Courtesy of New York Magazine:
Over a week ago, an unarmed black man named Eric Courtney Harris was killed by 73-year-old Tulsa, Oklahoma, "reserve deputy" police officer Bob Bates. This happened shortly after Harris sold ammunition and a gun to some undercover cops, who moved to arrest him. Harris fled and — according to the explanation given by officials — Bates accidentally shot the 44-year-old while trying to Tase him: "During the rapidly evolving altercation, the reserve deputy had what he believed was his Taser from his tactical carrier ... Initial reports have determined that the reserve deputy was attempting to use less lethal force, believing he was utilizing a Taser, when he inadvertently discharged his service weapon, firing one round which struck Harris," said a report. Body-camera footage of the shooting, which was released on Friday, adds yet another horrifying dimension to the incident.
In the (extremely upsetting) video, Harris can be seen running down a sidewalk. Officers order him to get down, someone yells "Taser!" and a gunshot is heard. Bates yells, "I shot him! I'm sorry." Meanwhile, Harris is crying, "He shot me! He shot me, man. Oh my God. I'm losing my breath."
"Fuck your breath!" a cop responds. "Shut the fuck up!" "You shouldn’t have fucking ran!" his colleague adds as they hold Harris down. Harris died about an hour later at a nearby hospital.
Now you may be asking yourself just how in the hell does a trained deputy mistake a handgun for a Taser? Well this might help to explain that:
The reserve Tulsa County Sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot and killed a man last week when he thought he had pulled his Taser, is part of a group of wealthy donors who make large contributions to the department for the privilege of playing police officer.
According to Tulsa World, Robert Bates, 73, who made the fatal mistake that cost a man his life, is a local insurance company executive who has donated multiple vehicles, weapons, and stun guns to the Sheriff’s Office since becoming a reserve deputy in 2008.
A seventy three year old man, who bought his way into the Sheriff's Department so he could play cop. Gee why would anybody think something might go wrong?
Of course that in no way explains, or justifies, the deputy with his knee on this dying man's neck telling him "Fuck your breath!"
For his part Bob Bates is facing charges of second degree manslaughter.
As for the other officers on the scene who responded so callously to the pleading of a dying man, there are apparently no charges forthcoming.
He's turned himself in.
ReplyDeleteLove the title...stun-gun mixup. How about shot to death with a Smith and Wesson?
This wannabe officer likely attended the NRA workshops inciting fear and violence recently. Donate money and you can be a pretend cop with little training and no background screening of mental stability or suitability for the job.
ReplyDeleteOkay, so the shooter was an untrained, older volunteer. What explains the behavior of the younger, supposedly we'll trained officers?
ReplyDelete"What explains the behavior of the younger, supposedly we'll trained officers? "
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Tulsa gave a gun and a badge to a sociopath.
First thing I asked myself when I heard that the shooter was essentially a volunteer, is "why would a police or sheriff's office allow that kind of non-employed person to hold weapons and be with officers on calls that could result in such tragedies? Why would they let that man be in that position?"
ReplyDeleteThe only answer I could come up with was $$$$.
I do feel sorry for the old guy. He actually said he was sorry. How many other shooter/killers have said that?
He should never have been allowed to be in a position to do that. So while he made the mistake (I am going with the theory that it was an actual mistake), the department is IMO culpable for letting him, a non-employee, be in a position to inflict deadly harm upon someone.
MarvinM
Wonder what their liability insurance says about this one?
Delete"I'm Sorry" doesn't do a thing for the dead man who never had his right of a jury of his peers, because some woo woo rich old man wanted to play real cop. Who the hell is he apologizing to and why in the world is he part of a "sting"? He didn't let one loose on the subway, he shot a man who died from his injuries.
DeleteThe part that is being left out, is that you can donate all the money you want, but to be a fully authorized Auxiliary Officer you have to attend the same certified Peace Officer training as a regular police officer. I know several PO graduates who worked as auxiliary officers until actual paying jobs came open and they could be hired.
ReplyDeleteSo he was a trained 72 year old donor...albeit a not very sharp one.
He was trained to use a gun instead of a taser? It would be laughable if a man wasn't killed.
Delete"Earlier Monday, Sheriff Stanley Glanz described Reserve Deputy Robert Charles "Bob" Bates as a longtime friend who made "an error" last week when he fatally shot an unarmed man trying to flee deputies during an undercover operation to retrieve stolen guns."
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tulsaworld.com/news/crimewatch/sheriff-stanley-glanz-calls-fatal-shooting-by-reserve-deputy-an/article_883e0747-46e9-595d-9c4f-e1cb4fdabbf4.html
"Glanz's said he has been friends with Bates for about 50 years and that Bates has been his insurance agent.
He dismissed the notion that their friendship had led to Bates' receiving special treatment, noting that many people have given their time and purchased equipment, including cars, for the Sheriff's Office."
All righty then, guess there is nothing to see...
Right - auxiliary police offers shoudl be doing things like: Officer friendly in schools, traffic direction at large events, emergency staging in teh event of natural disasters, MAYBE helping at dispatch. Carrying a gun and a taser - NOPE.
DeleteSo anyone can apply and become a trained reserve sheriff in Arizona? Sounds like the most unsafe place to be, especially if you're a human being with darker skin.
DeleteThere probably isn't a decent sized town in America that doesn't have auxillairy officers. If they are carrying a gun and a taser, they are certified peace officers just like the paid police.
DeleteI'd be interested in hearing a discussion of the two parallel issues in this situation. Here, I'll start:
ReplyDelete1) shooting an unarmed non-threatening fleeing man in the back is murder. And when the shooter lies about the circumstances to put the blame on the victim, that makes the crime significantly worse. Nothing changes this reality.
2) There's a disturbing common factor in most of these shootings in which the victim does appear to escalate the tensions of the initial stop by resisting arrest, non-compliance with the officers' instruction, fleeing the scene, other belligerent behavior. In most of video-taped killings of black men, the behavior of the victim never rose to the level or justifying the lethal police response but it's hard to ignore the fact that the behavior played a role in destabilizing the situation. This is not to blame the victims in the same way we don't blame rape victims (anymore....) for their provocative dress causing the rapes. But.... is there still something a person can do to minimize the chances that a police encounter will escalate to violence?
I've heard black parents relate the necessity of schooling their sons on how to behave during a traffic stop: hands on wheel, don't make sudden moves, don't reach for your license till you're asked to by the officer, be polite and respectful, comply with instructions. I can't honestly say I heard this from my white parents but I vividly recall hearing it from someone as a very young new driver.
And I have been stopped, for example, at 3am on a long dark stretch of Texas interstate by a trooper investigating my burned out license plate light. Tho he was courteous and respectful - as was I - it was obvious he was looking for something other than extremely minor traffic violations. He kept asking me to repeat where I was coming from and where I was going and what was my business in Arizona and what did I do back home. He shined a light thru the window and looked at the gear in the back of the fan. Just before he let me go - with a written warning - he acknowledged that this was a major drug running corridor and they stopped cars all night hoping to snag a drug shipment.
I can't help thinking that if I had been black or brown and difficult in any way, I'd be in for a load of trouble. But I also imagine that even being white, had I mouthed off or appeared nervous or suspicious, he would have called in a canine unit and possibly some backup to convince me to adopt a different attitude when dealing with THP.
So, what's the consensus? Is there a place for changing behavior of the people being stopped while simultaneously pursuing criminal prosecutions against LEO who egregiously use excessive force against citizens under their control? Not either or, but both?
YOu are wrong - if that officer had asked to search your car and you said no - you would liekly have been dragged from it 0 especially if you were a person of color. WE've seen it too many times citizens wll within their rights beign intimidated and abused.
DeleteI agree that a coon factor was resisting arrest or not complying such as runming. However I honestly feel fear to be pulled over by the police now that my life could be in jeopardy given shooting people in the back and incidents like "Fuck your breath" by officers on a power trip oblivious a person is dying (NY choking incident also). I am a white female so I ca not begin to know whaten or black people fear.
DeleteWho knew an Oklahoman with minor wealth and provincial connections [read: any Sooner with a full set of teeth] could so effortlessly avail themselves of a hillbilly fox hunt?
ReplyDeleteImagine the pride of our cousins 'cross the pond when they find we've replaced their quarry of choice with melanin-rich homo sapiens! Our Destiny was Manifest indeed.
Manifestly repugnant.
good
Deletepost
I hope this results in a HUGE $$$$$$ lawsuit against the TUlsa police, the idiot who signed of on this program personally and the mayor of Tulsa personally if s/he had any say in the program.
ReplyDeleteIt won't bring the guy back, but at least they'll thin twice next time if it costs them $.
I got an idea. The old guy, according to some responses, was polite and well behaved, to the point of apologizing to the victim. Well, Jodi Arias just got life in prison with no chance of parole for butchering her boyfriend, and after the verdict was read, she apologized. So why doesn't Joe Arpaio give this guy a taste of what it's like to be incarcerated with a murderer who had a trial by her peers. But that won't happen, not enough melanin and he looks rather harmless. "I'm sorry"???? "Fuck your breath"??? WTF?
ReplyDeleteThis is wrong in so many ways.
ReplyDeleteFirst thing that comes to mind is...73? That is way past retirement age. Do we really want our retirees policing our neighborhoods? I doubt this guy could pass the physical requirements of the job.
Second, why is a volunteer armed? I don't care if he's part of the reserves or whatever they are calling it. He's not a trained officer he shouldn't be armed at all. Not with a taser and certainly not with a gun.
Third.....this is an example of what happens when we do not adequately fund essentials. Be it the police department, the fire department or public schools. You do NOT want them turned over to wealthy donors who can call the shots. Imagine a 78 year old wealthy dowager who wants to play "teacher". Or maybe a pedophile with money that wants to be a 'reserve teacher' at the local elementary school.
I'm not saying we need to forbid all volunteering. But arming an old man who wants to play cop? That is insane.
I will not comment on the other officers except to say why aren't they being disciplined too?
First, was he apologizing to the victim or to the other officers. Second, how close might he have come to shooting one of the officers (which may be the reason for the apology). Third, if you can get shot for complying (as happened in one of the Carolinas- the man was told to get his ID and then shot for reaching back in the car for his wallet), you may be tempted to make a run for it. If you know you might be brutalized for a broken tail light, you might be tempted to get out of Dodge. And, fourth, the police are quick to react. I don't condone that. But they are living in an armed populace - a heavily armed populace. They see guns as a possibility at each interaction. They now assume that everyone is armed. And they have no patience, often escalating situations to the point that they feel justified (and not recognizing their own part in demanding instantaneous and complete submission) in "controlling" the situation.
ReplyDeleteI hope that the policeman who was crushing the victim's neck and back is charged with manslaughter too. He's as guilty as the lunatic wannabe who shot the man. Police need to be held responsible for their actions just as parents of children who shoot guns in their homes should be held responsible. Then, maybe, this daily lunacy will end.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
Just checked the Tulsa newspaper for an update.
ReplyDeleteHOLY SHIT!
http://www.tulsaworld.com/homepage1/sources-supervisors-told-to-falsify-reserve-deputy-s-training-records/article_a6330f10-a9fb-51e3-ab5e-4d97b03c6c04.html
"Supervisors at the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office were ordered to falsify a reserve deputy’s training records, giving him credit for field training he never took and firearms certifications he should not have received, sources told the Tulsa World.
At least three of reserve deputy Robert Bates’ supervisors were transferred after refusing to sign off on his state-required training, multiple sources speaking on condition of anonymity told the World."
Also is Kid Rock a reserve deputy in Michigan?
http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/04/15/kid-rock-applied-reserve-police-officer/25820217/
Hey how about are Kid Rock's bodyguards deputies too?
DeleteBadges, concealed carry options average joe doesn't have..inquiring minds want to know.
I was just going to post this.
DeleteAs if a 73 year old volunteer fully armed isn't enough, now he never received weapons training.
Congrats to the supervisors who refused to sign off. Hope they are all brought back and one of them is made SHERIFF to replace the ass-kissing bozo they have now.
Money talks and this particular bribe is screaming "You're a blooming idiot!"
I can see the lawyers lining up for the lawsuits.
Holy moly!
Delete"The officer that certified Bates has since moved on to work for the Secret Service."
That may explain a lot....about the Secret Service.
Sheriff Stanley Glanz says Bates is a longtime friend of his. Glanz said he and Bates have been friends for about 50 years and that Bates has been his insurance agent. We all know how nepotism works.
Glanz also responded to critics who have said Bates, 73, was too old to be a reserve deputy. The Sheriff’s Office once had an 81-year-old deputy, Glanz said.
“I am 72 years old, and I think I am still active,” the sheriff said.
Whoa! Time for a new Sheriff!
“He made an error,” Glanz said. “How many errors are made in an operating room every week?”
It gets worse. Bates says he received “active shooter response training” by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona.
Maricopa? Isn't that Joe "pink undies" Arpaio?
This 73 year old guy became an advanced reservist in 2008. That's 7 years ago. He was 65 or 66 at the time. There is a big difference between 65 and 73. I know. I watched my Dad go through it.