Courtesy of Inquisitr:
Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn made a national name for himself on Wednesday after an impassioned video went viral on YouTube.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel posted a three-minute clip of Flynn responding to police protesters, who turned out to a Fire and Police Commission meeting to slam the department over the shooting of a mentally ill man.
Dontre Hamilton suffered from schizophrenia but was non-violent, according to family members. When Officer Christopher Manney approached Hamilton, he reportedly violated protocols that escalated the confrontation, and he ended up shooting Hamilton 14 times, killing him.
Flynn responded by firing Manney, taking flak from the police union in the process. When police protesters showed up to verbally attack him and other members of the police at the meeting, Flynn was having none of it. He shouted back at many of them and took a phone call, much to the chagrin of the protesters.
This led the press to ask Edward Flynn about his actions following the meeting. His response is not only angry, thought-provoking, and impassioned, but it also symbolizes what many law enforcement personnel feel about doing their jobs in the 21st Century.
I think that sometimes people forget just how stressful of a job police officers have.
They deal with people at their very worst, and often they are confronted with numbing amounts of domestic abuse, death, and human despair.
This of course is no excuse for the cop who guns down an unarmed person, or uses excess force to make an arrest. But it does help us to understand just how frustrated police officers must get with constant attacks on their profession, and disrespect from their communities.
I thought Police Chief Edward Flynn's remarks were quite appropriate, and I think they help to remind us that these are just human beings trying to hang onto their humanity, in the face of incredibly heartrending experiences.
Why are people angry at the police chief who fired an officer who killed a mentally ill person? The chief did exactly the right thing. If only more police chiefs knew how to do the right thing at the right time, or, if only more cops on the beat knew what to do in moments of high stress...
ReplyDeleteI wish I could buy that man a beer.
ReplyDeletethank god Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn didn't get indignant and blame the NRA, high capacity assault weapons or obstructionist republicans. the real reason for the five year old girl's death, obviously are those lousy first amendment protesters.
ReplyDeleteNice try bullshit.
DeleteFlynn got it just right.
No its not BS, That is PART of the problem.
DeleteIt is total BS, this isn't a problem caused by the NRA or responsible gun owners- it isn't even caused by irresponsible gun owners, this is a problem of hardcore violent criminals that hold no value for others lives much less their own.
Delete@ 9:35
DeleteAlmost your entire statement is off the scale. There is no ONE answer to this problem. EVERYONE is to blame for this situation. The NRA for not trying to push for stricter laws that are fair and able to at least try to decrease the numbers of whacks out there with guns. (Fifty years ago when I joined them they would have.) The whack job gun pushers who do not believe that ANY restrictions should be applied, despite the clear ruling of the SCOTUS are a part of the problem. It is a problem caused by irresponsible gun owners because their weapons can be EASILY stolen in most cases. And it is a problem for responsible gun owners for not pushing harder to get decent controls in place. And it is the responsibility of the general population because we didn't DEMAND our elected officials actually pass the laws that might help.
It is a problem that definitely needs to be handled, yes. I fear, however, that at this point, unless we (those of us who recognize the need) become more vocal and powerful than the money pushers, nothing will get done. We need to stand up and get rid of those who are 2nd Amendment nuts in the Congress, both Federal and State.
We all know this, but haven't been able to get it done.
And just so you are aware, while I agree with you that the criminal element is a problem, blaming ONLY them and vehemently (your entire post screamed!) denying there is any other part to the puzzle is only going to make it harder to actually solve the problems.
For those of you reading this, I want you to know I canceled my Life Membership in the NRA a long time ago when they almost RAN away from their original sanity about firearms. I also want all to realize that my statements are generalities only and do not apply to the many thousands who fight this problem every day.
It IS a shared responsibility!
Thank you, Leland, my late father felt much the same.
DeleteAnd yet Leland, citizens of Ferguson and surrounding communities found out very suddenly how much they appreciate the 2nd amendment, and how important it is to have the ability to be able to purchase firearm protection on a moments notice, because the world can change just that fast.
DeleteI have sympathy, but I also don't. They knew what the job was when they took it. I can't imagine they get paid enough for what they do, but they're also reaping the rewards for creating an insular fraternity and a system that protects them from scrutiny and penalties for their wrongdoings.
ReplyDeleteDo you know how many civilians have died at the hands of police? No. NO ONE DOES. Despite the fact that they can tell you any OTHER statistic in minute detail, somehow nobody seems to be tracking THAT one.
Fox wants us to believe that an entire community like Ferguson rising up in anger, is just a bunch of entitled black folks being uppity. But I see them as acting exactly the way you'd expect abused people to react.
The constant stream of stories about Police gunning people down, about them acquiring military hardware, about SWAT raids on the wrong house, babies getting their faces blown off by flash-bangs and no one accepting responsibility for any of it is disturbing. How many times have we heard about an egregious abuse of authority where the punchline is: "no charges were filed" or "paid administrative leave while we investigate" or "transferred to another division" or "grand jury decided not to indict"? Is it really any wonder why there would by cynicism?
How can there NOT be disrespect and disdain when we live in a society where police are apparently empowered to shut down any attempt to film their behavior?
How can anyone not feel some animosity when they find out that despite the US representing only 5% of the Earth's population, we house 25% of the world's prison inmates? -And 80% of those inmates are minorities?
Police have a rough job, but they don't exactly seem to be making an effort to make it any easier. If they had respect for us, they'd EXPECT to be scrutinized and called out, and they'd welcome it as an opportunity to reinforce the public trust.
But we don't ever really see much of that, do we. But we are seeing more body armor and armored personnel carriers though.
The bad cops are an extremely small percentage of the police force. My father in law is a retired NYPD policeman, a liberal, and all around nice compassionate guy. Ditto my retired LAPD brother in law. Not all police are A holes
Delete"If they had respect for us, they'd EXPECT to be scrutinized and called out, and they'd welcome it as an opportunity to reinforce the public trust."
DeleteThat is exactly what Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn did. He even "welcomed" it as an opportunity to IMPROVE the police force.
Now my question to you is a simple one: Where is the outrage over the real threat to the Milwaukee African American community?
I PARTLY agree with you, but I must point out something you seem to have overlooked. The Chief here has probable been a police officer for a very long time and with that being the case, he became one when they DIDN'T have to anticipate the types of things that are happening to them. His reaction shown above almost yells that.
DeletePersonally, there isn't enough pay in the world for me to become a cop - even if I was young enough. A teacher, either, but that's another story.
@ Boscoe - the reason it isn't officially tracked is (like that Killed by police facebook page) It isn't instantaneously possible to know if it was a justified homicide or not. Until all appeals are exhausted (3 years, five years, ten years?) a file would have to be kept open and followed up. And when a victim or their family settles out of court without a trial, what then?
DeleteGo scream at the RepubliTHUGs to fund such a research effort.
thank you for sharing this video.
ReplyDelete@Boscoe -- You obviously don't know the officers I know. They are hard-working, and their work is damned hard and high-risk.
ReplyDeleteMore body armor? That's the very least they need.
Disclaimer: I am not a police officer or fireman, but I support their efforts.
Bravo to Chief Flynn. It sounds like he takes his job very seriously and is intent on trying to protect his community. It is a thankless job. He seriously seems to be a person trying to do his best (and not let innocent people be killed) while being blamed by everyone for everything. And he's right: there are too many guns and too many people happy to use them. When the shooter is a policeman, he does what has to be done and fires him.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
What I DIDN'T hear from Chief Flynn was a pledge to the Milwaukee African American communities to work with their leaders AND citizens closely to identify the criminals, the shooters, the evil among them, and to "clean the streets" together. He's reacting to two separate incidents, but not being pro-active.
ReplyDeleteIt's time the police departments of places like Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Ferguson, and countless other cities, try being one with their communities, and work WITH them.
One way would be to encourage more blacks, more Indian, Sikhs, more Vietnamese-heritage, more Japanese-heritage, etc. young folks to join the police force of their cities in order to serve their own neighborhoods and communities.
There always will be a tendency for people to settle in neighborhoods and communities with others like them, but the folks who "protect and serve" should be an integrated group, in order to "protect and serve" adequately.
I don't think Chief Flynn's department has gotten there yet.
Interesting point KaJo. Just one question: How do you know he isn't there yet or isn't trying to get there?
DeleteI realize the city has a crime problem. Well, so does he. He even reiterated that in his statement! Do you live there? If so, are you part of the solution or a bystander who just screams there's a problem? If you don't live there, how do you know he ISN'T working hard to solve the problems you raise?
I agree Kajo. In most cities minorities are targeted by police so rather than an atmosphere of cooperation the community takes actions to protect themselves. That results in people not asking them for help and the predators continuing to harm people. That has to stop in order for minorities to work with the police.
Delete@ Kajo - hahahahahaha - do you have a clue what happens in a community of color or ethnic community when gang violence happens? They shut up tighter than a clam that's had its shell super-glued. Imagine how frustrating that is for the police - they know there were 20 witnesses, but not one will come forward to finger the suspect.
DeleteKajo nice try to deflect from the real issues in the African American communities, and playing apologist for the culture of defiance and criminality that plagues these areas. And don't even lump in other minority groups which by and large don't have nearly the level of violent criminal activity and distrust of police departments that many African American communities have. You couldn't even walk 10 feet in Chief Flynn's shoes much less a mile.
ReplyDeleteWhatever, if they don't like their jobs and find them too stressful how about getting another job that isn't so stressful? Hmm, ever think about that? No, because most of our law enforcement now are PTSD ridden men and women who were put in harms way and broken mentally because they joined the military and where else is there for them to go in "civilian life" but enter law enforcement, where their military training leads them to over react to basic situations. Thanks America for creating a generation of disenfranchised men and women who are now in control of law enforcement. We'll soon find out how important our Second Amendment rights are and thankfully these types of people are die hard proponents of the 2nd because we're all going to need it to protect ourselves against THEM! This is coming from a liberal that isn't too proud to be armed to the teeth, not against civilians but against this new breed of law enforcement. Here we I live we have a rule that the LAST thing you would ever want to do in times of crisis is call any sort of law enforcement, they are the problem, NOT the solution.
ReplyDelete@ 1:10 - lease do us all a favor, second amendment yourself. And careful, not to get the innocent bystanders in the family.
DeleteYOU are the problem. The gun is giving you a false sense of security, because one peashooter isn't going to do squat against a SWAT team. And once you pull it on a cop, you will be another justifiable homicide statistic. Your paranoia has so overtaken your common sense, you can't even do basic logic.
Sort of like teachers - attacks and disrespect of their profession.
ReplyDelete@9:35 - where do you think the "hardcore violent criminals get their guns - YOU are an idiot and part of the problem.
ReplyDeleteGuns can come from many sources- the ones in the urban areas by gang banger types with police records usually get them illegally obviously... what is your stupid point? Just being a stupid moron for no reason I take it? Is the rest of America- the law abiding portion, the portion that works and contributes to society, supposed to give up or lose all their rights and be lowered to the level of the gang bangers? No thank you.
DeleteOur Police Department was, at one time, the biggest part of the problem when it came to shooting first and asking nothing later. We had had mayors before who reflected the racial majority when it was all white, then we got a few african american mayors who got caught up in the power of their position, corruption, etc. Now the police, for the most part, reflects those they protect and serve more closely than in the past, and things have gotten better. All cops now start as "beat cops" walking the streets and getting to know the neighborhoods, then they move up the ladder. What's helped immensely are the car cams and civilians armed with cell phones w/cameras.
ReplyDeleteBut we're still NOT "There" yet.
My BIL works for internal affairs, and some of the things he says off record scare the shit out of me. One cop chased an armed man into a dumpster, fished him out onto the pavement and chased the man down while calling for backup. Could have easily ended up with one or two deaths, two lethal weapons with bullets ricocheting on dumpster walls.
There are cameras on every block in center city, the problem is, half of them aren't working at any given time. Not saying this because he's my BIL, but he's a damn good cop who thinks rules matter and always conducts himself that way,