Ferguson

Michael Brown fit the general description of a suspect in a convenience store strong-arm robbery (translation: unarmed), of a box of cigars. General Description? A big black guy. A cop pulls up. He calls Michael over to the car. (You will never convince me Michael approached the cruiser of his own volition).  Certain parties want to contend Michael had the box of cigars in his hands. Totally unsubstantiated and contrary to eyewitness accounts. The cops wants to pretend the suspect tried to wrestle the officer's weapon away from him. Question? If this malarky was true, why had the officer brandished his weapon on a routine stop of a suspect in an unarmed robbery? So at some point the officer gets out of his vehicle, and according to several eye-witnesses, the officer brandished his weapon, the suspect put his hands in the air and said "don't shoot" and the officer then shot him, and killed him. Six times. One of the kill shots was apparently as he was falling.

I hope the Grand Jury does a thorough job, and talks to all of the eye-witnesses. But I fear, that this new era of "Black men....Happy Hunting!" Does not prevail. Remember the "loud music" kids that were actually trying to escape in Florida, and the guy shot and killed one of them anyway? Trying to escape and he cried "I felt threatened."

There are good police and there are bad police. And one thing I learned from my 27 years in law enforcement is that bad police always get good police hurt. Look at Ferguson. The alleged bad police is in hiding and the good police are in harm's way. I don't know if this young police officer was a cowboy, started something he didn't know how to control, or if he did everything exactly right. Hopefully everything will come to the light of day.

Let me digress a moment and talk a little bit about Trayvon Martin. You remember? That college-bound honor student that George Zimmerman decided should leave this world? Here's what bad police-like wannabe (not even real police) Zimmerman did: He disobeyed Police orders to stay in his vehicle. He got into a confrontation. He put his hands on the kid. It got physical. The kid starts to get the best of him. So he shoots him dead. Now, here's what good police do: "Hey, there, where are you headed? Him: "Home to watch the NBA game." The good police then says, "Can I give you a lift? You don't want to miss the first tip!" So he gives the kid a lift home. What does good police gain? He knows this young man is home. He knows where this young man lives. He's created good will. That whole "To Serve and Protect" thing.

People are pissed off. Many. I am. And they have a right to be angry. I'm angry. But here's something to ponder: don't aggravate, don't instigate.....litigate. And let the Grand Jury do it's job. I hope it's clear that if this guy is actually a weak-kneed little Barney Fife wannabe, he'll get the deserved murder charge and spend his life in prison. A place not known for being kind to the kind of sissies this guy may be. But that is a fantasy. Even if he is not worthy to wear the uniform, but you know he won't be punished. Evidence be damned, the white guy will get an award.

Now they are trying hard to spin it any way they can. "He had marijuana in his system." That means he was mellower and less likely to want any trouble, dummies. "He lunged at the cop." I don't believe it, because there were nearly a half dozen eye-witnesses. But let's say he did. So? Officers are trained to out-maneuver in these situations. I spent 27 years around real hardened criminals, without a weapon. No weapon. Did I ever get lunged at? Yep. Did the perp get the death penalty? Nope. And if this myth were true, why not draw your taser or your pepper spray, cowboy? ("Cowboy" is a term cops give to other cops who are over-zealous and want to play like their in an action movie.)

According to eye-witnesses: Hands in the air, and he takes 6 shots. Autopsy statements indicate the two to the head may have been when he was down on the ground.

I will be interested in what a probably all white Grand Jury will conclude after hearing all of the evidence.

I have known thousands of cops in my life and believe me, being Police doesn't always mean right folks.

God bless America.