.25 cent coffee...Guess I'm showing my age.
Though I have posted on incidents involving police more often than not condemning their actions, I've always tried to be as reasonable as I can and I don't always fault the police. When I do, I think the condemnation is justified and I'm willing to defend my points in any post that you feel that I unreasonably judged an officer. Ferguson is the best example I can think of of a case where I didn't condemn the officer (where those that are totally biased do), though I suspect before I said something you would have thought I did. Given the evidence I've read I think the shooting there was justified and I've always said that it's a shame that so many people have given so much for a person (Mike Brown) that may not deserve it. In this case involving Mr. Gray, I have yet to pass final judgement pending the release of the investigations. In the case of the shooting of Walter Scott, I was very condemning of the officer that shot him because I felt I knew enough to make that decision, but I will be the first to recant publicly (here on DP) if new information comes to light that exonerates the officer.
I have said it several times in other threads, I went to college to be a cop, I have family and friends that are cops and most don't like what they see either, and they are all trapped in a culture of self protection. They can't speak up about the "bad apples" as it would risk their own jobs and careers and they all support body cameras. I believe they (my friends and family who are cops) are good cops, but just like anyone else good people do bad things, however when you are given the responsibility to uphold the public trust you have an obligation to be better than the average person. Violation of the public trust, especially when it involves killing or seriously injuring a person who's offense did not put the general public or the officer in danger, should be a punishable offence.
As I said, in this case, while I'm extremely skeptical that Mr. Gray harmed himself, given that he was in a van, out of sight, there is no video until he is cuffed, I have reserved judgement and challenge you to find a post I have written that says otherwise.