How many times does it take to see that? Whether it's local "militias" mistakenly naming themselves "patriots" to defend freedom, arming themselves with guns-and-rifles-and-ammunition riding around in pick-up trucks proudly loaded with oversized flags, or local police departments supplied with surplus weapons-of-war, "command centers" to control riots and civil unrest and domestic disturbances, it is all caught-on-cam by "first-responders" who frequently are not the public employees of police departments.
Reactions are swift too often un-controllable - raw, visceral and violent. Here's one more recent disturbing incident in West Philadelphia on October 26th. The police body-cam video was edited and delayed for days afterwards (with all the usual defenses for excessive use of force + the need for reform).
Interesting to note this narrative supplied by Tactical Life https://www.tactical-life.com/ with their upload "He's mental..." and the screams of a mother shouting "You're killing my son!"
"...Now the Philadelphia Police Department updated the conversation, releasing body cam footage from the fatal shooting. According to police, the footage shows the officers operated correctly. And it further illustrates they used an appropriate level of lethal force.
“These officers followed their training and police department policy. It’s completely inappropriate that these officers continue to be vilified for doing their job,” said a Philadelphia police union statement, reported CNN.
Footage shows officers repeatedly warn and command Wallace to put down the knife. In total, the officers issue at least two dozen commands of “put the knife down” or some variant. Conversely, Wallace’s mother pleads that her son suffers from mental illness.
“We understand that the materials released today will be very painful, it will elicit anger, rage, distress, and will elicit more questions and rightfully so,” Mayor Jim Kenney told CNN.
Wallace Advanced on Officers
But ultimately the footage shows Wallace as the aggressor. He clearly brandishes a knife, and he stalks toward officers as he ignores their commands. Neither officer carried a Taser, limiting their options, noted CNN.
“Seeing another life lost yet again to police violence can make many of us question if anything has changed or if anything will ever change, but this is why we are releasing this footage because things have to change and they are changing,” Kenney said, reported CNN.
Despite the footage, the attorney for the family of the deceased Wallace, Shaka Johnson, said the suspect clearly suffered from an “obvious mental health crisis,” reported CNN. But rather than calling for officers’ punishment, the family seeks better training and less lethal equipment for officers. . ."
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November 5, 2020
WATCH: Philadelphia Police Release Walter Wallace Body Cam Footage
After the shooting of Walter Wallace sparked violent protest, Philadelphia police released body cam footage showing the armed suspect advance on officers.
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