Denver cops under fire for killings

[UpInArms]

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2004/08/02/build/nation/40-denver-cops.inc

DENVER - A series of deadly shootings by Denver police has raised questions over the department's use of force and prompted the U.S. Justice Department to consider launching an investigation into local law enforcement.

The latest incident occurred last month when a Denver police officer looking for a domestic violence suspect, crawled through an upstairs window and shot dead 63-year-old Frank Lobato as he lay in bed, watching television. The officer thought Lobato, who was not the wanted man, was holding a gun when in fact he was clutching a soda can.

"Enough is enough," said Denver City Council President Elbra Wedgeworth, who is calling for an independent investigation into the department. "This guy is in his bed and you're going to tell me this is legitimate self-defense? There is a serious pattern of excessive force and the police are in denial about it."

<snip>

Before that, police shot dead an 18-year-old hearing impaired man carrying a knife and in 1999 they broke down the wrong door in a drug raid and mistakenly gunned down a man inside. In most cases, those killed have been black or Latino.

...more...

[jpgray]

1. Disgusting, but unfortunately not altogether surprising (nt)

[lottie244]

2. You mean they had to shoot a man in bed before it was enough?

I don't think so. I wonder if this man was a minority?

[saigon68]

3. One thing for sure

He was in the wrong place. At the wrong time.

[wjsander]

7. He sure was in the wrong place...

.. his home. :-(

Cops who shoot first and ask questions later are just as bad as criminals.

[Hawkeye-X]

4. Yes he was.

He was an invalid. I have been hearing about the Lobato shooting for the last few weeks. The thing is, the cops were looking for his nephew which was at large for domestic violence. The nephew was eventually arrested, but not before losing his uncle. The citizenry is raising hell on those cops. After the Childs killing, the police department needed more sensitivity training, and they still DONT GET IT!

Argh. Those cops are morans.

Hawkeye-X

[gatlingforme]

5. The Denver city council should be demanding an investigation

this is rediculous.

[saigon68]

8. They SHOULD BE SENT TO IRAQ

Lots of Amputee Children there, for them to KILL

[DulceDecorum]

6. Send those cops

to Fallujah.

[Jack_DeLeon]

9. Some of those cops seriously fucked up and deserve...

to either be in jail or be out of a job.

What kind of fucking idiot police officer takes a ladder and climbs into some guys 2nd floor window and shoots him while he is in his bed?

Why didnt he fucking try the door, it wasnt even an emergency situation, why the need to break in?

[saigon68]

10. Its more fun to play Rambo

Exciting too.

[0007]

11. Please Mr. Denver Police Department come and shoot me

when I'm in bed tonight. I find very little meaning in trusting most local police departments and even less meaning with the government of the United States of America. A bullet right between the eyes will work. You can tell 'em I'm a bush basher and a bad mouther of cheney.

The only problem is that I'm white not black or Latino.

[saigon68]

12. They would Love to kill all of US

They hate liberals and lefties. They love to beat their wives and kill the yellow and black man.