Video Shows Dallas Police Shooting Schizophrenic Man Within Seconds Of Knocking On His Door

[KamaAina]

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/03/17/3634610/video-shows-dallas-police-shooting-schizophrenic-man-within-seconds-knocking-door/

The family of Jason Harrison released video Monday of Dallas police shooting dead their 38-year-old son just seconds after police arrived at the family’s front door. Harrison’s mother had called the police in June for help getting her mentally ill son to the hospital, as he was off his medication and experiencing a crisis.

The video shows two officers knocking on the door, as Harrison’s mother calmly answers and walks out, telling the officers that her son is “bipolar schizo.” Harrison stands in the doorway carrying a small screwdriver no larger than the size of his hand. Cops raise their guns and tell Harrison to “drop that for me” as Harrison appears to take a few steps forward and his mother screams “Jay” repeatedly.

Police fire several shots as Harrison drops to the ground. The mother shouts out in agony, “Oh! you killed my child!” Between the time officers first knock on the door and the time Harrison is on the ground, less than 20 seconds have elapsed....

The lawyer for the police told the Dallas Morning News the officers felt threatened by the screwdriver, which could be used as a deadly weapon with “one blow.” And police say that Harrison’s mother described Harrison as “acting violently” when she called 911.

20 seconds? Slackers! In Cleveland, it only took two!

[kelliekat44]

1. I just want to

[uponit7771]

2. Another case where the cops could have seemingly just stepped away from the person..

... and got distance and deescalated the situation ... the guy had a screwdriver... not a good distance weapon.

Instead, the cops just start shooting....

Not ...

[BubbaFett]

3. Cops are not trained to stand down

they are trained to take control of situations, they run head first into danger where we civilians run the other way.

With so few feet in a cramped place with no cover, what did you expect?

[SwissTony]

4. "they run head first into danger"??? What danger?

"With so few feet in a cramped place with no cover"!!! Are you fucking kidding me?

[BubbaFett]

14. 9-11, sandy hook - yep first responders do what we can'

not kidding

If a cop tells you to drop something that can harm him or her and you don't?

You get shot or tased or hit.

Sorry, that's the reality in grown up world.

[Jenny Red Eye]

77. What if you are deaf?

[DisgustipatedinCA]

80. In Bubba Fett's world, if you're deaf, you may as well be "reaching for your waistband"

Bubba would tell you to just go ahead and die like an adult, but he's already been locked out of this thread.

[morningfog]

91. Bubba also has no qualms with killing anyone because of their mental illness and

admits that people mean nothing to him and his fellow pigs.

[DiverDave]

81. Then why didnt they tase him?

The murderers you are defending are SUPPOSED to de-escalate situations like this.

There was no danger, just stupid cops that murdered another disabled person.
fail.

[Comrade Grumpy]

85. Fascist apologia. n/t

[SwissTony]

86. That's a very scared world, not a grown up one.

I can't see UK or Oz or Dutch police reacting in the same way in the same situation.

[uponit7771]

99. +1, Those police don't hate the people they serve...

[SwissTony]

5. How would the cops in the UK/Australia/Denmark/etc have handled this? n/t

[TubbersUK]

104. Exactly n/t

[uponit7771]

6. They can take control of the situation and be smart at the same time, these cops weren't either...

...the escalated the situation when there were other options... seemingly.


When 1934uj 1omipqsd; videos show up of them doing this to rich people then I'll prolly agree

[BubbaFett]

15. No

the guy disobeyed a lawful order given to ensure officer safety.

Sometimes you roll and you win, sometimes you lose.

Dude lost.

[liberalhistorian]

53. He was mentally ill and may not have fully

understood what was happening, especially if he was in a psychotic episode. If the multiple cops had actually done their fucking job instead of just pulling out their weapons and shooting within TWENTY SECONDS, the "dude" would not have "lost". But maybe you don't give a shit about the mentally ill, in which case that would explain why you don't care when they're shot down like animals by the trigger-happy so-called "protectors".

[Nuclear Unicorn]

83. "the guy disobeyed a lawful order given to ensure officer safety."

fuck the system

[morningfog]

92. Oink oink.

[etherealtruth]

103. What?

This rationale essentially excuses the execution of the mentally ill simply for displaying symptoms of mental illness

[yeoman6987]

79. First of all they were called. They didn't step into anything

The Mom called because she could not handle whatever situation was going on. The cops did not stop the guy on the street or a bogus vehicle stop. They went because a 911 call was placed and arrived with a person holding a weapon. This situation is different then others where the police provoked it. Police for a change were minding their business and were called to go.

[uponit7771]

94. Link and quote the screwdriver being a "weapon" ... I'm not going to take LEOs word for anything...

...they like to kill too much

[TeamPooka]

7. Cops are not trained. When you see 3-5 cops struggling to arrest 1 person and shoot them

instead, that demonstrates a lack of training and ability.

[BubbaFett]

16. Nope

actually they get a lot of training. Our tax dollars pay for it.

[tkmorris]

48. Yes. BAD training

[liberalhistorian]

55. Indeed, and very litte, if any,

in understanding and handling the mentally ill.

[liberalhistorian]

54. No, they don't. They get very little training

in how to handle the mentally ill. They're trained to escalate, whereas the mentally ill don't understand that and they need to be trained to "de-escalate" and understand the dynamics of the mentally ill. Police departments that have done so, that have specially trained units that handle these situations, do much better in dealing with the mentally ill; they don't just murder them at the drop of a hat.

[TeamPooka]

89. That's right.

[uppityperson]

8. Maybe they could have, I don't know, backed up? And taken time to assess if he was

dangerous or not. I know, it is a wild thought, not having cops escalate situations but de-escalate them. But no, let's crowd in so close that if anything might at some point happen, all we can do is shoot him.

[BubbaFett]

17. Cops. Are. Not. Trained. To. Back. Up.

How many times can people be told this until they finally get it? They are trained to make you COMPLY.

The police aren't counselors, nurturers, or caregivers. They never have been.

[cwydro]

22. Why didn't they taze him then?

Why do they carry tasers if not to use them on occasion?

[BubbaFett]

25. Ask the cops

I have no idea.

[cwydro]

33. That shooting was unjustified.

And I am one usually to wait for "all the facts to come out."

[BubbaFett]

35. No it wasn't

Dude had a weapon, dude came at the cops, dude got dropped, pretty cut and dried.

[cwydro]

47. He was "twiddling" a small screwdriver. That was not a large screwdriver.

We're just going to have to disagree.

That PD will be settling that lawsuit for a hefty sum, I'd be willing to bet.

The cops gave conflicting accounts in their statements.

[treestar]

64. Exactly right about the lawsuit

It is time for cops to be trained better.

I know they have changed their approaches in the past. They can change this. Mentally ill people are not as dangerous as they think. And the guy had a little screwdriver. When you have a gun you feel threatened by that?

[cwydro]

69. I know, right?

That situation was very badly handled.

And when the guy was bleeding out on the ground - the idiots were still telling him to "drop the weapon."

[DiverDave]

110. And you and yours are happy?

"dude has a weapon, dude got dropped", sounds pretty gleeful.
You will never understand that cops are supposed to bring folks in alive, not dead.
But that ruins your perception that they are bad asses that can shoot
whoever they want, over a small screwdriver.
Pretty sick, dude.

[CanSocDem]

29. They are PUBLIC SERVANTS...

...you do know what that means, don't you?


'servants' not KINGS.


.

[BubbaFett]

31. Tell a cop that

and let me know how far it gets you.

[CanSocDem]

37. I tell cops that all the time.

You obviously live in another world.


.

[BubbaFett]

38. Yep

I live in the real world.

I think you are full of it though.

[CanSocDem]

45. I am 'protected'.

My skin is white. My mental health is sound and I am completely aware of how dangerous and unpredictable cops can be. I avoid them whenever possible. If I were in trouble, I'd never call one, out of the fear of getting someone like you.



.

[morningfog]

87. Someone is full of it alright. Mr. Tough guy.

[uppityperson]

109. and...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=318126

[Rex]

30. Yes cops are trained to back up. You seem oblivous to what cops do.

I know you feel like an expert, because you watch CSI. News flash...those are actors not real cops. Cops most certainly do know how to back up...I guess you would have to actually know a few to know that.

[BubbaFett]

32. You know precious little

[PowerToThePeople]

57. i know something

Bubba fett is probably going to eat pizza.

[cwydro]

107. Flagged for review already.

I'm thinking that poster does not belong on DU.

[treestar]

66. There was a video on DU of some UK cops that

ran away from a guy with a knife - just far enough to avoid him. Until they subdued him finally. It's the American Macho thing that makes it not work.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

82. You're on the right track.

Well, shit...I chickened out and redacted everything I wrote. Please just know that it was not very complimentary to Mr. Fett, who I do not believe belongs here.

[Rex]

105. I agree with you there.

Fett seems to believe cops are supermen that never back down. Shows what he knows...which is nothing but what he sees on the TVEE. His excuses are all lame and epic fails

[CJCRANE]

51. It's basically Judge Dredd / Robocop come true. nt

[Half-Century Man]

58. Cops. Should. Be. Trained. To. Back. Up.

Last edited Thu Mar 19, 2015, 11:56 AM - Edit history (1)

They are mandated to back off of vehicle pursuits in dense population areas.
They regularly back down when confronting white people armed with assault weapons.

I'm not accepting that two grappling trained armor wearing heavily muscled peace officers were so scared of a fat spongy looking young man holding a $3.00 screwdriver they had to immediately end him to save themselves.

Unless it was because of his super powered skin tone.
How about we just hire only police officers with such a skin tone? That way the officers will be as super powered as the people so regularly targeted.

[treestar]

68. There are mentally ill white guys out there and they never seem to get shot

Weird, because they are more numerous.

[Half-Century Man]

71. It's the super powers inherent in skin tone

What else could those poor bastards to when confronted by that much caged awesomeness And a screwdriver?

[uponit7771]

98. +1

[uponit7771]

97. Well, according to Wilson Brown was the Incredible Hulk or something... soooooo, their might be some

...psychosis there... fear of brown skinned folk or something.

[uppityperson]

59. Some. Are. More. Should. Be.

How many times must people be told this until they finally get it?

[treestar]

63. Well that needs to change then

before more people get killed.

[uponit7771]

96. "make you comply" = deescalate?!!? No!! That's just bad training... PERIOD

[uponit7771]

95. +1

[happyslug]

111. This has to be considered on a case by case basis

Columbine, for example, if the police had been more aggressive and went straight into the school, they may have saved lives, but instead the the Police waited and isolated the school before they moved in. By the time the Police did move, the victims were dead and the killers had committed suicide.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre

[uppityperson]

112. I see a huge difference between dealing with a mass murderer in the process of killing and a person

who answers the door with a screwdriver in their hand.

[Takket]

11. killing someone is not "taking control of the situation"

Taking control of the situation is exhausting all means available to protect the civilian population and arrest those who in violation of the law.

back up......... run if you have too... if they chase after you and leave you no choice, then shoot to kill.

[BubbaFett]

18. That doesn't coincide with reality however.

[Half-Century Man]

73. The reality of cowards opening fire at the slightest provocation?

Just at the powerless of course.

[uponit7771]

100. ..and it should, that's the point.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

12. This is your response? I'm near abandoning hope for this place.

[BubbaFett]

19. Yes, that is my eminently level-headed and reality-based response.

[SwampG8r]

21. like those brave brave officers at Columbine

Oh...no wait they hid behind d cover until the gunfire ended

[WDIM]

39. The police should always put the citizens safety first.

There is no way a guy with a screw driver put them in danger. Thesr cops are cowards that hide behind their guns.

[BubbaFett]

42. Nope

they put officer safety first.

You, as a civilian, do not mean much to LEOs.

[WDIM]

46. well that is flat out wrong and we need a paradigm shift

"It cannot be reconciled through wisdom justice and love.

As public employees they need to put the safety of all citizens first. Even potentially dangerous suspects. Because everybody is innocent until proven guilty.
It is not for the police to be vigilantes.

And rationalizing it away and saying thats just how it is and allowing these officers to get away with murder we will never change anything and the police abuse of power will just continue to grow.

I wouldnt call the police for anything. There are to many of them that believe it is okay to take the easy cowardly road and hide behind a gun instead of actually doing police work and yes putting themselves in danger even against people with screw drivers.

[liberalhistorian]

56. Then why the fuck am I paying

their goddamned salaries, benefits and perks? And, with that attitude, I don't even want them "protecting" me.

[Half-Century Man]

60. And there we have it

We do not mean much to LEOS.
No Shit
If the individual parts that make up America mean nothing. Their sworn oath to protect America is worthless.
This is why law enforcement absolutely needs purging and demilitarization.
Police need constant drug testing to look for steroid abuse and signs of alcohol abuse.

[morningfog]

90. It took him a bit to get to that truth.

With more conversation, I am sure Bubba would reveal even more about him and his ilk. Too bad he's locked out for disrupting the thread.

[treestar]

67. Jaysus H Keerist

Really? And I've been called cop apologist. If you were right, we'd need to disband them immediately.

[cwydro]

72. Same here.

Hoping this poster is not in law enforcement.

[Ikonoklast]

93. LEO are all civilians. They are not military, although many cosplay as such.

That "Us vs Them" attitude drilled into their thick craniums by wannabe but neverwere DI's while at academy is bullshit.

Any cop that thinks he has special rights superior to those of any other citizen needs to fuck right off.

[uponit7771]

101. +1, but you know... the guy COULD have thrown small screws at the cops ... that would've given them

... a boo boo /sarcasm

the cops are so scared of the people they're supposed to serve

[Rex]

27. Seems like just the opposite, cops are craven cowards with a gun. Those two obviously

were too cowardly to try and talk the boy down.

[BubbaFett]

34. You can't talk to someone

who is less than 5 feet away from you, coming at you with a weapon. Sorry, the real world will never be a nurturing fantasy land.

[WDIM]

44. If two cops cant repel and subdue a man with a screwdriver

Then they shouldnt be cops. They are cowards. The idea that it is okay for police to shoot first and ask questions later is not okay.

[uponit7771]

102. +1

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

28. What do I expect? Better training.

Jumping immediately to 'kill someone' is not 'taking control of the situation'.

[BubbaFett]

36. Here's some handy tips:

1. Comply with the police

2. Obey their commands

3. If they are coming at you with weapons drawn, HIT THE DECK and spread your arms out.

The police are not friendly, they aren't your friends, and they are NOT counselors, nurturers, or protectors (well, they protect themselves and each other).

Chances are, if you don't threaten them, and you show them you aren't a threat, you won't get shot.

Pretty simple, huh?

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

40. Not that simple if you're mentally ill.

And someone has called for help to get you to a hospital because you're not in your right mind.

[BubbaFett]

41. Rule Number One

don't call the law.

They aren't mental health workers.

[Half-Century Man]

74. Ever.

Not only are they not mental health workers, I question their own mental health.
Mr.Fett (sorry, I'm assuming you are male, if you are female or transgender I apologize), if you represent an overall mindset; you need reprogramming.

[cwydro]

49. I have several close friends who are LEOs.

One in particular would take issue with your characterization of "not being friendly."

She is very friendly, and she is a true "protect and serve" officer. She has helped the homeless in her patrol area on more than one occasion.

She's excellent at using words before force. Perhaps she is in the minority, but she is not the only one.

If you are a police officer, I am truly sorry for those in your patrol area.

[liberalhistorian]

52. I expect them to not escalate

situations with mentally ill persons. I expect them to professionally know how to take control of a situation like this (no gun, a screwdriver against several cops with several guns) without being pansies and murdering anything and anyone that moves even slightly in their direction. If they can't do that, they need another fucking line of work. Period. But nowadays cops shoot first and only ask questions when forced to in court.

[treestar]

62. What for? And they killed a mentally ill man with no gun but only a screwdriver.

And amazingly they never seem to kill white people in similar situations.

[treestar]

61. Exactly

This macho thing is beyond ridiculous. How many black men are going to die over the fact they can't be "cowards" and just back off?

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

9. I cannot believe how this police action is being defended by a commentator on CNN

He's saying Harrison lunged at the officers with a screwdriver. We don't see anyone lunging in the body cam video. Each of the two officers in their official statements say Harrison lunged at the other officer. The police defender also says deadly force was justified because a sharp screwdriver could penetrate the bullet proof vests they were wearing. Some screwdrivers aren't sharp at all and usually you have to sharpen one to turn it into any kind of a weapon. The mother called the police and asked them to come to her residence to get her son to a place for treatment. On the phone she specifically asked for officers trained to handle situations involving the mentally ill. I wouldn't blame the mother if she took a gun and went to the houses of each officer and dispatched them like the common murdering criminals they are.

One day they're going to push citizens too far and every neighbor on the street will grab a gun and the police at the scene as well as their backup are going to have a revolution on their hands

[geomon666]

10. Police Murder

Right there on video and guess what, they'll be cleared of any wrongdoing if they haven't been already.

[cwydro]

50. They're still on the street.

No action taken at all so far.

[HereSince1628]

13. 20k suicides per year, 20% of the US experiences a mental disorder each year

Mental illness crisis response, requires trained specialists, not special weapons.

Park the armored vehicles, rack to assault weapons...until you need them in public places..

Bring BACK the men in the white coats to deal with family crises of the mentally disordered.

Mental Health First Aid -IS- a real specialty.

There is no reason for untrained police and fire fighters to get in above their heads except that communities don't value the lives of the mentally disordered.

[cwydro]

20. The video is appalling.

That guy was in no way a threat.

Why do cops carry tasers for crying out loud? They never seem to use them.

[n2doc]

24. Whatever happened to Tasers?

Police seem to have gone from basic nonlethal techniques to tasers to just guns and shoot to kill pretty quickly. I know Tasers have their problems and can cause death, but nothing like getting shot multiple times in the chest!

[Rex]

26. Let's face it, cops are craven cowards. They are only brave when it is 5 on 1

and they still manage to choke the guy to death. Cowards hiding behind a gun and a badge. If you want your child to die from bullets, just call the cops. They seem to lack any ability for saving people.

[Solomon]

43. Wtf!?

I'm sick of this shit. Fucking cowards. That's right. I call them cowards!

[Half-Century Man]

70. I still say we should reverse this shit.

Zero automatic weapons for city and county level policing.
One armored vehicle per county.
No regularly carried lethal weapons below the rank of Sergeant (lethal weapons kept locked in patrol cars with remote keyless access to be opened by Sergeants or higher in cases of dire emergency.
Refocus LEOS to crime prevention from population suppression.
Departmental hiring policies should mimic population ethnic diversities.
End asset forfeiture (and return all assets seized in the last 20 years if there was not a criminal conviction).

[Brigid]

75. Do you know why I really keep my front door locked all the time these days,

With the chain lock, a regular lock, and a dead bolt? Not so much to prevent break-ins (my building is secured and my windows are seven stories up, making a break-in highly unlikely), but to help prevent some insane scenario involving cops. There is nothing to prevent them from busting in here just because they got the wrong address on a warrant or something. There have been an awful lot of shootings in this town lately, and I'm sure the cops around here are awfully jumpy.

[damnedifIknow]

108. I'm glad I'm not the only one

I took it a step further though and installed security cameras. Paranoid I may be but I've seen enough.

[Jenny Red Eye]

76. You know one thing they should teach at the academy? BACKING UP!!

[Initech]

78. Yay guns!

[Nuclear Unicorn]

84. The people doing the shooting in the video are the ones you would have enforce gun bans.

[Catherine Vincent]

88. I saw the story last night on AC 360

What a shame. These officers were supposedly trained to handle the mentally ill but it didn't help this guy. He had a screwdriver but it didn't look like he lunged at the cops where they would fear for their lives. And that poor mother witnessed his killing and you know she is feeling guilty since she called the cops to help her. The report said she asked specifically for cops that are trained to deal with situations like this. Very sad.

[damnedifIknow]

106. The mother was very calm as she walked out

she didn't come running out of the house screaming for help so obviously she didn't consider her son a threat. The mistake she made was calling the police in the first place but certainly never dreamed it would turn out like this.

[sorefeet]

113. I've always heard its cheaper

to kill someone than to wound them. Lengthy, drawn out law suits. Just like on the job they prefer a death over a severe injury that cost them more if the person lives. Maybe that is what they teach them now days, because they just go berserk and shoot TOO many bullets. But this was just plain murder. I would not have feared the man one bit. I am sure I could have talked to him. And I did not see him lunge or attack the pigs. They are just cowards. Plain and simple, cowards.