NY grand jury decides whether to indict cops
March 16th 2007 23:55
I've blogged previously about the Bell case -- where an evidently unarmed man suspected of planning a gun crime was shot to death outside a strip club. On Monday, the grand jury will announce its decision on whether to indict one or more cops.
Case summary here, analysis/background here.
I'm eager to hear, but for the time being I'd like to comment on this part of the story:
"Anticipation has been running high around New York City about the grand jury's decision. Extra police officers were put on standby and the mayor met with black leaders in the Queens neighborhood where shooting occurred in hopes of defusing any tensions that might arise from the decision."
Contrast this with Thomas Sowell's summary of what actually worked once:
"Even during the 1960s, riots were far more common and deadly in liberal bastions like New York City than in Chicago, where the original Mayor Daley announced on television that he had given his police orders to 'shoot to kill' if riots broke out."
From CNN's constant replaying of the Rodney King video, we know the media will not help should the jury refuse to indict the cops. The government needs to take up a less sympathetic strategy toward those who threaten violence.
Bloomberg should come up with something better than "I think you will see the people of this city behaving in an exemplary manner." There is a history of these rulings creating problems, and while the extra cops are a good idea, it doesn't seem like Bloomberg is taking the issue seriously.
By Robert VerBruggen
Case summary here, analysis/background here.
I'm eager to hear, but for the time being I'd like to comment on this part of the story:
"Anticipation has been running high around New York City about the grand jury's decision. Extra police officers were put on standby and the mayor met with black leaders in the Queens neighborhood where shooting occurred in hopes of defusing any tensions that might arise from the decision."
Contrast this with Thomas Sowell's summary of what actually worked once:
"Even during the 1960s, riots were far more common and deadly in liberal bastions like New York City than in Chicago, where the original Mayor Daley announced on television that he had given his police orders to 'shoot to kill' if riots broke out."
From CNN's constant replaying of the Rodney King video, we know the media will not help should the jury refuse to indict the cops. The government needs to take up a less sympathetic strategy toward those who threaten violence.
Bloomberg should come up with something better than "I think you will see the people of this city behaving in an exemplary manner." There is a history of these rulings creating problems, and while the extra cops are a good idea, it doesn't seem like Bloomberg is taking the issue seriously.
By Robert VerBruggen
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