Ex-cop Michael Slager sentenced to 20 yrs for killing Walter Scott

[applecruncher]

Federal sentence - means no parole. He will have to serve to entire 20 yrs.

Charleston, South Carolina (CNN)Michael Slager, the former South Carolina police officer who shot and killed Walter Scott, was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in federal prison, a decision the Scott family said gave it a "sense of justice."

"This is an historic day for civil rights, in particular for officer-involved shootings," said Chris Stewart, one of the Scott family's attorneys, at a press conference following the sentencing.
US District Court Judge David Norton made his decision after hearing emotional statements from members of both families. Norton earlier Thursday had said the "appropriate underlying offense" for Slager, who is white, was second-degree murder.​

http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/07/us/michael-slager-sentencing/index.html

 

[rgp]

Federal sentence - means no parole. He will have to serve to entire 20 yrs.

Charleston, South Carolina (CNN)Michael Slager, the former South Carolina police officer who shot and killed Walter Scott, was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in federal prison, a decision the Scott family said gave it a "sense of justice."

"This is an historic day for civil rights, in particular for officer-involved shootings," said Chris Stewart, one of the Scott family's attorneys, at a press conference following the sentencing.
US District Court Judge David Norton made his decision after hearing emotional statements from members of both families. Norton earlier Thursday had said the "appropriate underlying offense" for Slager, who is white, was second-degree murder.​

http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/07/us/michael-slager-sentencing/index.html

If Mr,Scott had followed the commands of the police officer....he would still be alive.

He killed himself.

Pulled over for a tail light true but.....once he jumped out & ran the officer had no idea of what he may have just done. He could have well been running from a homicide , perhaps a rape . The officers job is to stop the criminal, that is exactly what he did.

I feel no sorrow for Mr,Scott or his family.

I do feel sorrow for officer Slager & his family.

 

[Traveler]

Sorry to disagree. Cops have been killings blacks, and other minorities far too often. If the suspect is TRULY attempting to attack the cop, that is one thing. But, in way too many cases the suspect has done nothing wrong, unless you consider simply being black is an offense. I recall a case where a mentally ill patient, in the hospital, was holding a pencil, and threatening the cops, who had been called to the scene. The patient was out-numbered 8 to 1. The cops shot and killed him. The cops claimed that they "felt their lives were in danger" and later, they walked free.
8 cops against one mental patient ! No bean-bag guns ? No rubber bullets ? No flash/bang stun bombs ? No Electric shock devices ? The patient was in a locked ward and everyone else had been evacuated. The patient was not going anywhere. Nor was he a danger to anyone. If the cops were so afraid of the mental patient, they could easily have just waited him out.
I find the behavior of the cops to be reprehensible and cowardly. It makes me ashamed !

 

[Smiling Jane]

I can't imagine thinking because someone is running away from me, that automatically means he has done something and I should shoot him in the back. It's more likely Mr. Scott could tell the cop was dangerous and wanted to get away from him.

 

[applecruncher]

Slager should have gotten a longer sentence.

 

[rgp]

I can't imagine thinking because someone is running away from me, that automatically means he has done something and I should shoot him in the back. It's more likely Mr. Scott could tell the cop was dangerous and wanted to get away from him.

So an officer pulls a person over for a tail-light out, the person jumps out & runs, and you really believe he is innocent of anything else ?

What if had he turned out to be Ted Bundy ? The officer would have been hailed as a hero...and AT THAT TIME the officer had no way of knowing.

 

[rgp]

Slager should have gotten a longer sentence.

Should have been found not guilty & returned to work , to continue protecting us.

 

[rgp]

Sorry to disagree. Cops have been killings blacks, and other minorities far too often. If the suspect is TRULY attempting to attack the cop, that is one thing. But, in way too many cases the suspect has done nothing wrong, unless you consider simply being black is an offense. I recall a case where a mentally ill patient, in the hospital, was holding a pencil, and threatening the cops, who had been called to the scene. The patient was out-numbered 8 to 1. The cops shot and killed him. The cops claimed that they "felt their lives were in danger" and later, they walked free.
8 cops against one mental patient ! No bean-bag guns ? No rubber bullets ? No flash/bang stun bombs ? No Electric shock devices ? The patient was in a locked ward and everyone else had been evacuated. The patient was not going anywhere. Nor was he a danger to anyone. If the cops were so afraid of the mental patient, they could easily have just waited him out.
I find the behavior of the cops to be reprehensible and cowardly. It makes me ashamed !

Makes me proud & I give them my full support....I don't care what color the CRIMINAL is !

 

[Traveler]

Should have been found not guilty & returned to work , to continue protecting us.

I would not want him "protecting" me, I'd be in gave danger from him. I am deaf and if he told me to do something, I could not possibly hear what he said. The result would be that that S.O.B. would have shot and killed me.
I hope Slager becomes some other prisoners "wife".

 

[applecruncher]

I would not want him "protecting" me, I'd be in gave danger from him. I am deaf and if he told me to do something, I could not possibly hear what he said. The result would be that that S.O.B. would have shot and killed me.
I hope Slager becomes some other prisoners "wife".

:yes:

So an unarmed person running away from someone is a threat? What a crock.

His excuse was pure BS. GUILTY! :clap:

 

[Traveler]

Makes me proud & I give them my full support....I don't care what color the CRIMINAL is !

Did you ever hear the expression, "Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law?"

I remember, quite recently, that a young man was shot and killed by a cop for stealing a candy bar. Judge, jury and executioner !

 

[rgp]

Did you ever hear the expression, "Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law?"

I remember, quite recently, that a young man was shot and killed by a cop for stealing a candy bar. Judge, jury and executioner !

"Did you ever hear the expression, "Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law?"

Exactly...then the suspect should surrender when told too,...and have his day in court.

When a person defies the commands of an officer, in a situation such as this.....he [that person] sets the stage for increased danger. For both himself &the officer.

What if the suspect was a serial rapist ? Do you want him to elude & be free to place a female [you] love in danger ?

 

[rgp]

Did you ever hear the expression, "Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law?"

I remember, quite recently, that a young man was shot and killed by a cop for stealing a candy bar. Judge, jury and executioner !

I believe there is more to that story, and I would have to hear it, before making a specific comment.

 

[rgp]

:yes:

So an unarmed person running away from someone is a threat? What a crock.

His excuse was pure BS. GUILTY! :clap:

"So an unarmed person running away from someone is a threat?"

If he is eluding a police officer attempting to effect an arrest?...he may indeed be a threat , to the officer....or you and I . And at that moment in time no one is sure . If a person is innocent?...why run ? Stop,...and have your day in court.

If this person continues to run, after being ordered to stop? the suspicion of his/her guilt escalates . As does the survival instinct / fear of the officer involved.

 

[Traveler]

Too many cops are mentally unbalanced. their credo, "Shoot first, and ask questions later"
If faced with a choice of having a 3am run-in with a cop or a gang member, I'll chose the gang member every time.

As a young man I occasionally went to my in-laws house for dinner. My father-in-law was a New Orleans cop. I'll never forget the story he once told about arresting a black youth (only he did not use the word "black") and handcuffing him to a parking meter. He said, and I quote, "I cuffed that N***er to the meter, and beat the hell out of him with my nightstick and then I arrested him for assault on a police officer" unquote. My father-in-law cop, then proceeded to laugh.

 

[Aunt Bea]

I agree that people should comply with an officer's commands and I agree that an officer is often faced with split second life and death decisions.

In this particular situation the tape, that I saw, appeared to show a murder and the officer's effort to tidy up the scene confirmed it for me.

 

[Sunny]

So an officer pulls a person over for a tail-light out, the person jumps out & runs, and you really believe he is innocent of anything else ?

What if had he turned out to be Ted Bundy ? The officer would have been hailed as a hero...and AT THAT TIME the officer had no way of knowing.

So then you believe that the only reason a scared black guy would start running away from a clearly demented white cop in the deep south would be because he had just committed a violent crime? Yeah, right.

Turned out to be Ted Bundy? Come on, rgp, now you're clutching at straws. What if any cop walking down the street decides that someone else on the street looks like he could be another Ted Bundy? Mean expression on his face, or whatever? So it would be OK for the cop to murder him?

 

[rgp]

Too many cops are mentally unbalanced. their credo, "Shoot first, and ask questions later"
If faced with a choice of having a 3am run-in with a cop or a gang member, I'll chose the gang member every time.

As a young man I occasionally went to my in-laws house for dinner. My father-in-law was a New Orleans cop. I'll never forget the story he once told about arresting a black youth (only he did not use the word "black") and handcuffing him to a parking meter. He said, and I quote, "I cuffed that N***er to the meter, and beat the hell out of him with my nightstick and then I arrested him for assault on a police officer" unquote. My father-in-law cop, then proceeded to laugh.

I acknowledge that are bad officers. But this incident does not indicate that this officer was one of them.

Since you are broad-brushing...do you want each & every officer just to let suspects go / run ?

I suspect not...you would just rather sit in judgement after the fact....when you don't even know the facts. Were you there ?

 

[rgp]

I agree that people should comply with an officer's commands and I agree that an officer is often faced with split second life and death decisions.

In this particular situation the tape, that I saw, appeared to show a murder and the officer's effort to tidy up the scene confirmed it for me.

He [the officer] ordered the suspect to stop. He continued to run, warning shots were fired, he continued to run, he was even hit in the leg, he continued to run....Sounds pretty damn desperate to me.

It was not a murder, it was an attempt to stop a fleeing suspect that turned deadly, due to the suspects defiant behavior .

 

[rgp]

So then you believe that the only reason a scared black guy would start running away from a clearly demented white cop in the deep south would be because he had just committed a violent crime? Yeah, right.

Turned out to be Ted Bundy? Come on, rgp, now you're clutching at straws. What if any cop walking down the street decides that someone else on the street looks like he could be another Ted Bundy? Mean expression on his face, or whatever? So it would be OK for the cop to murder him?

"So then you believe that the only reason a scared black guy would start running away from a clearly demented white cop in the deep south would be because he had just committed a violent crime? Yeah, right."

So you are qualified to deem him demented?...on what professional credentials would that be?

I'm not clutching at anything, I merely made a comparison ...If he had turned out to be a Bundy type....the officer would have been hailed a hero ....plain & simple.

 

[applecruncher]

rgp, you can continue to plaster the thread with repetitious, convoluted posts all you like, but it won't change the fact that Slager is guilty and going to prison for 20 yrs.

And since you feel so sorry for him, you have the right to send care packages to him in prison, and a sympathy card to his family. Since you feel so strongly about it, maybe you can go with them to visit him. Talk is cheap - do something.

 

[Traveler]

I'm not clutching at anything, I merely made a comparison ...If he had turned out to be a Bundy type....the officer would have been hailed a hero ....plain & simple.

How many Ted Bundy's are out there ? A few every decade ? How many people drive on a suspended license ? Many thousands /year. No-body wants to go to jail and scared people often make stupid decisions. So, how likely is it that a cop is going to come across a Ted Bundy compared to how likely is it that a cop will come across a suspended license driver ? 10,000 to 1 against finding Ted Bundy. So, what do you propose ? Killing every stupid, scared, un-licensed driver in America, just because he is running away ? Let's face facts. Teenagers, and young men are not known for making the best life decisions. Are the cops going to be allowed kill every young, scared, stupid, boy in America ? Unfortunately, the answer to that is yes --- especially if they are black.
Every one has heard of D.W.I. There is another quite common traffic offense in America and it is called D.W.B. Driving While Black !

 

[rgp]

How many Ted Bundy's are out there ? A few every decade ? How many people drive on a suspended license ? Many thousands /year. No-body wants to go to jail and scared people often make stupid decisions. So, how likely is it that a cop is going to come across a Ted Bundy compared to how likely is it that a cop will come across a suspended license driver ? 10,000 to 1 against finding Ted Bundy. So, what do you propose ? Killing every stupid, scared, un-licensed driver in America, just because he is running away ? Let's face facts. Teenagers, and young men are not known for making the best life decisions. Are the cops going to be allowed kill every young, scared, stupid, boy in America ? Unfortunately, the answer to that is yes --- especially if they are black.
Every one has heard of D.W.I. There is another quite common traffic offense in America and it is called D.W.B. Driving While Black !

Do you really want to go there ?

 

[rgp]

rgp, you can continue to plaster the thread with repetitious, convoluted posts all you like, but it won't change the fact that Slager is guilty and going to prison for 20 yrs.

And since you feel so sorry for him, you have the right to send care packages to him in prison, and a sympathy card to his family. Since you feel so strongly about it, maybe you can go with them to visit him. Talk is cheap - do something.

I didn't say he wasn't found guilty, only that I believe the wrong sentence was arrived at, and I do not agree with it.

As for the rest of it, you're just being ridiculous .

 

[applecruncher]

^^ I'm being ridiculous? Oh, that's rich. :laugh: