.com/news/ledger/essex/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1108535677261040.xml

[ProSouth]

An unarmed man..... Eyewitnesses to the shooting.... This is Bullsh**
A cops life must not be worth more than the people he is suppose to serve.
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/firstglance/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1108693810190510.xml

[Doofus1]

Pro, I don't understand what your complaint is. This case got to the jury. It was tried by the best prosecutor. It seems to me that it is more of a tale of what happens when your best prosecution witness is a criminal. The fact that the jury was or was not duped by the defense can be argued in most trials. Sometimes I think Essex County juries don't want to convict anyone.

[jazzyken]

See Doofus I would have to disagree with that. It does not matter if he was a convicted criminal - he was not committing a crime when he was shot. That verdict is straight bull****.
Also, to take it a little further, it is okay for a cop to shoot an unarmed man that was a criminal when he is not committing any crime. he was not afraid for his life or when he got in the car he would have LEFT. He got out of his car to shoot this man. Typical Newark!!!!

[ProSouth]

I look at these cases from a perspective of what does it say to the next individual in this same situation and what message does it send. To me this verdict tells even the law abiding individual to fear any interaction with the police especially disagreements. What I thought I saw cannot be questioned, debated or cross-examined and the police case after case use this to get over. If I thought I saw you reach for a "bulge" under your shirt who are you to dispute what I thought. Unfortunately cop's fears and what thy think are always more important than what non-cops fear of cops and what we think of them. Verdicts like this, in my opinion, give law abiding citizens a reasonable fear of police interaction. It almost tells law abiding people that if you get into an argument with a scared punk ass cop, you better get him before he gets you.

[black4rob2]

Give me a break.....

You have witnesses.
You have a man with a bullet hole in his stomach
and you have no gun.

The jurors in this case should be ashamed of their decision.
I'm sure the outcome or their opinion rather would have been different if it was someone they know or in their family...

For the prosecution to even imply that the other two ladies may have taken his gun is a prime example of how they were reaching....
Also to show you how low the cop is, to try and implicate his ex-girlfriend...

How can we expect progress and change in this city and we don't help ourselves...The jurors in this case just gave permission to the rest of the police force to shoot anyone whenver they feel like it, because now they know they can get away with it....

Prosouth...you have been saying this for a long time...and I am just sadden with the fact that I know now that you were right.

[5Reasons]

The Verdict means open season on citizens. And to think, you don't even need a hunting permit. :(

[black4rob2]

I now understand why thugs on the streets shoot at cops. They are planning on shooting you regrdless.....

Its ashame when our "protectors" can get away with something of this magnitude......

[Miss Tam-Tam]

Unfortunately cop's fears and what thy think are always more important than what non-cops fear of cops and what we think of them. Verdicts like this, in my opinion, give law abiding citizens a reasonable fear of police interaction. It almost tells law abiding people that if you get into an argument with a scared punk ass cop, you better get him before he gets you.

As outrageous as your premise might seem, it reflects the reality. When I was growing up it was the law of the land that one never challenged a police officer because the odds were stacked against you no matter what the situation. And that if you chose to challenge a cop, he would make your life a living hell with the system backing him up. In this recent case, we also have the added dynamic of an inadequate Prosecutor's office. Sheesh, if they can't even get convictions against high profile thugs, what were we to expect in this case?

[jazzyken]

Good point Tam, but I think the citizens were just looking for the world wo acknowledge the fact that some cops not all overstep their boundaries and have the ordasity to shoot (and attempt to murder) innocent people without real grounds to do so. if this officer felt his life was in danger, why did he not pull off? why did he not call for backup BEFORE he drew his weapon? he knew he would get off, that is what he shot. He knew he would get off?