re: St Louis: Unarmed teen shot and killed by police, riot in progress.

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Any thoughts of 'payback' or 'scorekeeping' or 'haha' are beyond offensive but again I understand who I am dealing with.

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We've had it in this thread. Keep up.

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They aren't enforcing laws against looting, I doubt they'll enforce a curfew.

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Bet they do.

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"Just a second, I'll let you yell at me next"

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Love it.

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So if they thought a hostage situation was likely, hours in advance do they sit there and tell the potential hostages hours in advance you are on your own? When it happens do they watch with no attempt to look for a solution or arrest. But yes rioters and looters took the town hostage... again. Maybe we need to ask nicer next time?

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I am not saying this was a hostage situation per se. I am just saying it is an example of where you don't go in guns blazing right from the get go.

But to respond to this, actually, the night that they said "You're on your own." was Thursday night and there was no looting that I am aware of. Last night, the problem wasn't them saying "You're on your own" The problem was they came with a show of force that they weren't prepared to follow through with and the looters/rioters called their bluff.

I don't know if you actually watched it last night as it unfolded, but I cringed each time they announced "Remaining on the street may result in your arrest and/or other actions." As soon as they started those announcements, I knew it was going to escalate.

You know how I would have liked to have seen last night handled, though admittedly I don't know if it was the wisest either because it puts officers at risk. Thursday night there was a minimal police presence and everything was fine. Instead of coming in with armored vehicles, I would have kept boots on the ground. I would have started with officers on the ground during the day so their presence becomes anticipated but not threatening. Gradually during the day and going into the evening, I would have increased the numbers of officers on the ground so that the increased presence is hardly noticeable.

Capt johnson said he ordered the SWAT response, but not the tear gas.

He needs to say "Were trying to have a civil discussion here... If y'all can't act civilized we are going to treat you all like children and end this presser"

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Do you live in St. Louis?

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Nope

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No one I talked to thought Johnson came in wanting to slam the previous approach.

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I didn't think so either when he first came in. I thought it was brilliant in fact. It temporarily released the pressure valve.

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I didn't hear any of that. So I'm curious, other than the quote from last night, where you got that impression.

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It was a series of quotes I saw early Friday that got me a little concerned that the pendulum might be swinging too far. I will try to re-dig them out. But by last evening I was worried the pendulum has swung from the wrong position of We are your enemy to the too far 'We are your BFFs'. Then I saw that quote before I went to bed and I thought "I hope you are right that this is done". Unfortunately it wasn't.

Now this dumb bitch wants access to police communications

Wish the camera would pan te crowd.



And. Is Rick Flair there

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We've had it in this thread. Keep up.

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And thus you pinned it to me. Brilliant.

I would ask you to keep up, but lets be honest....