The Kim Potter Trial: should she go to prison?

Irwin

Irwin

Well-known Member
Location
Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
If incompetence were a crime, she should get a life sentence for pulling her 9mm instead of her taser. I'm just guessing it was a 9mm by the way, since that's the standard police issue handgun. I mean, how in the hell do you mistake a heavy firearm for plastic, yellow taser gun? She was probably just so freaked out about all the action that she panicked and pulled the wrong gun, and maybe her adrenaline was so elevated that it felt like a plastic gun.

Even if she had intentionally shot Daunte Wright with her 9mm, it seems like it would have been justified. He was a bad dude, fighting with the police and trying to get away. Driving off with officers halfway in the car could have put their lives in danger.

What bothers me most about her was her response after she realized she used deadly force on the 20 year old. She didn't try to render aid or call for an ambulance; instead, she said, "Oh my god. I'm going to prison for shooting him." Actually, that's paraphrased from what I remember her saying in the video. It might have been her exact words, but don't quote me on that even though I used quotes.

So my vote is... no jail time. What say you?
 

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The hanging tree.

Had Wright been white the cops would never have stopped him. They almost never do when a white person violates the law here in Minnesota. The biggest crime that exists here is the crime of being black. Drive a car, walk the streets, hang your laundry out the window, read a newspaper on a public bench, ride the city bus, pick your nose, whatever the f_____k you do, if you are black or brown you are automatically a criminal that needs to be stopped or hassled by the friggin cops. Everybody who lives here knows it's the truth. Anybody who denies it is full of s_____t.
 
My personal feeling is that the situation was so intense she made a mistake and pulled her gun instead of her taser. The perp was clearly resisting arrest. I think he might have survived if he had just acquiesced, although we have so many young black men that have been killed even when they have been compliant. I'm sure he was scared.

I'm not sure whether Kim Potter was emotional about killing him or about what she might face as a result. My feelings are mixed. There is no reason Daunte Wright should have died for minor crimes. I think Kim Potter should be convicted for some type of Manslaughter, but I agree with you that I don't think it will happen.
 

I think she didn't mean to pull her gun. I believe she may have panicked in the heat of the moment and maybe didn't realize which weapon she was pulling.

But you can't have a law enforcement officer that will panic, be overcome by the heat of the moment, and not be aware of which weapon they are ultimately using.

Her actions were not appropriate, and of course, she must pay the price. She should get at least involuntary manslaughter with the maximum sentence allowed by law.

But this case is quite volatile. We will see what happens. I'm guessing her sentence will be much harsher.
 
oldiebutgoody said:
The hanging tree.

Had Wright been white the cops would never have stopped him. They almost never do when a white person violates the law here in Minnesota. The biggest crime that exists here is the crime of being black. Drive a car, walk the streets, hang your laundry out the window, read a newspaper on a public bench, ride the city bus, pick your nose, whatever the f_____k you do, if you are black or brown you are automatically a criminal that needs to be stopped or hassled by the friggin cops. Everybody who lives here knows it's the truth. Anybody who denies it is full of s_____t.
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Wright was wanted for armed robbery and illegal possession of a firearm. There was a warrant out for his arrest because he failed to appear in court. Since he was known to carry guns, the police no doubt believed he was armed and dangerous. Add to that the fact that he fought with the police and tried to drive off with them hanging out of the vehicle. That's four strikes. Usually, you only get one strike with the police before they shoot you, especially when you're Black.
 
Everyone makes mistakes. I know our sheriff says you only have a split second to make a decision. Here the police wear their 9 MM Glock on their dominant arm side. Tazer on the other side. We've even had younger male police officers here use the wrong gun in the heat of the moment. They get demoted & no pay for three months.

Some perps are also fighting with the police & the police use 2 or 3 tasers on the person. They are still fighting so their only choice is to use the 9 mm If people would just comply & obey the police these things would never happen. even if they are wanted just comply & you will live.
 
Irwin said:
Wright was wanted for armed robbery and illegal possession of a firearm. There was a warrant out for his arrest because he failed to appear in court. Since he was known to carry guns, the police no doubt believed he was armed and dangerous. Add to that the fact that he fought with the police and tried to drive off with them hanging out of the vehicle. That's four strikes. Usually, you only get one strike with the police before they shoot you, especially when you're Black.
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Cops stopped him because he was black, not because of his history. Whites drive around with expired tags and with air fresheners all the time but never get stopped. Had wright been white none of this would have happened.
 
oldiebutgoody said:
Cops stopped him because he was black, not because of his history. Whites drive around with expired tags and with air fresheners all the time but never get stopped. Had wright been white none of this would have happened.
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Not here in Indiana. If you are white & have a warrant or a long rap sheet & known to carry weapons police will stop you but there are about 5 to 8 cars around. They all have body cameras & they still make mistakes & shoot the perp.

One guy (white) had been in & out of jail over 8 times. Police arrested him the judge let him out. The last time a month ago he went & killed his 6-month-old baby & beat the mom so bad she is on life support in the hospital. When police "tried" to arrest him he had a gun in his pants & shot at them as they tried to put handcuffs on him. So out came the 9 mm & this time he will NOT go back to jail so the judge can let him out. All this was captured on many guys/gals' body cameras.
 
No doubt she panicked. Why? She wasn't appropriate police material perhaps. Women’s libbers have pushed women into some occupations where they may not belong. I know I would not want an emotional female by my side in a life or death situation. Whoever did the hiring had to meet a “quota” of women perhaps. (I’m not saying that all women can’t handle it.)

Anyway, I feel sorry for her. In any other job, a screw up would result in no more than getting fired. Of course I feel sorry for the victim and family. I along with many others did some regrettable things in our youth, but came out the other end wiser but still alive.

I hope her punishment isn’t too severe. I also hope that the police department goes under the magnifying glass and has their hiring and training practices investigated.
 
...but she didn't just kill her victim...she also screwed up the lives of the family who the victim crashed head on into when she shot him as he drove away... .... these people have been barely given a mention in the press.

I don't believe for a second an officer of 26 years wouldn't know her right from her left side, or the feel of a gun a whole pound heavier than a Taser... I believe she knew exactly what she was doing, and thought she'd cover her backside by calling out 'taser' before shooting the victim
 
Tom 86 said:
Not here in Indiana. If you are white & have a warrant or a long rap sheet & known to carry weapons police will stop you but there are about 5 to 8 cars around. They all have body cameras & they still make mistakes & shoot the perp.
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Too bad he didn't move there instead of here.
 
hollydolly said:
...but she didn't just kill her victim...she also screwed up the lives of the family who the victim crashed head on into when she shot him as he drove away... .... these people have been barely given a mention in the press.

I don't believe for a second an officer of 26 years wouldn't know her right from her left side, or the feel of a gun a whole pound heavier than a Taser... I believe she knew exactly what she was doing, and thought she'd cover her backside by calling out 'taser' before shooting the victim
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Do you realize the vast majority of police officers never pull their guns in their ENTIRE careers? And 99% never fire them once. This isnt TJ Hooker reruns where the cop shoots people on a weekly basis.
Mike Tyson once said " Everybody has a plan till they get punched in the face". You can practice all you want shooting/not shooting at cardboard pop ups and such, but you never know how you'll react when the shit hits the fan.
I'm good with whatever the courts say she should get but the idea that this stuff is easy is laughable
 
Tom 86 said:
Everyone makes mistakes. I know our sheriff says you only have a split second to make a decision. Here the police wear their 9 MM Glock on their dominant arm side. Tazer on the other side. We've even had younger male police officers here use the wrong gun in the heat of the moment. They get demoted & no pay for three months.

Some perps are also fighting with the police & the police use 2 or 3 tasers on the person. They are still fighting so their only choice is to use the 9 mm If people would just comply & obey the police these things would never happen. even if they are wanted just comply & you will live.
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"Some perps are also fighting with the police & the police use 2 or 3 tasers on the person. They are still fighting so their only choice is to use the 9 mm If people would just comply & obey the police these things would never happen. even if they are wanted just comply & you will live."

Exactly !!!
 
garyt1957 said:
Too bad he didn't just give in. Better outcome for everybody
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He was wanted for armed robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm. Obviously, he didn't want to go to prison.

Really, this is a case of stupid vs. stupid.
Wright had a warrant out for his arrest, yet he was driving around with expired plates. Kind of reminds me of Timothy McVeigh who might never have been caught if he wasn't driving a vehicle that didn't have license plates.
And Potter couldn't even tell the difference between a yellow plastic taser and her firearm.
 
Irwin said:
...how in the hell do you mistake a heavy firearm for plastic, yellow taser gun? She was probably just so freaked out about all the action that she panicked and pulled the wrong gun, and maybe her adrenaline was so elevated that it felt like a plastic gun.

So my vote is... no jail time. What say you?
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No no no excuses, she is lying her a$$ off! She trained in both the taser and 9mm extensively until the use of each was second nature.

Was she fearful? Of course. Reaching for her 9mm would be understandable, even justified...but she chose to go with a cover-up.
She needs to serve some time, in the interest of justice...
 
Nathan said:
No no no excuses, she is lying her a$$ off! She trained in both the taser and 9mm extensively until the use of each was second nature.

Was she fearful? Of course. Reaching for her 9mm would be understandable, even justified...but she chose to go with a cover-up.
She needs to serve some time, in the interest of justice...
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You think she intentionally shot him with her 9mm? I don't see what she would have to gain by doing that. The cost is that she may go to prison for many years.

Personally, I think her thinking was extremely muddled because of all the stress and she mistakenly shot him with her 9mm.
 

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