17-year-old shot and killed by officer conducting welfare check

ZeroCool@slrpnk.net to News@lemmy.world – 568 points –
17-year-old shot and killed by officer conducting welfare check
abcnews.go.com
115

There is no active threat to the community

Except from the COPS WHO KEEP FUCKING SHOOTING EVERYONE YOU STUPID CUNTS

I'm gonna go with: don't send cops on welfare checks. Send somebody competent to respond to mental health challenges, preferably someone not wearing a police uniform (after all, at this point a lot of folks think "unaccountable killer" when they see that uniform and there's honestly reason for that).

Send somebody competent - are you sure there are enough competent people willing to this without protection?

In my experience, social worker programs are only understaffed because they are severely underfunded.

And we cycle back to “defund the police” being a bad slogan when we want to direct some of that law enforcement funding to support personal welfare

Maybe they should have borrowed corporate lingo to call for right-sizing police, or restructure community resources.

"Defund the police" is such obviously bad marketing that it makes you wonder if the people who coined the phrase were trying to help or hinder reform efforts.

The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave, state police said.

They need to start keeping then in jail cells like they do with everyone else whi commits a homicide

That would have to be negotiated in the Police Union contracts. Same reason they can't fire pedo teachers immediately, they are contractually obligated to keep paying them until they are investigated or found guilty.

Most of these cops "retire" to end the internal investigation and keep their benefits, then decide to "unretire", and get hired in the next town with a clean record.

The police have one of the strongest unions in America, and almost no one bats an eye. But let Starbucks employees try to unionize and you'll hear how greedy and corrupt unions are.

Fuck that. State or federal police should be arresting them that day. The local cops bargaining only matters because we allow it.

Most of these cops "retire" to end the internal investigation and keep their benefits, then decide to "unretire", and get hired in the next town with a clean record.

This is honestly the only real problem imo. I get sometimes it's a pretty obvious case, but we do still have due process and they deserve their time in court, no matter how shit they are.

If they couldn't investigate themselves and the investigations didn't just end when they quit, we'd be in a much better place.

Jail cell for thee, paid vacation for me 🐷

I’ll say it again and again, before you call the cops for anything, you need to remember what you’re actually doing. You are willingly inviting an armed person, who will not lose a fight or back down, who is shielded from legal consequences, into your situation.

Grandpa isn’t answering his phone or the door and you’re worried? Call a locksmith, not the cops. Cops will just kick the door or call the locksmith anyway, now you have extra problems

That's what defund the police is about. It's about shifting the funding to other sources, social workers and such, that can handle calls like these. It relieves police of having to deal with stuff like this, too.

Defund was a horrible fucking name for the movement though. We'd need the conservatives to be on board and they're not going for that shit cause they'll stop listening as soon as they think you're taking power away from their tastiest boots.

Freedom Funding For Police Pact ought to be about right for the right leaning crowd.

Democrats fucking SUCK ASS at slogans... So many good ideas ruined by inept marketing.

True, but not so much in this case. It was BLM, not the Democrats, and most Democrats rejected it. Biden even increased police funding in response.

I think most of this was because of the successful propaganda campaign that made every BLM protest sound like a riot when it was some tiny percentage in truth

Or shunting off good candidates. Bernie has been talking truth for fucking 50 years but no nomination. There’s no central talking head, no real stated goal…

I vote blue but fuck me they suck at rallying voters to a cause

Even I agree with that. And I was one of those annoying guys screaming ACAB and shit. I really wish that didn't end up becoming the main slogan, because I really agree with the idea behind it. It's like if pro-choice people were framing their own position as pro-killing babies on their signs and stuff.

Honestly ACAB is another badly defined slogan.

The idea was that if only 10% of cops are actually "bad" and will hurt you, if the other 90% aren't reporting them and holding them accountable, you cant trust that ANY cop is part of that 90% because choosing wrong can end your life.

But then again you can't explain all of that in one word lol

That's not entirely true. Police departments demand conformity, following orders, and keeping a code of silence. Officers who tried to speak out about it in the past have been killed. While that's the extreme end of things, it doesn't take long to realize that being a good person and being a cop are mutually exclusive. Some departments make sure you receive morally dubious assignments during your year long probation. Assignments like arresting homeless people and destroying all of their possessions. Can you destroy someone's life like that? If not then they flush you out and complain about an officer shortage for more money. That's what ACAB is about. The guys who stood there and watched George Floyd get murdered are only the tip of the problem. The underwater iceberg is absolute lack of morality they show when interacting with the public.

Optics and phrasing matter. For as much criticism as Democrats get about being inept at it, ACAB and Defund show that the critics aren't a whole lot better.

Arguably, the way people perceive your project is more important than what it actually does. Probably a combination of both dems being shit at optics and repugs having the most well oiled propaganda machine in the world, cause it keeps fucking happening.

Planned parenthood

BLM

ACAB

defund the police

Communist/socialist policies

The left in general just seems terrible at this. I suspect it's because we hold ourselves to morals.

I will say that Buttagieg had the perfect rebuttal to being called socialist -- "they're going to call us socialist anyway, that shouldn't stop us from making socialist policies", paraphrasing.

Hard disagree.

  • Police officers getting military equipment for free.

  • Police officers using gov funds to finance their own criminal activity in the name of "protecting the public"

  • Police officers committing crimes and the city pays the victims

  • Police officer unions protecting all bad apples. Insurance companies are struggling to reel them in. Cities are at their mercy.

Defund them. Make them pay for their own shit.

Because right now, they can absolutely fuck around with little consequences.

I mean shifting responsibility over to social workers etc for some of their jobs rn will accomplish most of that, but yes, it's fucking insane how many war weapons they get to use on the people who literally pay for them, accountability definitely needs to be addressed as well

He wasn't saying it was a bad idea, but that it was a bad name. You want to get something done in a democracy, you gotta get people on board. You want people on board, you gotta sell it.

Agreed. Don’t call the cops, figure your own shit out and call the appropriate professional for your situation

Can we give them the benefit of the doubt, please? They probably thought the child was a dog or a partner of theirs... #ACAB

"The Columbus Police Department was conducting a welfare check on a subject following a report of potential self-harm," Nebraska State Patrol said in a press release.

"Mission Accomplished"

The awfulness of the story aside, I do want to put a small bit of appreciation toward ABC News for not dropping some bullshit like "17-year-old man dead following an officer-involved shooting during a welfare check." The voice is passive still, but at least it cuts to the point, that the kid was killed by a police officer.

My only notes are that it should say "Officer shot and killed 17-year-old while conducting a welfare check." As it is, it's like it's saying the kid was shot and killed, and it just so happened to be by an officer.

My only notes are that it should say "Officer shot and killed 17-year-old while conducting a welfare check."

I think the news would have to put allegedly in there somewhere.

No ‘allegedly’ required in the passive version, so not required in the active version

'Allegedly' is not required because they are quoting the state police:

A teenager was shot and killed by a police officer responding to a residence in Nebraska to conduct a welfare check, state police said.

Dear police: you cannot check the welfare of someone by shooting them with your gun. Thanks, ACAB.

Actually you can... It's just that the welfare check will result with "dead".

Schrodinger could have shot the box a bunch & figured out the cat's welfare...

Reminds me of that joke about the hunters in the woods.

"911, what's your emergency?"

Help, my friend got bit by a snake and I think he's dead!

"Keep calm, and make sure if he's actually dead."

BLAM

Okay, he's definitely dead

If you wonder why American cops are so trigger happy Amnesty International has the answer:

With Whom are Many U.S. Police Departments Training? With a Chronic Human Rights Violator – Israel

I'd honestly rather have them train with the American military if they have to train with one at all. Then we're one step close to putting them under UCMJ and watching them babble about someone walking towards them in a court full of combat veterans.

TBF I'd rather have them train with Israel than the people that are beheading babies and burning people alive.

Burning people alive is what israel is famous for. Most of the insane stories you heard on oct7 are quite literally things israel had done to the Palestinians in the past.

Hamas did NOT bake a jewish baby in an oven, though, the Israelis did bake a Palestinian child in an oven and made the child’s father watch

I'm not clicking that malware. Find an article from a reputable source or peddle your disinformation elsewhere.

And it just links to a Twitter post as far as I can tell

For some reason the police just love to murder suicidal people. I think that the brain of a conservative short circuits at the thought of it, then the monkey rage comes out.

I don't understand the relationship between suicide and conservatives. Can you explain?

Assuming that your question was genuine (the downvoters probably assume you're a troll), I am just philosophizing. A lot of conservatives have a complete lack of empathy for other people and will often become angry at seeing people who present as "weak". It's the way that bullies work--they look for the vulnerable people and target in on them for harassment. I am convinced that conservatives can't handle the concept of suicide. They have spent their lives not really introspecting and so never have the capacity to feel that way. I feel that they react emotionally and violently to the thought, which is what leads to so many police officers simply shooting and killing people who wanted to commit suicide.

Google it, you'll find 5-10 or so articles about this EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

I confirmed he was on welfare, so I shot him.

Cop, probably.

I mean, technically he did do a welfare check. He made sure there was no welfare whatsoever

American Police Version of: Mental health issue solved quickly and permanently.

They need to send qualified people. Cops are so trigger happy and everyone knows it. At this point the easiest way to commit suicide is to call the cops on yourself, wait for them to arrive, take a $15 airsoft pistol out the door with you, turn so they can see it, wait for them to draw their guns, then level the airsoft pistol as quickly as you can at one of the cops and then boom! I imagine it's not super popular because cops aren't the best shot, and you might not die.

They send qualified immune people. It makes for less paperwork and quicker resolutions.

So... did the cops ignore the word 'self,' did they don't know what the word 'self' means, or did they just want to go a-huntin'?

Because I'm guessing it's #3.

Not the first time police stops a self harm with a murder. It's actually a trend.

https://www.facebook.com/ColumbusNEPolice/posts/pfbid02XB4oSG5TjJkJeNN9FkziMpXT6ioA88BNdPCaopdzWQzEr1JhjmWq8Srh4fSAipBil

FEBRUARY 8, 2024 (Columbus, Nebraska) — The Nebraska State Patrol is able to provide additional details on the Columbus Police Department officer-involved shooting that occurred Tuesday afternoon.

At approximately 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 6, Columbus police officers were conducting a welfare check following a report of potential self-harm at a residence in the 3600 block of 39th Avenue in Columbus. Officers contacted the subject, a 17-year-old male, inside the residence. The subject was in possession of a knife.

During the encounter, a Columbus police officer discharged their duty weapon, striking the subject. Another officer deployed a taser during the incident. The subject succumbed to injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The subject has been identified as Chase Ditter, 17, of Columbus.

The Columbus Police Department has requested the Nebraska State Patrol to investigate the incident. The NSP Special Investigations Team is conducting the in-custody death investigation.

The Columbus Police Department has placed both officers involved in the incident on administrative leave. The NSP investigation remains ongoing.

Wait, does that mean one cop shot him and then another cop tasered him after he was shot?

Jesus Christ, cops are fucking stupid.

Yes, for the crime of threatening to cut yourself with a knife in your own home. This is actually one of the favorite hobbies of cops, along with shooting deaf people in the back for not responding.

I know it's just standard boilerplate language for describing what happened in the most neutral tone possible, but

During the encounter, a Columbus police officer discharged their duty weapon, striking the subject. Another officer deployed a taser during the incident.

feels gross to read. I know that "motherfucker shot the kid, and the other motherfucker tased him" isn't exactly neutral, but I think it expresses what happened more honestly.

It's so heartwarming that the people whose paychecks are paid by the taxpayers, get to go around and murder random taxpayers for no reason. It was a welfare check, so clearly the only logical outcome is the cop murdering the kid. Makes perfect sense. Remember when George Floyd was killed by a police officer?

"There is no active threat to the community, Columbus police said"

You killed the community member in question of harm, surely that would mean the community has a threat.

Don't they have laws to protect the population from free walking murder suspects?

Sorry for who has to live there.

laws don't protect people.

of course not, thats true.

but i think laws should have some "binding" effect on how police acts on suspects of murder like separating the suspects from their comrades to disenabling them from making up cover stories until beeing presented to a court or such? also disenabling them from:

  • walking free and killing a next victim (maybe accidental witnesses they want to get rid of for undenyable cover stories)
  • destroying evidences as they seem fit
  • vanishing forever as they like
  • creating false evidences

All this is not regulated to at least some degree in laws to be followed strictly by police officers? i am not talking about laws preventing actions of one person or two, but laws binding police in general on how to handle these suspects depending on the crime suspected and that there seems to be no doubt who was on-scene when that happened.

Hey, what if a terminally I'll crazy patient visit the police department of every city? I mean many terminally I'll patients. They could be 12 years old if that helps.

Wouldn't they all just start shooting themselves in a crazy shark feeding stupid way? Like when you see Koi ponds getting fed and all the Koi make the pond go crazy.

One "I'll" instead of "ill" is an oversight. Two is just sheer laziness.

Fuck autocorrupt.

I like that! I've been calling it autowrong for some time, but I'm gonna add yours to the mix.

It's an I'll fated piece of shit part of android.... Autocorrect my Spanish??? WTF? Can't type anything other than English or this fucktard software will autocorrect to English. WTF!

"Go kill yourself to benefit our cause. You're a suicidal child and you're dying anyway, so none of your family will care."

Wow. There are literally zero details in this article and everyone has labeled the cop a murderer. What a thankless, shit job, police. Could it not have been that the officer arrived on scene to an armed individual who then attempted to murder him? He's conducting a welfare check, the person he's checking on may not be all there.... Both the checker and the checkee are humans and matter here!

Which is where I and the rest of the ACAB folks will probably start to agree - cops shouldn't be the ones responding to these calls. The hard part is that sending unarmed social workers into dangerous scenarios is not the answer either. Tough problem to solve. World's not perfect. Give your fellow human the benefit of the doubt, though. Not every cop is a murderous bastard, and thinking that way isn't helping anyone except tickling your own smug feelings. It's also a sweeping generalization, something that's both foolish and frowned upon these days. This an appeal to the humanity in all of you - quit writing off humans with a single acronym. You are removing their humanity and labelling them a monster. We can look to history to learn from the same mistake.

Wow. There are literally zero details in this article and everyone has labeled the cop a murderer.

If they stopped randomly murdering innocent people, people would stop assuming it...

Or - we could stop passing the blame and take accountability for making assumptions about our fellow man we should not make.

I'd call it pattern recognition. We'll see whether this reinforces it after lots of fighting and delays about whether to release bodycam footage, I would guess. (Or if they release it immediately that will be a good sign that they think their officer did nothing wrong.)

It is one thing to be wary of something because you experience it often.

It is another to spew masturbatory hate at each mention of police.

I don't know if I'm quite there yet, but I've most certainly flipped from 'they must have had a reason' to 'what is their excuse this time' over the course of about the last ten years.

He's conducting a welfare check, the person he's checking on may not be all there....

Which is exactly why a person with minimal mental health training shouldn't be the one doing this. Especially if they're armed.

Level headed take gets downvotes. Classic Lemmy.

Regardless of how people feel about the above posters opinion, it's a valid opinion, and people should engage in an open minded discussion instead of knee-jerk downvoting.

As a community, we're better than that.

I wouldnt be surprised if this was suicide by cop. But its still indicative of a structural problem that such a thing is possible.

If you go to check on someone knowing they're trying to self-harm and that they have a knife, you know what you can do to protect yourself?

Back away.

Unless this is one of those automatic machine knifes I've been hearing about.

Even so, I'm still pretty sure "self-harm" doesn't mean "attack others," so backing away would probably work.

It is his job and duty not to. If he arrived to the welfare check and immediately turned around and left...?

Even though this is a cherry picked argument - a melee weapon - I'm not sure it will help your point. Cops get stabbed, man. It happens even with their shoot first training.

I didn't say turn around and leave.

I said back away.

You know, out of knife range?

Was it a house-sized knife or something?

Oh boy, this post ain't gonna be popular. Humor me and read it all.

First off, there's no meat on the bone here. Police called on a young man threatening self-harm, young man killed. Nothing to see here ATM.

Did the kid have a gun? Did he threaten the cops? WTF happened?! Nothing in this story addresses the simplest questions. Hell, it didn't ask questions, let alone get answers. FFS, this is Journalism 101. (I literally took that class, and more.)

Here's the question we should all be asking: Why are police the default mental health responders in America? We can all give a dozen reasons why that's bullshit, but that's not interesting. How do we actually make change? Read on.

"Defund the police" is the dumbest political slogan I've ever heard. Jesus. I know what's meant. You know what's meant. Worst. Marketing. Ever.

Had an opinion changing YouTube binge last night. Watched a dozen sov cits getting their asses handed to them in court. That evolved into watching cops bust idiots running around impersonating police officers.

In both cases I was stunned at the calm and measured responses from the judges and cops involved. Over and over and over again. The patience on display was stunning. Me? LOL, I'd throw these asses in jail or beat them down with a billy club. Been on the receiving end of bad judges and cops. As bad as you think it is now, didn't used to be like that!

And why is it so much better today? We got public CAMERAS. I can usually argue both sides of an argument, if you can't, you don't understand the argument. I got nothing arguing cops shouldn't be wearing body cams.

Of course you don't release the footage immediately to the public! Of course you don't live stream that shit! And yes, there's a technical\budgetary cost well above buying a fat HDD.

Still, recording is plenty doable. And we can work out sane ways for those recordings to go public.

Go to your local sheriff's FB page and ask why they're not using body cams. Demand answers. LOL, I got no answers from mine. But press them anyway and do not stop!

First of all, it's an active investigation involving a minor. It's likely that information won't be provided even if you ask.

Secondly, for someone who took journalism, you don't seem to understand something called research. If you did any sort of research, you would understand that defund the police was a reallocation of funds away from the police to things like mental health professionals instead of decommissioned M16s.

You should stop watching YouTube for your propaganda content. There are other countries in this world that do use police for wellness checks but the USA is the number one for killings during those checks.

They were saying they understood and agreed with the tenets of "defund the police" but thought that phrase was terrible marketing. It's an easy target for the opposition to sway anyone in the middle, because it sounds like getting rid of police entirely.

Some of the proposals made were to get rid of police entirely and instead create an entirely new organization.

I would actually agree with a total abolishing the current militarized policing system. Call it what you want, but we need to revamp our entire system. Reallocate funds and build out a comprehensive system that focuses on helping people and not killing people.

Gotta source for that

If you did any sort of research, you would understand that defund the police was a reallocation of funds away from the police to things like mental health professionals instead of decommissioned M16s.

Ah, just like KAM is not all men, "Dead men can't rape" is a fair and kind slogan, and "Believe all women" is a great campaign because women are naturally, immune to greed and would never use rape accusations as leverage or a punishing tool.

There are bad cops, and sadly they are far too many, that is a fact I won't even try to deny, but reactionary comments like this are similar to a person killing another on self defense, but the deceased was gay, so the self defense argument is ignored, and the killer is charged with murder, aggravated with a hate crime.

While I generally agree with the need to ask those questions, you’re starting with the presumption that everything was handled appropriately and the onus is on the observers to question it. Maybe that’s even true in the majority of cases.

However that is NOT the expected outcome for that type of call. A lot of us will start with the assumption that a welfare check should not end in someone dead. The onus is on the responders to explain why this is different, and the onus is on all of us to improve the system if the responder had inappropriate skills and actions