MORE UNARMED CITIZEN SHOOTINGS BY LOCAL POLICE

…A Billing’s Montana police Taser gun.

What does it take today to get charged for killing an unarmed American citizen?

 

First, I want to say that I have tremendous respect for the majority of the officers in blue that are on our city’s streets for serving and protecting the population.  I sincerely appreciate that they all take the oath for keeping our streets orderly and safe.  I’m sure that the recent issues around the nation that have brought some police departments into question about “shooting first and asking questions later” are the country’s exceptions compared to the many local police organizations across the nation.

There is no question that being a police officer is a dangerous job.  Every day, each police officer puts on their uniform and seriously doesn’t know if they are going to come home after that day’s shift.  As was stated in a recent AP article, “When an officer pulls over a car for a moving violation, they have no idea if the passengers in that car are going to be school teachers, Girl Scouts, or some dudes with guns making a drug run.”

However, according to the New York Times, the number of US police officers that were shot and killed while they were on duty in 2014 was 50,.  But unfortunately, the number of US citizens shot and killed by police in 2014, was 1,029.  That is 20 times the number of police officers killed on duty and it is the highest number on record for our nation.

That being the case, and with all the recent concerns about unarmed individuals being shot and killed by local police officers, there are now two more examples of these shootings over the past two years by the same police officer in the city of Billings, Montana.  And in both of these cases, there were no charges made and there are two videos that document both cases.  In watching the two videos, one must ask, “What did these two individuals do to deserve being shot to death?”

Basically, two times, in the past two years, Officer Grant Morrison has pulled over unarmed, nonviolent citizens and, and in a fit of total fear, Morrison shot and killed them both, the most recent resulting in a brutal and unnecessary death

As has been asked about the killing last year in Ferguson, MO, the killing of the 12 year old in Cleveland, and the one in the Ohio the Wal-Mart of a young man holding an air rifle, if what was done isn’t being considered wrong, then we all have a very big problem.

In the latest police auto dash camera Billing’s video, Officer Morrison is shown shooting a 38-year-old Richard Ramirez three times after a routine traffic stop.

On January 7, Morrison was cleared of any wrongdoing because he "feared Ramirez had a gun."   But no gun was found in or near the car.  Morrison shot Ramirez three times at close range, and afterwards, he continued to yell commands at Ramirez on what he wanted Ramirez to do, as if his body wasn't just destroyed by the three bullets. Ramirez died quickly after the shooting.

But this was not the first time Morrison had shot and killed an unarmed, nonviolent person during a traffic stop.

In 2013, Morrison shot and killed James Shaw after a routine traffic stop. Shaw was first hit with Morrison’s Taser, but was then immediately shot and killed by Morrison. Morrison says he shot Shaw because he had a "crazed look on his face."  Once again, no charges were made on this shooting of Mr. Shaw. 

You can see in both videos, that there were other officers around them and none were as agitated or fearful as Mr. Morrison.  In Mr. Shaw’s death, the shooting itself was off camera, but the other officers that were shown during the event were acting calmly and dealing with the others that had been in the car.  None of them showed the obvious fear that comes across in Morrison’s voice, just as Morrison looked and sounded in the video of the Ramirez shooting.

The main question about all of these shootings is, “What in the hell would have to have been done to get a charge of excess force regarding any of these shootings?”

Apparently, in cities and towns like Ferguson, Cleveland and Billings, it is imperative to NOT get pulled over in a routine traffic stop by the local police unless your medical and life insurance is paid up and current.

As stated, it appears we may all have a very big problem if these types of police killings of unarmed citizens are to continue.

Copyright G.Ater  2015