Will White Woman's Family Get Justice? How Many Unarmed White People Have Been Killed by Black Cops? [zero]
/Anon asks: "Q: What is collective power?
A: Collective power is the institutions and systems that benefit one group at the expense of another group, and allow one group to dominate another group in all areas of human activity.
For example, when a white policeman shoots an unarmed black man, his fellow officers, the police chief, internal affairs, the union, the media, the prosecutor, the judge, and the jury will support, defend, and finance that white police officer’s “right” to shoot (murder) an unarmed black person. That is white collective power.
Anon explains: It is rare for a white police officer to be punished for using excessive force against a black man, woman, or child. It is just as rare for a black police officer to use excessive force against a white person.
In fact, the authors were unable to find a single instance of a black police officer shooting or killing an unarmed white person in the history of modern law enforcement. This is not surprising but it is absolute proof that the black individual operating within a system of white supremacy cannot mistreat whites even if he or she is wearing a uniform, a badge, and carrying a gun." [MORE] BW knows of only one alleged incident with off duty cop Christopher Dorner - which was never proven. DO you know any others?
From [HERE] The white mayor of Minneapolis said she wants to hear from the African officer who fatally shot Justine Ruszczyk, a white woman.
But so far, officer Mohamed Noor has exercised his constitutional right to not speak to state investigators, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said Tuesday.
And, it's not clear if or when he will.
"He has a story to tell that no one else can tell," Mayor Betsy Hodges said in a news conference Tuesday. "We can't compel him by law, but I wish that he would make that statement."
The news conference capped a day of developments in a case that's raising questions about police training, use of force and body camera policies. The shooting has led newscasts in Australia, where Ruszczyk is originally from.
- BCA says Officer Matthew Harrity, who was in the car with Noor, gave a statement to investigators Tuesday
- So far, BCA says Noor has declined to speak to investigators, and his lawyer has not said if or when he will
- Preliminary investigation finds that Noor fired at Ruszczyk from the passenger seat of his police vehicle
- The officers turned on body cameras after the shooting; the squad car camera was never turned on
- The police department has opened an internal affairs use of force review, assistant chief says
Investigations could take months
It's been three days since the Australian-born Minnesota woman was killed after calling 911 to report a possible assault. And, it may be several more months before the state's Department of Public Safety reveals exactly what happened.
The department's BCA investigation is expected to last two to four months, said Chuck Laszewski, spokesman for the Hennepin County attorney's office.
Once that happens, county attorney Mike Freeman -- not a grand jury -- will decide whether either of the two officers involved should be charged in Ruszczyk's death.
Meanwhile, frustration over the lack of information grows.
"Her family and I have been provided with almost no additional information from law enforcement regarding what happened after police arrived," Ruszczyk's fiancé, Don Damond said Monday. "We are desperate for information."
City Council member Linea Palmisano said some documents from the case would be released online Wednesday morning. Those documents were shared with Ruszczyk's family Tuesday night, she said.
What we know about the shooting
According to the BCA, Harrity was driving and Noor was in the passenger seat as they drove through the alley looking for a suspect. The squad lights on their vehicle were off.
Harrity told investigators that as they drove down the alley, he was startled by a loud sound near the squad car. Immediately afterward, Ruszczyk approached the driver's side window and Noor fired his weapon, striking Ruszczyk through the driver's side window, Harrity told the BCA.
The officers exited the vehicle and provided medical attention until medical staff arrived. Ruszczyk was pronounced dead at the scene.
Both officers are on administrative leave.
Body camera policy under review
Minneapolis police policy says body cameras should be turned on prior to use of force "as soon as it is safe to do so" and during "any contact involving criminal activity."
According to the BCA, the officers turned their cameras on after the shooting and the squad car camera was not turned on.
But the department is currently in the process of rolling out body cameras to all units and officers, and an updated policy is forthcoming, Minneapolis Assistant Police Chief Mederia Arradondo said at Tuesday's news conference.
The department was eight months away from a full department-wide rollout, he said. A quality assurance commander recently had been appointed to complete a full review of the program. By the end of next month, mandated supervisor training will be completed throughout the entire department; front line supervisors have been tasked with ensuring officers increase the activation of their body worn cameras, he said.
Meanwhile, the department has opened an internal affairs use of force review, he said. It's on hold while the BCA has custody of evidence for its investigation.
The mayor lamented the lack of body camera footage as yet another crucial piece of missing information. But she called for patience as the investigation continues, stressing the importance of the independent investigation.
"The information the BCA has shared today gets us closer to having answers, closer to seeing justice done. And we do have more information now, though it's frustrating to have some of the picture, but not all of it," she said.
"I share the frustration and the dismay that we don't have body camera footage. I will say that body cameras are a very powerful tool, not an infallible tool, but a powerful one that have proven useful in our investigations. But we have been and we will work to make sure we have the strongest policies possible." [MORE]