My son the cop would never do that....

[Savannahmann]

One of the things that enables corruption is self denial, and on some cases, self delusion to the point of ridiculousness. The normal one we see is a Mother crying before the Jury saying her son is a good boy. Granted, he was seen on video tape wearing the severed head of his victim as a hat, but he's a good boy. We want to believe the best about our family and friends. We want to believe that they are good boys, girls, men, and women.

That is also part of the equation that allows the fiction of the few bad apple cops to exist. Not the few bad apples of course, the fiction that it's only a few.

Logically, it simply put can't be a few. If there is one, then there are by definition, a lot of them. One bad cop cannot work in a vacuum. They have back up officers showing up to most of the calls they attend to. From traffic stops to domestic disturbances. You never know what cops are going to show up as backup, and thus have no way to run it as a small in family conspiracy. While all cops may not plant evidence, lie, abuse people, or steal. All the cops do fall in line and back up the testimony of the "few" bad ones in every instance.

Self Delusion probably plays a big part of the self justification of those criminal cops. I may honestly believe that John Smith here is a drug dealer. But my search has turned up no drugs. Well I'm a good cop, and I know a drug dealer when I see one. I can plant a small amount of drugs as evidence, and we can get this drug dealer off the street. I know he's guilty, because I have experience and know better. So while I am doing a bad thing, planting evidence and lying in that scenario, I'm doing it for a good reason in my mind.

All of this came to my mind this morning when I read this article.

The mother of the police officer who was caught on video shooting an unarmed black man in the back as he was running away has broken her silence.

Karen Sharpe, the mother of North Charleston Police Officer Michael Slager, defended her son in an interview, saying she cannot believe that he would do anything like what he's accused of.

She also revealed that his wife, who is eight months pregnant, is devastated.

Ms Sharpe said that she will never watch the video footage of the fatal shooting.

This as she also expressed her sympathy for Walter Scott's family, the man her son shot dead.

A mother who wants to believe the best about her son. He isn't one of those out of control cops you hear about. He's a good boy, Momma raised him right, to do the right thing.

Now, I feel sympathy for the family of Michael Slager. I honestly do. But the time for self denial is past. The time for self delusion is long past, and it's time to look at the Police with a new eye. Yes, your husband, son, father, mother, daughter, wife, cousin, neighbor, and friend are involved in something. Either the disreputable action, or covering up the disreputable action.

Look at the video again. Michael Slager did not waste precious seconds thinking "oh my God I killed a man" his first thought was to get the evidence moved where it needed to be to fit the narrative that Slagle wanted to have shown. The Police didn't question it, not even with five bullets in the back of Walter Sharpe. Five bullets in the back lays waste to the idea that Slager was defending himself. But the department was perfectly happy to go with that story, until they had no choice but to admit that's not what happened. The original offer of the Video was ignored according to reports, and they were surprised when it got play on the News. Then the department had to close ranks with Slager on the outside of the Thin Blue Li(n)e.

Several other police officers had to cooperate in the conspiracy, and without that damning video, the Police would be piously standing up talking about how Slager had no choice, and he was terribly upset by this regrettable loss of life. The man that moved the evidence to drop the Taser near the body of the Walter Sharpe is not disturbed about murdering a man in cold blood, he was only worried that he might not get away with murdering in cold blood.

[hobbit709]

1. The video is pretty definite about what her son did and did not do.

Denial is just a river in Egypt for most people when faced with the truth.

[Adrahil]

4. Yeah... Holy crap.

She refuses to watch the video... No doubt because she KNOWS she can't continue to deny his guilt if she sees it.

I feel sorry for his pregnant wife, but she picked a killer for a husband and father.

[notadmblnd]

20. you know what? Abusive cops often abuse their loved ones too

maybe we should be happy for the pregnant wife? This guy was so freakin cold blooded that I find it hard to believe his violent behavior was limited to outside the family.

[Adrahil]

27. He did seem to exhibit a rather calm demeanor....

Considering he had just shot an unarmed fleeing man to death. His first instinct wasn't to render medical aid, but to plant the evidence. You may be right.

Domestic abusers are cowards, and shooting a fleeing, unarmed man in the back is about as cowardly as they come.

[4Q2u2]

34. Mother's blindness, I mean love.

Gengis Khan's mom said the samething.
He was always a good boy.

I bet Ted Bundy's mom thought he was swell also.

[yeoman6987]

40. I think it is unconditional love for a child the Moms all feel,

But I also think it is pangs of guilt that she did something wrong with raising him. Moms always carry the burden of how children turn out. He k she could have been Mom of the year and still kids don't always turn out as you raise them. That is life but Moms always put the blame of themselves whether they speak it or not.

[cali]

2. great post. k& r n/t

[sendero]

3. Denial is a powerful human ability..

.... that protects us from reality when reality is simply unbearable. I don't blame her, I would do the same thing.

[Dustlawyer]

24. She created the problem! Growing up her son learned he could do no wrong, mom would

defend him no matter what he did at school, etc. He became a spoiled, mean bully because he never had to pay a penalty for bad behavior. I know this because I have seen it too much. This bad cop started down the road because of his mom, and he assumed his brother cops and his bosses would be like mom and he could continue to bully people as an adult.

The other problem many here ignore, though I don't see the solution either is the other cops backing up the bad actors. The blue line punishes any cop who violates the unwritten code by reporting, testifying, telling on their fellow officers. That cop is the one punished. They might as well move away and stop being a cop, because they will never be safe working again. They also risk the safety of their own family. I would like to think that many more would come forward but for the severe consequences they would face for telling the truth against a corrupt brother officer.

[JTFrog]

37. That's some speculation.

Maybe he learned that behavior on the police force. Maybe they are the ones that taught him that he could bully people and they would back him up. Maybe he watched and learned from the best.

Just sayin....

[seaglass]

54. It is interesting to me how the adult man shares responsibility for his murderous behavior with

his mom. This is so typical. Where's dad?

[Dustlawyer]

60. Many do learn it on the job, but most people like that gravitate to the job.

I have worked with many cops, police departments, and associations. I have asked officers that I grew to trust and like about it. That all told me that a too high percentage are looking for a power trip when they become a cop. Other cops have trouble working with them, but they all feel they have to fall in line because if they cross the Blue Line they are screwed. I told one that they need to get together and call an end to the bull shit and tell them it won't be tolerated. He didn't think it would ever happen.
I think it can happen if we start convicting their asses as often as one of these videos surfaces!

[RKP5637]

5. Reality of a situation/event can be extremely hard to accept, especially when

it undermines your beliefs/feelings/emotions ... hence, denial steps in as a psychological defense mechanism for some level of stability.

[FarPoint]

7. Hey...we were thinking the same thing at the same time...

[RKP5637]

10. ...

[FarPoint]

6. Denial is a psyche defense mechanism in this situation...

She can not handle to emotional trauma at this time. This is what the brain does to protect us. Example...learning a dear love one is terminally ill, incest rape survival...mental blocking can save them emotionally....You get my point.

It may be a long time before she realizes the facts.

I have no beef with the mother...yet...unless she goes media mad and acts like a Zimmerman parent.

At the moment...she needs space.

[tavernier]

8. I can accept an officer firing a gun if

he truly believes his life is threatened. Any of us would.

However, this is not the scenario in most of the recent police shootings. And this one? Not even close. Cold blooded murder.

[Locrian]

9. while I certainly hope....

While I certainly hope Slager is held accountable I hope it does not "end" at a (seemingly likely) conviction. There is something DEEPLY SICK AND WRONG with the whole police system, and it needs serious attention.

The Police didn't question it, not even with five bullets in the back of Walter Sharpe. Five bullets in the back lays waste to the idea that Slager was defending himself. But the department was perfectly happy to go with that story, until they had no choice but to admit that's not what happened. The original offer of the Video was ignored according to reports, and they were surprised when it got play on the News. Then the department had to close ranks with Slager on the outside of the Thin Blue Li(n)e.

Several other police officers had to cooperate in the conspiracy, and without that damning video, the Police would be piously standing up talking about how Slager had no choice, and he was terribly upset by this regrettable loss of life.

From this article - I think summarizes the bigger issue:

Nationwide, training that pushes pre-emptive action, military experience that creates a warzone mindset, and legal system favoring police in misconduct cases all lead to scenarios where officers to see the people they serve as enemies, he said.

"It's not just training. It's not just unreasonable fear. It's not just the warrior mentality. It's not just court decisions that almost encourage the use of it. It is not just race," Tucker said. "It is all of that."

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20150409/us--police_officer-fatal_shooting-ff491d9307.html

[jwirr]

32. The summary is the best description of what is happening that I have seen. This is what we need

to deal with. NOW.

[In_The_Wind]

11. How many mothers are going to say "I knew my child was a potential killer" ?

[TexasProgresive]

12. Give the lady time to get past the 1st step of grief.

She has lost the son she knows as surely if he was the one shot. Hopefully she will move through the 5 stages of grief to reach acceptance.

1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance

[valerief]

14. She's likely just as racist as her killer son. nt

[Telcontar]

16. Well bless your little heart

[TexasProgresive]

19. Maybe, but you don't know her

Rushing to judgement is not an admirable trait, neither is blaming parents off handedly for the actions of their children, especially grown children.

[valerief]

21. Hence my use of "likely" rather than "definitely." nt

[TexasProgresive]

33. If that makes you feel better, OK- just saying

[7962]

30. Has the investigation shown the killer to be a racist?

By your logic, anyone killing someone of a different race is a racist.
The cop is a murderer. I havent seen any evidence that he is a racist murderer.

[Solomon]

39. oh sweet Jesus!

The mother ain't the only one in denial.

[heaven05]

46. well, even the Zimpig

zimmerman for the unknowing, had his admirers and defenders on here. To be expected.

[7962]

48. How the heck is that "defending" him? I said he is a murderer. That doesnt make him a racist

Maybe he is. But he is most certainly a murderer. Did you miss the clip yesterday of the dozen cops beating the shit out of the white guy in CA? They're abusing people EVERYWHERE and they dont give a shit one way or the other. It does no good to automatically label him a racist simply because he's white. What about that black cop who shot the white guy in Alabama a few months back, he's a racist too?
I say put the guy away for life if not the needle.
And ETA: screw zimmerman; he'll see his own downfall soon enough i'm sure.

[heaven05]

50. okay

[ann---]

43. Or, it's more

likely that he LEARNED it from her in his upbringing.

[valerief]

13. Their Conspiracy of Innocence. I'm sick of it. They're fucking monsters. nt

[alcibiades_mystery]

15. Families of murderers often suffer along with them - especially spouses and children

Of course, we rarely hear about these families.

[malaise]

17. Walter Scott n/t

[darkangel218]

18. K&R

[Helen Borg]

22. The son you knew would never do that.

The real son would, apparently. Really sad.

[Mariana]

58. She said she will never watch the video of the shooting.

That way, she can continue to pretend that her son is a Good Guy.

[DeSwiss]

23. Denial presumes rationality -- a means of avoidance with a reality that can't be fathomed.

- Insanity, on the other hand, has the luxury of not having to make sense to anyone but the insane.

K&R

[Enrique]

25. what good would it do if the mother condemned her son?

i'm ok with society condemning him and punishing him if he's guilty, and letting the mother support him if she wants.

[Rex]

26. "Ms Sharpe said that she will never watch the video footage of the fatal shooting."

Well I don't blame her, who wants to watch the son you've raised - commit a heinous murder? Denial is a strong motivator. However, over time she will probably watch it and realize just how far her son has fallen from being a respected police officer.

He didn't even try to save his victim. I bet that would bother her for the rest of her days. Assuming she herself is being honest and sincere.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

28. i have a friend whose son is a cop nearby

he has a camera on his bike and has opted for one on his body (before some of this mess kicked up). he says it is the best protection he has for his duty and couldn't imagine being without one. i would think all the good cops out there (yes, I know there are good cops out there) would LOVE the idea of a camera... those that are fighting them? i just don't understand why...

do your job and you have nothing to fear from a camera.

sP

[7962]

31. Excellent post.

[SunSeeker]

42. Exactly. A camera is a friend to a good cop. nt

[n2doc]

29. Tsarnaev's Mom felt the same way about her son

http://twitchy.com/2013/04/19/dzhokhar-tsarnaevs-mother-says-shes-100-percent-sure-this-was-a-setup/

Mothers are not exactly unbiased.

[Stellar]

35. Just how many good cops are there in this country.

Oh, I'm sure there are a few. So, you got the cop that did the killing and the cop/s that backed him up....self defense cop. Any cop that writes a narrative backing up the killer cop is equally responsible for the murder in my book. And, he should be tried for that crime.

'Several other police officers had to cooperate in the conspiracy, and without that damning video, the Police would be piously standing up talking about how Slager had no choice, and he was terribly upset by this regrettable loss of life.'

When every cop is responsible for his or herself and not the blue line, then maybe this country will be ready to change. That black cop should be in jail too and f**k the blue-line!

[yeoman6987]

47. I don't know if I buy that

When a doctor molests a patient in his office during a check up which happens a lot, do we put doctors in the same category and say well there are still good doctors out there?

[Stellar]

52. Is that the same thing?

Yours is a case of the patients word against the doctors word. Who is to say he's a good/bad doctor...the patient or the doctor. And I'm not sure that it happens a lot either.

I speak of the person who agrees with the killer cop in his narrative in his own print or handwriting, it's in the record that was filed by the killer. It's not like the dead man can say anything, against the cop to say he's a good or bad person.

[aikoaiko]

36. Denial - not just a river in Egypt.

It has to be very difficult to accept that your son did something so horrible.

[B2G]

38. This reaction is hardly limited to the mother of cops

It's pretty universal if you read the news.

[Savannahmann]

41. I know. I even mentioned that.

The normal one we see is a Mother crying before the Jury saying her son is a good boy. Granted, he was seen on video tape wearing the severed head of his victim as a hat, but he's a good boy.

I'm pretty sure that covered it.

[B2G]

45. It's amazing to me

Do they really have no clue or are just in total denial?

I think what they're trying to convince themselves of is 'I could never raise someone who does something like that'.

[tech3149]

44. There is most certainly an element of self denial but also an aspect of psychological distortion

This psychological distortion is pervasive in all positions of authority, especially police and "corrections" officers. Do a little research on Yale's Milgram study of authority and compliance or the Stanford prison experiment. These and other studies show a predominant tendency for abuse of the power granted by a position of authority. The same can be seen in studies of the affluent and corporate executives. Unless there is some balancing force it is entirely too easy for even the best of us to fall victim to a sense of entitlement and abuse a position of power.

[heaven05]

49. I appreciate your honesty

[rock]

51. That and the fact that you're dog doesn't bark

Makes you Person of the Year!

[logosoco]

53. Funny that she says she can't watch the video of what her son did, I cannot watch the

video of her!
In my family of marriage, there is a child killer. I have known him since he was 2. He killed a little girl about a dozen years ago and not a day goes by that I don't think of it. There was major shock at first, but not denial, other than "I can't believe this has happened". Surely I never thought he could have done such an evil action, but he did and telling myself he "never could have done this" would not have been healing or productive. My nephew is on death row now. I did not speak out for him to be spared this, mainly because the family of the victim wanted the DP.

It would be great for this woman, and even society, if she can accept that her son did a very evil thing, and probably has before. Denying his actions will not help her at all. One thing that helped me when there was a killer in my family was I started working in a day care. I felt that giving love to children from my heart was very healing and made me feel somewhat at peace.
I learned that the only way to stop bad is to do good.
What a great thing it would be if cops who abuse their authority and become murderers could have seen this. Perhaps it could stop them.
In a perfect world, this woman (and many others) could step forward and make change within the police community. Defending or denying his actions does not help her, or us or the many victims of police brutality in the past.

[frylock]

55. MOMMY! MOMMY! MOMMY! Look at your son...

You might have loved me
But now I got a gun
You better stay out of my way
I think I've had a bad day
I've had a bad day
I've had a bad day

[Marrah_G]

56. It must be very difficult as a mother to wrap your brain around such a thing

I feel badly for her. It's not her fault that he did what he did. In her eyes he is still her little boy.

[Savannahmann]

57. I understand that.

Which is why I said it's very common for this sort of thing to happen. Mothers who tell people that her son/daughter is a good man/woman.

[JanMichael]

59. not to sound nutty but we hear this all of the time.

Mother's and occasionally father's are often blind to their children's capacities. I personally am sick of it.