Word is out that BPD fatally shot a man in the NNE today for “wielding a shovel and not listening to the demands and requests of the officers”.
Last time BPD opened fire on a citizen was 1997 according to VPR.
13 thoughts on “6 years since this living space experienced a fatality.”
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News sources are saying that both involved officers are out on paid leave and that an investigation by both BPD and the Vermont State Police are being ramped up.
Not a lot of hard information is out there, but we would certainly hope that a citizen is dead for the crime of failing to put down a shovel. StarTrek not withstanding I think getting to the point where “set your phaser on stun” can’t get here soon enough.
They’ve just gotta stop selling shovels that look like guns.
I mean, really: wielding a shovel? Questions remain to be answered, but it’d take some ninja-level shovelry to warrant a hail of gunfire in response.
however the facts are extremely depressing and becoming all too frequent. My belief is that with top-cop Sorrell heading-up the AG office and the seeming refusal to to prosecute cases that are clearly faaar out of line with professional law enforcement — there were other options in all or most of the fatal shootings — why would the law enforcement curriculum need to be changed?
Four f’king shots??? Give me a break! This is criminal behavior from those tasked with serving & protecting Vermonters as well as aiding & abetting Sorrell by coddling his dogs. If the victim was mentally ill, he very likely would be not guilty of his actions for that very reason.
As civil society unravells, it is deeply troubling to recognize what appears to be a military-style shoot-to-kill philosophy when responding to the public’s call for help in situations such as this.
that we, on this site, can talk the least significant political fart in the wind to death, but when something as significant as a real person ending up the same way, it is back benched to the point that effectively it does not exist. I really expected there to be some serious lip smacking over the issue. Almost hard to find anything beyond “too bad, let’s move on” I didn’t know anything about the guy, the family, or frankly anything about the situation, other than someone got shot really fast and it is just really an unusual occurrence here and I think acting like it didn’t happen will do nothing to prevent it from happening again.
Sad stuff. Sad stuff indeed.
at a good stride not missing a beat:
http://www.burlingtonfreepress…
Our hero addresses public concerns:
In reference to the Winooski scare.
Wonderful idea — change the subject asap. Hold a meeting with the community – great way to take the collective pulse & asssure jittery property owners that “we don’t like crime either”. Nothing like a room full of warm bodies to take the chill away. Glad you’re ok chief after your “ordeal”
ACLU now involved:
Salient point which came as a bit of a surprise:
http://www.burlingtonfreepress…
but in the winooski incident you saw a LOT of officers running around with
your standard M-16 variant for civilian police use…. or the real military version if homeland security was generous enough to send real stuff in the last shipment of “we want to militarize your local police department”
Most loads for that weapon are designed to kill someone. So you talk that into a school and start firing it at things and you might as well be playing snooker in the place. That round is going to bounce off of those nice shiny tile walls and splinter and roll and go every which way.
I really think Burlington and Chittenden County should begin to have a conversation on how much New York City reaction we expect or WANT from our police force. Frankly, and I know the story is not told yet (and will not be until the decision is already made) — if someone is standing around with a shovel and two armed officers are there confronting him and he moves in their direction? I want them to turn around and retreat rather than their first reaction being programed to kill the guy. Frankly, anyone who raises a shovel against two armed officers IS DEMONSTRATING A LACK OF MENTAL STABILITY and they should be calling Howard Mental Health. This is a bad sign.
My last question is about the New North End shooting. I happened to be driving down into town that time and was passed by a (1) marked city PD car, (2) a black unmarked car, and (3) a motorcycle cop. All heading out to the NNE. Why were there only two officers involved? Did the motorcycle guy show up or was he off on another assignment? I have heard nothing about who was were when, but I don’t get the free press so I am out of the loop somewhat. Anyone know?
A shame as well as an outrage that an obviously disturbed man with a known-to-BPD history of mental illness was killed by four gunshots. So, one shot not enough boys? His illness alone could be sufficient to render him not guilty of his actions.
Tazers & pepper spray are supposed to & do disable w/o killing. It’s unclear whether a stungun could have also been an option — I’m unfamiliar wth their use. One shot may have served to disable — the man appeared in photos to be rather husky — as far as I’m concerned four shows intent.
http://www.burlingtonfreepress…
As Burlington through council members seeks to disarm the public & restrict RKBA, in light of this incident public area joke as well as a huge laugh except it’s so unfunny. This incident highlights the reality that once again, the ones tasked with protecting the public are in actuality the very real threat.