re: #482 Quoth the raven, Covfefe.

Morning friend. While I think we all agree that the murder of George Floyd was premeditated, or at least intentional - the standard for 2nd-degree murder - I am still of the opinion that the prosecutor didn’t think that charge could stick. Minnesota has convicted a police officer in a wrongful death; unfortunately, it’s the exact reverse situation, a black officer, Mohamed Noor, convicted of 3rd-degree murder for killing a white woman. That does not set an encouraging precedent.

That’s exactly the problem. Holding a cop accountable for the premeditated homicide of a black man *is* law and order. But politicians and prosecutors rarely see it that way, and even jurors don’t buy into that.

We need wholesale change on the law - modify qualified immunity and hold cops to a higher standard under the law. Make sure that there are automatic procedures in place for any abuse or deaths. Automatic desk duty for abuse. Automatic suspensions without pay for deaths. Special prosecutors who deal with abuse and deaths. And prosecutions for homicide when the deaths involve unarmed persons.

Even now, the criminal justice system is trying to blame the victim for his own death - having a prosecutor reluctant to charge, having a medical report somehow insinuate that the victim had a condition (even though toxicology takes weeks to come back), and despite the video showing zero rationale for the acts by any of the cops present.

All four should be prosecuted in the death. All four were fired. That’s not enough. They should never be allowed to work in law enforcement again. We need a national database to deal with abusive cops and those who were fired for cause.

We need national change and coordinated changes on the law.

Because this is about law and order, and holding everyone accountable, including those who are charged with upholding it.